Start Here: Know What Actually Grows Your Substack (And What to Do Next)

Hi, I’m Kacoulib. I build SaaS tools and test Substack growth strategies in public using real data.

If you publish on Substack, you’ve probably noticed the noise: endless advice telling you to post 5 times a day, trade subscriptions, or chase viral vanity metrics.

Subshack Growth exists to filter out the noise.

I share only what actually moved my numbers the successful tests, and especially the ones that failed.

What You Get Here

1. Raw Data Playbooks: Real experiments with exact numbers on open rates, Notes attribution, and reader retention.

2. Zero-Fluff Autopsies: Honest breakdowns of platform mechanics (like why 19 subscribers came through Notes without a single one being attributed to a specific Note).

3. No Automation Fake Hacks: No auto-posting, no subscribe-for-subscribe, and no bot engagement.

4 Things to Do Right Now

1. Audit Your Substack Profile in 10 Seconds (Free)

Before changing your content strategy, fix your landing surface. The free Profile Audit checks your profile against 5 deterministic axes: Positioning (35 pts), Conversion (25 pts), Trust (15 pts), Activity (15 pts), and SEO (10 pts).

👉 Score My Substack Profile /100 → (No login or account needed)

2. Read the 3 Core Data Experiments

If you want to understand what actually drives growth on Substack, start with these three autopsies:

• Retention & Deliverability: My Open Rate Collapsed From 34% to 14%. Here Is the Exact Protocol I’m Using to Clean My Substack List.

• Notes Attribution: 19 Subscribers Came Through Notes. Not One Was Attributed to a Note.

• The Reciprocal Trap: Why Subscribe-for-Subscribe Is Not Really Win-Win

3. Leave a Comment and Introduce Yourself

I read and answer every comment. What is your Substack about, and what is your current biggest growth bottleneck?

4. Join the Weekly Chat Rituals

Tuesday Feedback Thread. Bring two options: a headline, a profile bio or a Note hook. Option A against Option B. You get feedback from me and from the room, and you leave with a decision instead of a doubt. Join this week’s thread →

Friday Wins. First one on Friday 25 September. Post the one number that moved this week and what you think moved it. Small wins count. Patterns show up faster when several of us line them up side by side.

Talk soon,

Kacoulib | Founder at Subshack