BeBetter: Substack Secrets And Tools🤫

The real problem: nobody is “waiting” for you

Here’s what most writers don’t realize:

You don’t have a growth problem.
You have a “nobody is emotionally waiting for you” problem.

Most people:

post articles
maybe get a few subscribers
maybe get a like
then disappear into the void

And the harsh truth?

People don’t wait for content from strangers.
They wait for people they already trust.

So if your audience isn’t waiting for your next post…
they’re not your audience yet.

They’re just visitors.

That’s why your growth feels random.

The solution: build anticipation before the product exists

Instead of:

“I built something → now I hope people care”

You flip it:

“People care → now I build something they already want”

That’s where the waiting list system comes in.

But not the fake “join my newsletter” waiting list.

I’m talking about a system that makes people think:

“Okay… I don’t know what this guy is building yet, but I want in when it drops.”

That’s what we’re building.

And it takes 3 simple layers.

Hey! If you don’t know me, I’m William, a 20-year-old creator who spent months posting into the void before figuring out how to actually grow on Substack 😅

Since then, I’ve grown my newsletter to 1,500+ subscribers, helped 40+ writers improve their growth, built the Growth Lab community, and tested hundreds of growth experiments while juggling school, work, training, and content creation at the same time.

Now I’m documenting everything I’m learning so you can grow faster without wasting months figuring it out alone.

Every Monday, I break down big Substack creators and why they grow. Every Wednesday, I share a practical growth article. And every Friday, we have real conversations inside the community. Subscribe and build with us 🤝

Step 1: Become visible where attention already exists

Most writers try to grow in silence.

Bad idea.

If nobody knows you, your writing doesn’t matter yet (harsh but true).

So instead, you go where attention already is.

On Substack, that means:

Notes
comment sections
big writers in your niche

And your job is NOT to “network”.

It’s to become recognizable through repetition.

That means:

thoughtful comments (not “great post 🔥” please don’t)
adding ideas people didn’t think about
asking better questions than the original post

Because here’s what happens:

People start seeing your name → curiosity builds → they click your profile → they discover your work.

And now you’re not a stranger anymore.

You’re “that guy who always drops smart comments”.

That alone already increases your chances of building a waiting list later.

(yes, attention is unfair like that)

Step 2: Give something free that actually solves a problem

Now we move from visibility → trust.

And trust comes from one thing:

a fast win

Not a philosophy. Not a long essay. A result.

So you create something simple:

a guide
a checklist
a template
a mini system

Something that solves ONE clear problem.

Then you distribute it using something like Tally or a simple landing page.

Nothing fancy.

And here’s the important part:

You’re not just collecting emails.

You’re identifying people who are saying:

“I have this problem and I care enough to fix it.”

That’s your real waiting list seed.

Because now you’re not guessing interest anymore.

You’re tracking it.

Quick example:

Let’s say you write about productivity.

Your free resource isn’t:

❌ “The ultimate productivity guide”

It’s:

✅ “How to stop procrastinating when you only have 2 hours after school/work”

Same niche. Completely different intent.

One gets ignored.
The other gets saved, downloaded, and read at 1am when someone is stressed.

That’s what you want.

Join the Newsletter Growth Lab🚀 for FREE and unlock a growing audience of loyal readers in the next 90 days. Include: mini-courses, real growth breakdowns, experiments, and a community of writers building together instead of trying to figure Substack out alone. Free for early members before it becomes paid.

Step 3: Turn attention into anticipation (this is where most people fail)

This is the part nobody does properly.

When someone downloads your free resource, what happens next?

Most writers do this:

“Thanks for downloading :)”

And then… nothing.

Huge mistake.

Instead, you do something way more powerful:

You create a micro waiting list moment.

Right after they get the free resource, you say:

“By the way, I’m building something deeper on this. If you want early access when I release it, join the list here.”

That’s it. (in an ending page, you can use Tally)

No hype. No fake urgency.

Just positioning.

And now something changes psychologically:

They didn’t just get a free thing.

They feel like they’re part of something early.

And early = valuable.

That’s human nature.

(Optional but powerful setup)

You can use Kit (formerly ConvertKit) to:

tag people who downloaded your resource
build a “launch audience”
send updates like you’re building in public

Because people don’t just want the final product.

They want to see the process behind it.

That’s what creates anticipation.

Step 4: The real trick make people wait without asking them to wait

Here’s where it gets interesting.

You don’t say:

“Join my waiting list!!!”

That feels empty.

Instead, you build a narrative:

“I’m working on something based on what I saw people struggling with…”
“I didn’t expect this problem to be this big…”
“I’ll share it when it’s ready, but I’m collecting early testers first…”

Now people opt themselves in emotionally.

They’re not joining a list.

They’re following a story.

And stories create patience.

Patience creates anticipation.

Anticipation creates sales.

What happens when this works

If you set this up properly, here’s what changes:

people start asking YOU when it’s ready
your emails get replies instead of silence
your “launch” doesn’t feel like a launch anymore (it feels expected)
your first sales feel warm, not forced
your audience stops being random → becomes predictable

And most importantly:

You stop relying on “hope marketing”

You’re no longer posting and praying.

You’re building attention → capturing intent → turning it into anticipation.

Why Most Writers Still Stay Stuck

I’m going to be honest with you: this article alone is not enough to change your results.

It might give you clarity. It might even give you a bit of motivation.

But clarity without execution just becomes another thing you “understand” but don’t actually use.

And that’s the real problem most writers run into.

They read, they learn, they collect ideas…
but they don’t build anything consistent with it.

So let’s connect this properly.

Because everything you just read isn’t meant to be a “cool idea.”

It’s a small piece of a much bigger system.

And if you try to apply it alone, without the rest, here’s what usually happens:

you start strong for 2–3 days
things feel confusing
you don’t know what to focus on next
you stop
then restart again next week

And that loop is exactly why most writers stay stuck.

Not because they don’t know enough.

But because they only ever see fragments of the system, not the full thing working together.

That’s why I created Newsletter Growth Lab.

Not as a “bonus resource,” but as the place where all of this actually connects into something usable.

A FREE community where I show the full systems behind:

newsletter growth that doesn’t depend on luck
monetization that doesn’t feel forced
audience psychology (why people actually subscribe and stay)
product creation that actually makes sense for your readers
AI workflows that save time instead of making you sound like a robot
and how everything fits together instead of being random tactics

Because most writers don’t fail from lack of information.

They fail from lack of structure.

And I’m not talking about theory here.

This is the same system I’m actively building while balancing school, training, writing, and everything else at the same time.

Inside Growth Lab, I also break down things like:

how to actually get consistent readers on Substack
how to turn casual subscribers into loyal readers
how to create offers people don’t ignore
how to build without burning out after 2 weeks
how to stop relying on motivation every time you post

And yeah, it’s already working for other writers too.

One creator inside the community went from around 400 subscribers to over 1,100 in a few months while making their first money online.

Not because they “leveled up overnight.”

But because they finally had a system they could repeat instead of guessing every time.

That’s the real difference.

And honestly?

The writers who start learning this now are going to be way ahead later.

Because while most people are still posting randomly and hoping something clicks…

Others are quietly building something that compounds:

trust
systems
products
real audiences

And that’s what actually grows over time.

Growth Lab is completely free, and if you want the full systems behind newsletter growth instead of random isolated tips from Twitter threads made by fake gurus in rented Lamborghinis…

Join us :)

So here’s your simple action plan (do this today)

If you want the 1-hour version:

Pick one niche problem you can solve fast
Create a simple free resource (3 page is enough)
Add a waiting list CTA at the end
Start commenting on 5–10 posts in your niche daily
Send people directly to your resource

That’s it.

No overthinking.

No funnel complexity.

Just attention → trust → anticipation.

Final thought

A waiting list isn’t about collecting emails.

It’s about building people who expect you to show up again.

And once that happens, you’re not starting from zero every time you post.

You’re continuing a conversation.

And if you want help building those systems step-by-step, subscribe below and join the Growth Lab.

Every week, I break down what’s ACTUALLY working on Substack so you can grow, monetize, and build freedom without burning yourself out.

No fake guru nonsense.

Just practical systems, real testing, and real execution.

See you next post,

See you in the next one.

— William😁

Book Your Free Strategy Call

The Private Substack Scaling Partnership

William Leroux — Fri, 22 May 2026 22:31:18 GMT

This Is For the Ones Who Are Serious.

If you want to build one of the most trusted, most engaged Substack in your niche, and turn it into a long-term asset that works for you, read this carefully.

Book the call at the end for an audit of your Substack👇

Most Substack creators are playing the wrong game.

They’re chasing subscribers like it’s a vanity metric. Posting more. Trying new hooks. Switching niches. Hoping something sticks.

And a year later? Still stuck. Still small. Still wondering why the writers they admire keep growing while they don’t.

Here’s what those writers have that most don’t:

A system. A strategy. And someone in their corner who’s already figured it out.

That’s exactly what the Private Substack Scaling Partnership is.

🤝 What Is the Private Substack Scaling Partnership?

This isn’t a course you buy and forget about.

This isn’t a community where you post questions and hope someone answers.

This is a done-with-you partnership, where we build your entire Substack system together, from the ground up, with the goal of making you the go-to newsletter in your niche.

We work together for 3 months. We build everything. And I stay with you until it’s working.

Everything That’s Included

When you join the Private Substack Scaling Partnership, you get every product and service I offer, bundled into one complete system. Nothing sold separately. Nothing held back.

📘 The Substack Accelerator Mini-Course

The full Comment Method system to get your first consistent wave of subscribers. Setup, growth, daily routine, collaboration roadmap, everything covered so you start growing from day one.

Sold separately at $230/year.

🔥 The Trinity of Engagement Mini-Course

Growth without engagement is just a number. This course teaches you how to build a deeply engaged audience, readers who open, reply, share, and eventually buy. The difference between a list and a community.

Sold separately at $230/year.

📄 The Successful Substack Templates

Every template you’ll ever need, all in one place.

✓ Profile and bio copy ✓ Welcome email sequence ✓ Article structure templates ✓ Comment and DM message scripts ✓ Chat thread frameworks ✓ Setup checklists

No more staring at a blank page. No more guessing what to write. Just open the template, adapt it to your voice, and execute.

Sold separately at 47$

🚀 The Boosting: Done-For-You Growth Service

This is the one nobody else offers.

While you focus on writing quality content and building your strategy: our team handles strategic audience research, engagement outreach, and relationship-building using the same Comment Method framework taught inside the program

You focus on the content. We bring the readers.

This service alone costs significantly more as a standalone. Inside the partnership, it’s included. (1000$)

📞 Private 1-on-1 Coaching 3 Months

A call every 2 weeks for 3 months. This is where we build the long-term strategy behind your newsletter together.

Not just “how to get subscribers.” The full picture:

→ Reviewing and optimizing your setup

→ Building your growth strategy (tailored to your niche, your audience, your goals)

→ Developing your engagement system so readers stay and come back

→ Deep content research:finding what your audience actually wants to read

→ Building your paid offer system for when you’re ready to monetize

→ Learning how to use AI properly to save time without losing your voice

→ 1-on-1 feedback on everything, your writing, your profile, your outreach

This is not generic coaching. Every session is built around your newsletter, your numbers, and your next step.

🎁 All Future Free Product Drops, Included Forever

Every new template pack, mini-course, resource, or tool I release? You get it automatically. Free. Forever.

As the Substack ecosystem evolves, so does your toolkit, without paying a cent more.

What We’re Actually Building Together

Subscribers are a byproduct. Here’s what we’re really building:

The most trusted newsletter in your niche.

An email list that’s yours, no algorithm, no platform risk, no dependency on anyone else’s decisions.

A long-term asset that compounds over time. One that, when you’re ready, can be turned into paid subscriptions, products, services, sponsorships, or a full business.

We’re not here to get you to 500 subscribers and wave goodbye. We’re here to build something that lasts, and give you the strategy, the system, and the skills to keep growing it long after our 3 months together.

📞 What Happens on the Call

This call is not a sales pitch.

It’s a real working session.

