How to Write 30% Open Rate Articles

The exact title traits that get clicked — and what to avoid if you want your posts opened, not ignored.

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This June, despite my views increasing (I approached 9,000 total views, 4,000 more than in May), my open rates quietly dropped — from a consistent 30–31% to 22–25% — by the end of the month.

There are a few reasons I think this happened:

• Some longtime readers may be tuning out — the content rhythm might be feeling too familiar or predictable. This, perhaps, might be a natural trend in Substack. I have not yet verified this, but I will be keeping you guys posted.

• My Title lines have gotten a bit flat — I haven’t been experimenting much, and some are admittedly likely too easy to skip.

• Subscriber growth slowed slightly this month — fewer new readers means fewer fresh engagers to balance things out.

If you haven’t read the full breakdown yet, you can read my June analysis here.

All of that? It’s helpful to notice, but I can’t control most of it.

I can’t do anything about algorithm moods, summer slowness, or inbox fatigue.

That’s just how the internet seasons go sometimes: people’s attention shifts, routines change, and everything gets a little quieter.

So I decided to look for something I can influence today, right now, that might strengthen my publication regardless of what season the internet is in.

For me, the clearest answer was this:

My Titles

It’s also the fastest lever to pull:

I pulled up all my posts from the last 2–3 months, sorted them by open rate, and did a side-by-side comparison of what worked vs what didn’t.

Let’s go through the articles in order, from the best-performing title to the lowest.

Feel free to scan through and spot patterns on your own but for easier analysis, I’ve also included my observations on the key traits of each title in the table.

At the end, we will have a short summary and key takeaways from our analysis to help clarify what kinds of titles can increase your odds of consistently hitting 30%+ open rates.

📈 The High Performers (30%+ Open Rates)

📌 Still Solid (28–29% Open Rates)

Some others sat just slightly below that range — still strong:

📉 Then I Looked at the Lower Performers

Here are a few titles that didn’t perform as well:

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Summary of What Made These Titles Work

1. Use a Clear Structure (like numbers or formats)
   Readers love knowing what they’re getting — lists, how-tos, or step-by-steps make the title instantly understandable.

2. Start With Bold Verbs or Commands
   Words like MAKE, STOP, or ACTUALLY demand attention and trigger action.

3. Promise a Clear Benefit or Outcome
   Make sure the reader knows what they’ll walk away with — clarity beats cleverness every time.

4. Ground It in a Specific Context or Angle
   Don’t float in theory. Anchor your title in something real, relevant, and relatable.

5. Add Emotional or Curiosity Hooks
   A touch of surprise, challenge, or vulnerability goes a long way in pulling people in.

6. Reference a Tool, Framework, or Resource (when possible)
   Titles that point to something concrete signal value upfront.

⚠️ Common Title Traits That Hurt Performance

And here are the patterns I noticed in titles that didn’t perform as well:

• Abstract concepts – If the idea is too loose or theoretical, it doesn’t grab attention.

• Generic or vague phrasing – These titles lack punch and can be easily overlooked.

• No clear structure – Titles without a clear framework (like a list or how-to) are harder to engage with at a glance.

• Missing benefit or outcome – If there’s no clear “why should I care,” readers tend to skip it.

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What’s the Takeaway?

Looking at the patterns, it’s pretty clear:

Titles that use numbers, bold verbs, and promise a clear outcome perform best. They’re structured, specific, and easy to engage with.

On the flip side, titles that are vague, abstract, or lack urgency tend to get skipped.

Bottom line?

Specific > vague.

Bold > soft.

Clear > clever.

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Most Substack writers early in their journey, somewhere between 50 to 200 subscribers, struggle with a few common things:

• Drowning in advice, not sure where to start

• Learning a lot, but not applying it consistently

• Publishing, but not knowing if it’s working or just leading to burnout

I created a Premium Handbook for writers in that exact stage.
It’s filled with principles, tools, and frameworks to help you master the three core content types on Substack: Articles, Notes, and Subscriber Chat.

I also included quick, plug-and-play title and subtitle frameworks to help you make your articles more clickable.

Take a look inside:

Get full access and start building with clarity now!

I included a 24-hour 30% discount 🔥 to help you gear up during the slow Substack summer — so you’re ready when September’s high season hits and the internet wakes back up.

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If you don’t want deep dives and need it quick⚡ this is for Substack beginners struggling to gain momentum.

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Up Next: Your Complete Roadmap as a Substacker: From Beginner to Monetization

Managing focus, energy, and growth across every phase of your Substack journey. Here’s what matters—and when.

It’s a blog. A platform. A social network. A business tool.
And if you’re not sure how to juggle all of that—you’re not alone.

Whether you’re just starting out, stuck in the messy middle, or trying to turn your publication into something sustainable…
This breakdown will help you finally see the full picture.

🧭 Understand the 4 key parts of Substack
📌 Know what to focus on at each stage of your journey
📈 And learn how to grow without burning out

Let’s simplify the chaos.

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🛠️ Tools to Discover

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