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Congratulations! My growth has been slower—a year (on May 24th) and 330 subscribers with 59 paid. But I’m happy with my paid v non-paid percentage. I’m aching to get to the 100 paid mark, though, and get my checkmark. I think part of the slower growth is because I’m publishing a serialized memoir. I think readers think they’re joining the party after dinner has been served. But I’m still loving every new subscriber I get. I’ll complete this project by mid-July and will be launching something new, so we’ll see where that goes. Congratulations again. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work.

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Hello Annette, that is great that you have 59 Paid subs, way more than me!

My theory was to build up the free subs first and then focus on paid, so I'm trying to be patient with this Substack until later in the year.

Good luck with the project, I think you've done really well with a serialisation, from what I gather that is much harder than stand-alone pieces. 👏 👏 👏

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Thanks. I’m pleased with the number of paid subs. Now I just have to keep them and grow them to 100 to get the coveted Substack checkmark. I’m working on that this month and beyond. I’ll see how it goes.

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This is amazing, well done! the important thing is to value every single soul who finds their way to you <3

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I agree. That’s vitally important. To have people committed to reading one’s work is an incredible gift. I am humbled by every new subscriber.

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same!! I feel the same, an enormous gift! if I think of the love shared here, I find myself shading a few tears. I am so not used to this!

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i hope you reach everyone who would enjoy reading what you have to share.

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Thank you 🤍 same for you 🥰

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Congratulations! ✨ I honestly never notice when anyone posts, it's always just nice to read things when they appear in the app. I am in love with your writing space - what an inspiring thing to be writing in the flowers!

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Aah, thank you, it's so lovely to be in there when the weather is a bit chilly, as it's warm in there so long as the sun has been out. 🥰

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Kate, congratulations! This is phenomenal. I look forward to your posts when they come out!

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Thank you so much James! 😃😘

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May 10Liked by Kate Darracott

Argh, yes the explore / following feed keeps throwing me off track too!

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Ditto

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I love this! and helpful, my SS is very slowly growing and I did think the first 100 subs were the hardest! I am in my 2nd month and have 27 :D

I put value and time into SS so although I enjoy it as it is, I'd love to reach more souls to build a beautiful community where people can express themselves and really enjoy life more. Thanks for sharing all of this <3 Subscribed and Recommended

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Growth will come if you keep at it, and pick up a few tricks along the way. 😉

I had 32 subs after my first month, and tbh, I rather enjoyed the slow growth as it enabled me to find my feet as a writer.

Let's face it, at month 1 only 32 people could hate my next post. 😂

But luckily they didn't, which gave me the courage to write another one. 🥰

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May 10·edited May 10Liked by Kate Darracott

Yes, I am more focused on writing at the moment, getting into the habit of writing in order to fulfil my goal of writing a memoir. I really want to get to know everyone who is part of my community. At the moment it's easy enough, as a few of them are my friends, and my mums with her friends 😄. I am so grateful for them, and happy that they enjoy reading me. They usually message me privately about the posts. One of them actually prints (!!!!) all my newsletters in both languages as she likes to learn English this way!

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Good ol' friends and mums, the perfect Starter Pack. 👏

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Yeah.. you know.. my mum isn't one of those cheering mums, she is very introverted (aaand I am the opposite). Yesterday she suggested I contact a couple of her friends and tell them about this publication as she thinks they would like reading it. I was so happy about it because I see this as her way of appreciating me and what I do. there's so much more to this that even I struggle to get it out with words at the moment, but I feel it and that's what matters 💛

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I was also impressed by Mika a recommendations! I do have quite a few now (including you ☺️) but I don’t get the same volume either. I agree that less isn’t more when it comes to marking our impressive milestones in minimal digits.

Love your growth story Kate. Onwards and upwards x

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Thanks Kate, onwards and upwards! 😘

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Congratulations on your achievements and thank you for so transparently sharing your journey with us! It's nice to see other people's growth on the site to give us kind of a point of reference, to know that most people may not start explosively but you can still make it!

Also, agreed with your words about unsubscribers—just like in real life, everyone who leaves you just helps you surround yourself with those who really care!

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Thanks Bethel, I too love looking at everyone else’s stats, so am happy to share mine. 😃🤓

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"Never fear unsubscribes, instead think of it like this… with each one, the overall demographic of your readership gets closer to ‘your kind of people’, and that’s what you want." Beautifully said. And thanks for pointing out the Explore/Follow button! Will be using that now.

