Your First 100 Substack Subscribers: Where They Come From and How to Keep Them
If you’re staring at your Substack dashboard wondering how on earth you’re supposed to get to 100 subscribers, I want you to know—you’re not alone. Everyone starts at zero. And despite what some growth-guru posts might suggest, you don’t need a massive audience, a trending tweet, or a secret tag strategy to get going.
Your first 100 subscribers will likely come from a few simple (and human) places. In this post, I’ll walk you through where those early readers usually come from, how to keep them engaged, and what to focus on so that your growth is grounded, not gimmicky.
Where Your First 100 Subscribers Actually Come From
Let’s break it down realistically—no hype, no magic tricks.
1. Friends, Family & Your Inner Circle (10–30 subscribers)
Your first subscribers are often the people who already care about you. Don’t underestimate the power of sending a personal email or text that says, “Hey, I just launched a Substack—want to check it out?” You don’t need to beg. Just invite.
You can also:
Share the link in group chats
Add it to your email signature
Mention it in conversation (yes, IRL)
2. Existing Platforms (20–40 subscribers)
If you already post on Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, or have an email list or blog—use those platforms. Post a thoughtful excerpt or teaser and invite people to read the full piece on Substack. Most importantly, explain why this newsletter is worth subscribing to. What's in it for them?
Tips:
Link to your Substack in bios and pinned posts
Share highlights from posts in your Instagram Stories with a swipe-up link
Turn a great Substack quote into a tweet or LinkedIn post
3. Substack Notes + Comments (10–30 subscribers)
Substack’s social layer—Notes—can feel like a quiet party at first. But it’s actually one of the best places to be seen by the right people.
What works:
Replying to others' Notes with thoughtful comments (not just “Nice post!” but something real)
Restacking other people’s work you genuinely love
Quoting your own writing in Notes, but sparingly
Notes works like a conversation—when you show up consistently and authentically, people take notice. And when they like what you say? They click your profile and (maybe) subscribe.
4. Shoutouts & Collaborations (5–15 subscribers)
Sometimes the fastest way to grow is to ride alongside someone else. You don’t need a massive influencer to help you—just another creator in your space who likes your work.
Ask a writer you admire if they’d consider restacking your post
Collaborate on a joint post or interview
Offer to write a guest piece or contribute a quote
Even a single mention can lead to a mini spike in subscribers—especially when your work resonates.
5. Search (1–5 subscribers)
Yes, it’s true: Substack posts can show up on Google. But SEO is a long game. Early on, it won’t bring you floods of traffic—but if you write evergreen content (how-tos, guides, thought leadership), it will add up over time.
Just make sure to:
Add an SEO title and meta description (you can edit this in post settings)
Include relevant keywords naturally in your headline and intro
How to Keep the Subscribers You’ve Got
You worked hard to get them. Now let’s talk about keeping them.
1. Consistency Is More Important Than Frequency
You don’t need to publish every day—or even every week. But you do need to show up regularly.
Pick a schedule you can actually stick to. Tell readers what to expect. Then deliver.
2. Know Your Value
Why are people reading your work? What are they coming to you for? Your voice, your perspective, your guidance, your storytelling—whatever it is, lean into that.
Clarity builds trust. The more dialed-in your message and tone, the more likely readers are to stick around.
3. Create Connection
Substack is intimate by nature. Take advantage of that.
Reply to comments
Ask your readers questions
Thank new subscribers in Notes
Share behind-the-scenes insights occasionally
Your readers want to feel like they’re part of something—not just consuming content but connecting with a person.
Bonus Tips That Actually Work
🟡 Use Your Welcome Email
The first email subscribers receive from you matters. Make it warm, personal, and clear. Tell them what you write about, what to expect, and how they can reach you.
🟡 Don’t Overthink Growth Tactics
A great post that resonates will always do more for your growth than any algorithm trick. Focus on depth over reach.
🟡 Tag Smartly
Use tags to organize your posts or to group your homepage by theme—but don’t expect them to magically boost your visibility.
🟡 SEO Basics = Future Wins
Updating your SEO title and meta description takes 60 seconds. It’s a small habit that pays off long-term.
Final Thought: Make It Matter
Your first 100 subscribers are often your most loyal. Treat them like gold. Speak to them like real people. Deliver what you promised. Show up even when it feels quiet.
Building a newsletter is not about explosive virality—it’s about resonance, trust, and compounding value over time.
So if you’re sitting at 24 subscribers right now? That’s not small. That’s everything. Keep going.