Substack Mastery

First Edition, September 2024

Copyright © Dr Mehmet Yildiz

Publisher: S.T.E.P.S. Publishing Australia

P.O Box 2097, Roxburgh Park, Victoria, 3064 Australia

Edited by Mark Longfield, Dr Michael Broadly, Dr Albert Jones

Disclaimer

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, printing, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This book is provided for information and awareness purposes only. Although the publisher, author, and editors have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was accurate during the publishing process, the publisher, author, and editors do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions; whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other causes. Use of the information, instructions, and guidance contained in this book is at the readers' own risk.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Why I Wrote This Book

CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS Substack, why it matters, and how to start it

What is Substack, why it matters, and how to start it

How about writing?

Chapter 2: What is Substack Notes, why does it matter for freelance writers, and how do you start it in 5 minutes and use it to build an audience efficiently?

Chapter 3: How to Grow on Substack with Peer Recommendations and Powerful Sharing Tools

Chapter 4: Crafting an impactful strategy and adaptable delivery plan to maximize subscriber growth for sustainable business value

Practical Tips for Growing Your Substack Audience: Proven Best Practices from My Experience and Observations

Chapter 5: Editorial Excellence and Practical Tips for Self-Editing Newsletters for Cost Effectiveness and Reader Satisfaction

Chapter 6: How to Configure and Maintain Privacy of Substack Publications with Compelling Reasons

Chapter 7: LinkedIn Is Goldmine for Substack Creators for Growing Audience

Conclusions and Key Takeaways

Chapter 8: Why Readers Pay for Substack Newsletters and What Type of Content Fails to Attract Subscribers

Part 1: What Type of Newsletters Have Highest Conversion Rates

1. Exclusive and High-Quality Content

Part 2: Types of Content Readers Don’t Want to Pay For

Conclusions and Key Takeaways

Chapter 9: How Do the BOOST Options Work on Substack, and How Will I Supplement It With Community Power?

Why and How to Configure Boost Options on Substack Newsletters

Best Practices for Freelancers to Maximize Boost Features of Substack Newsletters

I designed a supplementary Boost program for our Substack Mastery community.

Chapter 10: How to Use Substack Newsletters for Marketing and Sales for Supplementary Income

Links to Available Chapters of Substack Mastery Book

Summary of Best Practices for Marketing and Sales

Summary of Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Conclusions and Key Takeaways

Chapter 11: Supercharge Your Substack Newsletters with Blogging on WordPress, Medium, or Other Platforms: Here’s What You Need to Know and How to Get Started Right Now

Can Blogging Boost Your Newsletter Growth?

How Blogging Boosts Your Newsletter Growth

What is the difference between Substack and WordPress for Bloggers?

How to Start Blogging for Absolute Beginners

1. Choose a Website Platform

2. Register a Domain Name

3. Sign Up for Web Hosting

4. Set Up Your Website

5. Add Essential Pages

6. Install Essential Plugins (for WordPress)

7. Integrate Your Substack to Your Blogging Site

8. Write Your First Blog Post, Promote it, and Maintain It

What is next?

Chapter 12: How to Boost Your Paid Memberships with Special Discounts or Mega Deals on Substack Creatively and Joyfully

Key Strategies I Will Cover in This Chapter:

The Power of Discounts: A Personal Case Study

Step-by-Step Guide to Offering Special Discounts on Substack

How to Create a Special Offer

How to Offer Discounts Manually

How to Gift Memberships to Loyal Subscribers

Create Mega Discounts for Limited Time Only

Why Mega Discounts Matter

How I Offered a Mega Discount for Founding Members

Conclusions and Key Takeaways

Chapter 13: 30 Essential Principles for 3 Levels of Freelance Writers Beyond Substack Offering a Proven Quality Enhancement Checklist

Why This Checklist Is Essential for Your Freelance Journey

✅ 30 Principles for 3 Levels of Freelancers Beyond Substack

🔰 For Beginners: Laying a Strong Foundation

📈 For Intermediate Writers: Building Momentum

🚀 For Advanced Writers: Scaling & Sustaining Success

Invitation to Be a Guest Blogger

Chapter 14: How to Add Interactive Educational Programs Using One of the 6 Globally Recognized Tools to Inform, Educate, Inspire, and Retain Your Subscribers

Introduction to 6 Globally Recognized Tools for Course Development and Marketing

Landing Pages and Funnel-Building for Marketing and Sales of Educational Products

Competitors of ClickFunnels or Kartra

5 Key Considerations When Choosing a Platform

Conclusions and Key Takeaways

Chapter 15: Why and How to Integrate Substack with Patreon for Compelling Reasons

Why Patreon Is Important for Substack Writers, Freelancers, and Content Entrepreneurs from 8 Different Aspects

Summary of Key Benefits of Integrating Patreon with Substack

What Distinguishes Patreon from Substack

A Sample Case Study to Integrate Substack with Patreon

How does Patreon compare to Substack in Charging Creators?