We pull up your Substack together. We look at your profile, your content, your setup, your niche. We identify exactly what’s holding you back, and we map out your best path forward with clear actions.

By the end of the call, you’ll know:

✓ What’s currently broken or missing in your Substack

✓ What your fastest growth lever is right now

✓ What a realistic 3-month roadmap looks like for your specific niche

✓ Whether the Private Substack Scaling Partnership is the right fit for where you want to go

And then you decide if you want the full system or not.

🙋 Is This For You?

This partnership is for creators who are done dabbling.

You’re ready to commit. You’re ready to build something serious. You understand that the biggest newsletters in any niche didn’t get there by accident, they got there with a system, a strategy, and consistent execution.

You want to be the name people think of in your space. You want an audience that’s genuinely yours. And you want to build it the right way, so that when the time comes to monetize, you have a real foundation under you.

If that’s you, book the call.

This Is Not For You If...

✗ You’re looking for a quick win with no long-term vision

✗ You’re not willing to show up and do the work between calls

✗ You want someone to do everything for you while you stay passive

✗ You’re still figuring out if Substack is even the right platform for you

Why Trust Me?

I’m a full-time student athlete. I study full-time, work, train, and I built a 1,638-subscriber newsletter from scratch with zero experience and zero head start.

I did it by refusing to rely on algorithms and instead building real relationships with real readers.

Everything in this partnership is what I wish I had when I started. It would have cut 8 months of trial and error down to a few weeks.

I built it so you don’t have to figure it out alone.

📅 Book Your Free Strategy Call

This is a free 1-on-1 call.

We look at your Substack. We find your biggest opportunities. We give you a clear roadmap, whether you join the partnership or not.

Spots are limited. I only work with a small number of creators at a time so I can give each one the attention they deserve.

Takes 30 seconds. No commitment. Just clarity.

Already have questions before booking? Send me a DM directly I read every one.

- William

The Substack Accelerator Mini-Course

William Leroux — Fri, 22 May 2026 01:12:42 GMT

Stop Posting Into the Void.

Get Your First 100–500 Subscribers With a Repeatable Daily System Without Notes, Without Ads, and Without Spending More Than 1 Hour a Day.

You’re writing. You’re posting Notes. You’re showing up every day.

But nothing’s moving.

Maybe 1 or 2 new subscribers a week. Maybe none. And every time you check your stats, that same gut-punch feeling:

“What am I doing wrong?”

Here’s the truth nobody tells you:

Notes only work when you already have an audience.

Without one, your content disappears the moment it’s published, no matter how good it is. The algorithm rewards the writers who already have engagement. If you’re new, or stuck under 1000 subscribers, it won’t push your work to anyone.

That’s not a content problem.

That’s a distribution problem.

And it has a very different solution.

The Real Shift

Your future readers are already on Substack right now. They just don’t know you exist.

I spent months studying 20+ successful Substack creators. They all swore by Notes. So I tried it. For months. Consistently. Nothing moved.

Then I asked a different question:

What if instead of waiting for readers to find me: I went and found them?

That one shift changed everything.

I started leaving strategic comments on the right posts, building real conversations, and using a simple 3-message sequence to turn those interactions into subscribers, without ever pitching my newsletter.

The results were immediate. And completely repeatable.

The day I stopped: 1 subscriber. The day I came back: 15. Every single time.

That process became the Substack Accelerator.

My results with the Comment Method: 1638 subscribers in 10 month!

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Results from other creators:

What Is the Substack Accelerator Exactly?

The Substack Accelerator is a step-by-step growth system and creator community designed to help you consistently find and convert real subscribers, without relying on Notes, without paid ads, and without going viral.

These strategies are designed to help you build a repeatable subscriber system that can realistically generate hundreds and thousands of subscribers over time

You get everything I spent 8 months and hundreds of hours figuring out, while also analyzing 20+ 5k subscribers Subsatck Creators. All packaged so you can get the same results in under 3 months.

Here’s exactly what’s inside:

📚 The 4 Modules

Module 01 — The Setup Foundation

Before you reach out to a single person, your Substack needs to convert visitors on its own. This module covers your profile, your page, and your welcome email, so that when someone lands on your newsletter, they subscribe without you having to say a word.

Your setup does the selling. You just send the traffic.

Module 02 — The Comment Method

This is the core of the system.

Most people think commenting means leaving generic praise on posts. That’s not what this is.

The Comment Method is a specific 3-message sequence that takes you from leaving the right comment → starting a real conversation → converting that person into a subscriber, without ever promoting your newsletter or sending a cold DM.

5 to 10 strategic comments a day. That’s it. Done in under an hour.

Module 03 — The 1-Hour Daily System

Growth without a system is just luck. This module gives you a repeatable daily routine, exactly what to do, in what order, and for how long.

No more waking up and wondering what to work on. No more burnout. Just a 1-hour block that compounds every single day.

Module 04 — The Collaboration Roadmap

Once you’ve built momentum, this module shows you how to turn your comments and relationships into recommendations and collaborations with bigger authors in your niche.

One good collaboration can bring you hundreds of subscribers overnight. This is how you scale beyond the daily grind.

Bonus: How to use Notes and Articles the right way for traffic, once your foundation is solid.

What Happens After You Buy

Step 1 — Immediate access inside Skool The moment you purchase, a welcome email lands in your inbox with everything you need. You’re inside the course within 10 minutes.

Step 2 — Your personal 1-on-1 Substack audit I personally review your newsletter, your profile, your setup, your niche, your content, and tell you exactly what needs to be fixed first. No generic advice. Your specific situation.

Step 3 — You follow the modules and start the Comment Method Work through the system at your pace. Most people start seeing results in the first week. Not months from now. The first week.

Step 4 — You grow. I stay with you until you do. You have full access to coaching, the community, and Q&A calls throughout. I don’t quit on you unless you put in the work and get your results.

✅ Everything You Get

📋 4 written modules with step-by-step implementation → No gaps. No guesswork. Everything from setup to collaboration in one place.

📝 All templates and DM scripts → Profile copy, the full 3-message Comment sequence, collaboration outreach — ready to use and adapt to your niche.

📞 A personal 1-on-1 Substack audit call with me → I review your specific newsletter and tell you exactly what to prioritize first.

👥 Private Skool community + live Q&A calls → Ask questions, share wins, stay accountable, and learn alongside other growing creators.

💬 Ongoing coaching access (me + coaches) → Get feedback on your comments, your DMs, your setup, whenever you need it.

👋 Why Trust Me?

I’m a full-time student athlete. I study full-time, work, train, and I built this audience with zero knowledge, zero followers, and zero free time.

When I started, I did what everyone told me to do. I wrote consistently. I posted Notes. I showed up every day.

For 2 months, nothing.

So I stopped listening to the crowd and started actually studying how the fastest-growing Substack writers built their audiences. I analyzed hundreds of newsletters with over 5,000 subscribers. I ran every experiment myself. I failed a lot. I found what worked.

The Comment Method isn’t something I read about. It’s something I proved, on my own newsletter, from scratch, with no head start.

I went from 2 subscribers to 1,638 in 8 months. And 500 of those came in a single month once the system was dialed in.

I’m not here to sell you information. I’m here to give you a transformation.

I don’t quit on you, as long as you’re willing to put in the work.

🚫 This Is Not For You If...

✗ You want passive growth without ever engaging with anyone

✗ You’re still convinced Notes will eventually work if you just post more

✗ You’re not willing to commit 1 hour a day to this

✗ You haven’t set up your Substack at all yet, start with the free community first

❓ Quick Answers Before You Decide

Does this work for my niche? Yes. Fitness, business, self-improvement, personal finance, fiction, spirituality, it doesn’t matter. Your future readers already exist on Substack. This system helps you find them. Every niche works.

How much time does this take per day? 1 hour. The system is specifically built for busy people, students, professionals, parents. You’ll know exactly what to do in that hour so nothing is wasted.

I already have some subscribers. Is this still relevant? Absolutely. Canav already had 400 before joining and went to 1,100. This system accelerates your growth wherever you are, but it’s especially powerful when you feel stuck.

Is this a course, a community, or coaching? All three. Written modules and implementation calls (course) + private Skool community (community) + 1-on-1 access to me and my coaches (coaching). Everything under one roof.

Why is it $230/year normally? Because this system took me 8 months to build, test, and refine, and the analysis of hundreds of newsletters with 5,000+ subscribers to validate. With this, you get the same results in under a month. That’s what the price reflects.

What if I take full action and still don’t get results? You get a 100% refund. Full stop. If you follow the system completely and don’t see results, I give you every dollar back. I only win when you win.

Will I need to post Notes every day? No. Notes are covered as an amplifier, once your foundation is built. The entire core system runs on comments and relationships. Not the Notes feed.

Get Access Today

Most creators spend 6 to 12 months posting consistently, getting almost no traction, and eventually quitting. This system gives you the exact subscriber-acquisition process the fastest-growing Substack writers use, in under a month.

~~$230/year~~ → $115/year

8 months of figuring it out so you don’t have to.

50% off first 10 people only.

Start Growing Your Substack

Instant access · Personal 1-on-1 audit call included · 100% refund if it doesn’t work

You can keep hoping the algorithm notices you.

Or you can build a real subscriber acquisition system that compounds every day.

The choice is yours.

- William

How I’d Build a Product People ACTUALLY Want to Buy in 7 Days

William Leroux — Wed, 20 May 2026 23:30:54 GMT

Most writers dream about making money online.

A guide.

A course.

A template pack.

A coaching offer.

Something.

But most never launch anything.

And honestly?

It’s not because they’re lazy.

It’s because they think building a product has to look like this:

6 months of work
perfect branding
97 Notion pages
14 productivity systems
3 identity crises
and a mental breakdown because your Canva button isn’t centered

So they overthink for months…

Just to launch something nobody really wanted in the first place.

That’s the real problem.

Not lack of talent.

Lack of validation.

Because the internet doesn’t reward the “best” product.

It rewards the product that solves a painful problem FAST.

That’s a huge difference.

And once I understood that, everything changed.

Instead of trying to create the perfect product…

I started focusing on:

“What problem do people desperately want solved right now?”

That question matters WAY more.

And today, I’m going to show you the simple 4-step system I’d use if I had to build a product from scratch in the next 7 days.

No huge audience required.

No fancy software.

Just practical systems.

Let’s go!

Step 1: Find a Problem Worth Paying to Solve

This is the most important step.

And honestly?

Probably the most boring one too 😭

Because people want to SKIP research.

But research is literally where the money is.

Here’s what I’d do first:

Look at Your Own Life

What problems have YOU solved recently?

What feels easy to you now…
but difficult to others?

Sometimes your best product ideas are hidden inside things you stopped thinking about.

For example:

losing weight
staying consistent
growing a newsletter
studying better
organizing life
productivity systems
AI workflows
training systems

The mistake most people make is thinking:

“That’s too simple.”

But simple problems are often the BEST products.

Because more people relate to them.

Then Look at Your Audience

This is where things get interesting.

Ask:

what are people struggling with repeatedly?
what questions keep appearing?
what frustrations show up constantly?

You can:

DM subscribers
create polls
ask questions in Notes
read comments
study creators in your niche

And suddenly patterns appear.

That’s what happened for me.

I noticed writers constantly struggling with:

engagement
consistency
visibility
systems

So naturally…
my offers started around those problems.

Not random ideas.

Real demand.

Huge difference.

Hey! If you don’t know me, I’m William, a 20-year-old creator who spent months posting into the void before figuring out how to actually grow on Substack 😅

Now I’m documenting everything I’m learning so you can grow faster without wasting months figuring it out alone.

Every Monday, I break down big Substack creators and why they grow. Every Wednesday, I share a practical growth article. And every Saturday, we have real conversations inside the community. Subscribe and build with us 🤝

Step 2: Use the “Free → Paid” System

This part changed the way I think about products.

Most writers try selling immediately.

That’s hard.

Especially if people don’t trust you yet.

So instead, I prefer this:

Step 1: Free DIY Offer

Create something genuinely useful for free.

guide
checklist
template pack
swipe file
mini ebook

But here’s the important part:

The free version helps people understand the solution…

While the paid version helps them IMPLEMENT it faster.

