How to Make Money Writing on Substack — A Beginner’s Guide

💌Turning your knowledge or passion into income doesn’t require fancy tech skills or a big following, and Substack might be the perfect place to start. Let’s break down what it is, how to begin, and how much you could realistically earn every month.

✨ What is Substack?

Substack is an online platform that lets you write newsletters and send them directly to subscribers’ inboxes.

But here’s the best part:

• You can write for free and grow an audience.
• You can charge readers a monthly or yearly fee once you’re ready.
• Substack handles the tech stuff (payments, mailing list, newsletter delivery).

Think of it like your own personal blog… but with built-in tools to help you make money and connect with readers.

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📝 How to Start a Substack Newsletter

Starting on Substack is surprisingly easy — you don’t even need a website. Here’s how to get rolling:

1. Pick Your Topic

Successful newsletters often focus on a specific topic or niche. A few examples:

• Fitness tips for busy parents
• High-protein recipes
• Travel stories for digital nomads
• Tips for retirees looking to earn extra income
• Gardening secrets for small spaces

Tip: Choose something you love to talk about. Your enthusiasm will shine through.

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2. Sign Up on Substack

• Go to Substack.com.
• Click Start Writing.
• Create a free account.

You’ve got your own newsletter!

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3. Start Writing

• Write posts like you’d write social media updates or blog articles.
• Keep it simple:
  • Helpful tips
  • Personal stories
  • How-to guides
• Add photos or links if you’d like.

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4. Share Your Newsletter

Share your Substack link everywhere:

• Social media
• Facebook groups
• Friends and family
• Your website

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5. Launch Paid Subscriptions

Once you have some readers, you can:

• Set a monthly fee (e.g. $5–$10/month).
• Offer yearly discounts (e.g. $50/year).
• Keep some posts free and lock premium content behind a paywall.

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💰 How Much Can You Earn on Substack?

Income varies a LOT depending on:

• Your topic
• How often you publish
• How engaged your audience is

Let’s do a quick example:

Example Earnings:

• You charge $5/month.
• You get 200 paying subscribers.
• You’d earn $1,000/month (minus Substack’s ~10% fee + payment processing).

Some writers make $100–$500/month as a side hustle. Others earn thousands or tens of thousands monthly if they grow a large audience.

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Why Substack is Great for Beginners

✅ Super low startup cost (free to start).
✅ No website or tech setup required.
✅ You can write about anything you know or love.
✅ Perfect side hustle to build over time.

It’s not instant riches—but with consistency, Substack can absolutely bring you an extra $500–$1,000+ per month (or more).

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🎯 Ready to Start?

If you’ve ever dreamed of writing for a living—or just want to earn extra cash on the side—why not give Substack a shot? Your stories, tips, and knowledge might be exactly what someone out there is searching for.