Welcome back, class. It’s Mr. N, again.
Today, let’s show the Substack algorithm where to shove it.
Let’s make that asshole work for us.
Last time, we learned about titles, tags, writing for real, making it hurt, and making some allies. Of those? Making allies, constantly liking, commenting, and restacking, I believe, is the strongest.
Then we went to the hacks of restack, timing your postings, titles and images, tag in notes, images in notes, unpublish if unsuccessful, like and comment, connect me prayers, and drop in the chat.
We discussed common sense and common mistakes. I talked of my success from really reading, thoughtfully commenting, and restacking with notes. I still do this, but I have to scale back. I was just reading all the time. I now focus on unestablished, OGs, and scratching the backs of those who scratch me.
Some say this is selling out. I see us as GameStop fighting the hedge fund 1%ers. I do have a story of my part in that for a future post.
I do take requests. You could just reread the post here.
Step 1 - Hack the algo
Get ready for some notes. We now go a step further. Let’s make the algo work for us.
When I look at my page, here’s what I see:
This tells me many of my subs have common denominators. Take a look at your page. Where is your overlap? By how much?
Hi, friends!
I then looked at a buddy’s subs to see where we overlap.
You can see I share +/- 40 percent. This tells me I have an audience out there I’ve yet to reach. We do typically write differently, but not that differently. Also, the subs and followers lists? They’re not always accurate. They get lumped in, and some are left off if you have “too many.”
I don’t do niches. I’ve done memoir, rap bars, fiction, romance, poetry, travel, chapters, pain, hate, loss, and trauma. That’s not a niche, so I’m all over the place.
So, what’s a writer to do?
You could collaborate with those like you. You could leave kickass comments and restacks.
Even then, the algorithm may hide these users. If you have a tight core, you might rarely see past this.
What do you do?
Step 2 - Multi tag and restack
Just a restack is not enough. Pick a quote, restack that, leave a comment, and tag the OP. Tag others too for more eyes.
Do silly notes games and tag a diverse number of users. Get stacked with a note with more tags, restack with more tags, and so on. A restack alone is great, but tagging others brings so many more eyes. “What a great piece. Timmy, Wanda, Avery, check this out.” Easy.
Justin Zimmer and I did this last weekend. He wanted to “find the bottom.” At about 30 stacks and restacks in, I realized there was no bottom. That step two wasn’t planned. If you were randomly tagged in a restack with other users with me saying hi? You were a part of it.
Some might call this spamming notes. That could be true, but it’s entertaining and inclusive instead of a prayer for sub for subs or a dumb soft phrase people like for some reason. If you’re ever not included and want to play? Join. Tags are typically limited to six to eight or it gets categorized as spam. Put yourself in.
If a user asks me to help them grow, this is one of my first moves. I don’t spam, but I do tag relevant people. Who will be the cast of Batman? I open the question, then others tag. The multi tag pushes the tags (and their readers) into your feed more.
I’ve created BS get to know you games for newer users with few subs. Why? I do it so they get their names out there. I never do just small subs though; I always include one heavy who brings eyes to the note to see these other users.
Step 3 - Team
Have a team push and restack you. Let people know when it’s dropping. The sooner a piece gets engagement, the sooner it gets pushed to more feeds. The more restacks with notes and tags? The longer it’s active.
The 1%ers who make a living on here? You better believe they have a team approach. They monitor the heat their pieces do or don’t get, and they know when to help each other out.
Step 4 - Foreplay
Before a post, like, comment, and restack with a note and tag ten people. Five should be subs, and five should be completely unrelated. Restack any great notes to the top. Hit like on anything of yours you haven’t. I call it the Ten Rule.
This is foreplay with the algorithm.
Step 5 - Changeup
Write about something completely different and batshit backwards. Change your typical style and voice. When HVR drops, what typically follows?
I breathe ice, spit fire, and drop truth bombs that make you cringe, nod, and agree, and you both love and hate it.
One user suggested I write fiction. I did. A prominent user restacked it with endorsements, and I was vouched for. More subs and followers.
Yesterday, I wrote romance. That was partly to see if I could, and it was partly to see who it would attract new. It was insightful. We’ll see how much of that crowd shows today.
Last week, I wrote a letter to my dad. Unplanned. It broke through to other “niches” since everyone knows daddy issues. Same when I wrote to my mom. Then You know, Cannot Name It blew more wind in my direction showing me shit looking me right in the face I never saw. Hi, Linara!