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"Never fear unsubscribes, instead think of it like this… with each one, the overall demographic of your readership gets closer to ‘your kind of people’, and that’s what you want." Beautifully said. And thanks for pointing out the Explore/Follow button! Will be using that now.

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I’m so new to actually diving into Substack as a writer I am flummoxed, I will admit. Bit I thoroughly enjoy reading you and am figuring out engaging in like a handshake or at least an air high five. So I’ll see if I can navigate the recommendation feature.

I’m one of the babies. lol

Cheers!

Why are graphs so stinking satisfying?

I don’t know maybe they are like art; uniquely beautiful.

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Graphs can tell a story in one glance which is a very clever trick. 🥰

Good luck with your Substack, if you need any help with your growth I’m launching Type Club soon to help us all grow:

https://open.substack.com/pub/typeclub/p/coming-soon?r=1nkhs2&utm_medium=ios

Hopefully see you there! 🙌

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I knew you were destined for great things Kate. I love your Substack. Oversight rectified 😘😘😘

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Aaah, thanks Jo! 😘

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Gah the Explore / Following tick on the Notes feed - I had no idea either!! 🤦‍♀️Thanks for sharing this important nugget. And looking forward to Type Club coming soon - marketing goodness with a dose of chuckles. What’s not to love 😄

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Injecting a lot of fun into Type Club is a major priority for me, I will try and ensure we all have a bit of a laugh whilst growing together.

I must get a move on and finish designing it! 🤓

See you there! 😘

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Can’t wait 🤩

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Congratulations Kate 🙌 and as a digital marketing supporter (Tech VA who loves trad email marketing - shh don’t tell Substack) I totally get the growing analogy. At the moment I’m trying to think of all the ways I can include my garden into my content!

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Who doesn't love trad email marketing!? 😉

We used to use Campaign Monitor, which has a gorgeous world map, so once an email was launched you could see on the map in real time who's opening it and clicking through. It was better than telly! Very addictive. 🥰

Good luck with the gardening, such a fab hobby! 😘

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Oooh I love the sound of that, did it long when someone opened? I’m a Mailerlite user myself.

Gardening is great, I love watching seedlings emerge. I like it less when the bastard slugs eat them though!

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Yes, you could see on the map who opens and clicks in real time. A pin would appear with a caption like ‘Jane Smith, Newcastle’, very addictive. 😉 there are soooo many slugs this year due to all the rain I guess, am having to resort to organic slug pellets. 😬

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All those dopamine hits …. heaven!

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May 9Liked by Kate Darracott

So cool to see your journey! It’s not surprising that you’re growing so well - your writing is interesting and so entertaining!

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Thank you so much Sandra! 😘

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May 9Liked by Kate Darracott

Love this Kate and THANK YOU for being so candid. I’m on 123 subs and still too scared to unpick how to go paid. Also THANK YOU for recommending me - fully intend to reciprocate and extend that to others (just need to work out how). Also also love the game of celeb spotting - it reminds me of a game of “Men with big faces” (must be famous) that I play with a male friend. The latest addition is Michael Portillo, FYI.

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'Men with big faces' sounds hilarious! 😂

Good luck with your Substack!

If you need any help with growth, I'm starting another Substack soon, focusing on exactly that:

https://typeclub.substack.com/

Shame to keep all that marketing know-how to myself. 😉 😘

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Any thoughts as to what is driving your increase in subscribers? You're growing very fast (at least, compared to myself). I've actually grown faster than I thought I would when I first launched, but I'm certainly not at your level. I'm still trying to hit 100 (I launched on Jan 1).

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Looking at your SubStack it's a very different beast to mine, it looks like you post daily, which might be a lot for some readers. I tend to unsubscribe from stacks that post too often, I must admit.

You do have a lovely niche subject though, so I would suggest seeking out other Substacks along a similar theme and engaging with them through the Comments and on Notes, and then their audience will notice you and hopefully check out your substack and subscribe.

Also, just keep plugging at it, things speed up after you get to the magic 100! 👏

Good luck! 👏

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Thank you for taking the time to take a look. I do realize that it's quite a lot of reading, of course! But then, my entire point is a daily spiritual lesson based on an event that happened on this day in history. Definitely very niche. I'm somewhat encouraged that I've had very few unsubscribes which I'm hoping means that those who do find me actually enjoy it.

Congratulations on your success!

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Yes exactly! Your readership will be very engaged, more so than the average I would think! 👏

Niche is good, it sets you apart from the crowd, and helps you to be found. Make sure you are maxing out those Tags on each post so people can find you with keywords. 😃

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