That’s the difference.

For example:

Free:

“Here are 10 ways to grow your newsletter.”

Paid:

“Here’s the exact system, templates, workflows, and personal help to implement it.”

See the difference?

People don’t only buy information anymore.

They buy:

speed
simplicity
clarity
support

That’s why this works so well.

Step 3: Get Proof Before Scaling

THIS is where most writers fail.

They build quietly for months…

Without testing anything.

Big mistake.

Instead?

Get 5 testers first.

Give them access for free or very cheap.

And ask:

what confused you?
what helped most?
what should improve?
would you actually pay for this?

This feedback is gold.

Because now you’re not guessing anymore.

You’re improving based on reality.

And even more important…

You start building proof.

Testimonials.
Results.
Screenshots.
Transformations.

That changes EVERYTHING psychologically.

Because when people see:

“Others got results.”

Trust instantly increases.

That’s why social proof matters so much online.

It reduces uncertainty.

And uncertainty kills sales.

Step 4: Launch Before You Feel Ready

This is probably the hardest part.

Because your brain will try convincing you:

“Wait one more week.”

Then another.

And suddenly it’s been 4 months.

Perfectionism is honestly one of the biggest business killers online.

Your first product does NOT need to be perfect.

It needs to exist.

That’s it.

So launch simply.

On Substack, this is way easier because:

you already have email
you already have readers
you already have trust-building tools

Send:

emails
Notes
posts
DMs

Talk about the problem your product solves.

Not just the product itself.

That’s important.

Because people don’t buy products.

They buy outcomes.

Nobody buys:

“a PDF.”

They buy:

clarity
growth
time saved
confidence
results

Huge difference.

Why Most Writers Still Stay Stuck

I’m going to be honest with you: this article alone will not magically make you money.

Because making money online is rarely about one product, one post, or one “perfect idea.”

Most writers stay stuck because they spend all their time consuming instead of building.

They:

watch tutorials
save threads
plan everything perfectly

…but never actually launch anything.

(Which feels productive until you realize you’ve been “preparing” for 4 months )

And honestly, the real problem usually isn’t:
“my niche is bad”
or
“I’m not talented enough.”

It’s that there’s no real system behind what you’re doing.

Because yes, creating a product matters.

But what happens when:

nobody sees your offer?
your profile doesn’t convert?
people subscribe but never trust you?
your audience is wrong?
your systems are messy?
you disappear every time motivation dies for a week?

That’s where most writers get stuck.

Not because they’re incapable.

Because they’re trying to figure out everything alone while other creators are quietly building systems that compound every single month.

And honestly? That’s exactly why I created Newsletter Growth Lab.

A FREE community where I share the systems I personally use for:

newsletter growth
monetization
audience psychology
product creation
AI workflows
and building an audience that actually trusts you

Real systems I’m building while balancing school, training, writing, and life at the same time.

Because most writers don’t need more motivation.

They need clarity, structure, and systems they can actually follow consistently.

Inside Growth Lab, I share:

how to grow an audience on Substack
how to create offers people actually want
how to turn readers into loyal fans
how to build without burning out
how to use AI without sounding robotic
the exact roadmap you should take to build a successful Substack

And I’ve already seen these systems work for other writers too.

One creator inside the community went from around 400 subscribers to over 1,100 subscribers in a few months while making their first money online.

Not because they suddenly became a genius overnight.

Because they stopped guessing and started building with systems.

That’s the difference.

And honestly? The writers learning these skills now are going to have a huge advantage later.

Because while most people are still posting randomly hoping something works…

Others are quietly building:

trust
systems
products
communities

And that compounds fast.

So if you’re tired of overthinking, building alone, and growing painfully slowly…

Join us.

Growth Lab is completely free, and it’ll probably save you months of confusion!!

Your Action For This Week

Do NOT spend the next 3 months “planning.”

Instead:

Identify ONE painful problem
Create ONE small free resource
Build ONE paid upgrade
Get 5 testers
Launch before you feel ready

That’s it.

Simple beats complicated.

Execution beats perfection.

Every single time.

Final Thought

A lot of writers think they need:

more talent
more time
more followers

Usually?

They just need better systems.

Because building a successful product online is not about creating the biggest thing.

It’s about solving the right problem for the right people.

That’s the real game.

And if you want help building those systems step-by-step, subscribe below and join the Growth Lab.

Every week, I break down what’s ACTUALLY working on Substack so you can grow, monetize, and build freedom without burning yourself out.

No fake guru nonsense.

Just practical systems, real testing, and real execution.

See you next post,

— William😁

How Small Writers Are Quietly Exploding on Substack

William Leroux — Sat, 16 May 2026 16:30:59 GMT

Every small writer has thought this before:

“If one big creator shared my newsletter… my growth would explode.”

And honestly?

You’re probably right.

One shoutout from the right person can completely change your trajectory.

The problem is most writers think big creators are impossible to reach.

So instead of building relationships, they stay invisible.

They:

overthink hooks
post randomly
pray for the algorithm
refresh stats every 12 minutes like it’s the stock market

Meanwhile, other writers are quietly building networks behind the scenes.

And those networks are growing their newsletters WAY faster than pure content alone.

That’s what this article is about.

Not “networking” in the fake LinkedIn guru way.

Real collaboration.

The kind that creates:

loyal readers
friendships
opportunities
recommendations
and sometimes hundreds of subscribers in a few days.

And the crazy part?

Most writers completely ignore this.

So today, I’m going to show you the 4-week collaboration funnel I’d use if I had to restart from 0.

Let’s go.

The Real Reason Most Writers Stay Small

Most writers think growth comes from writing better articles.

And yes, good writing matters.

But online?

Distribution matters just as much.

Maybe even more.

Because you can write the greatest article in the world…

But if nobody sees it?

Congratulations.

You created a masterpiece for your mom and 3 random subscribers.

That’s the harsh reality.

The biggest writers on Substack are not only good writers.

They’re connected.

They understand:

audience overlap
collaboration
trust
community
visibility systems

Meanwhile, most small writers try to grow completely alone.

That’s like trying to push a car uphill by yourself while other creators are building highways together.

And honestly?

This is why I like Substack so much compared to traditional social media.

People actually interact.

You can reply to emails.
You can DM.
You can build relationships directly.

That changes EVERYTHING.

Because once creators know you, opportunities start appearing naturally.

Recommendations.
Collaborations.
Mentions.
Shared projects.

But first…

You need a system.

Let’s go!

Hey! If you don’t know me, I’m William, a 20-year-old creator who spent months posting into the void before figuring out how to actually grow on Substack 😅

Now I’m documenting everything I’m learning so you can grow faster without wasting months figuring it out alone.

The 4-Week Collaboration Funnel

I’ve personally used versions of this strategy while building my audience as a full-time student-athlete.

Not by becoming “internet famous.”

But by becoming visible inside communities.

And the important thing:

This is NOT about using people.

It’s about creating genuine win-win relationships.

That’s why it works.

Week 1: Become Visible

Before someone collaborates with you…

They need to know you exist.

Sounds obvious.

But most writers skip this completely.

They engage with a creator ONCE…

Then immediately ask:

“Hey wanna collaborate?”

At least let them learn your name first.

Your goal during Week 1 is simple:

Become recognizable.

That means:

leaving thoughtful comments
replying to emails
sharing their work
adding value consistently

Not fake engagement.

Not:

“Amazing post 🔥”

Nobody cares.

Instead:

Add something useful.

Challenge an idea.
Share a perspective.
Mention a personal experience.

Because great comments are basically mini-content.

And over time?

People start recognizing you.

This is HUGE psychologically.

Humans trust familiarity.

If a creator has seen your name 15 times positively before you DM them…

Your message instantly feels warmer.

You’re no longer random.

Week 2: Build a Real Relationship

This is where most people mess up.

They treat networking like a transaction.

And creators can FEEL that instantly.

The goal this week is NOT pitching.

It’s becoming human.

Start conversations.

Ask questions.

Talk about:

writing
sports
business
life
goals
systems

Anything real.

Because people help people they like.

Not people who only appear when they want something.

Some of my best opportunities online came from casual conversations.

Not “business strategy.”

Just normal interactions over time.

And honestly?

This is one of the biggest mistakes small writers make.

They underestimate relationships.

Meanwhile, relationships are basically the hidden currency of the internet.

Week 3: Create a Win-Win Offer

THIS is where most collaboration attempts completely fail.

Most writers ask creators to:

write extra content
promote random things
join projects
spend time they don’t have

So of course creators ignore it.

You’re giving them more work.

Instead, you want a collaboration that feels EASY.

Even exciting.

That means creating a pre-built offer.

Example:

Let’s say you write about AI.

You could create:

50 AI prompts for newsletters
an AI writing system
a PDF guide
swipe files
templates
a resource pack

Something genuinely useful.

Now instead of saying:

“Can we collaborate?”

You say:

“Hey, I created this free resource for writers. I’m letting creators share it with their audience for free if they think it would help.”

BIG difference.

Now the creator:

looks valuable
helps their audience
does almost no extra work

And you?

You get exposure and subscribers.

That’s why this works.

It’s mutually beneficial.

Not selfish.

Week 4: The Launch System

Now it’s time to launch.

And this part is important:

Don’t contact ONE creator.

Contact multiple.

Because collaborations are a numbers game.

Some people won’t answer.
Some will forget.
Some are busy.

Normal.

So aim for around 10 creators.

And make the process RIDICULOUSLY easy for them.

This matters more than people realize.

Don’t make creators think.

Prepare:

the link
the description
the visuals
the launch date
the CTA
the email copy

Everything.

The easier you make it…

The more likely they are to say yes.

And here’s where things get interesting.

Let’s say:

10 creators share it
each has 2,000 subscribers

That’s potentially 20,000 people seeing your work.

Even if only 2% subscribe?

That’s hundreds of readers.

From ONE system.

Not from posting 14 reels while slowly losing sanity.

Why Most Writers Never Do This

I’m going to be honest with you: this strategy alone will not magically grow your newsletter.

Because growth on Substack is rarely about one tactic.

Most writers try something for 4 days, see no huge spike, then move on to the next “secret strategy” like raccoons digging through growth hacks at 2AM

But the writers growing the fastest right now?

They’re not just posting articles.

They’re building systems and relationships around their newsletter, so growth keeps happening even when motivation disappears for a week because life happens (or because analytics destroyed their mental health for the 14th time this month).

And that’s probably the real issue.

Not:
“my writing sucks”
or
“Substack is too saturated.”

But simply that you’re trying to grow without a real system behind it.

Because yes, collaborations help.

But what happens when:

your profile doesn’t convert?
people subscribe but never come back?
you don’t know who to contact?
you disappear for 2 weeks and lose momentum?
you grow… but still have no engaged readers?

That’s where most writers stay stuck.

Not because they’re dumb.

Because they’re trying to figure out everything alone while other creators are quietly building ecosystems around their content.

And honestly, this article is only one small piece of the bigger picture.

That’s exactly why I created Newsletter Growth Lab.

A free community where I share the systems I personally used to grow while being a full-time student-athlete, and where I break down things like:

audience growth
collaborations
retention
monetization
AI workflows
and building a newsletter people actually want to read instead of “supporting out of pity”

Not theory.

Real stuff I’m testing right now.

One creator inside, Growth Canva, went from around 400 subscribers to over 1,100 subscribers and made her first dollar online after applying the systems consistently.

Not overnight.

Not magically.

Just by finally having clarity instead of guessing every week.

And honestly? The writers learning these skills now are going to have a huge advantage later.

Because while most people are still chasing algorithms and praying for virality…

Others are quietly building communities readers actually care about.

Growth Lab is completely free, and if you want the full systems behind newsletter growth instead of random isolated tips from Twitter threads made by fake gurus in rented Lamborghinis…

Join us :)

Your Action For This Week

Don’t just consume this article.

Actually test it.

This week:

Choose 5–10 creators in your niche
Engage genuinely with their content
Start real conversations
Brainstorm ONE win-win resource
Prepare a simple collaboration system

That’s it.

You do NOT need:

50,000 followers
a blue checkmark
viral tweets
perfect branding

You need visibility + relationships.

