
import PostLayout from '@layouts/postlayout'

export const meta = {
    title: '5 Ways to Get Your First 100 Substack Subscribers',
    description: 'substack, subscriptions, first 100, growth hacking',
    author: 'Nic Conley'
}

## 5 Ways to Get Your First 100 Substack Subscribers 

You've just created a Substack and now you need subscribers to read your work. It helps if you already have a following on a different platform, but let's face it... most people don't. You can ask your friends and family to subscribe, but are they actually interested in the topics you're writing about? Growing your Substack subscribers list can seem challenging when starting from zero. 

Here are 5 ways to get your first 100 Substack Subscribers:

1. **Reddit**: Reddit is a great place to find readers interested in a specific topic. You can find subreddits for just about any topic, and engage with people that are actively interested in your niche. 
There is one key to using Reddit that you must be careful about. Most subreddits prohibit self promotion, so make sure you do not post a direct link to your Substack. Instead, post valuable content related to your niche that people will engage with. At the bottom of your post you can say something like “if you liked this, I also write weekly about xyz… if you're interested in subscribing, send me a message and i'll send you a free link.”
This way you are providing valuable content to the community, and building a funnel to your substack. This will also produce more engaged subscribers, since there is an added step for them to subscribe.
![](/img/posts/5-ways-to-get-your-first-100-substack-subscribers/1.png)

1. **Twitter**: Twitter seems to be the most popular recommendation to find new subscribers, but here's a way to utilize Twitter that most writers don't take advantage of. First, make sure your Substack link is in your bio, so anyone looking at your twitter profile will see it. Next, you'll need to find twitter accounts in your niche, and start interacting with them as much as possible. Retweet, like, and respond to their tweets. Once you've gotten on their radar, directly message them and ask if they'll do a Q & A on your Substack. Send them a list of interview questions, and feature them in your Substack. 
When you feature them, they'll get additional exposure and will most likely share your post. This will not only give your Substack more credibility, but also free promotion when it gets shared. 
![](/img/posts/5-ways-to-get-your-first-100-substack-subscribers/2.jpg)

1. **Substack Writing Groups**: You're trying to grow your following, and so are 100's of other writers. There are tons of writing groups you can join on Facebook, Reddit, and even Twitter. Make sure to join Substack specific groups, since Substack varies from other platforms.
In these writing groups you can promote your work, see what's working for others, and network with writers in your niche. Click here to join the Substack Growth Hackers Facebook group. 
![](/img/posts/5-ways-to-get-your-first-100-substack-subscribers/3.png)

1. **Comment on other Substacks**: Substack allows you to like and comment on posts. Use these features to network with other writers in your niche, and get your username shown on their post. When you leave a comment on a Substack post, it is displayed on the post, and gives readers the ability to click into your profile. 
Leave insightful comments that will intrigue the readers to check out your profile. This will also get you known by the writer, and could lead to a collaboration in the future.
![](/img/posts/5-ways-to-get-your-first-100-substack-subscribers/4.png)

1. **SubShark Referral Tool**: It is estimated that popular newsletters get around 30% of their subscribers through a referral program. It makes sense right? If your subscriber loves your content, they probably have a friend that would love it too. And if you offer them a reward, they'll be incentivised to bring you new subscribers. 
Subshark makes it super easy to set up a referral program for your Substack, and allows you to choose the rewards you want to offer. For example, you can offer a shout-out for 5 referrals, access to your paid newsletter for 10 referrals, and a sticker pack with your logo for 20 referrals. 
SubShark is currently in beta, but is launching to the public soon.

Sign up here to get early access -> 
[![https://subshark.io](/img/posts/5-ways-to-get-your-first-100-substack-subscribers/5.png)](https://subshark.io)

export default ({ children }) => <PostLayout meta={meta}>{children}</PostLayout>

5 Ways to Get Your First 100 Substack Subscribers


import PostLayout from '@layouts/postlayout'

export const meta = {
    title: '9 Free-to-You Rewards to Use in Your Referral Program',
    description: 'substack, subscriptions, rewards, growth hacking',
    author: 'Nic Conley'
}

# 9 Free-to-You Rewards to Use in Your Referral Program

1. **Ebook or Digital Products**\
An e-book or online guide can be a great incentive for your subscribers to refer their friends to your newsletter. Make sure the info you provide in the digital product is valuable to your target audience, and not available for free on other channels.\
_Example: "Get access to my 2022 stock watchlist - 5 Referrals"._

1. **Access to a Group or Club**\
Online communities like Facebook groups, Discord channels, or Telegram groups are great for building a community around your niche, and connecting with your readers. Requiring your community members to refer their friends to your newsletter will bring in higher quality members to your community, and grow your subscriber list at the same time.\
_Example: "Get access to my real estate investing community Discord - 10 Referrals"_

