Where are you on your Substack journey?

Perhaps you're at the beginning, perhaps you're on there trying to grow and reach your best fit readers, perhaps your'e ready to monetise and set some big goals? Or perhaps you want to know if Substack can work for you as a place to nurture new leads and customers.

Hi, I'm Claire. I'm an Engagement Consultant and Mentor and I started my journey with Substack in 2022 after leaving the festivals and events industry.

I've built my audience to 16k readers across two 'bestselling' publications, work with over 500 members and over 70k podcast downloads.

My business turns over over £100k in revenue because my systems are smart and I'm very passionate about what I do.

I'm so excited to share more with you.

Come join us.

The kettle is on and I'd love to hear more about you!

🫖✨

Watch my free mastery class over on YouTube

If you're a business owner and you want to sign up for emails focussed on Substack WITH your business you can do that here.

So, what is Substack?

Is it a mailing list, a blog, a social media platform?

I'm glad you asked! It's all of those things! Substack is a "new engine for culture" and for writers and creatives to get paid directly from their supporters (known as subscribers) for their writing and creative offerings.  It's also:

- A place to value the space you take up online and a space that actually works for you.

- A place WITHOUT algorithms and comparison and with so much space for creativity.

- My new online home and one I plan on sticking with long term... I hope you'll join me? 

  • £80 or 2 monthly payments of £40

Start, build and grow a paid membership on Substack

REPLAY You're ready to build your membership on Substack. You're curious about how it works, price, how to manage monthly, annual/ founding member subs? How do you know what 'value' to add, how much to 'be present', the balance of community & passive aspects of publishing? You want to better understand what to charge/monthly recurring revenue so you feel properly paid & factor in breaks?

Don't know where to start?

I teach all about Substack. Come learn with me?

Sparkle on Substack is the name of my space (or publication) on Substack. It's where I host my paid membership and publish my podcasts and my free blog posts that I also email out. Still with me? GOOD!

It's a space to help you 'stay creative on Substack' and master the platform with ease. We focus everything on joyful, sustainable growth!

Inside Sparkle on Substack, there are tools, workshops, co-working, podcasts and a thriving community who are ready to cheerlead your work.

You're just in time!
Head over and join us?

Jack at The Daily Moat

Join over 600k subs here

"On the very first day, I recouped the entire cost of the course simply by implementing the changes Claire recommended in the first lesson and sending 1 email to my list."

Layla O'Mara at Beauty and Bone

Join Layla at Beauty and Bone

"I love Claire's open hearted, enthusiastic and generous sharing and support around Substack. It has extended my goals, I've managed to get Bestseller status (101 paid subs) within months of working with her, all whilst working intuitively, from the heart, with flexibility and always keeping my writing at the heart."

Caroline Donahue

Join Book Alchemy

"I've been overjoyed to be a Diamond Member at Sparkle on Substack, but I also snatched up Claire's book and attended the World-Class Substack workshop she ran with co-author Russell Nohelty.

Following one tip they shared led to me more than doubling paid subscribers (and my annual income from Substack) in three days!

Now let's see what happens when I read through my notes and try any of the other dozen ideas I had on just that one call. You owe it to yourself to learn from Claire if you want to build a sustainable Substack that brings you (and your readers) joy."

'Let's Stay Creative on Substack' - My Substack Classes

Why Substack? Why Now?

I've been teaching and mentoring on Substack since March 2023.  My classes invite you to 'stay creative', throw away that rather heavy rule book we've been working with, and find and nurture your creative voice and your community online.   

I LOVE to help folks re-discover their creative voice anew, start Substack publications, find new connections and make money through paid subscriptions online.

I have grown my own subscribers (*) within Substack's network to 16k

Quite honestly, I've never seen growth and depth of connection like it, and I want to share what I've learnt with you.

Substack have made a beautiful place online to grow into the voice we want to share with the world - come join me - I know you'll have THE best time!

Join a growing community of over 450 members who want to create, write, and grow joyfully and sustainably on the platform

(*) Your subscribers are 'email subscribers' you can take them with you to any other mailing list provider.  We don't get that or the attention spans on spcial media.

It's not all about the numbers but I wanted to be open and share this graph of my first year of growth with you at Creatively Conscious (my slow lived life and behind the scenes of my business newsletter). 

I was so proud of growing my newsletter from 300 to over 1000 subscribers with 30 of them paying for extra content.

💌

Here we are in year 3...

And here we are in year three...

Watch...

My first year on Substack

Watch 'a year on Substack' review.