That’s where opportunities come from.

Final Thought

A lot of writers think growth is only about writing better.

But sometimes?

The biggest growth unlock is simply becoming part of the right communities.

Because the internet rewards:

trust
visibility
consistency
relationships

Not just talent.

That’s why some writers stay stuck for years…

While others explode in months.

Different systems.

And if you want help building those systems step-by-step, subscribe below and join the Growth Lab.

Every week, I break down what’s ACTUALLY working on Substack so you can grow without wasting months testing random advice.

No fake guru nonsense.

Just practical systems, real execution, and lessons from creators already winning.

See you next post,

— William😁

Why Your Newsletter Isn’t Growing Yet

William Leroux — Wed, 13 May 2026 23:30:54 GMT

You can have good writing.

Good ideas.

Even a good product.

But if nobody feels connected to you, they won’t really care.

They’ll subscribe.
Open one post.
Maybe like something.
Then disappear forever.

And honestly?

That used to frustrate me so much.

I remember posting articles I spent HOURS writing just to get:

3 likes
1 comment
and an open rate that felt like my readers died halfway through reading (RIP 💀)

At first, I thought my writing was the problem.

But after a while, I realized something important:

Most people are not ignoring your writing because it’s bad.

They ignore it because there’s no relationship.

You’re still a random person on the internet.

And random people don’t get loyalty.
Friends do.

That’s when I started changing the way I interacted with subscribers.

Not with spammy “Hey thanks for subscribing!!” messages.

But with simple conversations that made people actually feel seen.

And weirdly enough…

That changed everything.

More replies.
More comments.
More returning readers.
More trust.
More product sales.

All from a strategy that takes less than 8 minutes a day.

Here’s exactly what I do:

The Real Problem Most Writers Have

Most writers think they have a content problem. (my writing is bad, that’s why no one engage)

Usually, they have an attention problem. (I don’t connect enough with my readers, that’s why no one engage)

They’re trying to grow on platforms where everyone is fighting for dopamine every second.

Instagram.
Twitter.
TikTok.

You post something.
Someone watches for 2 seconds.
Then immediately goes back to watching a guy build a house in the forest with toothpaste and sticks.

Good luck competing with that.

That’s why I like Substack so much.

People are actually there to read.

Not just scroll.

And the biggest advantage?

You can directly talk to your readers.

That changes the game.

Because the goal is not just getting subscribers.

The goal is turning subscribers into people that actually care when you publish.

There’s a huge difference.

One person who genuinely reads every post is more valuable than 100 ghost subscribers.

So here’s the simple system to turn 1 like into 10 reals fans with 3 simple DMs.

Let’s go!

Hey! If you don’t know me, I’m William, a 20-year-old creator who spent months posting into the void before figuring out how to actually grow on Substack 😅

Now I’m documenting everything I’m learning so you can grow faster without wasting months figuring it out alone.

Step 1: Stop Sending Boring Welcome Messages

Most writers send this:

“Hey thanks for subscribing :)”

And look…

It’s polite.

But it also gives people absolutely no reason to answer.

So instead, I start with curiosity.

Something simple like:

“Quick question about your newsletter…”

or:

“I’m curious about something related to your writing.”

That’s it.

Simple.

But psychologically, it works way better because curiosity creates tension.

People naturally want to know what the question is.

Especially right after subscribing.

And no, not everyone replies.

But WAY more people reply compared to generic welcome messages.

And once someone replies once, the barrier is broken.

Now you’re not just another newsletter.

You’re a real person.

Step 2: Find Their REAL Problem

This is the biggest mistake I see.

Writers assume they know what their audience struggles with.

Most don’t.

That’s why their content feels generic.

The easiest shortcut?

Ask.

After the opener, I usually send something like:

“Thanks for subscribing by the way 🙌
Most writers here usually struggle with one of these:

Getting visibility
Low engagement
Staying consistent without burning out

Curious which one fits you most?”

Now you’re doing 3 things at once:

starting a conversation
understanding your audience
collecting content ideas forever

This is HUGE.

Because now your content becomes based on real struggles.

Not random ideas you think people want.

If 15 people tell you they struggle with consistency…

Boom.

You write:

how to stay consistent as a busy writer
how to avoid burnout
how to create a sustainable writing system

And suddenly people start thinking:

“Wait… this guy actually understands me.”

That’s when readers become loyal.

Not because your hooks are magical.

But because your content feels personally relevant.

Step 3: Stop Acting Like a Creator

This one changed a lot for me.

Most creators unknowingly act “above” their audience.

Even if they don’t mean to.

Everything feels transactional.

Subscribe.
Read.
Buy.
Repeat.

But people don’t really support creators.

They support people they like.

So sometimes after helping someone, I’ll just ask something random like:

“Do you play sports?”

or:

“What kind of content are you trying to build?”

Simple human questions.

Because friendships create retention.

Not funnels.

And then comes the important part:

Give them a quick win immediately.

If someone struggles with visibility?

Send them your article about visibility.

If they struggle with consistency?

Send your best system.

Not in a salesy way.

Just:

“This might help you honestly.”

That creates trust FAST.

Most people online try extracting value immediately.

Very few actually give value first.

And readers remember that.

Why This Works So Well

Because most newsletters feel cold.

They feel optimized.

Automated.

Like someone copied a growth thread and turned it into a personality.

But when someone feels like you actually care?

They read differently.

They comment more.

They answer emails.

They buy faster.

Not because you manipulated them.

Because trust exists.

And trust is basically the internet cheat code.

(Still waiting for someone to sell “Trust in 30 days” for $997 😭)

The Part Nobody Wants to Hear

I’m going to be honest with you: this strategy alone will not magically fix your engagement.

Most writers stay stuck because they learn one tactic, try it for 3 days, then wonder why nothing changed.

But growth on Substack is rarely about one thing.

It’s the system behind it.

Now you’re probably more “problem aware.” You realize the issue might not be:
“my writing sucks” or “people don’t care.”

It might simply be that you don’t have systems that create real relationships with readers.

And yes, sending better DMs can help a lot.

But what happens when:

you forget to follow up?
your workflow gets messy?
subscribers come in but never stay?
you burn out trying to do everything manually?
other writers build deeper systems while you’re still guessing?

That’s why what I showed you today is only around 10% of the full picture.

The writers growing the fastest right now are not necessarily the best writers.

They’re the ones who built systems that turn strangers into loyal readers.

That’s exactly why I created Newsletter Growth Lab.

A free community where I share the complete systems I personally used to grow a Substack audience while being a full-time student-athlete (without spending all day online like a zombie refreshing stats).

And I’ve seen these systems work for other writers too.

One writer inside the community, Growth Canva, went from around 400 subscribers to over 1,100 subscribers and made her first dollar online after applying the systems consistently.

Because once you stop relying on motivation and random posting… growth becomes a lot more predictable.

Inside Growth Lab, you’ll learn:

how to get 500 readers consistently on Substack
how to turn subscribers into loyal fans
how to write article that attracts new writers
the Complete Roadmap from 0 subscribers to your first 100$
how to build systems instead of relying on willpower
how to use AI to save time while keeping your voice

And honestly? The biggest reason to join now is simple:

The writers learning these systems today will have a massive advantage 6 months from now.

While most people are still posting randomly hoping for growth, others are quietly building communities readers actually care about.

Access to the Growth Lab is 100% free because I genuinely believe more writers deserve access to this information. (even if you are a beginner or an advanced writer)

So if you’re tired of guessing, overthinking, and growing at 1 subscriber every 3 days…

Join us. 🔥

Your future audience is built by the systems you start creating today.

Your Action For This Week

Don’t overcomplicate this.

Just test it.

With your next 10 subscribers:

Send a curiosity-based opener
Ask about their biggest struggle
Send them one useful resource
Talk like a human being

That’s it.

You’ll learn more from 10 real conversations than from consuming 50 growth threads.

And if you start noticing patterns in what people struggle with?

Congratulations.

You just found your next 10 article ideas.

Final Thought

A lot of writers are obsessed with writing better.

But sometimes the biggest growth unlock is simply becoming more human.

Because readers don’t stay for information anymore.

There’s infinite information.

They stay because of connection.

That’s the difference between:

“Nice post.”

and:

“Can’t wait for your next article.”

Big difference.

And if you want help building that kind of newsletter/community, subscribe below.

Every week, I break down what actually works on Substack without the fake guru nonsense.

Just real strategies, real testing, and real execution.

(Plus occasionally me overthinking hooks for 45 minutes straight for absolutely no reason.)

See you next post,

— William😁

How I Would Use 2 Hours to Gain 1000 Subscribers

William Leroux — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:00:48 GMT

Hey, it’s William!

And we’re starting strong with our first video on Substack!!!! This will be the Funnel Growth Video!

How it works: I create a short, direct video about a problem most writers face.

I also built a simple funnel you can follow that gives you the exact system and actions at the end (down below ⬇️).

You get maximum value in little time, with visuals and a clear step-by-step video.

Why?

I realized that a lot of you like videos and prefer to learn that way. And with these videos, we can go much deeper and actually understand things with images! (and it’s more fun!)

What you will learn in this Funnel Growth Video:

The Steps to Gain Subscribers in 2026
What to do if you have little time
How to take action and go further

Watch it! And let me know down in the comments what you think!!

The problem most writers face when growing Substack:

Growing a Substack sounds great and easy, but it’s not the reality.

I see this problem again and again, writers want to grow and build something, but they never succeed.

They don’t have a clear system to turn readers into engaged subscribers.

Bad system= no subscribers =no money.

Writers stay stuck, and they don’t know how to get out.

In this video, I share some strategies I use, but there’s one strategy almost no one is using.

The one that could change your life. (It’s like discovering dropshipping in 2016)

Everyone is fighting for attention through Notes and collaborations, but you could be one of the first to actually use this strategy and go faster than 99% of writers. (wow)

So if you want to build something sustainable, you first need to clear this step out of the way:

How do you grow a Substack without Notes? (because Notes don’t work and take all of your time.)

Hopefully, I figured it out.

I grew my Substack newsletter to 1.5K subscribers and I’m now on my way to 10K, all while studying, working, and training.

It was hard, and that’s when I realized most writers face the same problem I did: they want to build a Substack, but they have no time and no winning strategy.

That’s why I created the Newsletter Growth Lab.

A place where writers can learn, share their work, and grow their newsletter using the system I used myself. (And I want you in!)

All of this inside a community of writers on the same journey, you grow with others, and we help each other along the way.

The goal is simple: eliminate being stuck and finally reach your 1,000 true fans.

If that sounds interesting to you, you can watch the full system and strategies in this FREE WORKSHOP.

And save your spot for the next cohort! I’m only taking the 15 most ambitious writers before April 15.

Watch the workshop and secure your spot now (for real growth and a lot of fun).

Steal Your Spot Now!!!

When you join, you secure your spot and get an analysis of a top Substack creator and all of their strategies,just like this one, but with 10 other writers included!!

It’s powerful!!!

Don’t just take my word for it. One of our writers said:

“Using the Newsletter Growth Lab was the bridge between quitting and building. I reached 1K and now have a clear path toward monetization.”

Click the link and join the WAITING LIST to get access to everything.

Steal Your Spot Now!!!

Love this format?!

Don’t hesitate to share it with friends and person interested to join the community!

We always need support!

And let your comments below?!

Should I make more of this format?

Thanks for watching the #1 Funnel Growth Videos!

- William

How to Build a Substack With Actual Fans?

William Leroux — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:01:03 GMT

Substack can either be your biggest enemy or your best ally.

And right now, it probably feels more like the first one.

You’re here because you’re trying to build something real, a community of readers that could actually change your future, maybe even become your way to make money.

But instead, you feel stuck.

30 subscribers a month.
15% open rate.
0–2 likes on your Notes.

And slowly, that vision you had at the beginning starts to fade… not because it wasn’t possible, but because your Substack wasn’t built to support it.

I know that feeling, because I went through the exact same phase.

But everything changed the moment I stopped posting randomly and started building the right structure behind my newsletter.

That’s when I grew to 1,500 subscribers… and even hit a 72% open rate on one email.

