Thanks, Mack. You are honestly one of very few voices that I will trust in terms of advice to help grow my Substack over the next year and beyond. I'm really excited for the advice that you're going to be providing us and also to see how we can all build our communities together. Thanks, as ever, for the extremely valuable content and the no-BS takes.
Thank you, Sam! This year will be great and I am going to enjoy being able to grow alongside so many of you. I'm really excited to see where this takes us!
One thing I am watching with Beehiiv is if they get another funding round this year or not. If they do and if it puts Beehiiv at a higher valuation than Substack, that might change some things. But I don't think it will be, if they get a funding round I am expecting it will be about half of Substack's last one. We will see!
In 2026, the year I take a closer look at and track everything revenue-wise. And I appreciate how you don't want your audience to forget how Substack sits at the top 3 of that list.
You have a knack for getting me excited about this. There are so many people I know who aren't on Substack but really should be. They need to read this post.
As someone who isn't interested in paywalling my account, I'm curious to dig into what that path looks like to you. I might have to DM you on that one.
Thank you, Jen. Looking forward to hearing from you.
And as someone who wasn't interested in paywalls either, I have come around. People will pay for more valuable content. And you deserve to be paid for creating valuable content.
You’re absolutely right; time waits for no one, especially not in the fast-paced world of Substack. Building that foundation now means you’ll be ready to seize the moment when the growth surge hits—no one wants to be that person frantically trying to catch up while everyone else is riding high.
You're exactly right, Barry. I just know that a year from now, some people are going to be kicking themselves for not building sooner here. I want everyone to rise together.
Thank you for liking my first very post! 💖 I really appreciate that. And your article is perfect timing for me, since I am JUST getting started. I will definitely be following along.
You're very welcome, Cecilia. We all need a pat on the back when we first get started. A little encouragement goes a long way. Thank you for following, we are going to have a lot of fun in 2026 :)
Sharpening my content focus and marrying that to my Paid tier and offerings has been a game-changer for converting free subscribers to Paid. Free subs will convert once they can see the progression and the focus makes sense to them.
Love this post Mack! You're literally the only Substack-related person I trust on here ❤️
Can't wait to see what's in store for us and how Substack's gonna grow in the coming months. I for sure would love more customization. Also I heard a lot of people I appreciate on here are moving to platforms like Beehiiv, which is interesting as I don't think they have the community features Substack has, but many probably don't mind that!
I wonder if the people going to Beehiiv are wanting to just focus on writing and not worry about the community building and engagement? I love it, I know you do too. But I could see how some people only want to write.
Thanks Mack. Can’t wait see what you have planned. I started with my messy founder journey, some business, some personal stuff. It’s all over the place so your content strategy tips are what I’m most excited for.
Thank you, Anna! I think a big part of the process is simply creating content, and figuring out what relationship you want to have with your audience as a result. Putting a plan on paper is NOT the same as executing that plan. Because once you go through the content creation process, you get a feel for what you enjoy about the process, as well as what you don't. And at the same time, you get a sense of what your audience likes and dislikes. All this gets mixed together, and 9 times out of 10, we end up pivoting and changing our content focus at some point.
Eventually, we hopefully end up at a point where you (the content creator) enjoy the process, and your audience enjoys your content. Once that match is made, creating here is much easier and much more fun!
Thank you, Dr ;) As content creators, we are told we must create for the audience, but we also have to create for *ourselves*. Our best work is only unlocked when we tap into our passions. And content creation is such a long game, we have to be invested in it. Hope you have a wonderful Thursday!
Some great advice here, Mack! Thanks for writing this post. I found it very interesting your focus on content and conversion over community as I have seen many writers here stress on the community angle more. Really appreciate the no-BS takes and I am excited to see how we can evolve as Substack grows!
Thank you Raghav! Having a solid community/engagement strategy IS important, but I think it’s best to get your content and conversion strategies set first, then start focusing on community.
If you focus on community first, then you will grow your readership, but have no way to convert that readership because you haven’t designed a content and conversion strategy to support it.
All are equally important, but in a certain order.
Thanks Mack. Always great advice like usual. I appreciate that you are keeping tabs on what’s happening here, it allows me to focus on my content without taking the time to understand what the platform offers. As a marketing person I have to resist this! I like your offer, you’ll be my first subscription. No one else will be able to hold that title here! Cheers 😂😂😂😎
Thanks, Mack. You are honestly one of very few voices that I will trust in terms of advice to help grow my Substack over the next year and beyond. I'm really excited for the advice that you're going to be providing us and also to see how we can all build our communities together. Thanks, as ever, for the extremely valuable content and the no-BS takes.
Thank you, Sam! This year will be great and I am going to enjoy being able to grow alongside so many of you. I'm really excited to see where this takes us!
Excited about this, Mack. One of biggest struggles is thinking through how to create a paid tier.
Thank you, Joe! Next month’s content will focus on creating a conversion strategy. Setting up a Paid tier will be one of the topics.
slides empty glass across the bar I'm in.
Do I get a cool nickname like 'Rusty' or am I stuck being 'the writer who showed up late to the heist'?
