The pattern you're seeing - that authenticity and emotional resonance drive engagement more than optimization - mirrors what I've found across systems. The most viral moments aren't engineered. They're when someone captures a truth others feel but haven't articulated.
Your data suggests we're hungry for genuine connection, not just content. Makes me wonder: if you stripped away all metrics tomorrow, which of your notes would you still feel compelled to write?
I appreciate how you broke this down, Yana. I have been running a four Notes per day strategy for a few months now and the patterns you surfaced here match what I have seen in my own data. Emotional clarity, sharp hooks, concise delivery, and timing all matter more than most people realize.
Your breakdown on high engagement emotion work is especially useful. I shifted toward more intentional framing around my audience’s real struggles and the results have been noticeable. Higher reach. More meaningful engagement. A steady rise in free and paid subscribers.
I also like how you called out the value of community presence. That aligns with what has helped me the most lately. Notes are not just output. They are a social ecosystem.
I’m continuing to refine my own note playbook on Collaborate With Mark and your analysis gives me a few ideas to test next. Thanks for putting real data behind what many of us feel intuitively.
Thank you so much, Mark, I'm so happy it worked for you too. That's exactly how we need to use data and analyses like this one - adapt to our own needs, and it delivers.
I just came across this article as a newbie substacker and am blown away by your attention to detail and immense information you included here. I took notes and am hoping to get to your level one day!
These are some great notes, especially the pain points. my growth on Substack has been incredibly slow. I’m afraid it’s much harder for some of us to find our communities
Thank you. Here's my post Yana!!!
https://open.substack.com/pub/the0dove0state/p/man-verses-machine-series-1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7gir87
The pattern you're seeing - that authenticity and emotional resonance drive engagement more than optimization - mirrors what I've found across systems. The most viral moments aren't engineered. They're when someone captures a truth others feel but haven't articulated.
Your data suggests we're hungry for genuine connection, not just content. Makes me wonder: if you stripped away all metrics tomorrow, which of your notes would you still feel compelled to write?
Detailed and informative, thanks a bunch! Hope you don't mind also. https://substack.com/@qolde?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=6vtn9u
Thanks for sharing this info,,
Thank you so much, Hana
Great post witch such detailed, helpful info. Always looking to craft notes a little more effectively.
Thank you so much!
It was very enlightening ! Thank you for all the tips.
Thank you so much
Very impressive, thank you.
Thank you Alicia!
It was a very good post, as a new joiner I have learned lots from that; thank you!
If you want to read interpretations of data-driven longevity trends and researches using smart financial frameworks, here is my newsletter:
https://substack.com/@smilenewsletter
I appreciate how you broke this down, Yana. I have been running a four Notes per day strategy for a few months now and the patterns you surfaced here match what I have seen in my own data. Emotional clarity, sharp hooks, concise delivery, and timing all matter more than most people realize.
Your breakdown on high engagement emotion work is especially useful. I shifted toward more intentional framing around my audience’s real struggles and the results have been noticeable. Higher reach. More meaningful engagement. A steady rise in free and paid subscribers.
I also like how you called out the value of community presence. That aligns with what has helped me the most lately. Notes are not just output. They are a social ecosystem.
I’m continuing to refine my own note playbook on Collaborate With Mark and your analysis gives me a few ideas to test next. Thanks for putting real data behind what many of us feel intuitively.
Thank you so much, Mark, I'm so happy it worked for you too. That's exactly how we need to use data and analyses like this one - adapt to our own needs, and it delivers.
Thank you Yana .. this is both helpful and encouraging.
Thank you so much, Carolyn!
Amazing
Thanks, Hana
I just came across this article as a newbie substacker and am blown away by your attention to detail and immense information you included here. I took notes and am hoping to get to your level one day!
Aww thank you so much! Means a lot to me!
Very interesting
do you find writing notes even with hardly any subscribers still helps?
Yes, especially then it helps. That's how you grow.
Great article Hi nice to meet you I’m new here I write about job opportunities and being happy. Hoping we connect !
Hi Porhsa :)
These are some great notes, especially the pain points. my growth on Substack has been incredibly slow. I’m afraid it’s much harder for some of us to find our communities
Notes still work and will continue to work. Maybe try something different