Achieving 1,000 Paid Subscribers on Substack: My Journey
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Chapter 1: An Unexpected Path to Success
This isn't the article you might be anticipating. If you're looking for a simple, five-step guide to exponentially boost your Substack success, or a lengthy breakdown of my efforts and dedication, you won’t find that here. Nor is this a sales pitch for a course that promises a lot but delivers little. Instead, this is an unfiltered reflection on my experience.
Prepare yourself for a bittersweet narrative. Here are four key actions I took to achieve the much-coveted milestone of 1,000 paid subscribers on Substack. Feel free to jot down notes; this guidance is, in my opinion, worth more than the price of admission.
1. Early Adoption of Substack
The first step to success often involves being an early adopter of something significant. Substack is that significant platform, and I joined in mid-2022, which, while not extremely early, was ahead of many others. You might think this was a strategic choice made with foresight.
However, the truth is that I was compelled to make the switch when Medium, a platform I had been enjoying, unexpectedly changed its policies, eliminating popular in-house publications. After finally being accepted into OneZero, a tech publication, this abrupt shift left me no choice but to transition to Substack.
I could claim that I strategically decided to move because I recognized Substack's potential for writers, but that would be dishonest. The platform's growth and the introduction of useful features like recommendations and referrals coincided with my arrival. My success was as much a matter of serendipity as it was of effort.
Watch how I grew my Substack to 1,000 paid subscribers and $8,000 per month in my first month.
2. Focusing on AI Before It Became Trendy
Some may view writing about generative AI as a daunting task due to its controversial reputation, but it turned out to be my saving grace. I explored various topics on Medium until I discovered my strongest knowledge base lay in AI. Thus, I committed to this niche.
If I had complete freedom, I might have chosen a broader thematic approach, intertwining AI with cultural or philosophical discussions. Yet, circumstances led me toward a focus on AI, not a premeditated choice.
I didn’t foresee AI’s enduring appeal, but my early engagement with the subject allowed me to delve deeply into it. I was fortunate to maintain my interest despite initial disappointments with its progress.
3. Launching My AI Newsletter Before ChatGPT
I could say I anticipated the ChatGPT phenomenon after witnessing the success of GPT-3 and predicting a surge in AI interest. However, I must admit that my newsletter, The Algorithmic Bridge, was simply a product of timing and luck, not foresight.
Since I was already writing about AI in 2022, I was poised to capitalize on the ChatGPT wave that followed, much like I did with Substack's rise.
Discover how I built my Substack audience from scratch in this insightful video.
4. A Recommendation from a Leading Tech Writer
Dylan Patel, an exceptional writer, is known for his highly successful technology newsletter, SemiAnalysis. His endorsement of The Algorithmic Bridge significantly boosted my subscriber count, as it accounted for 18% of my total subscriptions.
My networking efforts were minimal, and it was pure luck that I crossed paths with Dylan through my collaboration with another industry expert, Karl Freund. Dylan’s recommendation was akin to winning the lottery in the newsletter arena.
Luck: A Crucial Factor in Success
The main takeaway? Luck played a pivotal role in my journey. While I worked hard, it was the unpredictable circumstances that truly shaped my success. Understanding that luck is a significant component of achievement is vital.
It's important to realize that every successful individual you admire has likely experienced their own share of good fortune. You cannot replicate the specific circumstances that led to their success, which is why it's crucial to focus on your own growth and compare yourself to your past self rather than others.
In pursuit of your goals—be it 1,000 paid subscribers on Substack or a similar achievement elsewhere—strive to surpass only one person: your former self.
As a final note, I want to emphasize two points: luck can be cultivated, and it amplifies talent and hard work. Cultivating luck involves being open to opportunities and adaptable to change. While hard work is necessary, luck alone won't suffice. My early commitment to studying AI positioned me favorably for future success.
I hope this narrative offers insights, even if it wasn’t what you expected. If my experience helps you in any way, please acknowledge the role of luck in that achievement.