I promise to take the metrics stuff more seriously when I'm back from Trinidad lol
You are Neela, how are you going to be cooler than that? :)
gimme French fries….
I am curious how things with Substack will play out. How do you think that e.g. Beehiiv will be performing?
One thing I am watching with Beehiiv is if they get another funding round this year or not. If they do and if it puts Beehiiv at a higher valuation than Substack, that might change some things. But I don't think it will be, if they get a funding round I am expecting it will be about half of Substack's last one. We will see!
In 2026, the year I take a closer look at and track everything revenue-wise. And I appreciate how you don't want your audience to forget how Substack sits at the top 3 of that list.
I'm excited to see where you go with Substack, this year!
You have a knack for getting me excited about this. There are so many people I know who aren't on Substack but really should be. They need to read this post.
As someone who isn't interested in paywalling my account, I'm curious to dig into what that path looks like to you. I might have to DM you on that one.
Thank you, Jen. Looking forward to hearing from you.
And as someone who wasn't interested in paywalls either, I have come around. People will pay for more valuable content. And you deserve to be paid for creating valuable content.
GREAT POST! So glad I'm geared up to ride the tidal wave of growth because of your encouragement, for real! Thanks, Mack!
Thank you Tracy. Come hell or high water, I am getting to the top of that Substack mountain, and I'm taking you with me :)
WOOHOO! 🙌 I LOVE IT!
You’re absolutely right; time waits for no one, especially not in the fast-paced world of Substack. Building that foundation now means you’ll be ready to seize the moment when the growth surge hits—no one wants to be that person frantically trying to catch up while everyone else is riding high.
You're exactly right, Barry. I just know that a year from now, some people are going to be kicking themselves for not building sooner here. I want everyone to rise together.
Thank you for liking my first very post! 💖 I really appreciate that. And your article is perfect timing for me, since I am JUST getting started. I will definitely be following along.
You're very welcome, Cecilia. We all need a pat on the back when we first get started. A little encouragement goes a long way. Thank you for following, we are going to have a lot of fun in 2026 :)
Excited for the next wave and really honing my paid tier in the next 6 months with you!
Sharpening my content focus and marrying that to my Paid tier and offerings has been a game-changer for converting free subscribers to Paid. Free subs will convert once they can see the progression and the focus makes sense to them.
We are on this journey together :)
I have lots to learn and the energy to experiment! Here we go!!
Love this post Mack! You're literally the only Substack-related person I trust on here ❤️
Can't wait to see what's in store for us and how Substack's gonna grow in the coming months. I for sure would love more customization. Also I heard a lot of people I appreciate on here are moving to platforms like Beehiiv, which is interesting as I don't think they have the community features Substack has, but many probably don't mind that!
I wonder if the people going to Beehiiv are wanting to just focus on writing and not worry about the community building and engagement? I love it, I know you do too. But I could see how some people only want to write.
Yep I think so too! And they mostly complain about the limited email / personalization capabilities of Substack, which makes so much sense.
Thanks Mack. Can’t wait see what you have planned. I started with my messy founder journey, some business, some personal stuff. It’s all over the place so your content strategy tips are what I’m most excited for.
Thank you, Anna! I think a big part of the process is simply creating content, and figuring out what relationship you want to have with your audience as a result. Putting a plan on paper is NOT the same as executing that plan. Because once you go through the content creation process, you get a feel for what you enjoy about the process, as well as what you don't. And at the same time, you get a sense of what your audience likes and dislikes. All this gets mixed together, and 9 times out of 10, we end up pivoting and changing our content focus at some point.
Eventually, we hopefully end up at a point where you (the content creator) enjoy the process, and your audience enjoys your content. Once that match is made, creating here is much easier and much more fun!
I love that you say we must enjoy what we create. Otherwise what is even the point.
Really appreciate your content and advice! Thank you!
Thank you, Dr ;) As content creators, we are told we must create for the audience, but we also have to create for *ourselves*. Our best work is only unlocked when we tap into our passions. And content creation is such a long game, we have to be invested in it. Hope you have a wonderful Thursday!
Some great advice here, Mack! Thanks for writing this post. I found it very interesting your focus on content and conversion over community as I have seen many writers here stress on the community angle more. Really appreciate the no-BS takes and I am excited to see how we can evolve as Substack grows!
Thank you Raghav! Having a solid community/engagement strategy IS important, but I think it’s best to get your content and conversion strategies set first, then start focusing on community.
If you focus on community first, then you will grow your readership, but have no way to convert that readership because you haven’t designed a content and conversion strategy to support it.
All are equally important, but in a certain order.
Thanks Mack. Always great advice like usual. I appreciate that you are keeping tabs on what’s happening here, it allows me to focus on my content without taking the time to understand what the platform offers. As a marketing person I have to resist this! I like your offer, you’ll be my first subscription. No one else will be able to hold that title here! Cheers 😂😂😂😎
Thank you so much, Juliann! I'm honored :) Here's to our growth on Substack, and to you enjoying more rides on that motorcycle :)