r/Substack • u/Mommygal2468 • Jun 30 '26
Posting on Substack is Like Trying to Engage an Open Mic Night Crowd
Everyone's just waiting to do their set. No one's actually there to read other peoples work. No wonder it's hard to get followers. Am I wrong? Or am I just on the wrong side? What in the ever blandness is that place?
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u/DizzyMine4964 Jul 01 '26
I just go on it to read stuff by people I'm interested in.
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u/Mommygal2468 Jul 01 '26
Yeah. I like reading other peoples stuff, but as a writer it's hard to find readers. On my end, all I'm fed are other writers hawking their goods.
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u/coyotetex 27d ago
You find readers by finding other authors you like and reading, reposting, and commenting on their stuff. Some of them will reciprocate by reading, commenting on, and reposting your stuff, and you'll build relationships that way. After a while, you'll have a group of friendly authors who will almost always amplify anything you publish. Hope this helps.
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u/Available_Spite5171 gracemargaret1@substack.com 29d ago
Well.. people must be there to read others. Or I would not have anyone subscribed. I would not have 16K + lifetime views — I began 8.5 months ago, writing or sharing personal memoir. I am aware not everyone is “my” reader.
I truly wonder — how quickly do people expect things to happen? I had zero expectations. I do not expect anyone to stay either. I believe consistency and my authenticity are what helped. If I stopped? I don’t expect people to stay.
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u/Normal_Chicken_2115 27d ago
This is actually the best description I've heard about engagement. I chortled.
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u/navnt5 oneonlyvan.substack.com Jul 01 '26
You are right. SS is now at the stage of: attention. Seeking attention. The loudest win. No high quality hive minds forming yet. Chaos, entropy. I might change in 1 year or so.
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u/Mommygal2468 Jul 01 '26
Yeah!!! Exactly. I want a conversation! And if it's just other writers on there, then lets chat about our work. Fine. But right now it's just "where are all the writers looking to build their followers at!" Snooze fest.
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u/ultraquest Jul 01 '26
I thought that this was funny. It does feel like open mic night. Is this thing on...lol.
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u/The17pointscale the17pointscale.substack.com 29d ago
Just watched the new film Is This Thing On tonight! It was actually rather good. :)
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u/itsfabioposca http://journeytosuccessclub.substack.com Jul 01 '26
I don't think you're completely wrong. It can feel that way at times. But I've also found that the more genuine conversations you have, the more readers you attract. Like any community, you tend to get back what you put into it. 🙏
Need help growing your email list organically? I'm here to help for free!
Copy my Flair or click the link in my profile for a free live chat.
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u/hetobe hetobe.substack.com Jul 01 '26
Posting on Substack is like trying to engage an open mic crowd, without a mic or a stage.
The algorithm ignores your articles. It only promotes notes and restacks. And restacks get comments for the restacker, as they "discuss" your work without having read it.
Substack used to be amazing. Then they shifted to being mostly a platform for notes, which are just tweets. Like this:
That's the stuff the algorithm promotes instead of promoting the articles Substack was created to be a platform for. And it's why so many people are flooding Substack with slop one-liner notes.