1. **30 Minute Phone Call or Consultation**\
If you are known as an expert in your niche, this reward can be very valuable to your readers. Offer a 15 or 30 min call to discuss whatever your reader would like to ask you about.\
_Example: "Get a free 30-min consultation with me to review any real estate deal - 15 Referrals"_

1. **Access to Your Paid Newsletter**\
If you run a free newsletter along with a paid version, this reward is a no-brainer. Offer your subscribers 1-month access to your paid newsletter for referring their friends. If the subscriber finds your paid content valuable, they may just convert to a paid subscriber after the free 1-month.\
_Example: "Get 1 month access to my paid newsletter - 5 Referrals"_

1. **Custom Video Shoutout**\
Would your subscribers be excited to get a personalized video shoutout from you? If so, this could be a great reward to offer. Check out cameo.com for inspiration.\
_Example: "Get a personalized video shoutout from our writers - 20 Referrals"_

1. **Write a Post on Their Topic of Choice**\
Offer to write a newsletter on any topic of their choice. This will work great if your subscribers are interested in your opinions or insights of a specific topic, and can also give you a new idea to write about.\
_Example: "I'll write a post on any topic of your choice - 25 Referrals."_

1. **A Guest Post on Your Newsletter**\
Allow one of your subscribers to write a guest post on your newsletter. This would be extremely valuable to a subscriber that would like to share their writing with your audience.\
_Example: "Write a guest post on my Substack - 30 Referrals."_

1. **Free Advertisement in Your Newsletter**\
Offering a free advertisement in your newsletter is a great reward for subscribers that would like to advertise to your target audience. If you're already getting paid to run ads in your newsletter, you know how much an ad is worth.\
_Example: "Get a free ad in the newsletter - 20 Referrals."_

1. **Tokens in Your Newsletter**\
This may be the most complicated reward, but arguably one of the coolest. You can tokenize your newsletter, and offer tokens (or shares) to subscribers that refer new subscribers. Refind.com is currently doing this by offering 20 tokens to anyone that refers a new subscriber and they plan to buy back the tokens once they become profitable.\
_Example: "Earn 10 tokens in our newsletter - 10 Referrals"_

export default ({ children }) => <PostLayout meta={meta}>{children}</PostLayout>

9 Free-to-You Rewards to Use in Your Referral Program


import PostLayout from '@layouts/postlayout'

export const meta = {
    title: 'How to create a Podcast on Substack (step-by-step)',
    description: 'substack, subscriptions, podcast, growth hacking',
    author: 'Nic Conley'
}

## How to create a Podcast on Substack (step-by-step) 

Adding a podcast to your Substack is a great way to give your audience a new way to consume your content. You can release podcast only content, or read through your Substack post, to give your audience the option to listen instead of read. The good news is that setting up a podcast on Substack is super easy.

Here is how to create a podcast on Substack in three easy steps:

#### Step 1: From your Substack dashboard, select “New episode” under the Create Menu
![](/img/posts/how-to-create-a-podcast-on-substack/1.png)
Optional: You can also create a new episode by navigation to your Podcast dashboard.
![](/img/posts/how-to-create-a-podcast-on-substack/2.png)
And select "New episode"
![](/img/posts/how-to-create-a-podcast-on-substack/3.png)

#### Step 2:  You can choose to upload your podcast audio, or record the audio directly from your browser. 
![](/img/posts/how-to-create-a-podcast-on-substack/4.png)
#### Step 3: Write your title, subtitle, and write in the body of the post. Once finished, select Publish and your podcast will be sent to your subscribers.
![](/img/posts/how-to-create-a-podcast-on-substack/5.png)

Congrats! You're officially a Substack Podcaster!

export default ({ children }) => <PostLayout meta={meta}>{children}</PostLayout>

How to create a Podcast on Substack (step-by-step)


import PostLayout from '@layouts/postlayout'

export const meta = {
    title: 'How to create a newsletter referral program for Substack',
    description: 'substack, subscriptions, podcast, growth hacking',
    author: 'Nic Conley'
}

# How to create a newsletter referral program for Substack

Are you looking to grow your Substack and allow your current subscribers to refer you new subscribers? Well, you've come to the right place!

The Subshark newsletter referral tool allows you to build a referral program for your Substack in under 2 minutes! Let's take a look at how you can get started:

## What is a newsletter referral program?

A newsletter referral program allows your current subscribers to bring you new subscribers, and get rewarded for it. Each of your current subscribers can generate their own unique referral link for your newsletter. Anytime someone signs up using their unique link, the new subscriber will be attributed to them, allowing subscribers to earn rewards for the subscribers they send to you.

