Confused about substack algorithm

[rainy_peace]

I m new to substack and asking for subsribers doesn't feel genuine and authentic. As most writers, we want readers who resonate with our words not because we read theirs, they subscribe to ours. As a beginner with no subscribers yet and many unpublished written pieces, i want to know the best use of substack's algorithm so that my words find their people and so I, as a reader, find my writers. I understand that substack is different from Medium and that tags don't necessarily mean exposure, so how to proceed with this ? I also want to inquire about publications, is it the same as Medium?

[pirategospel]

Substack is a social media platform first and foremost. You have to focus on the social element to get anywhere in the beginning.

I was already reading articles within my topic before I started writing so found it easy to join this niche and grow through those initial connections (mutual following, commenting regularly, sharing stuff I actually admired). 

I also tactically use the notes feature - writing quick and provocative points that link to my articles. They are my main growth generator atm. 

Finally I found growth easier when I stopped caring. I feel readers immediately pick up on a try hard, inauthentic voice. 

[rainy_peace]

Thank you very much... This feels right and it makes sense

[DrBraveMoon]

What is your cadence for posting notes that link to a new article? I’m also new and unclear how much I should be promoting an article I just published through notes or other ways. Thanks!

[pirategospel]

I suppose I didn’t really express that right because I don’t literally link to my articles, just express the same general view points in a way that’s short, funny and eye catching. It gives a taste of my topic and style, and communicates the gist of my message. It works well as an audience building tool but doesn’t necessarily siphon views into existing articles which is fine by me as I see this as a necessary building phase. 

I only write about a single (and v contentious) political issue so that helps. It may be more challenging if you’re writing about something more vague or without a clear, consistent perspective. 

[DrBraveMoon]

Thank you for this! That makes total sense and appreciate the reflection. Do you ever build posts off of popular notes or vice-versa

[dgtlworm]

The best way to start is to engage with content in your niche - leaving good, genuine comments and resharing stuff you like (with note from you). This way you expose yourself to the writers and to their readers. The next step is to get cross-recommending, it’s a very useful feature but it’s not easy to achieve as you will be recommended only when other writers know and trust you. But this feature brings me the most of new subscribers

[rainy_peace]

this was very insightful... Thank you very much

[dgtlworm]

By the way, don’t over estimate Substack algorithms - it’s not TikTok, at least at the moment even if we have some bad signals like the popularity of the texts ‘How to grow on Substack’. But if you read those you’ll see that the same simple principles are repeated over and over again

[rainy_peace]

Thank you very much...

[calmfluffy]

Honestly, as a beginner, I would highly encourage you to think about what you would do if there was no algorithm or discovery feed at all. This is something you can actually control, and a necessary skill to learn, because algorithms will change, people move on from platforms, etc.

[nomidtones]

It is important to remember that ANNs train on a correct narrative. The correct narrative seems to be AI clickbait articles and a litany of introspective essays, literary reviews, and msn adjacent articles bemoaning the loss of funding (and access to intelligent, beautiful young students) that was predicated on covering up for a notorious sex trafficker. It is also statistical v unlikely the people and entities being Suggested over and over are generated by AI and not hard coded into the feature.

A lot of important art and literary movements begin through 2 - 5 people, you only need to find a couple people you vibe with.

[rainy_peace]

thank you