I plan to write some history, biology, or finance and budgeting. A straight lesson plan. I’ll make it as bland as IKEA so it deviates from my typical post. Then it might bring in new readers.
I hear Tommy. “But you might not read them… but they might not actually like you.”
So people who write about math or economics can’t relate to neglect, abuse, grooming, assault, rape, loss, aftermath, heartache, and grief?
Tommy, you’re the cruel one if I keep someone who needs to read me from reading me by not playing the game.
Also, some block people temporarily to reach new crowds. I’d be fascinated if this works.
Step 6 - Timing
Post at a weird hour of night without any priming of the algo. I mean schedule for 2 or 3 am. Your usual feed is less likely to interact, so it will be pushed to new users.
I usually post between 8 and 11 am. That way, it hits the US in the morning, Europe and Africa in the afternoon, Asia in the late afternoon and evening, and Oceania in the evening.
If I did 2 or 3 am? I don’t know what would happen.
Step 7 - Tag new people sometimes
Collaborate carefully. The more you work with the same people in stacking, commenting, and restacking, the more likely you are to get pigeonholed with them. Try to branch out. Make the intro to those you don’t know. I sometimes see people feeling left out without a tag, but I alternate users based on where they fit in my subs.
Step 8 - The why
Tommy says I’m losing my core. He might be right, but maybe somebody writing about brands of soap also wants to read about my fire and ice? They never know I exist. I might not care about soap, but what if I don’t know what I don’t know about soap? I’ll never know.
Step 9 - Google
Substack wants you to forget about Google. You can search for a topic or article and the word Substack and find users writing about your topic outside of your algorithm. The only problem is they are sometimes inactive or on hiatus.
Step 10 - Whales
Find your whale. Casinos call the whale their high roller. I have two or three whales in my feed. If they ask me to do something, I hit pause on anything else and do it.
Why?
That whale has influence.
You might say I have a price. Maybe I do; however, I was very choosy with my whales and turned away other offers. I picked the whales I actually like, believe aren’t here to sell me basket weaving, and who really read, respond to DMs, and care for people. Hey, imi, how are the deep seas?
I can also tell which whales put my writing through GPT and get a response. Imi doesn’t do that.
Some of you have said I’m your whale. If that’s the case, let me know when something is dropping. Restack and tag, or tell me to restack and tag you. Here’s the thing: some of you never restack, or you restack without giving love back. Notice, every time I get restacked, I restack with an ad for the other person. Sometimes I tag two or three other people who would be interested or won’t be bothered for the tag.
Step 11 - What not to do
Be sure to hit like. If you just respond without a like, it could be taken as rude. It also is a missed opportunity for the feed to get you. You won’t be connected to the person you tag or be connected to other tags as much without the like.
The only time I never hit like? Drive by pastes of a post in my comments without a high, hello, like or anything. I don’t mind it, but sub me first and hit like for best results.
If you get a comment, then like and comment back. It’s an easy boost. It could be thanks. Restack if you’re stacked. It’s good for both of you.
Don’t lurk in my posts either. One was recruiting in the comments since I guess she thought attached to my name hers would get louder? No DM. No follow or sub. BLOCKED.
I see many of these fast risers pull that. I’m making pace now, but I think you’ll find I always like, always restack, always promote, always read my DMs.
Tell me I’m wrong. I’ll wait.
If I missed you, then call me out or DM me. I make mistakes.
Also, if you never like and comment but create a new note and tag me? That’s an uneven exchange. I always like, except for the occasions above and with the idiot white supremacists.
Step 12 - But
“That’s too much,” Timmy says. Timmy has a job. This is just fun. Too much work.
I hear you. This isn’t for everyone. I hope you can take away the team approach, stack with a note and tagging, and restack by promoting the person. Changing to a crazy night post or writing something new won’t hurt. Many graze other posts before subbing.
Step 13 - Respect yourself
Some people never return the favor, just want me to promote, and appear to be taking advantage of me. I’ve been giving those users likes. I am behind on the real deals since I’ve been focusing on new users.
I also will be making sure I follow my followers, subbing my subs, and removing everyone else. I’ve been slow.
Step 14 - New users
Bring them in and teach them the ways. Maybe you’ll be their whale. Look out for them though. My favorite new(er) users, at least to me? Amelia Bellefort and Reisson Poh.
Were any of you newer users and I pushed you as best I could? Did I fail you? I only stopped if you didn’t like it or if you weren’t reciprocal.
