Substack 101: Followers vs Subscribers, and How to Convert

A Product Manager's 1 MIN guide (and promo post :))

This is for you if you’ve ever wondered (like I did recently):

- What the heck is the difference between followers and subscribers?

- How do I get more people to subscribe instead of just follow?

Followers:

• Motivation: Show support, stay updated on projects

• Pain point: Overwhelmed with reading materials, prefer to cherry-pick content

• Common entry point: Notes (can only follow, not subscribe - thanks Substack!)

Subscribers:

• Motivation: Value regular, curated content, exclusive benefits

• Pain point: Crave deeper engagement, early access, and community

• Common entry point: Profile or article pages (more clicks and navigation, creating friction)

Want to get more people to subscribe instead of just follow?

Here are 3 “Show don’t tell” steps to take whenever and wherever you can.

Disclaimer: It’s a bit meta I know, but super curious about this experiment. Thanks in advance:)

1. Guided navigation

Guide readers to your publication. Example:

2. Sneak peak

Invite readers to check out one of your cool articles. Example:

3. Direct subscribe link

The classic. Save readers the hassle and give them a quick link to subscribe if they value regular, curated content and crave deeper engagement. Example:

Who am I?

Hey there, I’m a real-life Product Manager with over a decade of experience in software tech. I've been around the block a few times - from the highs of launching new products to the lows of sunsetting old ones, and everything in between. I've patented data innovations, developed AI strategies, managed content catalogs, and navigated complex design systems… with countless reorgs and strategy shifts along the way!

Through it all, I've learned a thing or two that I wish someone had told me when I started out. And the more I talk to other PMs, the more I realize that some things are just assumed to be "obvious" - but they're not always obvious to everyone.

That's why I'm starting this newsletter - to share my experiences, insights, and tips with you, to make your PM life easier. I want to create a resource that should exist in every company's onboarding docs and PM resources. Subscribe, and let's unlock your product potential together!

If you missed the Haiku (it’s a thing we do around here):

Followers observe

Subscribers engage deeply

Value in the depth

— Haiku by ChatGPT

Other ways to support my work and engage:

Remember to trust your potential,

Asmita