2 Years on Substack: What Actually Works (and What Doesn't)
Sinem Günel
4,773 views
Is Substack worth it in 2026? After 2 years, 50,000+ subscribers, and almost 2,000 paid members, this is my honest review of Substack: what actually works, what's genuinely hard, and who Substack is really for.
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
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Why Substack is not a newsletter tool anymore, and what it actually is
Why distribution beats talent, and how the Substack Notes flywheel really works
Why a bigger audience won't pay your bills, and the simple math that reframes it
Who Substack is for, and who should stay away
Why we'd still choose Substack again, and why the timing matters right now
══════════════════════════════
🎁 FREE Substack Starter Kit (the exact setup we used): https://writebuildscale.com/ytstarterkit
📋 Apply for our Private Coaching Program: https://www.substackcoaching.com
══════════════════════════════
Quick answers to the questions we get most:
Is Substack worth it?
For coaches, consultants, experts, authors, and educators with something worth saying, yes. Substack is the one platform that combines social reach with real ownership of your audience. It is not worth it if you want passive income without the work.
Can you actually make money on Substack?
Yes, but not by posting articles and hoping. 100 paid members at $10 a month is $12,000 a year, which is the Substack Bestseller threshold, and that is far more achievable than chasing a giant follower count.
Is Substack just a newsletter?
Not anymore. It combines the reach of social media with something social media never gave you: ownership of your audience through their email address.
Is it too late to start on Substack?
No. It is still early. Think about who won on YouTube by showing up in 2008 and 2009. That window is open on Substack right now.
══════════════════════════════
🎁 FREE Substack Starter Kit (the exact setup we used): https://writebuildscale.com/ytstarterkit
📋 Apply for our Private Coaching Program: https://www.substackcoaching.com
══════════════════════════════
🎥 Watch next: How to Build a Substack Publication That P...
══════════════════════════════
CONNECT:
══════════════════════════════
📬 Join Write • Build • Scale on Substack → https://writebuildscale.substack.com/
📱 Follow me on Substack Notes → https://substack.com/@sinemgunel
📩 Inquiries → sinem@writebuildscale.com
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WHO I AM:
══════════════════════════════
I'm Sinem Günel, co-founder of Write • Build • Scale — a Substack publication for coaches, consultants, experts, authors, and educators who want to turn their newsletter into a real online business. 52,000+ readers, 1,900+ paid members, Substack Bestseller. Building online since 2018.
🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos on Substack, email marketing, audience growth, and digital products.
👋 If this video helped, give it a like & comment your thoughts below!
20 Comments
2 Years on Substack: What Actually Works (and What Doesn't)
Sinem Günel
4,773 views
Is Substack worth it in 2026? After 2 years, 50,000+ subscribers, and almost 2,000 paid members, this is my honest review of Substack: what actually works, what's genuinely hard, and who Substack is really for.
══════════════════════════════
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
══════════════════════════════
Why Substack is not a newsletter tool anymore, and what it actually is
Why distribution beats talent, and how the Substack Notes flywheel really works
Why a bigger audience won't pay your bills, and the simple math that reframes it
Who Substack is for, and who should stay away
Why we'd still choose Substack again, and why the timing matters right now
══════════════════════════════
🎁 FREE Substack Starter Kit (the exact setup we used): https://writebuildscale.com/ytstarterkit
📋 Apply for our Private Coaching Program: https://www.substackcoaching.com
══════════════════════════════
Quick answers to the questions we get most:
Is Substack worth it?
For coaches, consultants, experts, authors, and educators with something worth saying, yes. Substack is the one platform that combines social reach with real ownership of your audience. It is not worth it if you want passive income without the work.
Can you actually make money on Substack?
Yes, but not by posting articles and hoping. 100 paid members at $10 a month is $12,000 a year, which is the Substack Bestseller threshold, and that is far more achievable than chasing a giant follower count.
Is Substack just a newsletter?
Not anymore. It combines the reach of social media with something social media never gave you: ownership of your audience through their email address.
Is it too late to start on Substack?
No. It is still early. Think about who won on YouTube by showing up in 2008 and 2009. That window is open on Substack right now.
══════════════════════════════
🎁 FREE Substack Starter Kit (the exact setup we used): https://writebuildscale.com/ytstarterkit
📋 Apply for our Private Coaching Program: https://www.substackcoaching.com
══════════════════════════════
🎥 Watch next: How to Build a Substack Publication That P...
══════════════════════════════
CONNECT:
══════════════════════════════
📬 Join Write • Build • Scale on Substack → https://writebuildscale.substack.com/
📱 Follow me on Substack Notes → https://substack.com/@sinemgunel
📩 Inquiries → sinem@writebuildscale.com
══════════════════════════════
WHO I AM:
══════════════════════════════
I'm Sinem Günel, co-founder of Write • Build • Scale — a Substack publication for coaches, consultants, experts, authors, and educators who want to turn their newsletter into a real online business. 52,000+ readers, 1,900+ paid members, Substack Bestseller. Building online since 2018.
🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos on Substack, email marketing, audience growth, and digital products.
👋 If this video helped, give it a like & comment your thoughts below!