That was the real turning point.

And today, I’m going to show you exactly what created that shift, starting with one simple piece most writers completely ignore:

The “Start Here” post.

Hey sorry to disturb your amazing reading.

Just want to let you know that this is Week 5 of the 5 Post Challenge where you learn to engage your audience with simple strategies that we overcomplicated.

At the end of each week, you have a post. This post contains valuable information and actions for the next step.

At the end of the 5 weeks, you just boosted your engagement with a better research, offer and a Start Here Post.

(That’s today!🥳)

The goal of this is to take actions with a step-by-step guide over the week. Not something, you learned and never apply correctly.

And each post solves a mini problem.

This week we create the BEST Start Here Post for your newsletter. You learn why it’s useful, how to build one for yourself and how to optimize it.

You might lose 10 subscribers each day because of a structure, that’s why we are fixing it!

Let’s get into it!

Why You Need a “Start Here” Post (Even If You Think You Don’t)

Let me ask you something simple.

What happens when someone discovers your newsletter for the first time?

They read one post.

They think, “This is interesting.”

And then… what?

If you don’t have a place designed to explain:

Who you are
What you write about
Who it’s for
What problems you solve
Why they should stay

You’re leaving everything to chance.

That was me.

For months, I didn’t have one.

Not because I didn’t care.

I just didn’t know I needed it.

Then one day, I saw someone else’s Start Here post.

Everything was clear.

Their story.
Their mission.
Their best posts.
Their structure.

And I understood something immediately:

This isn’t just a post.

It’s the foundation.

So’ I built mine the same day.

And after studying it deeply, I realized there are 5 essential criteria that make a Start Here post powerful.

From there, any ne subscribers and readers who check your page can instantly trust you and know where to find value.

(Just like magic!)

Let’s break them down.

1. Start With The Basics (Yes, The Basics)

We often overcomplicate things.

We assume people “already know.”

They don’t.

Your Start Here post is not the place to be clever.

It’s the place to be clear.

Adopt a mindset where you explain every basics, just like you would it explained to a child.

Introduce your newsletter like you would explain it to a child:

What is it?
Why does it exist?
What will I gain from reading it?
Who it is for?
When do you post?
What type of content?
Do you use chat threads? When?

When someone lands there, they shouldn’t have to think.

Be clear about everything and take time to use emotional examples.

For example, when I say who it is for I will say: “It’s for ambitious people who feel stuck at with less than 30 subscribers a week”

And not: “It’s for people who want to change their life.”

See the difference?

Then tell them your schedule. This helps them know when you post and when to engage.

Of course they might not remember, but they will have a little idea and will see that you are consistent.

And here’s something important:

Make them feel like they missed something.

“Last week, the chat thread about newsletter engagement exploded. If you missed it, here’s how to catch up.”

Momentum creates curiosity.

And curiosity creates engagement. It’s a powerful thing you can do so people engage and connect with you.

You can simply ask them to DM you or share a free ressource which feel like a reward.They should immediately understand.

Clarity builds trust.

Confusion kills growth.

2. Introduce Yourself Before Your Content

People subscribe to people.

So, before you explain what you write about, explain who you are.

Not your achievements.

Your story.

This creates trust and build connection. If they read trough all of it they would more likely engage with your notes and trust your credibility.

Your story should follow this path:

Who you are (story: Point A all the way to Z)
The pain you went through (Very important)
The solutions you tested
The results you created
Why this newsletter exist by linking your story, what did you start?

All of it linked together.

At the end of the read the reader should think: “This is exactly how I feel. I want to know how he made it.” Which will naturally help him to engage.

That’s how connection happens.

3. Make Your Newsletter Feel Like The Perfect Place For Them

This is the core.

You want your newsletter to be different and have a little spark that nobody else have.

Your reader should think:

“This is exactly what I need.”

Say:

“Before I continue and give you everything you’ve ever wanted, a library of all my best posts, I want to ask you a clear question:

Why me?

This matters, because if you think I’m like everyone else writing about (your niche), you’re wrong.

Here’s what makes me different, and why you should subscribe:”

Then list 3 key features of your newsletter. If you can’t think of any, that might be a sign that you’re not that different from others in your niche.

That’s also a strong indicator that you can seriously upgrade your Substack. Here are a few examples:

A co-creation project
Subscriber of the Month
Weekly case studies on a specific subject (e.g., weekly breakdowns of how Substack evolves)
Find a specific problem other newsletters in your niche have, and fix it.

You can also come up with your own ideas through research.

Start by analyzing every newsletter you love to read. Do they have something unique? Why do you enjoy them so much?

When you find the answer, ask yourself: how can you replicate this in your niche?

Make your newsletter feel special, and clearly tell readers why they shouldn’t hesitate to subscribe now.

4. Build a Library of Posts (Organized by Pain)

This is where most people miss.

Your Start Here post should not just introduce you.

It should guide the reader.

Here’s the situation: you have plenty of great and valuable articles, but what percentage of new subscribers actually read them?

Approximately 0%.

Which is why a Library of post that give them exactly what they should read based on their interest works so well.

They get value.

You get engagement and trust.

Create 3 themes based on the main pains you solve.

For example:

1️⃣ Productivity & Energy

How to manage your time.
How to build systems.
How to stop feeling overwhelmed.

2️⃣ Newsletter Growth

How to get subscribers.
How to increase engagement.
How to build real connections.

3️⃣ Destroying Procrastination

How to stop delaying.
How to remove distractions.
How to build discipline.

Under each theme, share 2–3 powerful posts.

This way, the reader doesn’t just subscribe.

They dive in immediately.

And once they read 2–3 posts in a row, something happens:

They’re in.

They understand you.
They understand your system.
They see the value.

That’s how real subscribers are built.

Not passive ones.

Engaged ones.

5. End With a Clear CTA + A Small Challenge

Most people finish their Start Here post weakly.

Don’t.

Tell them what to do.

Here’s what I recommend:

Create a 7-day Subscriber Challenge.

For example:

“I am glad you went trough the Start Here post!!! Which makes you actually in the top 10% of reader. Congratulations. I always do a quick 7-Day New Subscriber Challenge to see who is in the top 1%.

Here’s how you can participate:

Find one post in the Library who you feel can help you, read it and leave a valuable comment and insert 7 Day Challenge.

That’s it. But it already set you apart from most people.

Will you do it?”

Simple.

But powerful.

Why?

Because it filters.

You’ll quickly see who is active.
Who wants to build.
Who just subscribed randomly.

And nobody does it, you would be very different and unique in your way of welcoming new subs!

By the end of that week, your subscriber will:

Know your story
Know your themes
Know your systems
Know how you can help them

That’s the real goal of a Start Here post.

Clarity.
Connection.
Direction.

Actions for today:

1. Use what you know from writing a good article and plan your Start Here post with the different sections.

2. The next day or week, post your Start Here post and promote it to a few connections you have or active subscribers.

Bonus

I have incredible news, folks!!! 😁

I just built the Newsletter Growth Lab, a place where writers can learn how to grow their newsletter and find their first 1,000 real fans (and honestly, it’s also just a really cool space where writers help each other out).

And now, I’ve created a complete free waiting list where you can learn the exact system inside the Newsletter Growth Lab and secure your spot for the 2^nd cohort.

If you want to go further, build an engaged audience, change your life, and not stay stuck in a 9–5 forever…

Go check it out, it’s literally free.

Only accepting 15 members before April 16, so be fast!

If you follow every Lessons and Live on time exactly as instructed and you don’t see specific result within 6 months we’ll 100% refund.

Save Your Spot Now!

Final Words

I will always repeat that structure is everything. If you have a good system and a good structure in your project, it will work out.

And most of the strategy for growth or monetization will then work.

And today you finished it!! But…

What do you build next?

Because building is one thing… but driving traffic is another.

That’s where most writers get stuck.

They know what to do, but they don’t execute properly, or they stay alone without feedback. So they stay at the same level for months.

If that’s you, you’re probably a busy writer trying to reach 1k subscribers, struggling to grow consistently, and looking for a real community.

That’s why I built the Newsletter Growth Lab.

We analyze your Substack, give you a clear plan, and you execute it with lessons, other writers, and weekly 1–1 guidance.

Because templates and courses don’t work if you’re alone, you need feedback and direction. (Like other creators do!)

It’s built for busy creators (students or 9–5) who still want to grow something real.

I’m only taking 15 members before April 16, so if you’re serious, now’s the time.

Join the waiting list here (there’s a small discount if you join today! 👀).

Hope the series was helpul! If it was here’s how you can support me:

💬Leave a comment about your #1 struggle building your Substack. I want to help you now!

🤝Share this piece to someone who needs it. Always love to help more people!

Remember: every Monday, we share a Substack Creator Analysis where we break down what writers like Wes Pearce are actually doing to grow.

Just real examples, simple takeaways, and things you can try yourself.

You’ll get it straight in your inbox 🙂

See you there!

- William

How to Fix Your Substack Bio (Because Mine Sucked Too)

William Leroux — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 22:25:25 GMT

You might be thinking:

“Is having a good bio really that important?”

And I understand, because I thought the same thing.

My first two months on Substack:

2 subscribers. Almost no views.

It felt discouraging.

But after those two months, I made drastic changes to my Substack, and little by little, I started seeing results.

From 2 subscribers to 100 in one month.

Then from 100 to 1,200 in three months.

One of the most important changes was my bio.

Of course, it wasn’t only the bio.

It was the overall structure that made everything possible.

And today, we start with the basics.

Or maybe not so basic.

P.S. When we talk about a “bio” here, we mean the description of your newsletter. It’s one of the very first things people see when they click on your profile.

Hey sorry to disturb your amazing reading.

Just want to let you know that this is Week 4 of the 5 Post Challenge where you learn to engage your audience with simple strategies that we overcomplicated.

At the end of each week, you have a post. This post contains valuable information and actions for the next step.

At the end of the 5 weeks, you just boosted your engagement with a better research, offer and a Start Here Post.

The goal of this is to take actions with a step-by-step guide over the week. Not something, you learned and never apply correctly.

And each post solves a mini problem.

This week we create the BEST biography for your newsletter. You learn why it’s useful, how to build one for yourself and how to optimize it.

You might lose 10 subscribers each day because of a bad bio, that’s why we are fixing it!

Let’s get into it!

Why a bio is so important

Your bio is one of the first things people see.

So, it’s one of the main reasons someone decides whether they will read your post or not.

The number one mistake I see when someone struggles to gain subscribers, even if they post 3 notes a day and connect with 10 new writers daily, is simple:
when people click on their profile, they see… nothing.

Nothing important.
Nothing clear.
Nothing that brings value.

On top of that, in today’s world, you are not the first person talking about money, self-improvement, or growth.

There will always be a bigger creator doing something similar.

So why should someone subscribe to you?

Because you are different.

You have your story.
Your struggles.
Your progress.
Your results.

And that’s something no one can copy.

Your bio is where this difference shows.

That’s why having a strong bio matters so much: it tells the reader, immediately, if subscribing is worth it or not.
And once your bio is clear, every piece of traffic you bring to your page becomes more valuable.

(You’ll learn why very soon.)

So, how do you do it?

The 3 Pillars of a Good Bio

A good bio must clearly communicate three things:

Your story (including your struggles and your results) 📖
Your topic (precisely what problem you solve) 🎯
The transformation and dream outcome they will reach, with a clear call to action (CTA) 🤝

When these three elements come together, your bio becomes different, speaks directly to the reader, and gives them a real reason to stay and read.

Here’s an example of my bio:

“I help busy writers grow their first 1,000 readers. From procrastination to student-athlete training 5x/week + building 1.5K newsletter. I analyze top Substack creators weekly and show how they reach 10K+! Steal the playbook now.👇 ”

Let’s break it down.

• “I help busy writers grow their first 1,000 readers.” 🎯

This introduces my topic, the problem people face, and the dream outcome they want to achieve.

My target audience is busy writers, their main pain is having limited time.

And 1,000 readers represents the dream outcome they’re working toward.

Together they form my topic, they figured out that I speak about writing, growing a newsletter and getting unstuck.

