How To Build a Community on Substack

My 5-steps, easy framework

In the past few months I have focused on building a very loyal and happy community.

And the results are amazing.

• People are extremely nice and engaging, a very nice community to be in.

• 90% of my notes get 15+ likes (Most 20-30), even the random ones.

• The engagement on my posts grew from 2-5 likes a post to 20-40.

And in today’s article I’ll share with you the simple framework and why each step works.

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Important note

This article isn’t about growing your community, but how to make it more engaged and loyal.

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Step #1 - Post daily notes

Posting daily notes will give you more than growth.

It will give your audience confidence in you.

By posting notes daily you build authority and you show your audience that you are here and that you are consistent.

People hate change. They want predictability.

And when they know that you are there, every day, show up and being consistent, they’d appreciate it more than you think.

Step #2 - Start honest conversations

Connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Send a “hi” message to people who engage with your notes/posts. Be friendly and acknowledge the fact that you reach out because they engaged with your content.

Example:

I’ve had dozens of extremely deep and valuable conversations with people across the globe.

Worth every second.

And don’t worry about sending dozens of messages everyday to dozens of people. It’s not spammy.

You’re building connections.

Step #3 - Create casual threads

I have recently discovered the power of threads.

It’s an amazing feature to be even more personal with your audience and talk to them on a daily basis.

Here are some useful topics for threads:

1. Ask your audience what are they up to today.

2. Share valuable insights you stumbled upon.

3. If you sell products, share special deals.

4. Make special events.

5. Ask questions.

Step #4 - Engage and be helpful

What’s good about the Substack community is that people are very nice and engaged.

Unlike other social platforms, where people mainly use it to market their products and find customers, Substack is different

People are here to be a part of a friendly community.

Of course, you can and should sell your products. That’s your way of being helpful with your skills.

So give it to your audience. Like their notes, comment when you have valuable things to say. Offer your help with whatever they need.

Use your skills to be their guide.

Step #5 - Write raw, honest posts

Posts are the place to build true trust with your audience.

This is where you truly open up, sharing vulnerable experiences, detailed frameworks, comprehensive guides, and demonstrate your expertise.

Your posts need to combine personal narratives with actionable insights.

Doing it every week will definitely go a long way in building that trust and anticipation. Each post will build upon previous ones and create a rich directory of valuable content.

Focus on quality over quantity. It’s better to go for less than once a week and have better quality.

Final words

Here’s how I’d summarize this article in two words.

Be engaged.

Do the work, be consistent and be helpful. In no time you’ll see a huge difference and you’ll feel better about your community.

Start today, appreciate it in a few months.