Conclusions and Key Takeaways

Chapter 16: How to Use Online Polls on Substack Effectively to Improve Your Content and Grow Your Audience

Introduction

Purpose of the Chapter

The Importance of Using Online Polls on Substack

8 Reasons Why Freelance Writers Might Use Online Polls

8 — Benefits of Online Polls

7 Best Practices for Using Polls to Get Optimal Outcomes

How to Create an Online Poll in Substack Posts or Newsletters

Can we hide the number of voters?

Conclusions and Key Takeaways

Chapter 18: Why and How to Add Surveys to Substack

Benefits of surveys and how to create them

Step-by-Step to Create a Survey on Substack

Conclusions and Takeaways

Chapter 19: How Substack Writers Can Leverage Reedsy to Become Published Authors and Scale Their Publishing Business with Global Collaboration

Purpose of This Advanced Chapter

How Substack Writers Can Leverage Reedsy to Become Published Authors and Scale Their Publishing Business with Global Collaboration

The Costs of Using Reedsy for Book Authors from Substack

Free Alternatives to Reedsy

Summary of Key Features of Reedsy

Conclusion and Key Takeaways for Established or Aspiring Book Authors

Chapter 20: 14 Powerful Tools, Platforms, & Strategies to Elevate Your Substack Newsletters & Skyrocket Your Audience

Are you ready to turn your passion for writing into a thriving business with an audience that hangs on every word and a steady stream of income flowing in? It is not a dream. It is a reality for those who know how to use the right tools.

Summary of 14 Powerful Tools and Approaches to Elevate Your Newsletters and Skyrocket Your Audience

Conclusions and Takeaways

Chapter 21: Sustaining Your Newsletters for Long-Term Success & Evolving with Your Audience & Community Around Your Work in 8 Steps

Conclusions and Key Takeaways

Conclusions: Your Substack Journey with Final Takeaways for Every Stage

For Beginners: Laying a Strong Foundation

For Intermediate Writers: Building Momentum

For Advanced Writers: Scaling and Sustaining Success

100 Key Takeaways for Every Stage of Building Your Substack

1. Foundation and Mindset

2. Building Trust and Engagement

3. Growth and Adaptability

4. Strategy and Planning

5. Monetization and Scaling

6. Tools and Optimization

7. Content Creation and Delivery

8. Reader Experience and Interaction

9. Inspiration and Growth Mindset

Introduction: Why I Wrote This Book

Afew months ago, when I publicly announced that I would dedicate 80% of my time to Substack, 15% to Newsbreak, and just 5% to Medium , I received an intriguing call from one of my book publishers. This serendipitous encounter was inspiring, much like one of my stories that also brought serendipity . Whenever serendipity knocks on my door , I answer graciously.

The company's CEO, who also happens to be a close friend, told me they were looking for a seasoned writer to write about Substack as a trendy topic in the publishing world. With my background and proven track record of publishing best-selling books, she said I was the best candidate for the job. So she approached me first.

She asked if I would be interested. I said yes, but I was clear that I didn’t want to pursue traditional publishing as we had in the past. Understanding my need for freedom, she offered a hybrid publishing model that nicely suited my needs.

However, she emphasized that the market on this topic was growing rapidly, and they wanted the book to be marketed to their clients within a month, so she requested the book proposal within three days. I agreed and sent the proposal with a table of contents. Within a day, they approved it with some additional suggestions.

The key point was that the book needed to be written in an autobiographical format, filled with hands-on experience and evidence-based claims, not just theoretical or motivational content. There are already plenty of such books, and they don’t sell well.

As you may know, publishers are focused on the bottom line, and even though she is my friend, she had to ensure the company’s financial success in this economic climate.

They then gave me one month to complete the first draft for approval. Compared to my technical and scientific books, this was a breeze to write.

After work and daily meditation, I simply talked to myself in a flow state, turned those self-conversations into text, and, with minor self-editing, sent it to a proofreader sponsored by the publishing company. This week, I submitted the manuscript, which will now undergo professional editing.

