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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.


📝 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.


2. Sign Up on Substack

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

You’ve got your own newsletter!


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.

4. Share Your Newsletter

Share your Substack link everywhere:

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

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.

💰 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.


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).


🎯 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.



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Author: Amy