• “From procrastination to student-athlete training 5x/week + building 1.5K newsletter.” 📖

This is my transformation and my results. It makes me different and shows proof that change is possible.

• “ I analyze top Substack creators weekly and show how they reach 10K+!” 🎯

This is directly what I write about which include self-improvement and Substack. It tells exactly what the readers will find if he scroll through.

It’s my offer (what you learned in the previous article), and it helps people clearly understand why they should subscribe and what they can expect from my emails.

The error is to be too general or not having words your audience actually use.

You can go deeper and say I help you ... (pains into solutions) if you have powerful proof. Numbers are really great for proof. Just think of someone who made 1 million dollars in business, you know he can deliver real value just with this information.

• “Steal the playbook now. 👇” 🤝

This is the CTA. It clearly states what you get by subscribing. If people resonate with it, they’re much more likely to click “Subscribe”.

It’s also powerful because I use the word “steal,” which creates a stronger incentive to join than simply saying “subscribe.”

With the emoji it’s clearer and benefit the visual readers.

All of this works together to make a new reader curious, interested, and ready to explore your work.

Now, let’s do it for your bio.

Make the Best Possible Bio

Now it’s your turn.

You can use an AI like ChatGPT to create the best possible bio, if you give it the right inputs.

Start with your story. A good story includes:

• Your name and age
• The struggles you went through
• How you overcame them
• Your results
• How long it took
• Personal constraints (for example: starting with zero experience)

Then, define your topic. A good topic includes:

• Your general niche
• Your specific angle (for example: procrastination)
• The exact problem you solve
• How it helps people reach their goals or live better

Finally, your CTA. A good CTA should:

• Be direct (start with “Subscribe” or “Get…”)
• State a clear solution
• Highlight a benefit
• Feel emotional or community-driven
• Stay short

Once you have all of this, copy the 3 pillars of a good bio, and tell ChatGPT:

“Act like a professional Substack writer. Following this strategy: (paste the 3 pillars here), write a 250-character bio using this information about me: (paste your details). Generate multiple variations.”

Then, choose the one that feels the most like you.

If ChatGPT doesn’t give you something good right away, that’s normal.

You can also look at bios from creators you like (including mine), and ask ChatGPT to follow that structure.

Pro tip:

Whenever you don’t know how to structure something, look at what great creators are doing and adapt it to yourself, without copying. Their experience is part of why it works.

And that’s it.

You now have a bio that makes people read and subscribe.

Bonus

I have incredible news, folks!!! 😁

And now, I’ve created a complete free workshop where you can learn the exact system inside the Newsletter Growth Lab.

If you want to go further, build an engaged audience, change your life, and not stay stuck in a 9–5 forever…

Go check it out, it’s literally free.

You don’t have to pay anything or stay where you are, trying to figure everything out on your own.

I’m so excited!! (It’s my first workshop 😎)

Steal The BluePrint Now!

Final Words

I will always repeat that structure is everything. If you have a good system and a good structure in your project, it will work out.

And most of the strategy for growth or monetization will then work.

You already have one part of the structure. So, the only real question left is:

What do you build next?

Continue with Next Week With:

How to Write a “Start Here” Post The Right Way!

Thanks for supporting BeBetter! If you are a writer and want to change your life, don’t hesitate to subscribe for more analysis!

Remember: every Monday, we share a Substack Creator Analysis where we break down what writers like Wes Pearce are actually doing to grow.

Just real examples, simple takeaways, and things you can try yourself.

Next week, we’re looking at Nicolas Cole, the writer who built a million-dollar business on Substack.

You’ll get it straight in your inbox 🙂

See you there! (and don’t forget to share if it was useful!)

- William

Subscribers Don’t Come by Magic. Steal this Offer That Got Me 100 in a Week

William Leroux — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:47:56 GMT

Would you say you are the best at what you do?
Are you the best newsletter in your niche?
What do you offer that’s better?

These are all questions that can take you to maximum growth and engagement on Substack.

How?

If you are truly the best at what you do, or you give the best value to your audience, how could they say no?

They’ll also be more likely to trust you, because you can actually prove it.

In the last article of the Challenge, we introduced the concept of research, which is essential if you want to deliver maximum value.

But…

How do you create the best offer with all this research?

That’s a completely different thing.

I used the following offers to win 100 susbcribers in a week, just because it was the best in my niche.

And today, we’re going to look at the best ways to create an offer that boosts engagement, and how to actually put it in place.

Let’s go.

Hey, sorry to interrupt your reading.

I just want to remind you that this is Week 3 of the 5 Post Challenge, where you learn how to engage your audience with simple strategies that we often overcomplicate.

At the end of each week, you get one post.
Each post contains valuable insights and actions for the next step.

By the end of the 5 weeks, you’ll have boosted your engagement with better research, a stronger offer, and a solid “Start Here” post.

The goal is simple: take action with a step-by-step system throughout the weeks.
Not something you learn and never actually apply.

Each post solves one specific mini-problem.

This week, we’re solving this one:
You don’t really know what your audience wants.

Reminder: in every challenge, there is a winner.

The person who completes all the actions, reaches out, engages with me and the community, and actually executes.

At the end of the challenge, that person will be crowned the BeBetter Challenge Champion 🏆 and receive a special shoutout and reward.

Let’s do this.

And let me know what you did this week using the Note Template and tagging me @.

Now, let’s get back to it.

1. Co-creation project

Before starting: if you’re not solving a clear and urgent problem, this won’t work. Do your research first.

This is one of the best engagement projects you can do: a co-creation project.

You simply build something with your audience, not just for them.
And when people feel part of the journey, everything changes.

If it’s useful and it helps them, they’re far more likely to engage, participate, give ideas, and eventually join your paid products.

Example:
You’re a tech or AI writer.

You could host weekly live sessions with your audience to understand or build something together, like going from 0 to mastering a specific AI tool.

After each live or discussion thread, you document the lessons, breakthroughs, and steps.

After 3 months, you’ve created a complete AI Playbook.

And the people who participated? They get it for free.

This works because:

Participants become your proof (testimonials, results)
They promote it naturally (it’s partly their product)
You deeply understand what your audience actually wants
You create something people are ready to buy

And most importantly: they feel involved.

Pro tip: Start with a small group (5–10 people) to guarantee engagement, especially in the beginning. Promote it beforehand in an email.

Pros:

High engagement
Built-in testimonials
Strong connection with audience
Validated product

Cons:

Requires consistency
Needs active participation

2. Problems / Proof / Case Studies

This one is simple.

Identify one problem your audience has—or even just one person.

Create a guide, videos, or a personalized plan that delivers quick results.

Then document the journey.

Show the before and after.
Turn it into a case study.

Over time, build a library of case studies showing:

What worked
What didn’t
The exact actions taken

Make it available on your Substack and include it in your offer.

Pros:

Extremely valuable
Unique (no one has your data)
Strong for monetization later

Cons:

Takes time to build real results

This can become a powerful reason to join your newsletter immediately.

You can even add a paywall later and offer a 7-day free access.

Pro tip: When someone checks or downloads your case studies, reach out. You already know they’re interested.

3. You test everything

You document everything you do, with real actions, in real time.

What’s missing on Substack is people actually doing the work, testing things, failing, and sharing what truly works.

Everyone teaches.

Very few execute publicly.

If someone documented daily experiments on how to use AI for newslettersw, hat works, what doesn’t, the exact prompts, I would 100% subscribe.

Way more than generic advice.

Pros:

Builds real trust
Highly practical
Completely different from most creators

Cons:

Takes time to test and report

4. Analyze the top 1%

Every niche has top performers.

But not everyone has the time (or access) to go through long videos, courses, or workshops.

So you do it for them.

You analyze how the top 1% think, execute, and perform, and deliver only the key insights in a short, actionable format.

That’s extremely valuable.

Pros:

Content already exists
Easy to repurpose into value
High demand

Cons:

Not original content
Harder to build a personal brand if used alone

Use this alongside something else.

5. Challenges

Challenges are powerful, but harder to set up.

They give your audience a step-by-step system to follow.

You can add a leaderboard so people feel seen and involved.

And of course, a reward.

Example:
1-month access to all your premium products or features.

That could represent hundreds (or even $1000+) in value.

Running challenges quarterly can also become a strong monetization system.

If people feel seen, get results, and improve—you’ve built something solid.

Pros:

One of the best ways to build engagement
Strong community effect

Cons:

Complex to organize
Results may be slow at the beginning

Best setup for your offer

Reminder: pick ONE (max two).

If you try to do everything, you’ll get overwhelmed.
If you focus on one, you can become the best at it, and irreplaceable.

Now that you’ve done your research and have an idea of your offer…

How do you actually set it up?

Let’s break it down:

Phase 1: Research ✅
Phase 2: Idea ✅
Phase 3: Structure & plan (you are here)

Now it’s time to create a simple but real plan.

The biggest mistake?
Starting… and stopping.

I’ve done it myself.

I tried chat threads → stopped → tried again → stopped.

Each time, engagement dropped.

Why?

Because people stop trusting you.

They don’t know when to show up.
They don’t know if you will show up.

So why would they care?

That’s how you lose all momentum.

So, make a plan.

Answer these:

What is your offer?
When will you deliver it?
How and where will readers access it?
When will you work on it during your week?
What obstacles could make you inconsistent?
What are your solutions?

A simple plan like this prevents inconsistency, and helps you build something real.

Final words

With strong research and the right offer, you make sure that:

People want your content
People get real value from it
You become more trustworthy than anyone in your niche
You stay consistent and avoid burnout

But now…

How do you integrate all of this into your actual newsletter?

Phase 4: Build a killer bio that converts and builds trust.

One of the most common mistakes I see:
People have a great offer, but no one knows about it.

If readers don’t know it exists… how can they join?

We fix that next week.

Bonus

Engagement is a skill.

And it’s one of the most important if you want your newsletter to grow.

Most writers don’t even know what they’re doing.

If you have a 100 subscribers newsletter but 10% open rate: that’s 10 people.

Which is really great but not really scalable…

That’s why I created a complete free guide with the 3 best engagement strategies, based on real experience and testing.

50 Hours of Research
From 20% open rates to 27%
75% of people who bought a product went trough this engagement strategies.

If you want more engagement, don’t rely only on this challenge.
Use that guide as well.

Steal the Strategies!

So you can’t lose.

It’s free, go check it out.

Now I want to hear from you

What offer are you building?

I want to see what kind of newsletters come out of this.

If you’re new here, don’t hesitate to subscribe.

Every week, we break down top creators on Substack so you can actually understand how they grow.

By subscribing now, you receive directly in your inbox the 500 Hours Checklist Growth.

The complete Checklist of what actions you should do based off where you are.

Don’t wait! Subscribe now! (Before I remove it)

This is valuable. Really valuable. Like diamonds 💎

Thanks for reading.
— William

Day 3 Challenge

How to Research What Your Audience Actually Wants?

William Leroux — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:20:47 GMT

“The dream outcome.”

You often hear that in business, sales, and newsletter growth.

The outcome where you end up with 5k subscribers doing more than 3k a month.
Wow, it’s a dream… but is it really the reality?

The answer is obviously no. (a BIG no 🚫)

Because they forget the journey you have to take, the sacrifices you make, and all the hard things you go through.

So is it really a dream, or simply the result of your actions?

And at the start of any newsletter journey comes engagement.

Before growth.

Before monetization

Before even starting to post.

You need engagement.

If you write, you want people to read your stuff, every week.

But here’s what really happens:

Nobody reads it, and you go unnoticed, just like that.

You look at your screen and see 50 views, but you have 110 subscribers.

Most of them are your friends who just refresh your page to make you happy.

So how do we fix that? (something I would have loved for someone to explain to me earlier)

The answer is…

Research.

Let’s get started, shall we?!

Hey, sorry to disturb your amazing reading!!!

Just want to let you know that this is Week 2 of the 5 Post Challenge, where you learn to engage your audience with simple strategies that we often overcomplicate.

At the end of each week, you get one post. This post contains valuable information and clear actions for the next step.

At the end of the 5 weeks, you will have boosted your engagement with better research, a stronger offer, and a “Start Here” post.

