From 0-15,000 subscribers: My 3-Year Journey on Substack

From 0 to 15,000: My 3-Year Journey on Substack

This is something of a celebratory post... it feels good to write it out and share more of the backstory and the journey I've been on.

From 0 to 15,000: My 3-Year Journey on Substack

Three years ago, I opened a blank Substack page with a few quiet hopes: to write from the heart, to connect more meaningfully online, and to share what I’d learned in my 20 years of creative work.

I didn’t have a strategy just a deep desire to offer something real in a noisy digital world.

What unfolded surprised me.

Today, over 15,000 people subscribe to my Substack publications. (Almost 4000 on Creatively Conscious and 11,000 at Sparkle on Substack)

More than 500 are paying members. I’ve taught for Substack itself, led masterclasses and masterminds, and supported thousands of creative entrepreneurs in growing their own newsletters.

But this isn’t a story about going viral and overnight success.

It’s about reciprocity, trust, and the slow magic of showing up week after week.

Year One: Quiet Foundations (2022)

In the first year, I treated my Substack like a conversation. I shared what I knew about audience-building, engagement, and the creative process. I wrote about motherhood, boundaries, rejection, and resilience.

There were no hacks or funnels just honesty. The first 1,000 subscribers came through word of mouth and gentle momentum.

That year, I realised something that would shape everything going forward:
If you build with generosity and clarity, the right readers will find you.

Year Two: Momentum, Membership & Meaning (2023)

This was the year things lifted.

Thanks to Substack’s recommendation feature, thousands of new subscribers joined. I launched my membership, Sparkle on Substack, and started teaching others how to use the platform to grow creative, values-led businesses.

My podcast, Sparkle on Substack, found its own audience. I began to shape an offer suite:

• Free Substack tutorials

• Masterclasses and community

• 1:1 coaching and strategy support

I also had to learn where to draw the line. Not every collaboration felt aligned. Not every follower was the right fit. I began to value depth over reach.

Year Three: Trust, Boundaries, and Expansion (2024–2025)

With a top 10 spot on the leaderboard, 15,000+ subscribers and a six-figure business I stepped into a new phase: deeper impact, clearer offers, and firmer boundaries.

I worked with brilliant clients including Substack, Creative UK, Andersen Press, Wannabe Press and others. I spoke about creative business at national and international events. And I finally started writing the book that had been waiting in the wings.

This season has been about saying no to over-giving, and yes to sustainable service. My email list doesn’t just convert it connects. My work feels more mine than ever.

What I’ve Learned (So Far)

• Substack isn’t just 'another platform'. It’s a place to build true connection.

• The best growth is reciprocal. People share what moves them and you should too.

• You don’t need to chase trends just know your people and create for them.

• Boundaries make your offers better, not smaller.

• The creative path can be both soulful and strategic.

Want to Start or Grow Your Substack?

I’ve made almost every mistake and found what works. Whether you're starting out, building momentum, or scaling up with soul, I’d love to help.

Here’s how we can work together:

• Free tutorials and guides to get you started

• The Sparkle Membership for ongoing strategy and community

Or simply subscribe to my newsletter, Notes from the Sea, where I share reflections, insights, and creative strategies from the heart.

We have time. Magic is everywhere.

Claire

✨

• Read Creatively Conscious

• Subscribe to Sparkle on Substack or join the membership