Why Substack Isn’t What You Think—And How to Actually Make It Work!
Don't do the same thing - you know what happens!
Do You Want to Succeed on Substack? Start Doing This—And Stop Doing That!
I see many people jumping from one platform to Substack in search of riches. As someone with two Substack accounts, I must say—I do love it.
So after launching my other sub stack account for my business this is what i have come to realise.
It works fantastically as a newsletter for clients and training material for students. However, I don’t see it as a platform equivalent to Medium. Unless you’re using it as a knowledge funnel for Medium, I’m not sure where you’re going with it as a writer.
I think you really need to have a strong audience and truly know your niche—whatever that may be.
Have I Had Paid Subscribers on Substack?
Yes—but only on my business site, where I use Substack to ensure the right people get the information they need.
That said, I love it as a fast, efficient way to share updates.
Now, as many of you know, I also have my YouTube channel, so this works well across all my businesses. Since I run a faceless channel, it fits perfectly, and I’m really enjoying it.
Stop Thinking of Substack as Just a Writing Platform
Unless you have a niche that people genuinely want to read about—or you're selling knowledge —stop treating Substack like a traditional writing platform.
Instead, think about the business you’re already in and tailor it to that.
I haven’t tried to monetize this Substack yet, but I did monetize my YouTube channel and my other Substack account for my business.
People subscribe when they see the value. If what you offer:
✔ Makes them money
✔ Improves their health
✔ Frees up their time
Then you have a product.
Otherwise, you’re just writing for the sake of writing. This is not Medium. Substack is a newsletter-style platform, and the best way to make it work is by aligning it with something people actually need.
Need Motivation? Check Out My Latest Post—Out Today!
Start today.
✔ Think about how you can add value.
✔ Think about what you have to offer your clients.
✔ Think about how this platform works for you.
Your ideal audience will come to you. My business Substack only had 50 subscribers, but it gave me 6 paying subscribers—why? Because my business needed a newsletter, and my audience needed what I was offering to improve their studies.
Simple. Find your product. Target the right clients. You don’t need thousands!
After focusing on building my YouTube business and creating a life I love, I’m back—ready to share more insights with you on Substack, YouTube, and beyond!
Have a fantastic day!
- Sophia
Great to find you here! I agree, the value is a lot different from Medium and ideal for sharing value/knowledge in a specific arena. Still thinking about how I will make that work for me.