How We Grow

Only 3% of Substack writers have a clear strategy for growth.

Most of us wing it, hoping that good content will magically attract readers.

But the truth is, consistency is key. It's not about writing the perfect essay or pouring your heart out. It's about showing up, day after day, with value that resonates.

The question is, what's your plan for the next 30 days?

Discover how I cracked the code to Substack growth with a revolutionary new tool - Substackulous. Ditch the struggle and unlock your full potential.

Get ready to transform your Substack in just 30 days!

Substackulous is launching in March.

Which is your favorite functionality yet? (or what else you would like to have)

You have a friend who would also benefit from this? Share this post with them today.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

Most people make offers that get ignored.

They drop a link and hope.They slap a price on something and pray.They assume people will just know why it’s worth it.

That’s why they don’t sell.

Here’s how I make an irresistible offer:

I stack the value.

I don’t sell a newsletter. I sell results.

✅ Growth challenges that get you more subscribers.

✅ Live workshops with step-by-step guidance.

✅ A community that helps you grow faster.

I remove the risk.

No one wants to waste money. So I make it a no-brainer.

📌 "Join, get massive value, or unsubscribe. No hard feelings."

I make the deal too good to pass up.

💡 “One strategy from this newsletter can make you thousands.”

💡 “Join today, and you get access to $2,500+ in marketing tools.”

💡 “Founding members? Lifetime access, no renewals. Ever.”

Most people just say, ‘Subscribe to my paid newsletter.’

And wonder why no one does.

Make your offer so good, people feel stupid saying no.

That’s how you win.

Thank you Trevor Casper, Tim Fortier, Jane Bertch, Aneta, Anjali Krishnakumar, and to the 354 people tuning into my live video!

Want more hands on insights? Check these 2 webinars (free access for all How We Grow members):

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

Here’s What No One’s Telling You.

Ever wonder why some creators effortlessly turn followers into paying members—while others, despite posting consistently, never break past free subscribers?

I did. So, I went deep.

After months of testing, tweaking, and analyzing hundreds of successful monetization strategies across newsletters, YouTube, and online courses, I found something shocking:

The creators who successfully convert followers into paying subscribers don’t have the best content.

They don’t post the most often.

They don’t even have the biggest audiences.

They just understand something about human nature that others don’t.

And today, I’m pulling back the curtain on what actually makes people pay for content.

The Myth That’s Keeping You Stuck

Most creators believe if they just keep giving insane value for free, people will feel compelled to pay them.

Wrong.

Here’s the truth: Your audience will NEVER upgrade unless you create a clear reason why they should.

Think about it:

* Your free readers aren’t sitting around thinking,

“Wow, this person gives so much away. I should really pay them.”

* They’re thinking, “This is great. I’ll keep reading for free.”

❌ The mistake most creators make: They assume their best free content will automatically convert people into buyers.

✅ What actually works: Creating tension—a clear, emotional, and logical reason why free content alone isn’t enough.

The 3 Psychological Triggers That Make People Upgrade

If you don’t use these, your free subscribers will stay free forever.

1️⃣ The ‘Oh Sh*t’ Moment

People don’t pay for content.They pay for realizations.

💡 Your job isn’t to inform. It’s to shift their mindset.

🛑 Wrong: “I teach newsletter growth.”✅ Right: “Most people think more content = more subscribers. But here’s what they’re missing: The fastest-growing newsletters are posting LESS frequently, not more.”

How to use this today:

→ In your next post, don’t just give value. Create a moment where your reader realizes they’ve been doing something wrong.

2️⃣ The “What You’re Missing” Effect

Free readers feel like they’re getting everything they need—until you show them what they DON’T have.

How to make them feel the gap:

❌ Bad CTA: “Upgrade to paid for more.”✅ Good CTA: “This post gave you the strategy. Paid members get the step-by-step execution plan, plus my personal help.”

Example:

📌 “I just outlined the biggest mistakes killing your audience growth. But here’s what I didn’t include—my personal system for fixing them. That’s inside the paid membership.”

3️⃣ The “Regret Not Buying” Strategy

If people don’t feel urgency, they won’t act. Period.

How to make them regret waiting:

* Show them what will happen if they DON’T join today.

