What Do I Even Write in Substack Notes?

If you’re staring at the Notes box wondering what to say, you’re not alone.

I asked myself the same question two months ago.

And now? Substack Notes is my #1 growth channel. It helped me grow from 75 to over 300+ subscribers — without paid ads or cold outreach.

But I had to unlearn how I thought content “should” work.

The magic of Notes isn’t that they’re like tweets. It’s that they’re conversations.

Here’s what to write when you don’t know what to write:

🧠 Teach 1 idea at a time

Instead of full essays, share a short insight. One takeaway. One aha moment.
Example:

“I stopped chasing traffic and started asking: Who is this actually helping? That shift changed my Substack.”

🤔 Ask a thoughtful question

People love to answer questions. Just keep it open, honest, and simple.
Examples:

“What’s the best Substack you read this week?”
“How do you see AI impacting your work over the next 6 months?”
“Anyone else feel overwhelmed by AI tools right now?”

💬 React to someone else's Note

This is the fastest way to build relationships and get seen. Add value. Start a thread.
Example:

“Loved this point from @X — ‘AI won’t replace you, but someone using AI will.’ 🔥”
“Adding my take: AI can automate tasks, but trust? Still earned human to human.”

🧪 Share what you’re trying

People follow people who experiment. Don’t act like an expert. Act like a builder.
Example:

“I’m testing daily AI-generated prompts to boost creativity. Will report back. Has anyone tried this?”

🪞Mirror your reader’s struggle

This one is powerful. Name the hard thing out loud. Make your reader feel seen.
Example:

“You’re trying to grow your Substack without sounding spammy. I get it. I’m in that stage too.”

TL;DR

Notes aren’t about going viral. They’re about becoming memorable.

Show up often. Say something useful. Be a human.

This platform rewards connection — not perfection.

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📌 PS: I’m writing a whole series on growing with Notes. If you’re experimenting too, I’d love to hear what’s working (and what’s not). Drop a reply.

Let’s grow together.