5 Behind-the-Scenes Strategies That Can Revive a Slumping Substack
Backed by Substack data audit trends + built for long-term, mission-minded publishers
Have you been feeling a little out of rhythm with your Substack lately?
Not blocked, exactly. But maybe quieter, less certain? Like you’re pouring effort in, but not sure what’s landing — or whether it’s worth the push?
If so, you’re not alone. I’ve been hearing this across every kind of publication lately in my data audits — especially among thoughtful, non-formulaic storytellers and journalists with under 15,000 subscribers.1 Writers who care deeply about their voice, their values and the kind of space they’re building online.
This post is for you.
It’s a short list of patterns I’ve been seeing in recent Substack audits — and real, actionable things that can help you steady your publication right now.
And while I do still offer Substack Signal Scans (you can grab one here if you’d like personalized support), if you’re a paid subscriber of The Publishing Spectrum, you don’t need to buy anything to make use of what I’m sharing today.
These patterns aren’t pulled from viral newsletters or growth-hacked brands. They’re drawn from work that’s steady, human and built with care.
If your gut is saying this might be for me, you’re probably right.
1. Let Notes reflect the feeling, not just the visual
If you’re sharing visual work — drawings, illustrations or any kind of visual motif — chances are good that Notes is one of your top referral sources.
This shouldn’t be surprising. It’s a visual medium. But the pattern I often see is this:
Notes brings in susbcribers who engage with the artwork, but never really connect to the heart of the newsletter.
I don’t see this as a mistake — it’s an opportunity.
Try letting the emotional thread of the post lead the way, especially when you share on Notes. Not just “here’s today’s photo,” but something and more human — perhaps a sentence or two about what the piece made you consider, or the moment it arrived. Then you can share the image and the link.
Audiences are moving at a lightning fast pace most of the time and they often need that gentle framing to find their way into the deeper parts of your work.
🔒 The next few shifts are the ones that tend to create real momentum—not just because they “work,” but because they help publications become more legible, more trustworthy and more grounded.