From Zero to First 100 Subscribers on Substack: My Hard-Won Journey

A beginner's honest guide to growing your newsletter

May 31, 2025

This post is for anyone who just started their Substack and feels like they're talking to a wall. For those who, having studied the common advice about daily note publications and regular post writing, carefully follow them but don't get a single like, let alone a comment.

And here is the thing: this is totally normal.

Unless you brought a massive following from other platforms, your first few weeks will be quiet. Really quiet. You could publish every single day and write ten notes, but if nobody knows you exist, nobody will see your work.

So what's the solution? Simple: start conversations.

I'm not some growth hacking guru. This was my first real attempt at building an audience from scratch. I'm just sharing what worked for me, mistakes and all.

After three months, I hit 200 subscribers. Could I have grown faster? Absolutely. Did I mess up along the way? You bet. But I learned a ton, and hopefully this post will give you relief that you're not the only one who faced writing as if into the void.

Starting From Actual Zero

When I say I started from zero, I mean it. Well, almost.

I asked my husband and daughter to subscribe, but I didn't blast my friends or post announcements on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Partly because my following on those platforms is pretty small, and partly because I wanted to run an experiment: Could I actually build an audience from nothing?

If you're in the same boat, here’s what actually works.

The Step-By-Step Plan For Your First 50 Subscribers

Preparation

1. Although I write that this is an instruction for those starting from complete zero, I still advise asking your best friends or family members who always support you to subscribe to your Substack in the first days.

Literally 2-3 people, but this will already be more than 0. And don't be shy about reminding them every time to like your posts and notes. These likes aren't fake; they're necessary fuel for Substack to even notice your appearance.

2. Study the rules of the game. How promotion happens on Substack, what you need to do based on other people's experience. However, if you're reading this post, you've already immersed yourself in the topic.

The First 44 Subscribers: The Most Difficult Part of My Substack Journey

Everyone writes that the main organic audience growth comes through notes. This is true, but not in the first weeks when you only have two subscribers. For the first weeks, you need a different scheme.

When you have 2-3 subscribers, unfortunately no one will see your notes. No matter how many you publish, 3 or 10 a day.

For the first two weeks, my notes only had two likes each, from my husband and daughter. And posts too.

So what works then? Communication!

1. Interact With Other Newbies: Subscribe and Comment

I started browsing the categories I was interested in and looked specifically for creators who had 2, 3, maybe 10 subscribers, people just like me. I subscribed to them, left at least 3 genuine comments on their posts, and many subscribed back. We were all in the same boat, supporting each other.

Should you directly ask for sub-backs? Some people swear by it for quick growth. Others think it's inauthentic.

I never asked directly, but plenty of people reciprocated naturally. Honestly, I don't think mutual subscription is evil, we all need support when we're starting out.

And if someone approached me, I subscribed back, unless the account content contradicted my beliefs.

Besides, at the beginning of their journey, many authors don't fully understand what they'll write about. And this is normal.

Finding your topic and format usually takes 6 months of regular post writing, minimum one per week. And sometimes more. Therefore, at the beginning of your journey, any subscriber, whatever motives they subscribed for, can become your devoted reader later.

2. Be Generous With Likes and Comments

Here's my philosophy: A like isn't a grade - it's encouragement.

Every day, I made sure to:

- Read 5-7 posts from other new writers

- Leave 3-5 genuine comments

- Like generously

This isn't about fake engagement. It's about understanding that we all start somewhere, and a little support goes a long way. There's a psychological principle here: people improve faster when they feel encouraged rather than ignored.

Substack has this amazing, warm community that I haven't found anywhere else. People here get how hard it is to start writing, and they're genuinely rooting for each other.

3. Notes: Quality Over Quantity

Everyone says you need three notes a day. I rarely hit that target. Most days I managed two - morning and evening. Tired days? Just one. Because one note is infinitely better than zero notes.

If the pressure to post notes is stressing you out, take a day or two off to prevent burnout. This might slightly slow subscriber growth, but won't stop it. That's what I did, and as you can see, the account continues to grow.

I tried to follow the system of three note types:

- **Community building** (these perform best)

- **Educational**

- **Motivational**

The community-building notes are your main engine, but you need the others as fuel.

4. Note Boosts Changed Everything

My growth really accelerated when I started participating in note boosts - usually 3-4 per week. You share your note link and engage with at least three other writers in return. I always engaged with way more than the minimum.

Results varied wildly. Some notes brought me 50+ subscribers. Others got likes but no follows. That's ok. You're gathering data, learning what resonates, and testing new approaches.

My biggest mistake? Not starting boosts earlier. I waited weeks when I should have jumped in immediately.

For the first two weeks, my notes got zero engagement except from my family. My first note to get 12 likes happened right after my first boost participation.

The Growth Timeline (Real Numbers)

Let me be honest about the pace. Early growth is slow unless you're bringing an existing audience. Even with boosts, I was gaining maybe 4-5 subscribers per week initially. People are cautious about subscribing to brand new creators, they’re not sure if you'll stick around or disappear after three months.

But here's where it gets interesting. Once you hit that first milestone, everything accelerates:

- **First 50 subscribers:** 2 months

- **Next 50 subscribers (to 100):** 25 days

- **Next 100 subscribers (to 200):** 17 days

Same strategy, same effort - just momentum building on itself.

My Step-by-Step Blueprint

Before you start:

Get 2-3 close friends or family members to subscribe. I know it feels weird, but you need that initial boost for the algorithm to even notice you exist. Ask them to like your early posts too. This isn't cheating, it's smart.

In my first 10 days, I gained 11 subscribers just from:

- Finding and subscribing to other beginners

- Reading and commenting on 5-7 posts daily

- Publishing one post per week

- Writing 1-2 notes daily (even when nobody was responding)

Week 1-2: Community building

Find creators in your niche with similar subscriber counts

- Subscribe to people whose content genuinely interests you

- Read and comment authentically on 3-5 posts daily

- Like generously

- Publish your first few posts and notes (expect silence - it's normal)

Week 2-3+: Add boosts

- Start participating in note boosts

- Maintain your commenting and engagement routine

- Keep publishing consistently (1 post/week minimum, 1-2 notes/day)

- Don't get discouraged by slow initial growth

The Real Secret

The key isn't to rush or hack your way to growth. Be genuine, enjoy the process, and support others. That energy comes back to you.

Remember, most creators take about 6 months to find their voice and format. Your first subscribers might discover their favorite writer in you, even if your content evolves. Every subscriber matters in the beginning, regardless of why they initially followed you.

If you're feeling like you're writing into the void right now, you're not alone. We've all been there. Keep showing up, keep engaging with your community, and be patient with yourself.

Your readers will find you. It just takes a little time.

Hey friends! ☕️ If you found this post helpful and want to support my writing, you can totally buy me a coffee to keep me warm and fueled with your amazing encouragement. Every sip helps me keep creating the life I dream about and keeps the ideas flowing! Thanks a bunch! 💛✨

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What's your biggest challenge with growing your Substack? Let’s exchange our experiences together in the comments.