* Make them feel the opportunity cost of staying stuck.

Example CTA:

❌ “Join anytime.”

✅ “Every week you wait, you’re losing subscribers who could be paying you. You can figure it out alone, or you can plug into a system that’s already working.”

What Happens When You Get This Right?

When I applied these principles to my own growth system:

✅ 41,000+ subscribers in 5 months✅ Paid memberships exploded✅ $15,000+ in monthly revenue from subscriptions alone

But here’s what matters more:👉 It’s repeatable. Anyone can do it, if they understand the strategy.

Which brings me to this:

Want the Blueprint? Join My Growth System Today.

Inside my paid membership, you’ll get:

✅ The Monthly Growth Challenge – This month: Turn Your Followers into Paying Subscribers

✅ Step-by-Step Workshops worth thousands – Get the full system behind audience growth, monetization, and branding. Some of the latest workshops added that you will get access to:

* How to create an irresistible offer that converts

* Hooks that stop the scroll

* The 3 types of notes that drive growth

* Why your content is not converting and how to fix it

Plus

* 30 days of content calendar and my favourite examples turned into templates

* My personal swipe file of the best performing notes

* and more

✅ Real-Time Feedback – I personally review every week paid members’ offers to help them sell more

✅ Private Q&As + Tools – $2,500+ worth of growth resources

💡 For the next few days, I’m offering 34% off for early members.

👉 Join Now & Get Instant Access.

This is the Moment.

❌ You can keep posting without a plan, just hoping people will eventually pay.

✅ Or you can use proven strategies that make upgrading a no-brainer.

The choice is yours.

BTW, What’s stopping you from converting more followers into paid subscribers? Drop your biggest challenge in the comments. Let’s fix it. 💬

🔥 If this was helpful, restack & share! More creators need to hear this.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Florian Martinon, Elle Wolfe, Chris Jenkins, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Join me on my next Live Webinar and learn:

All growth members get access to this webinar and the entire Growth Challenge this month. Join them so you can grow your Substack exponentially too. (Save 27% off on the annual plan for the next 15 subscribers)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

Join me for my next live video in the app

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

Join me for my next live video in the app

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know my thoughts on social media and growth.

For a long time, Notes felt like just another feature. Post something, get some likes, move on. I didn’t see the potential.

But then something changed.

Join now my Notes to Subscribers January Growth Challenge by becoming a paid member and get access to weekly growth webinars, tools, notes boost and our community. Save your spot at 20% off with the annual plan forever and practically access it all at $9/month, paid annually.

Just look at my last 30 days growth as a matter of “proof”

All because of notes like these:

Fast forward to today: 60% of my Substack growth now comes from Notes.

I want the same for You!

Here’s why Notes matter, how I turned them into a growth machine, and my best advice for turning your Notes into subscribers (paid ones, too).

Why I’m All In on Notes

Harsh truth: You don’t own your audience on social media.

* You’re at the mercy of algorithms deciding who sees your content.

* Even with over 33,000 subscribers, only a small fraction of my audience interacts with each post.

* Notes? They’re direct, personal, and designed to build connections.

With Notes, I’ve gained direct access to my readers—people who care enough to subscribe and engage.

Here’s why Notes are my favorite growth tool:

* They build trust. Each Note is a chance to share insights or start conversations.

* They’re quick but impactful. Bite-sized content that gets results.

* They’re perfect for testing ideas. Some of my best-performing posts started as Notes.

Join now my Notes to Subscribers January Growth Challenge by becoming a paid member and get access to weekly growth webinars, tools, notes boost and our community. Save your spot at 20% off with the annual plan forever and practically access it all at $9/month, paid annually.

How I Turned Notes Into a Subscriber Engine

1️⃣ I Changed My ApproachAt first, I treated Notes like social media posts—quick thoughts and random musings.It didn’t work.

Then I shifted to writing Notes with purpose:

* Hooks that make people stop scrolling: “Why isn’t anyone talking about this?”

* Questions that invite engagement: “What’s your biggest challenge with growing a Substack?”

* Controversial takes that spark curiosity: “Most creators are doing this all wrong.”

