I don’t have the space to rehash everything, so read or reread these if you need.
Let's Hack the Substack Algorithm, Class
Substack, you malicious malevolent magnetic mystery of multitudes murdering miraculous monologues,
Welcome back, class. Have a seat.
SIT DOWN. I won’t ask again.
PancakeSushi, quit talking to FOWL Fiesta and Nicole. Don’t make me come over there!
Sara da Encarnação and Notes from the Hill, put that lighter away. We’ve been over this. Girl on Fire should not be set on fire!
Ohhh. I guess she doesn’t burn?
Gary L Taylor, put that phone away. I WILL TAKE IT. No more bathroom breaks, Michael Hatcher. I know you’re meeting up with A Writer’s Voice to vape THC oil in the bathroom.
AGAIN.
I need a drink…I mean I need to get to the sink.
Front row? Gemma Fiona Bridges Dipti Vyas Castor K Pollux, I’ll be teaching to just you four again. I see you four did your work.
Welcome to Mr. N’s class. Today, we have our third lesson in hacking the algo.
I’m noticing some new trends in the algorithm, and I’m also noticing some tricks I recommended that nobody followed.
Settings
One? Many are still not using the settings feature well. I often see comments set to paid only, and I know many of you don’t use the Substack topics still.
A frequent mistake people make is they have comments on paid by accident. That means it will get less engagement, so the algo will push it less. Ian DM Taniels also showed me that the newest comments first was the best way to keep track of, well, new comments.
In the image, be sure you DO NOT have it set to paid unless you mean to.
Then, the tags. Without the tags, the algo doesn’t know where to send it.
Tagging and Restacking
Some people have told me the restack with tag doesn’t work on a phone. This is not entirely true, but it looks that way. Let me demonstrate with a restack I just gave Kim Williams, M. Div.
You can see it cuts off. I have to scroll as best I can or don’t get “A Man Named Kim.” I can scroll though.
If I tag on the next line, this happens:
Notice the yellow arrows are the normal square. The red arrow is to the box to tag someone, but you can’t see who. WTF? There’s actually an easy solution.
In this case, I tagged him when I can see it. Then I move the text around the tag to make my comment. Look at his or my feeds if you’re curious what I said.
If you get restacked, restack back. If you get tagged, tag them back. It keeps it going.
A word from our sponsor:
I’m HVR, and BUY MY BOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!
Tammy B Kiwi Stories Dorie Snow/雪多丽 Andrea Thorfinson Cailin & Eirian Alison Bux Stephanie Frank all gave it EXCELLENT REVIEWS!
Emily M-Gaslight Diaries Alison Bux Shadow Pursuit Miles Hack Elijah Westin Darby Jones Laura B Writing in the Shadows 👻 Mez Cory Kim Williams, M. Div. imi The Mad Widow Swathi Gary L Taylor also all got it. To my knowledge, they haven’t had time, but look at all the great reviews!
Too Soon et pero Too Late on Amazon
Too Soon et pero Too Late not on Amazon
It’s the holidays! Get it for your loved ones. If you don’t like my writing, get it for your lesser loved ones.
Tell people about it. Share it in the socials. Texts. Face to face. Pretty please.
Reaching the Readers Only of Substack
Talk like a person. If it’s a reader, don’t talk like they’re another writer. Tell good stories, make the title matter, and make sure your first two sentences give away much of what they’ll be reading. A blunt title is better than a creative title, in my experience. The readers tend to open emails. Make it count. Encourage your readers to forward the email onto others, like this:
Hey, readers, please forward this from your email to others.
Just like that. Also, post consistently.
Lastly, readers typically don’t post. Look for those who restack what they like with no posts. It’s possible it’s a scammer, but you’ll know from thoughtful comment versus weird DMs.
I have several open DMs with readers I really like. Hi, Yolanda D. Thanks again for reading my book and giving the review! Hey, Elisabeth Bøhn. I hope it’s not too cold over there!
Notes
Another issue is notes engagement. Some people can write the word “Hi” and get 8,000 likes. How can you do better when you put your heart into them?