The goal here is simple: take action with a step-by-step guide over the weeks, not something you just learn and never apply correctly.

And each post solves one specific mini-problem.

This week, we solve the problem that you don’t really know what your audience wants.

Reminder: in every challenge, there is a winner.

The person who completes all the actions, reaches out, talks with me and the community, and actually executes.

At the end of the challenge, that person will be awarded the title of BeBetter Challenge Champion 🏆 and will get a special shoutout and reward.

Let’s do this.

And let me know what you did this week by commenting down below tagging me @ (I actually read them all, and see you for the shoutout👀).

Let’s get back to it.

The Problem You Have

The main error I see when I talk with a new writer is simple: they don’t know what their audience wants.

They just assume that writing about business and marketing will help and make readers subscribe magically.

And if you don’t know what they want, then you’re just hoping they open your email.

Let’s be honest: there are thousands and thousands of people writing about your niche.

Why should they choose you?
What makes you different?

Nothing. (That’s the hard truth)

But the best way to fix this is by doing real research, and actually talking to your audience.

So let’s learn how!

Step 1: 100 Master Analyze

Let’s become a Jedi of analyzing for one second.

If you had an AI that could analyze 100 Substack pages in your niche and tell you exactly what they offer, why it’s good or bad, and how you can do better… would you use it?

I 1000% would use it!

It’s powerful because it gives you an edge over all other newsletters with the best possible offer in the market.

But here’s the thing: this tool doesn’t exist yet (sad emoji 😔).

However, now you know that this is what separates mediocre newsletters from legendary ones… so why not do it yourself?

Actions:

Every day, analyze 1–3 newsletters in your niche: their bio, offer, chat threads, posts, and how consistently they show up. Then put everything into a document (Word or Google Docs).
After 1–2 weeks, take this document and put it into ChatGPT. Use this prompt: “Act as a professional researcher. You mastered the art of analyzing data and providing valuable insights to improve. Your job is to take the information I sent you for each newsletter, analyze the common patterns, the good elements that make them different, and the bad elements that look like everyone else. Lastly, tell me how I can be super different and more valuable in my approach using the data and (niche) pains. You don’t invent anything, you are a specialized researcher and analyzer, you tell the facts.”
Then analyze what it gives you and come up with the best way you can be different, without taking more time than you have, while giving value to readers immediately when they subscribe.

Congrats, you are now already more advanced than most newsletters… just by doing a bit of real research.

The next step is to turn this into your positioning.

But we’re not done with research yet…

Step 2: The reader analysis

There’s a big difference between what AI tells you and what real readers actually feel.

So Step #2 is simple: ask your audience.

If you’re reading this, you might already have subscribers (and if you don’t, that’s okay too).

And these subscribers are a goldmine of information.

By connecting with just 10 of them, you can already start to see patterns in their pains and their dream outcomes.

So how do you actually get this information from them?

Your actions:

Send one email briefly introducing yourself and explaining that you’re doing research on your niche/topic and would love to connect with readers who have experience. Add a call to action to DM you and mention that you might DM them too. Don’t expect a lot of DMs, this just increases your chances of being seen.
DM them: “Hey, how are you? Thanks for subscribing. I just had one quick question for you: what do you think about [niche topic]?”
Don’t go too deep immediately, or you’ll scare them away.
If they answer, continue naturally. Try to connect like a normal person (not a marketer), ask where they’re from, what they do, etc. Then when the timing feels right, ask: “Can I ask you something?”

That’s where you bring questions about their struggles, pains, and dream outcomes. Try to identify what feels urgent for them.
If they don’t respond, don’t panic. Go to their page. Comment on their work with something like: “Add value to their note + Hey, thanks for subscribing by the way, I’d love to connect.”
Ask a question like before. Once they respond, you can move to DMs.

This is a simple workflow, but it will massively boost your connections and responses.

Because most people don’t answer DMs simply because they don’t know you yet.
Build trust first, then ask.

Final words

Together, these two steps will give you a ton of information to build an offer that no one can resist.

An offer people will actually wait for in your emails (because it gives them exactly what they want and you stand out).

And that’s when you start building real engagement.

But now… how do you actually build that offer once the research is done?

That’s exactly what we’ll cover in the next post of the Challenge.🚀

Stay tuned!

Bonus

Having all the growth actions in mind takes time.

Most writers don’t even know what they are doing.

I took 3 months to figure all of the best actions fro growth and engagement.

That’s why I created a complete Checklist with all the best growth actions you should follow based on where you are.

I used it for myself everyday, and now it’s yours!

If you slightly feel like you don’t know what you are doing and are just testing things out…

Don’t hesitate, check it out.

It might help you build soemthing concrete!

It costs nothing. Click Down Here.👇

Grab The Checklist Now!

Now I Want to Hear You

What do you think of research? What is the research you did for your newsletter?

Would love to see what you created!!

If you are new here, don’t hesitate to subscribe.

Every week, we share deep analyses of top creators on Substack, so you can actually understand how they grow.

Thanks for reading!
— William
Day 2 Challenge

Feels like nobody engages? I felt the same… until I tried this.

William Leroux — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:53:26 GMT

Fear.
Stress.
Frustration.

Those are all emotions we feel when we grow our newsletter.

We are happy to be there and to have some readers. But most importantly, we feel the pain of not reaching more.

Why does nobody engage and read my stuff?

That was also a question I asked myself. And no writer should stay in this zone.

A zone where you have no chance of changing your life, monetizing your writing, or becoming a key person of influence.

But…

What if I told you that the dream is not so far away?

We all think the dream—having 1k subscribers, more than 300 engaged readers, and products that help us earn another income—will take more than 3 years.

But if you think about it, it’s not that far away. Let me explain.

If you are able to gain at least 3 subscribers a day, in 1 year this will be 1,095 subscribers.

During that process, if you talk to 100 of them, you start to understand their pains and know what they need.

You can create a free info product and see the demand. Then make paid action products.

In 1 year, you could already make your first dollars.

But here’s when it gets fun.

I was able to get 15 subscribers a day for 1 month. That’s 450 subscribers.

I talked to 50 of them and noticed a common pattern. I made a free info product and got 56 downloads.

Then I made a product and 5 people already joined, in less than 9 months. (I can’t believe it myself.)

The good news?

This is not magic. I did it while working, studying, and being an athlete, with little time and effort.

And I created a full system that you can follow at your own pace and time for maximal growth.

The 5 Post Challenge 🚀

Boost Your Engagement Starting Today

The 5 Post Challenge is a completely free way to follow along, learn, and execute the key actions that will finally start moving your newsletter forward.

Because right now… you might be posting.

But nobody is commenting.

Nobody is replying.

And sometimes it feels like you’re just writing into the void.

(yeah… that feeling sucks)

So, for the next 4 weeks, I’m going to guide you step-by-step directly on Substack.

No fluff.

No theory you never apply.

Just simple actions you can execute right away.

Together, we’ll fix one of the biggest problems new writers face:

No engagement.

By improving it like reaching 72% Open Rate🔥 (Can’t believe it!)

By the end of this challenge, you’ll have created your Start Here Post.

A post that clearly explains who you are, what you do, and why people should care. (And this is the goal!)

The kind of post that makes new readers think:

“Oh ok… I get it now. I want to follow this person.”

Because right now most writers skip this part.

They start posting… but readers don’t really understand the bigger picture.

So we’ll fix that.

But before writing that post, we’ll first work on something even more important:

Your offer.

What you actually help people with.

What transformation you bring.

And why someone should subscribe instead of scrolling away.

(Almost nobody teaches this part… but it changes everything.)

By the end of the challenge you’ll have:

• A clear offer

• A powerful Start Here Post

• A simple foundation for growth

And most importantly…

You’ll stop feeling like you’re posting into the void. 🙂

Where Do You Start?

This 5 Post Challenge wouldn’t be a real challenge without crazy actions to begin with.

1.Tell me if you are in.

I want to see you and help you with a quick chat. (So excited)

2. Understand the problem.

Look at your newsletter. Is it different from anyone else? Would people engage?

3. Start asking.

You already have some readers. Prepare an email, a Chat Thread, or a DM and connect with them. Ask why they engage and read, and find out what their problem is.

Don’t hesitate to restack and interact if you join the challenge or want to invite more people. More fun when we are a lot!!!

Bonus

Having all the growth actions in mind takes time.

Most writers don’t even know what they are doing.

That’s why I prepared a complete Checklist with all the best growth actions you should follow based on where you are.

If you slightly feel like you don’t know what you are doing and are just testing things out…

Don’t hesitate, check it out.

It costs nothing. Click Down Here.👇

Grab The Checklist Now!

Final Words

We are starting this new BeBetter strong and I’m glad to have you in the challenge.

Writing here takes courage.

Growing here takes discipline and time.

But you don’t have to do it alone.

We will help each other.

And more engagement is just the start of changing your life and making your first dollars.

But now that you know the Challenge is there…

What is really stopping you from joining?

This is what we will see next week!

One More Thing…

In every challenge, there is a winner.

The person who completes all the actions, reaches out, talks with me and the community, and actually executes.

At the end of the challenge, that person will be awarded the title of BeBetter Challenge Champion 🏆 and will get a special shoutout and reward.

Let’s do this.

Now I Want to Hear You

What do you think of this challenge? Will you join?

If you are new here, don’t hesitate to subscribe.

Every week we share deep analyses of top creators on Substack, so you can actually understand how they grow.

Thanks for reading!

— William

Day 1 Challenge

P.S Don’t hesitate to restack and interact if you join the challenge or want to invite more people. More fun when we are a lot!!!

I’m Building The Biggest Project Of My Life, And I Want You To Be Part Of It.

William Leroux — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:40:05 GMT

I’m building the biggest project of my life.

And I want you to be part of it.

I didn’t plan this.

I didn’t wake up one day thinking:
“Let’s build a big Substack project. Let’s teach growth. Let’s do this perfectly.”

It started the same way most things start.

Confusion.
Trying things.
Following advice that should work…
and realizing that somehow, it wasn’t working for me.

For context (if you’re new here):

Hi! I’m William. I’m 19. 👋

And everything I’ve built so far came from trial, errors, and a lot of moments where I felt behind, late, or just… lost.

When I started on Substack, I did what everyone does.

I read posts about growth.
I saved threads.
I tried to “apply the strategies”.

And here’s the truth nobody really wants to admit:

Most of what people say online doesn’t actually works.
Just not the way you think.

The real problem isn’t bad advice.
It’s that advice is almost always shared out of context.

People tell you what worked.
They never tell you how they tested it, why it worked for them, or what failed before.

And the only real way to find winning solutions is not to copy them.

It’s to test, adapt, and build with people.

That’s what top creators actually do.
They just don’t really talk about it here.

So, while building this Classroom project (an awesome project I can’t be more excited about!), I went back to basics.

And I want to share a few things I learned the hard way, things you can use too.

Not sexy tips.
Not “post more”.

Real stuff. Stuff that I never saw anyone share here on Substack.

1. Create groups. A lot of them.

Not growth groups.
Human groups.

People you genuinely connect with.

And yes, you can seek connection with intention, not manipulation.

Ask yourself:

How can I help this person?
What do they do better than me?
How could we grow together?

That can turn into:

restacks
recommendations
long-term partnerships
idea exchanges
honest feedback

Visibility comes naturally when people know you. Then, I will be easier to gain subscribers and actual readers.

And the awesome thing is that I want to do this with you.

Yes, you all!

The thing is a group of 4 people is nice but if we can get a group of 50 people who have ambitious, ask questions, share feedback, restack your post and help you build your audience, that would be even better.

If that’s something you see yourself part of, let me know here: (Don’t miss this hihi)

2. Get on calls (seriously).

One way to get ahead of this dead-visibility zone is to be different but actually sharing problem in what a way that intrigue people.

The problem at the start is: you know nothing about what your audience want and what they hate.

You have to discover it.

But when you do, you gain an edge towards all the other newsletter in your niche.

Calls changed everything for this.

Because you can access completely honest feedback to put you in the right direction.

Text is good.
Calls are different.

You see patterns.
You hear doubts people never write.
You understand why something doesn’t land.