## Newsletter referral program for Substack

Substack is a great place to start, build, and grow an email newsletter, but unfortunately the platform does not feature a built-in referral program.

Luckily the [Subshark.io](http://subshark.io/) Substack referral tool allows Substack writers like you, to create a referral program on Substack!

The Subshark newsletter referral program takes 2 minutes to set up, and allows your current subscribers to bring your new subscribers, and get rewarded for it!

Subshark's newsletter referral program can be set up in **just 4 steps:**

1. Create a new referral campaign.
2. Input your newsletter title and description.
3. Select the rewards that subscribers will receive at referral milestones.
4. Publish the link in your next newsletter with [a custom button](https://subshark.io/posts/substack-custom-button)!

Once you receive new referrals, you can download the CSV from your Subshark dashboard, and upload your new subscribers to Substack.

Want to get started quickly? Check out this quick start video to get started:

[https://youtu.be/BvC43vPKuAo](https://youtu.be/BvC43vPKuAo)

## Creating your referral program for Substack

1. Log in to your Subshark account, and select "Create New Campaign"

![](/img/posts/how-to-create-newsletter-referral-program/1.png)

2. Add your newsletter title and description (*this will be displayed on your referral program landing page*).

![](/img/posts/how-to-create-newsletter-referral-program/2.png)

3. Set your milestone tiers and rewards. *Check out [9 free-to-you reward ideas to use in your referral program](https://subshark.io/posts/9-free-to-you-reward-incentives).*

![](/img/posts/how-to-create-newsletter-referral-program/3.png)

4. Copy the link to your referral program and share it in your newsletter!

![](/img/posts/how-to-create-newsletter-referral-program/4.png)

**Bonus:** You can use the Substack Custom button to embed the referral program link into your Substack Newsletter. Check out [How to Use the Substack Custom Button for Your Referral Program.](https://subshark.io/posts/substack-custom-button)

Once your subscribers click on your referral program link, they are sent to your referral program landing page.

![](/img/posts/how-to-create-newsletter-referral-program/5.png)

From this page your subscribers can find:

1. The milestones and corresponding rewards.
2. Their unique referral link
3. How many new subscribers they've referred to you.

### Adding your new subscribers to Substack

At the moment, Substack does not offer an API which means you will need to manually import new subscribers. Luckily Subshark's CSV export allows us to import our new subscribers to Substack in seconds!

1. From your Subshark dashboard, select the "dashboard" button for your campaign.

![](/img/posts/how-to-create-newsletter-referral-program/6.png)

2. From here you will find your referees and your new subscribers! When a referee brings you a new subscriber through their link, it will automatically show under their subscriber count.

![](/img/posts/how-to-create-newsletter-referral-program/7.png)

3. From here, you can download the CSV containing your new subscribers and upload it under the "Subscribers" tab in Substack.

![](/img/posts/how-to-create-newsletter-referral-program/8.png)

And that's it! You've officially set up your Substack referral program.

Make sure to check our [Subshark.io](http://subshark.io/) to start growing your Substack today!

export default ({ children }) => <PostLayout meta={meta}>{children}</PostLayout>

How to create a newsletter referral program for Substack


import PostLayout from '@layouts/postlayout'

export const meta = {
    title: 'How to create a Podcast on Substack (step-by-step)',
    description: 'substack, subscriptions, podcast, growth hacking',
    author: 'Nic Conley'
}

# How to Use the Substack Custom Button for Your Referral Program

### What is a Substack Custom Button & How Does it Work?

The Substack Custom Button is a feature that allows you to create your own button within your Substack post. The custom button works by creating a clickable button icon that re-directs to the link you provide.

### How To Use A Substack Custom Button For Your Subshark Referral Program

The Custom Button can be used to include your Subshark referral program in your Substack post. 

Find the custom button under the “Buttons” dropdown.

Enter the Text you would like displayed, and the URL of your Referral Program link. 

![custom_button.gif](/img/posts/substack-custom-button/custom_button_AdobeExpress.gif)

This will create a button directing your readers directly to your Referral Program landing page.

![button_to_page.gif](/img/posts/substack-custom-button/button_to_page_AdobeExpress.gif)

### How To Customize your Custom Button

*Want to change the color of your button?* 

You can change the color theme of your entire Substack under **Settings** → **Edit your publication theme.**

![screenshot.png](/img/posts/substack-custom-button/Screen_Shot_2022-10-18_at_9.15.02_PM.png)

Remember to check out Subshark to set up your Substack Referral program in minutes!

Thanks for reading!

export default ({ children }) => <PostLayout meta={meta}>{children}</PostLayout>


