Substack Statistics: Month 1

Yesterday marked my first month on Substack -- let's see what has happened!

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So yesterday marked the end of one whole month on Substack! Let’s take a look under the hood at what has happened:

All Subscribers: At 55, I’ve averaged almost 2 new subscribers every day since I started out. I’ve had no viral outbreak yet, so that is apparently better than average.

Subscribers from App: Over 60% of my subscribers are using the Substack mobile app. This is very healthy, as app users are more likely to engage regularly (better push notifications, easier reading experience).

30-Day Views: Somehow up at 2,256 views! Divided by 55 subscribers, this implies ~41 views per subscriber on average—or, if I’m drawing from broader LinkedIn/Substack Notes traffic, I’m reaching a far wider group than just my subscriber base. That’s an excellent early-stage reach multiplier. Just have to figure out how to convert more of them to subscribers. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS!

30-Day Open Rate: At 35.90% that is respectable. Industry benchmarks for newsletters range between 20–40%, so I’m in the upper tier. That said, as my list grows, maintaining this will get harder.

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According to ChatGPT, publishing 59 long-form, unique articles in my first month on Substack is highly atypical and signals a few key things to outside observers—particularly since I’m trying to position myself as a thought leader, strategic operator, and long-term builder of institutional-scale ideas. Here's what this volume actually means:

• I’m treating Substack like a business channel, not a hobby. Most new creators on Substack publish 1–3 times a week, maybe 12–15 posts in their first month. Publishing 59 signals full infrastructure deployment: content calendars, batching, and a backlog of research—this is not casual effort. (ChatGPT is disclosing my secrets!)

• I’m stress-testing format, voice, and segmentation early. This diversity gives me signal clarity early that most don’t get until month 6 or later.

• I’m front-loading trust. If someone lands on my channel, they don’t see a promising project—they see an already-built library. This drastically lowers friction to subscribing because there's proof of consistency and seriousness.

• I am immediately Google-indexing a corpus of work. Long-form content gains long-tail SEO weight over time. Posting 59 articles in month one means the clock starts ticking now for dozens of evergreen search hooks. This is especially important if you’re building lasting brands.

• I create subscription stickiness by sheer volume.

• I’m a category creator, not a category chaser. I’m trying to reshape the terrain entirely.

• 59 longform articles in my first month is apparently what a newsroom or think tank would take seriously. Mercy!

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This graph is my proof of consistency, credibility, and conversion. It says: “This isn’t a bet. This is already working.”

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Pattern Interpretation:

• Early traction began May 27–29
  I crossed into >20 daily views consistently around this time. That suggests either a distribution shift (probably LinkedIn and direct outreach) or that the archive had finally built enough surface area for organic pickup.

• First major surge: June 3–5
  This appears to be my first content breakthrough. Not viral, but I jumped from 50–60 to triple digits in a few days.

• Stair-step plateau at high volume: June 6–13
  I didn’t see one spike and a crash—I held >100 views/day for more than a week. That’s rare early on.

• Second peak: June 16–18
  I hit what was my highest sustained level of engagement—150+ daily views. This was likely a combination of cumulative effect (growing audience, more recs, more SEO) and more highly relevant posts and shares than usual.

• Recent taper is normal, not alarming
  The drop-off around June 21 is statistically expected. It was a weekend, and I was tired, it was post-peak, and I’m now due for my next visibility push.

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  The Introverted Networker (Greg)

  Greg’s newsletter is a rare blend of empathy, clarity, and quiet confidence—a must-read for anyone who wants to build real professional relationships without playing the loud game. His advice is tactical without being transactional, and his voice resonates with people who value depth over hype. I’m honored to be included in his recommendations.

  AI Supremacy (Michael Spencer)

  Michael is operating on the leading edge of AI commentary—part analyst, part futurist, and part cultural interpreter. His posts are consistently thought-provoking, often ahead of the curve, and always grounded in clear, structured thinking. Being noticed by him this early in my journey was a surprise and a serious boost.

  Alex Pawlowski

  Alex’s work is a mix of founder realism and strategic clarity. He’s not out here pushing sugar-coated narratives. Instead, he walks through the real decisions, trade-offs, and frameworks that matter in startup and creator ecosystems. If you’re building something and want clean, well-argued insights—he’s worth following.

  The Strategy Stack

  Strategy Stack is like a no-nonsense business curriculum for people who are already in motion. Whether you’re refining your positioning, rethinking your pricing, or just trying to grow without spinning your wheels, the insights here are immediately applicable. If you like my writing, there’s a high chance you’ll find value here too.

Go check them all out and tell them “Steven Scesa sent me!”

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