How to Get Your First Paid Newsletter Subscribers
Simple tips to start earning from your content.
Struggling to grow your newsletter on Substack?
My Newsletter Growth Masterclass shows you how to gain 10–20 new subscribers a day and monetize your writing.
I got my first paid subscriber just two weeks after launching my newsletter.
Like everyone, I was excited.
Even though I’d been writing on Medium for a few years and earning through their Partner Program, Substack felt different.
Here’s why:
Medium pays you based on the algorithm. Substack pays you based on trust.
Someone literally pulls out their card to pay you, not a platform, for your content.
That’s validation.
It’s also when I knew this newsletter thing could become a real business.
Now, after 9 months of writing on Substack, I’ve learned a lot about what gets people to pay for your newsletter.
In this post, I’ll break it down so you can start turning readers into paying supporters.
Focus on Growing Free Subscribers First
Before you get paid subscribers, you need free ones.
A general rule of thumb: for every 100 free subscribers, you can expect to convert around 3 into paying members (a 3% conversion rate).
That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up.
So, your first job? Build that free list.
Here’s how to do it:
Publish at least once a week.
Post Notes 2–3 times a day.
Engage with other creators. Comment, reply, and be part of the community.
In the beginning, growth will feel slow.
That’s normal. Nobody knows who you are yet.
But if you keep showing up, people will start to notice.
If you stay consistent, you’ll find those who resonate with your voice, message, and content in about 6 weeks.