I used calls to ask questions like:

What was the best lesson you got from my post?
Why would you recommend my newsletter over others?
What do you hate in this niche?
What feels fake or repetitive?

At first, it hurts.
Then you grow.

Most of my biggest improvements didn’t come from writing more.
They came from listening better.

At the start I was just another self-improvement newsletter but once I understood this, I completely change it and tried to make it unique like me.

And if you think:
“I don’t have anything extraordinary to share”

Good.

That’s often where the best stories start.

You don’t need an extraordinary life.
You need a real problem, lived honestly, and solved in public.

Share it everyday. See what people connect the most and actually build something in public.

Then, you can use calls with your connection to go 10x more ahead of this, with the right feedback.

3. Test demand before creating anything.

This one is underrated.

Everyone says:
“Create a lead magnet. Give it to people, gain their email and gain subscribers.”

The problem with this is that nobody will really read your work, because first they don’t know you and second, they will not even know they are in your newsletter.

And that completely affect you reach and open rate, which is bad for your newsletter.

Here’s what I do instead.

I create the idea first.
The page.
The promise.

And only if people want it…
I create it.

If someone is willing to give their email for a free solution, that tells you everything.

And no, it doesn’t need to be complicated.

“But they will receive nothing?”

Yes, you are completely right and that’s the point. You create it after.

You can simply tell them that their was an error and that you will send it to them once it’s fixed.

“But I don’t have time to create a lead magnet like this”

Don’t overcomplicate it.

A good lead magnet is:

short
actionable
immediately useful

10 pages is enough.

Don’t overthink it.

I’m currently building guides + templates on how to make the best lead magnet for myself, because I wasted so much time overcomplicating it. (and now I can actually gain time)

And I wanted to know if it would be useful to you as well.

Leave your opinion here:

All of this is part of the project I’m building right now. (really exciting!)

In public.

I’ll start posting notes like:
Day 1.
Day 2.
Day 3.

Which includes:

What I test.
What works.
What doesn’t. (All of the journey really)

And I want you involved. I need your help on these notes or Chat Threads, because I want it to be useful for you and not me.

So don’t hesitate to engage, support and share your thoughts. (We will build this together!)

Thank you x1000!!

And in this post, I am also creating short surveys and polls, not to collect data, but to build direction together.

So let me ask you:

If this resonates, answer the polls.
Comment.
Or DM me directly! (That is what it is for)

And I would love to just talk and support you!

Final words

This isn’t just a growth project.

It’s a space for people who want to build something meaningful, step by step, without pretending they have it all figured out.

Together we are stronger and that’s one of the important messages I want BeBetter to be.

As a community.

If this hit home, let me know what your goals are, your ambitions and where you feel stuck.

If we share the same goal…

Why not build it together?

— William

BeBetter Week #23

How to Build a Successful Substack From Scratch: Complete Breakdown

William Leroux — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 02:18:50 GMT

👋 Hey, it’s William.

Welcome to BeBetter REAL Growth Space, the place where I don’t just give tips, I give real solutions, real actions, real plans to help you achieve your goals and actually grow.

Not in a year. Not in six months. In one month.

I want this to be the clearest thing you read today.

If you’re a paid member, it’s because you want to level up for real, not just “feel motivated for ten minutes” and slide back into the same patterns tomorrow.

You want structure, direction, clarity, and a simple way to move your life forward without wasting years guessing, testing random advice, or burning out.

That’s exactly what I’m building for you in 2026.

But before I dive into the plan, let me quickly remind you what paid members unlock starting today, and why it actually matters:

✨ What You Unlock as a Paid Member

The complete system that brought me to 1,000 subscribers and my first book. No fluff. Just clear steps, frameworks, and examples you can copy, apply, and adapt to your life.
📩 Instant text feedback whenever you need it. Stuck, confused, or unsure what to do next? Message me. You’re my priority, I reply fast.
🎧 Weekly chance to win a free 1-on-1 call (Value: $150). I’ll build a full custom plan based on your goals, your schedule, your time, and your experience.
📚 Exclusive classroom modules & templates. Step-by-step path so you stop guessing and just follow the system.
👀 Paid threads, behind-the-scenes, private lessons. You grow with me, not behind me. You see how I think, plan, write, launch, fail, adjust, and win.

And if it’s not for you? You can unsubscribe anytime. No hard feelings.

If you’re reading this and aren’t a paid member yet, don’t miss your chance. The first 10 people get a 7-day free trial plus extra bonuses. Right now, 7/10 spots are taken.

Hurry,don’t miss it.

Just message me here saying you’re interested and I’ll set it up for you immediately.

What is a Successful Substack?

Good question, and one every newsletter creator should ask before doing anything else.

Of course, success is personal. You define what it means for you. But from my experience, a newsletter becomes truly successful when it checks these 5 criteria:

Good design, structure, and direction — you know where you’re going, what value you provide, and which problem you solve.
Doesn’t consume all your time or energy — it fits in your life without burning you out.
A decent number of subscribers and followers — 1k is a solid starting point.
Engaged audience — people who read, interact, and actually get value from your content.
Monetizable — and on track to be a real source of income.
Bonus: It brings joy, a sense of purpose, and achievement.

Here’s how I see the connection between these criteria:

1️⃣ If your newsletter has clear structure, design, and direction, then it’s easier to gain the right subscribers and engage them consistently.

2️⃣ If your audience is engaged and interacting with you, it naturally leads to monetization, scaling, and building a brand or project, depending on your goal.

3️⃣ If you monetize, you help more people, yourself, and can actually live the life you want.

4️⃣ If you enjoy it, and find meaning in growing this process, consistency comes naturally.

That’s why any newsletter that wants to succeed has to check these criteria.

Skip one, and you’ll struggle in the long run.

Why Aim for a Successful Substack?

You might ask yourself: why bother?

Isn’t a newsletter just a lot of work?

Will it even work?

I get it. Four months ago, I was stuck at 2 subscribers for 2 months. All these doubts kept popping into my head: “You should stop… It’s not for you…”

But I didn’t stop. And I’m glad I didn’t. Now, I’m over 1,000 subscribers, helping people along the way, and learning every day.

I remember clearly why I started: I was tired of my life. Lost. I knew I had potential to live the life I wanted, I just didn’t know where to start.

And that’s the beauty of people who refuse to let life decide their future for them.
We choose to show up, we choose to work, we choose to keep learning.

Even if it takes 10 years, I show up every day because:

It makes me feel alive
It makes me proud of what I do
It ensures I’m building a life, not just existing

Starting a newsletter was one of the best ways I found to take action.

It’s easy to start, free, and allows you to learn in the process.
Substack has a growing, engaged community.
You don’t have to fight algorithms or compete with big brands.
Everything you need is here: articles, feedback, 1-on-1 help.
Monetizable.
And you learn valuable skills: ghostwriting, copywriting, email marketing, and more.

Follow the right strategy (coming soon), and you can monetize without quitting your job or spending 5+ hours per day.

Even hitting 1k subscribers shows that results come fast, and the long-term impact can be massive.

So how do you actaully start building that suceesful Substack of yours?

Step 1: Make Sure You Got Your Direction Right

You won’t hit all 5 criteria in a week, or even in a month. So it’s why you have to focus around this specific aspect first…

No, you don’t need to post 5 notes/days to grow your audience. Here is the 1 single thing that got me 750 subscribers.

William Leroux — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 02:26:08 GMT

👋 Hey, it’s William. Welcome to BeBetter Weekly, the place where I share real frameworks, mindsets, and lessons to help you build a meaningful life, achieve your goals, and become your best self.

If you’re not a subscriber, here’s what you missed this month:

I didn’t expect this 1 mindset shift to give me 7 days of my life back
The book that changed my life…
From overwhelmed to productive, how I from drowning in work to writing 2+ post a week

Subscribe to get access to these posts and every future issue, simple, honest insights to help you grow, one week at a time.

Get The Full Case Study Now!!!

Now, back to today’s value.

Today’s post is a bit different.

We often talk about personal growth in the mental and physical way, but what about your newsletter? (That’s a big part of your journey and growth too.)

A lot of you ask me: “How do you grow so fast?” or “I would love to know how I can grow my audience like you.”

And today I want to answer that question for everyone, because it wasn’t always like this.

When I started, I was stuck at 2 subscribers for 2 months. Two painful months.

But two essential months that taught me a lot.

I remember how hard it was to get subscribers, all the thoughts in my head saying:

“Is it just me? Am I the only one growing this slow?”

“… what am I missing?”

“Why is everyone growing but not me?”

And it’s hard, because in those moments you just think about quitting.

But I stayed, and I changed something.

Just one thing.

And that one thing brought in more than 300 subscribers by itself, probably more. (And it’s not posting 5 notes a day)

Now I want to give it back to you. (Your newsletter deserves more readers.)

Because I know how hard it can be, and I wish someone told me this when I was stuck.

That’s why I took 1 week to fully analyze my Substack and dashboard and made a case study about it with the 3 real ways that got me to 750 subscribers. (What will you learn here and much more, all FREE)

So, let’s talk about it. (So you can do the same)

The truth nobody wants to hear: engagement beats content volume

When people ask me, “How did you grow so fast?”, they expect me to say something like:

• “Post every day!”

• “Write long essays!”

• “Build funnels!”

• “Optimize your headlines!”

But the data doesn’t lie.

And when I looked at my dashboard, I realized something almost embarrassing:

Most of my growth came from engaging with other humans.

Not posting more.

Substack is a platform built on relationships.

Writers reading writers.

People discovering people.

Ideas colliding in the comments section.

And here’s the crazy part:

For every hour I spent posting, the hours I spent engaging brought 10x more growth.

Not because engagement is a “hack”…

but because it signals something the algorithm loves:

“This writer is part of the community.They give attention.They add value. They show up.”

And when you show up, Substack shows you.

“But William, I already engage… and it doesn’t work.”

I get it.

Because I used to say the same thing.

I thought I was engaging, but the truth is, I was doing the minimum.

A like here, a small comment there, maybe a sentence thrown under someone’s note while scrolling in bed.

That’s not engagement.

That’s background noise.

Real engagement, the one that grows your audience, is something else entirely.

It’s intentional. It’s consistent. It’s connection-based.

Not “spammy.” Not “look at me.” Just… human.

And that’s the part most people skip.

Think about it…

If you’re a writer posting in a specific niche… and someone comes in, reads your work, leaves a thoughtful comment, and shows genuine interest in what you’re building…

What do you do?

You click their profile.

You check their writing.

If you like it, you subscribe.

That’s how humans work.

And humans run Substack.

When I finally understood that, everything changed, not because I got “better at comments,” but because I started acting like a real human trying to connect with other humans, not like someone trying to trick the algorithm.

And the results followed.

Fast. (Not by posting 5 times a day.)

But that’s just 1 of the 3 things that truly move the needle.

If you want the full FREE breakdown…

I just finished a FREE case study where I analyze my Substack dashboard and reveal the 3 exact levers that brought me to 750 subscribers, and how you can apply them too.

This post was only the first one.

The most powerful one.

The one that changed everything.

If you liked this and want to know how I concretely apply it with a time schedule and all the details, go check the case study, it’s all there. (Plus 2 other levers! For free!)

11 pages that will help you reach your goals faster and easier without feeling overwhelmed or giving up time for the things you love.

One reader already told me how happy he was that he read it.

→ Get the free case study now: The 3 Best Ways That Got Me to 750 Subscribers

Get The Full Case Study Now!!!

Final words

Here’s what I want you to remember:

You don’t grow on Substack by posting more.

You grow by connecting more.

The moment I stopped trying to “push” my way into growth and just started showing up with genuine curiosity, everything changed.

The comments felt lighter, the process felt more fun, and the results came naturally.

That’s the part people underestimate, real engagement isn’t a trick, it’s a conversation.

And if you focus on that, you’ll grow way faster than by forcing yourself to publish 5 notes a day.

Thanks for reading BeBetter.

If this resonated, consider subscribing, liking, or sharing, it helps more than you think.

Now I want to hear from you:

💬 What’s one writer you plan to genuinely engage with today?