4 Things to Stop Being Invisible on Substack
From Invisible to Recognized: What It Really Takes to Stand Out as a Substack Writer
If you're someone who started with zero online presence
Near to nil, just like me, a couple of months ago, and you think that cutting through the noise is impossible.
I’m here to tell you: IT’S NOT
But it’s also not easy.
It’s a feeling we all know too well. I don’t even have to say much for you to get what I mean.
I can’t transport you into the future where your publication is gaining traction, I don’t have power like that.
What I can do, though, is save you the time and effort of learning everything on your own by explaining some basic concepts and sharing small execution tips that can help you build presence in this space.
So, let’s get straight into it.
Here’s what I’ve learned about cutting through the noise online.
1. Consistency (The first type)
You need to consistently show up in people’s feeds.
In their inboxes.
In their chats.
Even in other people’s publications (will talk more about this later).
It’s that simple, but you most likely know all of these, and know as well that …
The problem is not with knowing but with implementation.
To fix this, treat achieving consistency achieving the state of flow, it is hard enough that you are challenged (you actually get the benefit ) and consistently improving, and easy enough that you enjoy it (you can realistically pull it off).
In other words, your consistency should be enough to assert presence and doable enough for you to sustain it.
Being consistent but just publishing once a month won’t help much, while being super aggressive and publishing one article a day will probably make you very noisy (perhaps too noisy) and then burn you out for the next three months, resulting in the online world likely forgetting you altogether.
Simple things you can start with and align the intensity with what’s reasonable and doable:
Your Weekly Visibility Checklist:
1 article/week: Stay in their inbox. Keep it warm.
1–2 notes/day: Greet them in their feed.
1–3 comments/day: Drop thoughtful remarks.
5–10 likes + 1–3 replies: Show you're paying attention.
1 chat: Let them know you’re around.
These should be enough, but adjust as you must.
If you want a bulletproof mindset for showing up, I’ve teamed up with to write an article that I hope will help you too!
Now we move on to the next point:
Consistency isn't just about showing up - it’s also about what you show up with, in other words…
Be Consistent With Your Message
2. Consistency (The second type)
This is how you unlock the long-term secret to cutting through the noise:
Being known for something.
Show up with the same message over and over consistently and become so clearly associated with your topic that when people hear about it, your name is the one that comes to mind.
In the long run, you will be the owner of certain field or topic
But how do you even become this “Household name”?
Publish enough volume and value on a specific topic that it becomes undisputedly yours. That space? You own it.
To be clear, this does not mean mass-producing articles, which is why I purposely added the word value in the first place.
That was one of the first mistakes I made, an easy trap most new writers fall into because of the mass campaign pushing quantity over quality. It’s a perfect formula for burnout.
What you actually need is:
A strategy so your efforts aren’t all over the place, and you don’t waste energy and resources
A metric (or even just a simple system) to track if you’re making progress
And most importantly… patience
The goal isn’t speed, it’s recognition.
To be the person people think of when that topic comes up. And that happens when you're consistent, intentional, and willing to stay in the game longer than most.
This, however has one major challenge choosing a topic and writing about it more than anyone means there will also be others like you again, you have not escaped the noise which is your goal, you will face a lot of competitors and most likely there will be someone already established in that field mostly the ones who made that field known in the first place or even the one who invented it.
You can escape this fate by just doing it better than everyone else or… yes, doing exactly what they did:
Invent your own field or reinvent that field
Be so specific, so uniquely you, that no one else is talking about what you are talking about using your specific voice and angle.
Go deep. Go niche
Write about a subcategory of a subcategory or an intersection of categories.
For me, there are so many big names out there writing about online writing or writing here on Substack, so I focused on guiding Substack writers on how to manage their writing process through detailed and simple-to-follow systems and frameworks. And still I am currently in the process of further niching down.
Don’t be afraid to get too niche. The world is huge, and the internet is even bigger.
Someone out there is looking for exactly what you’re writing.
Pro tip: adding your personal story and touch makes it even more powerful and unique already. There will always be people who will gravitate towards you, mostly because you have the same story
3. Network and Collaborate
Connect with people in the same field.
And appear in their publications, like I mentioned earlier.
Don’t be afraid to reach out with cross-posting offers or other collaboration efforts.
Imagine the exposure if your article showed up in someone else’s inbox—not just your own subscribers'. That’s double the reach, same effort.
For growth, it’s best to reach out to people whose topics are deeply aligned or complementary to the message you're trying to convey.
Here are 4 ways on how to find collaborators:
Look for creators who have a high audience overlap with you.
If you don’t know where to find this. Here’s how
Honestly, this part tells you a lot more than just who could be a great collaborator for you, it also tells you things like:
What types of content you naturally leaning toward (especially if you’re still figuring that out)
What kind of audience is already gravitating toward your work
It’s like a mirror: reflecting both your creative direction and your ideal readers.
Look for works that complements yours.
For example, if you’re writing about healthy recipes, reach out to someone who writes about gut health.
Together, your content supports the same goal and that’s where collaboration makes the most sense.
Check the people who are already recommending you, especially the ones who’ve sent the most subscribers your way.
That’s a strong lead. It is already a strong indicator that their audience base is highly likely to be into your kind of work would also be into your kind of content.
Tap into that.
Lastly — and perhaps the easiest one to start with
Writers you already have a good relationship with.
Try pitching something to them.
If you’re feeling intimidated reaching out to completely unknown names, let this be something that eases that fear, removes that complete unknown of “what will they say, how will they respond, how will I react?”
This is why it’s so helpful to build good relationships with other writers early on. The possibility for future collabs is endless.
Start there.
Learn how it feels.
Then go off, repeat, and build from it.
4. Diversify
Okay, this might sound like the opposite of what I just said about niching down… but hear me out.
What I mean is: diversify what you offer, not your message.
If you write about one topic (let’s say gut health), don’t stop at just articles.
Build a community.
Offer bonus content, an ebook, a worksheet, a template, anything you can to offer more value.
Create ways for readers to go deeper.
Substack articles are often jam-packed, yes. But still, they’re limited. Readers want more ways to connect and explore.
TL;DR
If you’re trying to stand out as a writer, especially with zero audience, here’s what I learned:
Show up. And keep showing up.
Own your message. Be specific. Be known for one thing.
Build your people. Engage. Support. Grow together.
Give more. Let your readers dive deeper if they want to.
You don’t need to be everywhere. You just need to be somewhere consistently, clearly, and genuinely.
Up Next:
If you think mastering Substack is just about writing and publishing, think again. It’s way more complex a whole ecosystem of skills and strategy.
I’m dropping my latest deep dive: Understanding the Substack Hustle: breaking down everything you need to know to not just survive, but thrive on this platform.
And here’s the kicker: alongside this article, I’m releasing my most detailed, implementation-focused work yet. It’s packed with actionable steps you can start using right now.
So, keep an eye out👀!! This one’s going to change the game.
Subscribers will have a special on this release!
That’s all for today! I appreciate you so much for reading up until here! 😊 If you think this article could help someone, feel free to share it or like it it really helps expand its reach to help others as well. 💌
Frey.
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More reads like this:
Hi Frey! Consistency levels a LOT of playing fields. So glad you are focusing on the value of showing up every day. It’s so hard but so worth it!
You've taught me so much in just one post! I do find it challenging to keep up with everyone's posts and read all of the good material that other creatives spend time sharing. I need more hours!!! Thank you for your insight.