Editor’s Note: This article is based on Episode 012 of our weekly Substack Live series, Unstuck to Finding Your Edge, with Robyn Levin of Finding Your Edge.
This week we explored Substack Notes—what they are, how to use them strategically, and why the creators who grow the fastest aren’t necessarily the ones posting the most. They’re the ones building relationships.
If you’ve spent any time on Substack, you’ve probably asked one of these questions.
“How many Notes should I post?”
“What’s the best time to post?”
“How do I beat the algorithm?”
They’re reasonable questions; however, after this week’s conversation with Robyn Levin, I realized they’re not the questions that matter most.
The biggest mistake people make with Substack Notes is thinking they’re another social media platform.
They’re not.
Notes aren’t about posting more. They’re about building relationships.
Once you understand that, everything else starts to make more sense.
Stop Promoting. Start Contributing.
One of the easiest traps to fall into is treating every Note like an advertisement.
“My article is live.”
“Read my newest post.”
“Don’t miss this week’s newsletter.”
There’s nothing wrong with sharing your latest work.
However, if that’s all you ever post, you’re asking people to give before you’ve given them a reason to care.
Instead, take one insight from your article.
One sentence.
One lesson.
One question that made you think differently.
Give readers value inside the Note itself.
If they want more, they’ll naturally click through to the full article.
Conversations Are Content.
One of my favorite strategies we discussed during the live was asking simple questions.
What are you building?
What are you struggling with?
What’s one decision you’re overthinking right now?
These aren’t engagement hacks.
They’re conversation starters.
More importantly, they’re research.
Every response teaches you something about your readers.
You’ll discover the language they use, the problems they’re trying to solve, and the questions they’re already asking.
That’s some of the best material you’ll ever have for future articles.
Let People Watch You Build.
Another overlooked type of Note is the milestone post.
Many creators avoid sharing milestones because they worry it sounds like bragging.
I see it differently.
You’re not saying,
“Look what I did.”
You’re saying,
“Look what we built together.”
Your first subscriber.
Your first paid member.
One hundred subscribers.
Your first Bestseller badge.
Your hundredth article.
These moments invite your community into the journey.
People enjoy celebrating progress because it reminds them that progress is possible for them too.
Don’t Overthink Every Note.
One of my favorite moments from our conversation had nothing to do with strategy.
Robyn shared one of her best-performing Notes.
It was simply a beautiful travel photo with the caption:
“No edit needed.”
That’s it.
No elaborate hook, no marketing funnel, and no perfectly optimized caption.
Sometimes the things that feel too simple are exactly what people want to see.
Photos from your workspace.
Your favorite notebook.
The coffee you’re drinking while writing.
The book sitting on your desk.
Your dog walking across your keyboard.
These little moments remind readers there’s a real person behind the publication.
You Don’t Need to Reinvent Yourself Every Day.
One of the biggest mindset shifts from our conversation was realizing that Notes don’t require constant new ideas.
You don’t need to reinvent yourself every day.
One article can become multiple Notes.
A teaser before publication.
An announcement when it goes live.
A favorite quote.
A key takeaway.
A lesson you learned while writing it.
An “In case you missed it (ICYMI)” reminder a few days later.
Instead of creating more work, Notes help you get more value from the work you’ve already done.
Stop Chasing The Algorithm.
Toward the end of our conversation, we started laughing about the Substack algorithm.
How many Notes should you post?
Three?
Six?
Thirty?
The truth is...nobody actually knows.
→ You can spend hours trying to reverse-engineer an algorithm you’ll never fully understand.
→ Or you can spend those same hours writing something helpful or meaningful, building relationships, and serving your readers.
One of those things is completely within your control. The other isn’t.
Community Compounds
The biggest takeaway from this week’s live wasn’t really about Notes.
It was about relationships.
People discover you through Notes.
They begin conversations through Notes.
They decide whether they trust you through Notes.
Eventually, many of them subscribe because of those interactions.
→ Articles tell people what you know.
→ Notes help people get to know you.
Great publications need both.
The goal of Notes isn’t simply to be discovered.
It’s to become memorable and recognizable.
If you’re constantly asking,
“How do I beat the algorithm?”
Try asking a different question instead.
“How can I help one person today?”
That’s a question you’ll always be able to answer and ironically, it’s probably the one that helps your publication grow the most.
In This Episode
Robyn and I discuss:
What Substack Notes actually are and why they matter.
Different types of Notes you can post.
How to turn one article into multiple Notes.
Why asking questions builds community.
Milestone Notes and bringing readers along your journey.
Photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes content.
Restacks, recommendations, and building relationships.
Why you shouldn’t obsess over the algorithm.
Practical strategies for staying consistent without creating more work.
Whether you’re brand new to Substack or looking to get more from the platform, I hope this conversation helps you think about Notes a little differently.
Every great publication is built one relationship at a time.
→ Articles may introduce people to your ideas.
→ Notes give people a reason to keep coming back.
That’s why Notes matter.
Not because they’re another content format, but because they’re where community begins.
↑ Replay Above
Resources From This Conversation
The Substack Notes Formats I would use if I were new to Substack today →
Follow Jess at Unstuck to Published →
Follow Jess at Nurse in The Market →
Follow Jess at NP Fellow Become The CEO of Your Health→
Follow Robyn at Finding Your Edge →
Follow Robyn at Rare Finds - Luxury Travel →
Scan Robyn’s QR code to access her Youtube channel →
Thank You
Thank you so much for everyone who tuned into this live, your presence is truly appreciated, and to the people who are watching the replay, thank you!
See you next Friday at 12pm ET for our weekly show, stay tuned!
-Jess, The Creator & Robyn Levin
