The 5 Surprising Substack Newsletter Myths Holding You Back (& what to do about it...)

Something happened at 2 AM last night that got me thinking.

I was reading through replies to yesterday's newsletter and email (thank you to everyone who shared their expertise – those responses were incredible), when a message from Tom caught my eye:

"I've been stuck at 83 subscribers for months. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this newsletter thing."

That hit home because it reminded me of where I was last year.

I remember staring at my own subscriber count (92), wondering if I was wasting my time. The common newsletter advice wasn't working:

Myth 1: "Just write great content"

Reality: I was writing detailed, thoughtful posts. Yet my growth was stagnant. Great content is essential, but it's not enough on its own.

Myth 2: "Post consistently"

Reality: I published every Tuesday for 6 months straight. Still barely any growth. Consistency matters, but there's a crucial piece missing.

Myth 3: "Share on social media"

Reality: I shared every issue on LinkedIn and Twitter. The results? Crickets. Because I was doing it wrong.

Myth 4: "Build in public"

Reality: I shared my journey, stats, and learnings. Nothing changed. Because I wasn't sharing strategically.

Myth 5: "You need to be an expert"

Reality: The most successful newsletters I know aren't run by traditional experts. They're run by people who document their learning journey.

Here's what changed everything:

I stopped trying to be everywhere and focused on building genuine connections with the right people.

The breakthrough came when a reader replied to my newsletter about AI tools. Instead of a quick "thanks," we had a real conversation. He shared it with his team. They subscribed. Some became clients.

That's when I realized: Newsletter growth isn't about algorithms or hacks. It's about creating real value for real people.

I discovered that LinkedIn + Substack create a perfect ecosystem for this. More on that system tomorrow (it's too detailed to squeeze into this newsletter post).

But first, I'm curious: Which of these myths have you believed? Drop a comment below and let me know – I read every message.

P.S. If you're stuck at a subscriber plateau like I was, remember: The number doesn't define you. The impact you make on each reader does.

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