Step 15 - Be sensitive to users
I know some users sensitive to shit I write about: drugs, assault, abuse, faith, sex. I always send a DM ahead of time saying skip this one.
The two biggest hacks are below, but before you go there, a word from our sponsors.
Buy my book. Tell people about my book. Thanks to my many lovely reviews.
Too Soon et pero Too Late
I started writing in July. I hadn’t really written aside from student narratives, essays, or Reddit rants since undergrad around 08. I learned much of the shit I saw was not normal, not typical, and it boxed me in. Life choices were altered. People didn’t like it when the strong silent type spoke up.
My (now soon to be ex) wife and I went to Colombia where our already dead marriage fell apart. She left me there when I was on an excursion, using the French Grace, my travel guide I knew for six years. I started writing the story of Colombia on the plane, but it turned into the story of my “marriage.”
I was already sick, but she always came first, so the strong silent kept his mouth shut. The next day, I could barely stand. The American Collapse was transferring through Bogota and stopped there. I went to a hotel and got a doctor.
The first medical provider thought it was altitude, though it wasn’t an issue the previous trip. I wasn’t better. The next doctor, days later, was unsure until he saw my tongue. I was badly dehydrated. The Colombian Care said I was ill and near death without care. I laughed and said death was an old friend. He put in two lines and four bags.
After that, it all got worse. I wrote it on the planes and on that bed with my phone and thumb in four sittings. I spent more time editing.
Also, for paid subs? I offer English Teacher feedback, edits, and revisions. I push and promo the hell out of you.
If I find more hacks? I’ll share them in paid subs only.
If you felt you learned something here and felt the need to buy my classroom pencils, here is the link:
Buy me pencils
Otherwise, most promo will be a give and take. I’ll like if you do, but I might need you to remind me.
The biggest hacks:
A.
The first ten minutes of a post or note are when Substack determines how far to push it. Tell your collaborators if you want it to go far. Set up the algo ahead of time with the Ten Rule.
B.
Edit a post. Add or change words, add images. It gets pushed again.
C.
Ask a whale to push your post for you. I’ve gotten several requests. Those who ask? Did I ever fail you? How much more traction did you get after? Did I try to sell you some shit? I likely just asked for a like, comment, and quote restack.
My record speaks for itself. I view you as friends, and I don’t scam my friends. I don’t scam in general.
D.
Some people end with a question or poll of engagement. I rarely do. I will today.
E.
Tag in post. I’ve done it several times throughout this post. You see hi user. That means that they get algo love, too. It also shows endorsement, shares readers, so on. I only tagged people I knew wouldn’t mind.
F.
The hashtag doesn’t work. Dropping what the hashtag would be in the text? That works. I mentioned Substack and algorithm like ten times already. A key word search will pull it right up.
G.
Start the comment ladder. Write after you post a piece or note, hit like and leave a comment. I’ll do it myself here. You can also pin the comment you want to start the comments. Hit the three dots next to hit and click pin. Pick the more inviting and engaging.
H.
Start posts with a previously on and end with a next time on. Tag the people who were vocal the first time. It starts with engagement. Speaking of next time…
I.
My biggest hack?
If you have a monster of a post, prep for days. I will be dropping the realest, toughest, roughest genre-refining piece tomorrow. I knew if I put this post today? I’d have all eyes tomorrow. I’ll be teasing it. Dropping lines.
It’s the core of who I am as a teacher, writer, and person and why I would drop algo knowledge for free. It’s so I can find the writers like me stuck in the void who think they are freaks. Once you’re in my feed or vice versa? HVR has your back 100 percent.
I’ve said this book isn’t the big deal. It’s the others. Disrupt and Burn coming tomorrow? That’s the big deal. It’s already copyrighted, and my IP lawyer team walked me through how to do it. Oh, right, the IP lawyers was not a joke. My daughter’s birthday party had kids from her daycare, IP lawyers kids and teachers kids. My soon to be ex wife is support staff for a prominent IP firm.
I will gladly sell out a little to get that piece the attention it deserves. You will want to be a part of it.
This will tell me if I have any hope in hell of making it. It’s my magnum opus and coup de grace.
Well, class, the bell will ring in a moment. Your homework is to restack a quote from this article and tag three to five people in it.
If there is a question or hack I missed, do show up in the office hours or DM.
Class dismissed.
PS: Buna, Anna D. 🧛Go read and sub her!
So class, did anyone learn anything new? Will you do your homework?
This was a very useful post with lots of practical advice. Thanks for sharing!