2️⃣ I Built a Notes CalendarConsistency without strategy is a waste of time. That’s why I created a system:

* Growth Notes: Bold opinions and trending topics to grab attention.Example: “Your Substack isn’t too small to matter. Drop your link, and I’ll check it out!”

* Educational Notes: Bite-sized insights that build authority.Example: “Your quietest readers are often your most loyal. Write for them, even when it feels like nobody’s watching.”

* Entertaining Notes: Relatable, funny, or personal stories that connect.Example: “Confession: My first 10 Notes flopped. Here’s what changed.”

This mix keeps my content fresh and engaging while growing my audience.

You can still get access to The 3 Types of Notes webinar in which I breakdown all that it takes to write notes that drive growth + access to your working file + Bonuses.

(all paid subscribers get free access to this and All weekly webinars + Bonuses. If you’re not yet ready to become a paid member, you can access it for just $37)

3️⃣ I Made Notes About My Readers, Not MeYour audience doesn’t care about your random thoughts. They care about what’s in it for them.

Here’s what worked:

* Asking my readers what they’re struggling with and turning their responses into Notes.

* Sharing stories they could see themselves in.

* Writing Notes that solve small, specific problems.

4️⃣ I Showed Up Daily (But Smarter)Notes are a long game. Showing up consistently—on Notes and in comments—builds relationships and keeps you top of mind.

But here’s the key:

* Engage meaningfully. Don’t just drop emojis; add value.

* Focus on Notes that spark conversations, not just reactions.

* Use Notes to direct readers to your long-form posts.

5️⃣ I Focused on Conversions, Not LikesIt’s easy to get distracted by engagement numbers, but here’s the truth: Likes don’t pay the bills.

What I tracked instead:

* Engagement: Are people replying or sharing?

* Conversions: Are Notes leading to new subscribers?

* Momentum: Is my audience growing steadily over time?

Some of my best-converting Notes had fewer than 10 likes but brought in dozens of subscribers.

My Best Advice for Turning Notes Into Subscribers

Focus on connection, not perfection.

* Treat each Note as a way to serve your readers.

* Write like you’re talking to a friend—be real, honest, and approachable.

* Don’t overthink it; your audience values consistency and authenticity more than polished perfection.

Your Turn

What’s your biggest struggle with Notes? Or, what’s one tip that’s worked for you?

Drop it in the comments—I’ll share my favorite responses next week.

P.S. My January Growth Challenge is in full swing! We’re diving deep into turning Notes into a subscriber engine this month.👉

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

Why Engagement Matters

When I started writing on Substack, I had this picture in my mind: I’d hit publish, people would rush in, comments would flow like wine, and my inbox would light up with notifications.

Reality? Crickets.

It took me longer than I care to admit to realize this: you don’t get engagement by accident.

Engagement is something you create. It’s the secret sauce that turns passive readers into loyal subscribers and loyal subscribers into superfans who share your work like it’s gospel.

Here’s what I’ve learned—through trial, error, and a lot of awkward silences—about how to build conversations that actually matter.

Your Bonus:

This January, I’m sharing exactly how to drive engagement that grows your audience:

* My 3-Note Framework for writing Notes that spark real conversations.

* A Notes Calendar to stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed.

* Swipe files of my most engaging Notes (and why they worked).

* Weekly Notes Boost Parties to engage with your Notes and grow faster.

💥 Join now and get 37% off for on the annual plan the next 24 hours. (Basically you save your spot at just $7.19 per month, paid annually)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

🎁 This December, let’s grow together—Secret Santa style. 🎁

Substack can feel like a solo game sometimes—just you, your keyboard, and the hope someone’s out there reading.

But growth isn’t just about audience size or paid subs—it’s about connection. It’s about building relationships with people who get what you’re doing, who cheer for you when you’re not in the room.

That’s what this is about: A little connection, a little creativity, and a whole lot of thoughtfulness.

Introducing: Substack Secret Santa—Digital Edition.

No addresses. No stress. Just thoughtful digital gifts to celebrate growth, creativity, and this community we’re all a part of.

How It Works 🎅

* Sign Up by December 17

* Drop a comment with:

* Your name

* Your Substack username

* A short “about me”—what you write about or what makes you light up.

* Example: “I’m Ana! I write about portfolio careers, growth, and creativity. I love art, personal stories, and anything about how people build their lives.”