Give an easy entrance. Make the lazy scroller stop. I have a few strategies. I’m not sharing all of them except to paid subs, but I will tell you an easy one: use images, gifs, and videos. Also, tag people. Tags signal engagement, and the algo will push it. If all else fails, DM a friend and ask them to like and restack it.
I had a reader a few weeks back who incorrectly stated I had fewer and less mixed up. They picked the wrong English teacher. I restacked it with the proper rule and DMd ten people to like it. They did. By the end of the day? It was over 30.
There are other buzzwords. They are for my paid subs…
Wayne Baird and Mike Halfacre, quit reading Anomie’s racy stories right now! Do that on your own time!
Timing of Posts
There’s other advice I’ve given, but it’s rarely followed: posting time. If you’re on EST (New York), then posting at night is not the best idea. Much of the readers are asleep, and when engagement isn’t immediate, it doesn’t get pushed as much. I am on NYC time, and I post usually between 8 and 11 AM. I want to make sure I hit the East Coast, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia during waking hours. If it gets that attention, it will get pushed back to the West Coast.
Another thought I’ve had is to restack, tag someone, and include a link to your piece. I always show the courtesy to tag them back, but Laura B Writing in the Shadows started adding the link. Or another link. BRILLIANT. I started doing the same. You could give a link to a different piece and have the original, essentially putting two pieces out there.
If you can’t make the time, you can always schedule it.
Hillary Marek! No more spontaneous standup comedy! Colin Ellis Cuming, quit encouraging her!
Warm the Algo
I still see many don’t prep the algo first. I hit like and restack on subs and non, leave comments, make notes. Get the algo warmed up so I pop in the feeds of those I like.
Also, without warning, I waged war on the algo this weekend. Unplanned. When I get so many notifications, and I try to clear them? Comment, like, restack, and each time, it’s like Hydra and gets more notifications? That tells me the algo is mine. I released many older pieces too, and they got around. I tagged people (paid subs mainly) so they got attention.
The piece that broke me out of the algo.
Reengage
Add a comment after you post, hit like on your comment, and like your post. Be sure you hit like on all comments and reply. Use a question if you can to prolong engagement. I’ve found some of my old posts, added likes, comments, write Anything else, restack it, and tag some people I trust.
MAGIC.
You can also unpublish old, copy it over to a new doc, and repost it. It’s a new document with new notifications.
If you say it’s too much, here are some quick shortcuts.
Time your post right
Like and restack before
If someone stacks you, restack back and tag them.
DM someone to engage with it.
imi, I said no more singing and dancing to you and Hawtorn V. Rabot’s amazing piece and music ten times.
Fire Lost Its Flame - collaborative piece between imi and HVR
HVR Music Challenge - HVR spits bars
imi Music Challenge - imi reads and dances
I need to escort imi to Principal Assemblywoman Debra Mazzarelli. AGAIN!
Una Rouquine, you’re in charge when I’m gone. Don’t let Marissa Purdum pull any more nonsense!
Oh, security is here. Justin Zimmer and Leo thee Lemon, take imi away.
As you were, Una.
Class, here is your assignment:
Tomorrow, Tuesday the 8, between 0900 and 0930 (9 and 9:30 AM NYC time), drop your heaviest piece. Something that hurts. Don’t make it hurt too much, but make it real. We’re breaking out of our boxes and into the others.
Prep the algo. Hit like and restack five subs and five randos.
Wait five minutes and drop the piece. Immediately hit like and start some thought provoking question.
Restack it immediately and tag people who won’t be bothered. We will have a list shortly.
If you get tagged, like, comment, restack, and tag more.
Do this OVER AND OVER AND OVER. RERERERERERESTACK.
DO NOT KEEP TAGGING THE SAME PEOPLE.
Also, don’t tag people not on this list and who won’t like it.
Keep doing this. Thirty minutes? An hour? Sure.
Once your notifications come to quickly, then it’s time to reengage old posts that weren’t loved. Like it, respond to comment, add a new comment. Even “edit” it and add a sentence, then save. Restack it, tag people, and go again.
If the notifications are crazier, restack a second older piece.
Keep going based on notifications.
Look at what Mars did. He made a post with all notes and posts that could use love. Not a bad idea to send out once you get algo heat.