The traditional publishing company will manage its own sales in global markets, but based on my past experience, the commission I receive from them is minimal—essentially pocket money. That’s why I’ve moved away from exclusive traditional publishing, as I explained in a previous story a few years ago.

Preface: Why I Wrote This Book About Substack for New Readers

WELCOME TO AN EXCITING virtual journey that could transform your approach to digital content creation, marketing, distribution, and sales. I will introduce a simple yet very powerful tool: Substack.

Imagine diving into the vast ocean of online writing as a freelancer, only to find yourself lost in the waves of noise and competition, causing stress and anxiety.

Finding your voice, growing your audience, and building a sustainable newsletter can feel like solving a complex puzzle. But what if you had a clear map to guide you through this labyrinth? That’s exactly what I have aimed to provide with this new book.

For the past five years, I have been deeply immersed in the Substack ecosystem, weaving together my 42+ years of experience in content development, strategy, and marketing with a background as a scientist, technologist, inventor, and community leader.

This book is the product of this journey, with its ups and downs, written in an autobiographical style. It is a practical, heartfelt guide designed to help freelance writers and content entrepreneurs discover and amplify their unique voices, grow their audiences, earn income from their creations, and build a sustainable newsletter-based content development and marketing business.

As a new reader, you might be asking, Why should I invest my precious time in another book about writing? The answer is simple and personal.

Throughout my career as a now semi-retired technology/science consultant for large organizations and startup companies, I have witnessed countless talented people struggle with the same challenges freelance writers face.

Finding their footing in the world of digital content creation and audience building is a daunting task. As a person with high digital intelligence, strong emotional intelligence, an admirable adversity quotient, and a reasonable IQ, I struggled and even failed multiple times with strong fallback positions. Those who don’t have sufficient levels of these types of intelligence are prone to a more painful failure even before they start.

I witnessed that despite the flashy success stories and grand promises, there has often been a missing piece in the publishing industry: real, hands-on guidance that addresses the everyday struggles of content creators. My new book is my way of bridging that gap.

Although I come from an academic background and know the importance of solid theory behind practice, my new book is not just about theory or abstract concepts.

I offer my struggles honestly and humbly, my true feelings, my triumphs, and failures with practical and actionable insights born from my own experience of growing a Substack to around 30,000 subscribers, my publications to 100,000+ subscribers, and earning the endorsement of 491 fellow Substack writers without even promoting my services. They helped me gain 4,000 subscribers.  This shows the importance of endorsements for Substack Writers as the first lesson.

I HAVE WALKED THE PATH you are on now. Therefore, I want to share the lessons I have learned —  triumphs and trials — with you.

As you turn the digital or paperback pages of my new book, here’s what you will be surprised by and what you will uncover as unspoken truth:

You will discover how to unearth and develop your unique perspective, making your content stand out and deeply connect with your readers.

You will learn proven strategies for attracting and retaining readers, from crafting captivating content to effective promotion techniques that work.

You will gain insights into creating a content ecosystem that supports long-term growth and engagement, ensuring your newsletters or platforms remain vibrant and relevant.

You will get practical guidance on transforming your Substack newsletters into a viable income source tailored to your current growth stage.

Last but not least, you will find real-world solutions to common obstacles faced by content creators like freelancers or content entrepreneurs, including maintaining consistency and managing reader requirements and expectations.

As a bonus, I will give an opportunity to the readers of my book to be part of my diverse and supportive community and vast network.

My initial consultant editors posed the question, as usual: What sets this book apart?

I told them this wasn’t another book filled with flashy promises or theoretical fluff. This is a grounded, hands-on guide distilled from years of practical experience in simple language anyone can understand.

I designed it to serve as a tool that freelance writers or content entrepreneurs can use immediately, offering actionable strategies and real-world guidance and tips in a constructive and realistic way.

This book isn’t about quick fixes or passing fads. It covers insights into building a sustainable legacy of professional growth and personal fulfillment through captivating, meaningful, impactful, helpful, memorable, inspiring, and nuanced content creation.

I am excited to start this journey with my fellow writers and editors. By the end of this book, you will have the knowledge and confidence to grow your audience, build thriving Substack newsletters, and make your mark in the world of content creation and distribution.

Thank you for joining my journey. Let’s start the learning process with meaningful engagement for mutual benefit. Together, we can navigate this content labyrinth and build something truly extraordinary.

I look forward to your feedback as a beta reader. I will publish this on multiple platforms for free to give my beta readers the opportunity to refine it and make it a valuable knowledge source and illuminating reference for society.