* Get Your Match on December 18

* I’ll personally and randomly pair you with another Substack writer and send you their details. You’ll get:

* Their name

* Their Substack link

* Their “about me” description

* Deliver Your Digital Gift by December 24 🎁

* It’s a digital-only Secret Santa, so here’s where you can get creative:

* A thoughtful letter or shoutout about why their work matters.

* A resource, playlist, or article you think they’d love.

* A mini review or share of their Substack in your next post.

* A personalized note about what you enjoy in their writing.

* A membership access to your subscriptions

* A gift subscription to a newsletter you love

* So many ideas

The gift doesn’t have to be big. It just has to show you see them. That you care.

Why Do This?

Growth isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people.This Secret Santa is about showing up for each other, cheering each other on, and reminding ourselves that this journey doesn’t have to feel so solitary.

* You’ll make someone’s day.

* You might discover a writer who inspires you.

* And who knows—you might get a new reader, collaborator, or friend out of it.

The Rules 📜

* Digital gifts only—no addresses or physical items needed.

* Be thoughtful. This isn’t about fancy—it’s about meaningful.

* Share your gift by December 24.

* Please commit only if you mean it. It would be a pitty to make someone wait. Santa’s seeing you.

How to Join 🎄

Simple: Just Drop your name, Substack link, and a little “about me” in the comments below.

Deadline to enter: December 17Matches sent out: December 18Gifts delivered: December 24 (or earlier if you wish so)

Let’s make this December about growth that matters—about connection, creativity, and supporting one another.

Drop your details below, and let’s spread a little holiday magic. 🎁✨

Drop your name, Substack link, and a little “about me” in the comments below.

Ready to play Secret Santa? 👇 Let’s grow together. 🚀

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

We’re rolling into Week 2 of the December Growth Challenge: Get Your First Brand Deal! 🚀

Over 50 creators have already joined, and the momentum is real. Whether you’re here to land your first deal or level up your brand, this challenge is about so much more than just brand partnerships.

This Challenge Will Help You:

✅ Learn how to pitch like a pro – A skill that’s useful for brand deals, client work, collaborations, and beyond.✅ Define your differentiator – What makes you stand out and why brands (or anyone) should work with you.✅ Strengthen your personal brand – Clarity and confidence in who you are and what you bring to the table.✅ Grow your exposure – Build relationships, open doors, and make yourself visible to the right people.✅ Level up your communication – Craft pitches that connect, whether for partnerships, job offers, or project opportunities.

This is bigger than one deal. These are skills that will help you grow your portfolio career for years to come.

Week 2: Craft Your Perfect Pitch

This week, we’re diving into:

🔥 How to identify the right brands – Stop shooting in the dark and start targeting opportunities that fit YOU.🔥 Proven pitch templates – Emails that grab attention and get responses.🔥 Research tips – Tools to find decision-makers fast so you can pitch with confidence.

By the end of this week, you’ll have:

✅ A pitch you’re proud of and ready to send✅ A list of brands to target✅ The confidence to put yourself out there

The tools are waiting for you 👉

Haven’t Joined Yet? It’s Not Too Late!

This challenge is packed with everything you need to move forward:

* Step-by-step guides

* Time-saving templates

* A community of 50+ creators cheering you on

Here’s how to join:

* Comment “I’m in!” below.

* Use the Challenge Tracker to log your progress.

* Jump into the chatroom and connect with others.

Why Now?

This is the ONLY free Growth Challenge I’ll be running. Starting January, Monthly Growth Challenges will be paid subscriber exclusives.

Next Month’s Growth Challenge:

👉 Get Your Notes to Go Viral – Learn how to grow your audience fast with strategies that actually work.

Want in on every challenge?

👉 Lock in 91% off with your annual subscription now and get access to all future challenges, tools, and resources. Forever!

The group is on fire, and I can’t wait to see the pitches you create this week.

Whether it’s your first brand deal, your next client, or simply a clearer personal brand—this challenge will help you get there.

Let’s make it happen. 🚀

See you in the chatroom,

Ana

P.S. 2 creators already landed a pitch call, and another found clarity on their niche this week. Your win could be next!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe