If you want to find your tribe on Substack and grow joyfully on Substack, Notes is where you start.
But if you’re new, I get it—it can feel overwhelming. 🤯
Where do you even start?
What’s a restack?
What should you post?
How does the algorithm work?
Are Boost Challenges legit and worthwhile?
Can you share links outside of Substack, or will you get penalized like on other platforms?
And seriously—how do you actually find your people?
On Valentine’s Day, I sat down with Linda Lebrun from Substack’s Writer Partnerships team, and she made it crystal clear:
“Two years ago, I would have started the conversation with recommendations… but today, I start the conversation with Notes and with the app.”
As always I tell my tribe members, Substack Notes is a growth engine. That’s why I started The Notes Kickstarter Bootcamp last year.
Because about 25% of my subscribers found me through Notes (Substack app means primarily Notes & Leaderboard):
That’s one fourth of my 11,000 subscribers coming from Substack’s network effects!
Many Tribe Members See Notes As a Growth Engine
I’m not alone. Actually, I’m in good company.
Many tribe members see a huge amount of subscribers coming via the app that now belongs to the top downloads in America.
It’s helping so many writers not just avoid talking into the void but actually feel seen, heard, and connected to their tribe.
I Finally Found YOUR Tribe with Notes
Because beyond growing my email list, I’ve met incredible collaborators, interview partners for my podcast, and fellow moms, busy parents and part-time writers—all thanks to engaging on Notes.
I only started taking it seriously in January/February 2024 with:
about 3,000 free subscribers (was pregnant before, had to take care of my baby)
zero paid susbcribers (turned the paid button on last January)
zero earnings (no paid subscribers, no earnings)
zero followers
Fast forward to today, I have 11,000 subscribers. The Online Writing Club is a Substack bestseller with more than 300 amazing paid subscribers.
Let’s break down three big takeaways from our conversation that was really fun and a huge breakthrough for me as a part-time Substack bestseller.
🙏🏻🙏🏻 So Linda, super grateful for this amazing opportunity and conversation with a real insider and expert. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
1. Why Substack Notes Is Essential for Growth
Notes isn’t just another feature—it’s the fastest way to get discovered and the #1 growth engine right now. Short-form posts, links, quotes, images, and restacks help new readers find you before they ever land on your newsletter.
According to Linda:
"If people have fun on Notes and enjoy Notes and find things relevant to them on Notes, they will keep using it every day and they will find new writers to enjoy.”
In other words, growth happens where engagement happens.
If you’re not using Notes, you’re missing out.
2. How Often Should You Post?
There’s no magic number. Some successful Substack writers post daily, but what matters most is consistency.
Linda keeps it real:
“I think having fun is a huge thing. You’ve seen me—I go through phases where I’m posting multiple times a day, then I’ll disappear for a while. And that’s okay.”
The takeaway for me as a busy part-time writing mom? Post when you feel inspired, engage with others, and most importantly—have fun. That energy translates to real connections (and more subscribers).
3. Writing Should Be FUN!
If you’re treating Notes like a LinkedIn, X or Medium growth hack, you’re missing the point. The best writers enjoy the process and their audience sticks around because of it.
Linda’s advice?
"Short and sweet is king."
Notes is about building a writing habit that feels natural and sharing your work in a way that resonates.
Finally feel seen and heard feels sooooo good. And I want the same for you.
🎙️ Want the Full Interview?
We covered so much more in this episode, from..
the algorithm behind Notes
to the power of restacking
and how to organically grow your audience without feeling spammy by playing the subscribe-for-subscribe game.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here!
🥳Surprise! FREE Get Started on Substack Notes Guide
For all smallstackers and midstackers with less than 1, 10, 100, 1000 or 10000 subscribers, here’s my short and sweet ‘Get Started on Substack Notes’ guide for you.
Grab it now & enjoy!
💬 Reply and Let Us Know
Have you tried Substack Notes?
How’s it going for you?
What are your challenges or small succesess?
You can also share a post you’re proud of, got lots of enagegemnt or sparked a conversation in the comments or chat!
I’d love to feature you in one of my upcoming posts and videos!
❤️🔥Your feedback is just a spark but it’s enough to keep me going❤️🔥
I hope this interview inspired you to take inspit-ACTION.
See you on Notes!
Yours truly,
P.S. Smallstacker or midstacker? Join us!
P.P.S. Do you love books? My family and I do too!
Really enjoyed this episode and learned so much about Substack Notes. I’m new got here from a writer video. Looking forward to see more and making a tool to share my thoughts.
What a great interview, thanks Kristina!
Notes is cool but if I could ask you to pass on one thing it’s the need for Substack to sort out tags. It’s pretty broken right now. Alternatively a grouping function would be good.
I’d love to see people post their Impressions from their View Stats on their Notes and see the average number of impressions they get. Mine are between 6 and 18 impressions per Notes post. Hard to grow with those numbers due to the Substack algorithm.
Should I feel bad about the lack of engagement I have on my Substack? I’m not sure how to measure my success here since I’m writing with a chronic illness for others with chronic illness who may not feel like “engaging” with my posts. My email list also has a lot of people who are advanced in age and often have technical difficulties. They are not on the Substack app engaging with my notes. I’m wondering how I can inspire healthy people on Substack to share my work with their chronically I’ll friends and family.
Look under the View Stats, and look at the number of “Impressions” that any Note that you’ve written has received. Impressions are the number of times that your Note has been shown across Substack. Report back, as I’m curious to see how many impressions your Notes get.
"Impressions" is not even coming up in my note stats. There have been some that have gotten "clicks" and many others that say stats will be available soon, but they were posted weeks ago.
