The Substack Data Workshop
Four modules to help you turn your dashboard into a creative ally
If you’ve ever opened your Substack dashboard and wondered what matters — or how to use your data without losing your spark — this self-guided Publishing Spectrum workshop is for you.
These resources aren’t about chasing growth. They’re here to help creators and authors build a useful, human relationship with their metrics. Because when we build this kind of connection with numbers, it also helps us publish with more rhythm, insight and direction.
Here’s how you can start the Substack Data Workshop today:
🔒 Upgrade to unlock the full archive as a paid subscriber to The Publishing Spectrum, and explore all four modules at once ($49/year)
🧵 Or subscribe for free and get a notification when the workshop is released in other one-time-purchase formats
✦ What You’ll Explore
Module 1: How to Read Your Substack Dashboard Without Getting Stuck
A practical starting point: where to find your metrics and how to interpret what matters
🗂 Featured essay:
You’ll learn:
Where to find key metrics like subscriber growth, open rates and conversions
How to segment your audience using filters
Why it’s better to look for trends, not one-time spikes
What to watch for across free and paid reader behavior
Module 2: How to Stop Obsessing Over Your Dashboard (Without Ignoring It)
Learn to step back, zoom out and spot long-term signals with a calmer rhythm
🗂 Featured essays:
You’ll explore:
Why daily tracking creates noise — and how to replace it with intention
What the 30/90 Rule is, and how it can anchor your check-ins
How to use reflection and rhythm to reconnect with your creative direction
🧭 Quiet action: Schedule your next dashboard check-in 30 days out — and get back to publishing in the meantime.
Module 3: What Makes Readers Say “I’m In”?
Learn how to trace the posts that lead to free or paid subscriptions — and what the Substack ⭐️ Activity rating actually measures
🗂 Featured essays:
You’ll learn:
How to use your subscriber filters to find the exact content that sparks upgrades
What emotional patterns show up in high-conversion posts
How to run a quick experiment using Activity Ratings to see who’s most engaged in Notes
🧰 Bonus: Includes a simple spreadsheet to help you track your “conversion moments.”
Module 4: How Substack Readers Think About Pricing, Upgrades and Connection
Insights from 400+ survey responses — including how readers think about value, frequency, and trust
🗂 Featured essay:
You’ll discover:
What price points feel “just right” for most readers
Why discounts need to be positioned with care
What actually motivates someone to upgrade (hint: it’s not just more content)
How publishing rhythm and platform usage influence retention
Ready to begin?
🔓 Unlock the full archive with a $49/year subscription to The Publishing Spectrum
📊 Of if you’re looking for help applying data to your own newsletter, order a Quiet Substack Signal Scan. A $99 report that provides a glimpse into your CSV data and publishing strategies based on patterns I’m noticing.
Let your data be a creative ally — not a source of angst. My hope is that it will teach you how to keep showing up with confidence, rhythm and trust in your own voice.
I got to be the first!