Substack is a popular online platform that allows writers to publish newsletters and monetize their content. One of the key metrics for Substack writers is their subscriber count, as it directly impacts their revenue and success on the platform. Understanding Substack subscriber metrics is crucial for writers to track their growth and make informed decisions about their content and marketing strategies.
Tracking subscriber growth is an essential part of building a successful newsletter on Substack. Writers can view their total number of subscribers, as well as the net number of subscribers who have joined or left in the last 30 days. Additionally, writers can analyze their 30-day views, which is the sum of all views to their publication across platforms in the last 30 days. By tracking these metrics, writers can identify trends and adjust their content and marketing strategies accordingly to increase their subscriber count and engagement.
Key Takeaways
- Substack subscriber count is a crucial metric for writers to track their growth and success on the platform.
- Tracking subscriber growth and analyzing 30-day views can help writers identify trends and adjust their content and marketing strategies to increase their subscriber count and engagement.
- A higher subscriber count can lead to increased revenue and success on Substack.
Understanding Substack
What Is Substack?
Substack is a platform that enables writers to create and publish email newsletters. It was founded in 2017 by Chris Best, Jairaj Sethi, and Hamish McKenzie. The platform has gained popularity among writers who want to monetize their content by charging readers for access to premium content.
Substack offers a range of tools that allow writers to create and distribute newsletters easily. It also provides analytics tools that allow writers to track their subscriber count, views, and engagement rates. Substack has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for writers to manage their newsletters and subscribers.
Substack’s Business Model
Substack’s business model is based on a revenue-sharing model. The platform takes a 10% cut of the revenue generated by writers through paid subscriptions. This means that writers keep 90% of the revenue generated by their newsletters.
Substack also offers a free version of its platform that allows writers to publish newsletters for free. However, the platform takes a 0% cut of the revenue generated by writers through free subscriptions.
Overall, Substack has become a popular platform for writers who want to monetize their content through email newsletters. Its user-friendly interface, analytics tools, and revenue-sharing model make it an attractive option for writers looking to build a sustainable business around their content.
Substack Subscriber Metrics
Importance of Subscriber Count
Substack subscriber count is a crucial metric that helps publishers to measure the success of their newsletter. The number of subscribers indicates the size of the audience that the newsletter reaches, and it is an essential factor in determining the revenue generated by the newsletter. A higher subscriber count means that the newsletter has a more extensive reach and a higher potential for revenue generation.
Publishers can use the subscriber count to assess the effectiveness of their marketing strategies and content. By tracking the subscriber count, publishers can determine which content resonates with their audience and which marketing strategies are most effective in attracting new subscribers. Additionally, publishers can use the subscriber count to set realistic revenue goals and monitor progress towards those goals.
Public vs. Private Counts
Substack offers both public and private subscriber counts. The public subscriber count is the number of subscribers that are publicly displayed on the newsletter’s landing page. The private subscriber count is the total number of subscribers, including those who have chosen to keep their subscription private.
Publishers can choose whether to display the subscriber count publicly or keep it private. Displaying the subscriber count publicly can help to build social proof and attract new subscribers. However, some publishers prefer to keep the subscriber count private to avoid competition or to maintain a sense of exclusivity.
In conclusion, the subscriber count is an essential metric for measuring the success of a Substack newsletter. Publishers can use the subscriber count to assess the effectiveness of their marketing strategies and content and set realistic revenue goals. Additionally, publishers can choose whether to display the subscriber count publicly or keep it private, depending on their preferences and goals.
Tracking Subscriber Growth
Substack is a popular platform for newsletter creators to share their content with subscribers. Tracking subscriber growth is an important metric for newsletter creators to understand how their publication is performing. There are two main ways to track subscriber growth: through the Substack dashboard and third-party tools.
Substack Dashboard
The Substack dashboard provides a high-level overview of subscriber growth and engagement. Creators can view their subscriber count and track the number of new subscribers over time. The dashboard also displays the retention rate, which is the percentage of subscribers who continue to subscribe after the first month.
In addition to subscriber count, the Substack dashboard provides data on post performance and gross annualized revenue. Creators can see which posts are performing well and which ones are not resonating with their audience. They can also track their revenue and see how much money they are making from paid subscriptions.
Third-Party Tools
There are several third-party tools that can help newsletter creators track subscriber growth. These tools provide more detailed analytics and insights than the Substack dashboard. Some popular tools include:
- Ghost
- Buttondown
- ConvertKit
These tools allow creators to track subscriber growth, engagement, and revenue. They also provide data on open rates, click-through rates, and other metrics that can help creators improve their newsletter content.
In conclusion, tracking subscriber growth is an important metric for newsletter creators to understand how their publication is performing. The Substack dashboard provides a high-level overview of subscriber count and engagement, while third-party tools offer more detailed analytics and insights. By tracking subscriber growth, creators can improve their content and grow their audience.
Increasing Subscriber Count
To grow a Substack subscriber list, one must have a well-thought-out strategy. Below are some content strategies and marketing techniques that can help increase the subscriber count.