If you’re using an app on your mobile phone, see if the app needs to be updated.
Dear all, I'm super sick 😷 🥵 I'll reply to all of you within the next days. Thanks so much 🙏
Feel better. 💐
Thanks so much. 🥵 Drinking and reading a lot
Hello hello
I don’t mind saying this again…This has definitely hands-down got to be the best chunk of Substack information I have receive thus far!! And, I’ve had some pretty darn good info.! Both of you were easy to understand, questions and answers were pertinent, thorough & flowing, and, very important for me, was the casual atmosphere! Thank you for making this available!
Hi! WOW, thanks! You just made my day! 😊 So glad you found it helpful—that means a lot. I love keeping things informative, fun and casual, so it's great to hear that resonated with you. Appreciate you being here! THANKS
I just love Substack even more after watching this video! Linda is amazing!
Gabby! Thank you so much for joining the Bootcamp again! That truly means the world. ❤️ David is happy, too.
And yes—Substack is such an incredible platform, and I’m so glad you’re loving it even more after the video. I also heard from someone who wanted to call it quits and will stay now!
Linda is absolutely amazing, and I’m thrilled you enjoyed it. She's on vacay right now. I can't wait to see what she'll say about the video interview.
Don't want to lie, but I think we cross 100,000 watch time ^^ Downloads are at around 30 ^^
So the metrics aren't the best because the tracking doesn't work well. Hope Linda can reach out to the team and fix this. If you pitch your podcast you always talk about podcast downloads.
Hope all is well and love today's note with the Canva video
You're having FUN! That's the best.
Yeah, I really am having fun with Substack! And I love creating quick visuals in Canva too. I think I am addicted to the combo of the two, with repurposing and expressing my ideas in so many ways.
Plus, I'm experimenting with voiceovers and slowly podcasts (loving my new mic). I'm interested in good metrics for podcasts for the near future. So the question you raised about good metrics is valid.
Chat seems to start growing slowly also. Just wow, so much creative energy around here. I like it because I am not bombarding my subs with emails through chat, but I can structure it by threads.
I hope you are feeling a lot better today and healing.
And you're about to reach 1000 subs. That's HUGE!! Can I help you with the Chat? let me check
Re Chat: I wouldn't make it for paid subs! I would open it for everyone to connect. Why? This way, you can attract new subs and build relationships with other moms, for instance.
A Note idea, share: "New writers, I'm a mom of three. By day: NYU journalism student dissecting how media shapes modern parenthood. By night: Snack-fetcher, Lego architect, and writer obsessed with turning everyday chaos into life lessons." and ask new writers with kids to share their Substack newsletters! Connect with other moms and dads this way!
I posted the note with some tweaks. I hope it picks up.
The chat is for all subscribers at the moment. I guess when I have more than 20 paid, let's say, it would make sense to start a recurring paid thread.
That's such a good idea! Thanks!
Yeah, the almost 1000 subs on my name are across 3 pubs, it's a bit misleading. My newsletter From My Kitchen Table has 160ish subs at the moment.
Yaeh ! Thanks a lot.
It was my first live that I've listened to and very helpful for me just staring out!!
Nice interview. Thank you Kristina 🙏
You're welcome, Romaric and I replied to your DM. Finally :)
Thank you 😊
I’ve been struggling with engagement with notes. This was really helpful.
Super! Glad it could help you, Fred. That's what the Club is all about.
You can also share a link here and I'll restack it. In the Chat we also have Notes Boosts from time to time
Thank you for this video! I have been glancing on Substack for the past months but have just started really looking into it and WOW! It really blew my mind. I was exploring the app and accounts the past days, and this video really pushed me to start my first note! So yes, I'm not quite sure how I'll go through this journey but I'm glad I'm on it!😊🙏
The video is so helpful while still being fun to listen to! Thanks to you and Linda for all of the wonderful advice 💕🥰
I know that It took me a very long time to finally been able to "Niche" down to the last molecular cell.
"The Tribal Dream-Stackers," are writing about our famous Tribal Dream-Stackers, Newsletters, Substackers and Podcasters' journey.
Behind the scenes tips, tricks and their secret superpowers.
What's New? What's Old? and What's Up?....with our fellow Tribal Dream-Stackers?
This is one way for me to help and guide other Tribal Dream-Stackers towards their flourishing journey.
This will be one of many contributions and services here on this Substack.com platform.
Our new writers, readers (hopefully our future substackers)and Dream-Stackers have to take into account that there will be some frustrating moments, while climbing onto this writing process.
The Tribal Dream-Stackers will always integrate positivity encouragement and empowement.
I know exactly how it felt when I began to read on Medium.com and I continued to read any and all genres of articles, for two (2 years).
My thoughts in my headspace couldn't stop spinning.
"I wish I could, I wished I might," write just like them."
I could write and publish articles like some of the successful authors I read about.
When I watched @Kristina God's recorded interview, I was both excited and dissapointed at myself.
@Kristina God, I highly appreciate your generosity, long hours of writing notes, commenting and consulting many of us Tribal Dream-Stackers. Thank you for everything that you do.
Spot on! I love your way of writing and your talent for engaging people all the time.
I enjoy using notes here, short and engaging, compared to posts.
I'm new here, but I'm happy to build a new community and be part of your newsletter too.
Yes to having FUN on Substack Notes.
I can feel that energy behind your Note!
I also have made so many fabulous connections with fellow writers on Notes.
Wow 🤩 %25 percent is huge number of audience. Thanks for this PRO TIP Kristina
I love the perspective that writing should be fun, when the words flow naturally, so does engagement.
I see your Notes everywhere! Besides your political takes, I’d love to hear more about you—your passions, interests, or what makes you tick. :)