Easy Hack
Some might say they will never be able to read it. That’s fine. Leave a “comment coming” or generic “nice,” but SAVE it.
In fact, always save pieces. It does wonders to the algo. Even if you read and respond. I may or may not save all of mine. I also like my own comments.
Disrupt and BURN IT DOWN!
I’m selling out. I really am. But I’m also finally buying in. I am cashing in on my voice and story.
I brought down the algo the first time so this piece would get attention. It worked.
Shortcut
If it all sounds like too much work, here is a shortcut:
Prep the algo with ten likes and stacks before you post. Write a note that you’re posting.
Post. Restack with tags.
DM someone for interaction.
Same thing with notes.
If you’re dusting one off from the archive?
Hit like on all comments. Be sure everything is answered.
If you don’t, you’re leaving money on the table.
Restack any stacks you forgot about. Some don’t.
Restack and tag.
DM people if you need engagement.
Time for a commercial break.
I’m HVR, and I offer paid subs. Paid level gets you the start chat feature in the sub chat, access to paywalls, my basic boosts and promotions, and my basic English teacher edits. Maybe I’ll even tag you in posts like this.
Many people have said I’ve brought them subs. It’s public knowledge that I’m pretty unselfish. I’m pulling back now, but imagine if you’re a paid.
For Founder, Front of the Class, you get all of the above plus priority English teacher more extensive edits and boosts.
I did it for free so long people took advantage. Now I do it for paid subs and those who do it for me.
Those of you who use AI all the time? I already know. I’m not snitching, but I can teach you how to write without it.
Homework
In addition to the heavy piece, there is more homework. If you want in on tomorrow’s revolution, restack this post, tag four or five people, and include a link to a post you’re proud of. Your post!
This signals to me you want to be a part of the Revolution tomorrow. Or, you can comment below.
I often tag many and say SUB. That doesn’t mean each other, but putting people who might not interact together in a tag that will get engagement? It will put you in the feed of their readers. That’s all.
We take you to a word from your local station.
Hi, I’m HVR. This past weekend, I started After School, a live video with a guest. I spoke with Anna D. on Saturday and Nora In New York on Sunday.
Watch them below. I’m getting packed for future guests, but let me know if you want to be on the show.
After School with Anna D
Thank you Susan J Hilger, PancakeSushi, Maria Matheou, Laura B Writing in the Shadows, Óðr Sierra Sierra, and many others for tuning into my live video with Anna D.! Join me for my next live video in the app.
After School with Nora in New York
Thank you PancakeSushi, Ira Krakow, Maria Matheou, Leo thee Lemon, 🧿Merveye, and many others for tuning into my live video with Nora In New York! Join me for my next live video in the app.
Closing
If you plan to turn on paid subs, Tuesday may be the day. Include details in your heavy piece. Links to books, etc. You’ll be in many new feeds.
I don’t know my time zone or how to set it.
Glad to help. Thanks, Atiq Zabinski, for this easy solution.
Set it for New York.
To schedule a piece,
Set the time for 9:00-9:30 AM NYC.
More Hacks?
Yes, but only for paid subs. This will be the last free lesson. Some of you will swoop in, get what you want, maybe hit like, and never sub me. I have the same lurkers, and sometimes I hit sub or follow and nothing back.
THAT IS WHY IT WILL BE PAID.
So class, remember your homework:
Heavy piece drop between 0900 and 0930 NYC time. If you don’t have time, repost one.
Restack this, tag people, and put a link to a piece of yours. Some people really don’t like tags, so I’ll be going from this list.
Buy me pencils. This took time and energy to make, for free. Many charge $80 or more for this same info.
Sub me. I ALWAYS SUB BACK. I swear, if four to five people I know come through here and don’t, I’ll have gas.
Pay sub me if you like the results you’re about to get. If you can’t afford it, then no worries. I’m only irritated when people use me and have like ten other pay subs.
Let’s revolt. Riot. Bring it down.
Vive la révolution!
Class, if you won't be available for restacks, let your teacher know.
You did WORK with this one! I'm ready... just need to finish the last touches on my poem... it's a heavy one... viva! 🖤🔥