Content Strategies
Creating high-quality content is the most important element of any Substack publication. Here are some tips to improve the quality of the content:
- Consistency: Consistency is key to building a loyal subscriber base. You should set a regular publishing schedule and stick to it.
- Engagement: Engaging content is more likely to be shared and recommended by subscribers. You should encourage feedback from your subscribers and respond to their comments.
- Variety: Variety is important to keep subscribers interested. You should consider using different formats, such as audio or video, to keep your content fresh.
Marketing Techniques
Marketing is essential to attract new subscribers to your Substack publication. Here are some techniques that can help:
- Social Media: Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your Substack publication. You should create social media accounts and share your content regularly.
- Guest Posting: Guest posting on other Substack publications can help attract new subscribers. You should reach out to other Substack publishers in your niche and offer to write a guest post.
- Collaboration: Collaborating with other Substack publishers can help you reach a wider audience. You should consider collaborating on a project or hosting a joint event.
In conclusion, growing a Substack subscriber list takes time and effort. By implementing the above content strategies and marketing techniques, publishers can increase their subscriber count and build a loyal following.
Analyzing Subscriber Data
Substack provides writers with a wealth of data to help them understand their subscribers. By analyzing this data, writers can gain insights into their subscribers’ behavior, preferences, and demographics. This information can be used to improve engagement rates and tailor content to their audience.
Engagement Rates
One of the most important metrics to track is engagement rates. This includes open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Open rates refer to the percentage of subscribers who open an email, while click-through rates refer to the percentage of subscribers who click on a link in the email. Conversion rates refer to the percentage of subscribers who take a desired action, such as subscribing to a paid newsletter or purchasing a product.
By tracking these metrics over time, writers can determine which types of content are resonating with their audience and adjust their strategy accordingly. For example, if a certain type of article consistently receives high open and click-through rates, the writer may want to focus on producing more content of that nature.
Demographic Insights
Substack also provides writers with demographic insights into their subscribers. This includes data such as age, gender, location, and occupation. By analyzing this data, writers can gain a better understanding of their audience and tailor their content to their interests.
For example, if a writer’s subscribers are primarily located in a certain region, they may want to include more content that is relevant to that area. Similarly, if a large percentage of subscribers work in a certain industry, the writer may want to produce more content related to that industry.
Overall, by analyzing subscriber data, writers can gain valuable insights into their audience and improve engagement rates. By tailoring content to their subscribers’ interests and preferences, writers can build a loyal following and grow their subscriber count over time.
Monetization and Subscriber Count
Subscription Tiers
Substack offers two subscription tiers: free and paid. Creators can choose to offer their content for free or charge a subscription fee. The typical creator with an established following can expect that 5-10% of their existing audience will become paid subscribers at a place like Substack. This 5-10% is the engaged audience that loves the creator’s work, wants more of it, is willing and able to pay, and wants to support them. Of course, this statistic will vary depending on the creator’s reach, content quality, and niche.
Revenue Projections
Substack has become a popular platform for writers to monetize their content. According to Backlinko, Substack boasts a dedicated paying subscriber base of over 500,000 members as of 2023. The Dispatch is likely the highest-earning Substack account, charging $10 per month and having tens of thousands of subscribers. Between September 2020 and October 2021, the top ten newsletter owners almost tripled their Substack earnings, earning a combined $20 million.
Creators can project their revenue based on the number of subscribers they have. Substack offers a dashboard that tracks subscriber growth, views, and engagement. The dashboard can help creators understand whether their content is resonating with their audience and whether their marketing efforts are effective.
In conclusion, Substack offers creators the ability to monetize their content through subscriptions. Creators can choose to offer their content for free or charge a subscription fee. Based on the number of subscribers, creators can project their revenue. The dashboard provided by Substack can help creators track their subscriber growth, views, and engagement.
Case Studies
Successful Substack Creators
Substack has been a popular platform for writers who want to monetize their content. Many writers have leveraged the platform’s features to grow their subscriber count and generate revenue. One such example is Matt Taibbi, a political journalist who launched his newsletter on Substack in 2020. As of December 2023, he has over 100,000 paying subscribers. His newsletter, which covers politics and media, has become a go-to source for many readers.
Another successful Substack creator is Judd Legum, who launched his newsletter Popular Information in 2018. The newsletter covers politics and has gained a reputation for in-depth reporting and analysis. As of December 2023, Legum has over 200,000 paying subscribers. He has also expanded his brand to include a podcast and a YouTube channel.
Growth Over Time
Substack has seen significant growth since its launch in 2017. In 2023, the platform boasts over 500,000 paying subscribers and millions of readers. One reason for its success is its easy-to-use platform, which allows writers to focus on creating content rather than worrying about the technical aspects of running a newsletter.
A case study on Substack newsletters, Founder Stock Investing, reported earning a net of $3800 per month after fees from just 81 paying subscribers. The newsletter’s number of paying subscribers was less than 10% of their emailing list. This shows that even with a small subscriber count, writers can still generate revenue on the platform.
Overall, Substack has become a popular platform for writers who want to monetize their content. Its user-friendly interface and features have allowed many writers to grow their subscriber base and generate revenue.