Why Your Substack Might Need a Strategy Overhaul
Why Your Substack Might Need a Strategy Overhaul
Here's how I went from crickets to conversations on my Substack
Today’s newsletter is brought to you by
, Founding Member of The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋Jen is the go-to expert for authors who want to maximize their impact strategically via Substack. She has years of experience helping writers become bestselling authors and her publication, The Skillful Scribbler is the perfect place to help you take your author brand to the next level.
PS: I didn’t blackmail Jen to sell me or my services. I simply asked her to share her strategy and this is what she has for us today 😉
As writers, we're often too close to our work to see it clearly. Sometimes, we need someone else to hold up the mirror and show us what we're missing.
That's exactly what happened to me.
The Call for Clarity
I started my Substack, The Skillful Scribbler, with two goals: to improve my writing craft through consistency and to grow a targeted readership. As a professional copywriter with experience helping authors market their books, I thought I had a clear strategy.
But a year in, I realized something wasn't clicking. While I'd nailed the consistency part, publishing weekly without fail, my topics were all over the place. I wrote about copywriting, held writing circles, dabbled in mindset – you name it. (Even photos of my gorgeous trip to Morocco 🤣)
Creative Freedom vs. Strategic Focus
Substack had given me an amazing opportunity to rekindle my creativity and explore writing about things that I was genuinely interested in. My subscriber numbers were steadily growing, but any semblance of a strategy had gone out the window.
The critical issue? Engagement and lively discussions. (The most fun part of Substack.)
After 10ish months of writing weekly, the comment section still felt deathly silent.
That's when I knew I needed help.
🌳🍋 Enter Veronica and her Lemon Tree Mindset.
In our coaching session, Veronica pointed out something so obvious I felt a bit foolish for missing it. "Jen," she said, "you've worked with all these best-selling authors, but you're not talking about that at all. You must have so much you can share with people about how you've helped these authors."
Rediscovering My Superpower
It was a revelation. During my two years at Scribe Media, I helped dozens of successful entrepreneurs and authors launch their platforms.
My expertise lies in establishing a solid foundation of strategy and consistency to build the right audience.
I've guided writers in setting up newsletters and building strategic, sustainable email lists aligned with their business goals and expertise.
My philosophy? A smaller, engaged list trumps a large, disinterested one every time.
Ironically, I wasn't applying this to my own Substack. 🙄
My Strategy Shift
With Veronica's guidance, we quickly identified three new content pillars:
1. Emerging authors (Marketing 101 and list building for new authors)
2. Substack for authors
3. Mindset and well-being for writers
In the month following our session:
⚡ My first post, Why your email list is your book's best friend, brought in 6 new subscribers and 26 comments.
⚡ Two weeks later, my first proper chat thread, Two sentences can become your readers' Northstar, resulted in a lively conversation and a paid subscriber.
⚡ Authors, tune in: the great email debate rages on attracted three new subscribers and 16 comments.
⚡ Overall engagement was boosted through the comments and chats, which led to weekly chat threads with meaningful connections.
Quality Over Quantity
The most notable shift was in the caliber of subscribers and conversations.
joined a chat thread and said, “I friggin’ love the perspective shift you just provided. That was REALLY good. How much do I owe you for the therapy session? 😂”
By focusing on emerging authors, I connected with readers genuinely interested in what I had to share.
added, “Smart advice for all creators if you want to reach more fans. Looking forward to reading your tips for authors.”
Recognize We All Have Blind Spots
We all need coaching and an external perspective on our work. Making that investment in your growth as a creative is how you understand what areas to focus on.
High-level conversations are as valuable to a writer as feedback on the writing itself. Those discussions can happen in chat threads and 1:1 conversations.
It reminds me of a universal truth among authors: book marketing often feels 'icky.' Whether you're an established author launching your latest book or a newbie starting a newsletter, that 'ick' factor can stop you in your tracks.
But here's the thing - it doesn't have to. There are ways to make marketing feel less of a necessary evil and more like an extension of your writing. Trust me; you can do this without compromising your integrity or feeling like you need a shower afterward.
Selecting the Ideal Guide
It's important to find a mentor or coach who's a few steps ahead of where you want to be.
I’d been following Veronica for some time and saw how hard she was working to serve her readers and build a community before I reached out.
She was just far enough ahead to offer valuable advice about her experience and help me apply it to my newsletter.
That outside perspective on my Substack strategy was a game-changer. It's easy to get caught up in our own ideas and miss the obvious, especially when it's right under your nose.
Her insights helped me reconnect with my expertise and find a clearer direction for my newsletter.
The result wasn't just better numbers but more meaningful engagement with readers who genuinely connected with my content.
It reminded me that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to step back and let someone else take a look.
Whether it's a professional coach or a trusted peer, that fresh set of eyes can spot the opportunities we've been overlooking. Ultimately, it's not about feeling like you’re behind - it's about investing in your growth as a writer.
Ready to embark on your author journey with a solid foundation?
The Skillful Scribbler is the go-to expert for authors who want to maximize their reach via Substack and build an audience from day one. Subscribers benefit from regular chat threads that support you in writing consistently and a place to swap advice and stories.
And when you're ready to scale up, Veronica's Lemon Tree Mindset is the perfect next step. Your writing career deserves expert support at every stage.
Hope to see you in the comments section or a weekly chat thread soon.
Lemons & Lemonade 🍋
If you’re ready to scale and monetize your work, this is how I can help you:
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Actionable articles to accelerate your growth
Monthly webinars & Tutorials on strategy and monetization
Exclusive Community of 180+ for collaboration and peer-to-peer sharing
Opportunity for affiliate marketing (50% commission on sales)
🌳 Founding Members
All benefits from Paid Subscribers
One 1:1 session on strategy to accelerate your growth
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Place an ad to reach 6,300 (T&C apply)
And a little surprise for my Paid Subscribers 🔥
I’m joining forces with Maya Sayvanova and David Mcllroy on an exclusive webinar to discuss…WRITING MAGIC
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🗓️ 30 October 7am New York Time
I will share the link in the Paid Chat.
Thanks, Jen, this is very insightful.
It's amazing what a trained pair of eyes looking at your work can do! Veronica's strategy session also gave me clarity about my strengths and focus.