After my first year on Substack, I decided to record a video all about my experiences of being on Substack for a year, what I've learned, how I've grown, and what I'd do differently next time.

Watch the video here:

"If you’re looking to grow here on Substack, Claire Venus is the go-to.

The thing I love most about her offerings is that she’s not just talking about growth, she’s growing alongside us, testing and tweaking as it makes sense.

She’s constantly up-leveling everything she does in the most authentic way, and then is an open book about sharing what works and what doesn’t.

I’m so grateful for you, Claire. Thank you for being a beacon in this lighthouse of a platform."

Are you ready to start YOUR Substack?

Did you know that you can have more than one publication on Substack?

Well you can! I have two:
- Sparkle on Substack - a membership and Substack education space.
- Creatively Conscious - a beautiful online magazine for creatives

Let's work together on YOUR Substack

I'd love to support you whatever stage of your journey you are in. Below are your class and one to one options:

  • Free

Get Set up on Substack (for free)

  • Download
  • 1 File

Looking to make a blog that could earn you money or to start a newsletter on a platform that's SUPER easy?! Fancy starting a Substack? I've got you covered. Download my FREE 11 page workbook and you'll get a 5 day mini course drip fed so you're ALL set with Substack!

  • £45

Get Creative on Substack - The Masterclass

  • Webinar
  • Started Mar 15, 2024 at 12:00 PM GMT

Recorded March '24 Get Creative on Substack with my simple strategy to get set up and started on the best platform for writers, creatives & founders At class, we'll walk through the whole platform together, get creative with what you want to do with your work here and talk about a workflow that is realistic and works for you. By the time we wrap up you'll have a clearer plan ahead. Start your Substack today!

  • £110 or 4 monthly payments of £27.50

Substack 0-$10k - Resource suite for growing a paid membership

A suite of resources to help you a build a membership on the Substack platform from Creative Engagement Consultant Claire Venus. Grow YOUR membership on YOUR terms sustainably. Take a deep dive into the back office & the strategy we use and learn how we take care of our community & ourselves. Video tutorials, mindset prompts and group accountability. Make your strategy work for you long term.

Sign up to my Substack teaching space!

Sparkle ON Substack

and receive my FREE weekly invitation to 'Stay Creative on Substack'. Posts come out every month, directly to your inbox, and are full of free tools and support.

Frequently asked questions (about Substack)

You’ve got questions. I've got some answers for you. If you're curious about anything else do drop me a line...

Can I move my mailing list to Substack?

Yes - I did but it's not a marketing platform - it's a blog/ social media/ email hybrid. 

How often do people post?

Some once a month, some a couple of times a week.... 

Can I have a look round without committing to writing there?

Yes - you can sign up (for free) as a reader - download the app and have a look around... 

What are Substack Notes?

Substack Notes is Substack's inbuilt social media network - it's beautiful and supportive and using it has really helped me grow.  Here's an example of a Substack note. 

Do you have any FREE teaching resources?

I do!  I have;


You are so welcome to join/ connect in any of those places.  

How do I grow on Substack?

Ok I'll be real with you here - lots of the folks you see with large online followings have either been paid by Substack (Substack Pro) or moved following/ email lists from elsewhere.  

You can TOTALLY grow within the Substack Network but it takes time.  Substack will feature your publication in the explore page, email it out, recommend it to others and even consider you for a featured publication.  

My two top tips - use Notes in a meaningful way and use the 'Recommendations' feature. 

What's your YouTube channel/ Substack playlist?

I release weekly tutorials on Substack over on Youtube - they are here. 

What's so good about Substack?

Ahhh so so much!

The Substack team are front and centre and very supportive of us writing and creating there, you can build podcast, written and video content, you can grow your business, your writing, sharpen your creative voice, you can be paid to write behind a paywall.  There's no adverts and no algorithm - your people get to hear from you directly into their email inboxes. 

Lovely Testimonials & Thoughts on Substack

I've honestly adored helping folks find their way with Substack. It's such a beautifully curated platform and place to play. 

Here are some more links to beautiful Substack publications, and those I've supported if you're curious. I'm so looking forward to working with you to help you create and grow your Substack.   

Hunter Burgtorf

The Magically Mundane on Substack

"Claire is the QUEEN of Substack in my opinion."

Sarah Robertson

Brand Season on Substack

Thanks so much Claire for all your support.

Watching from afar as clients and friends made Substack a home for their writing, I was curious to see what the space might hold for me 

So I set about researching and understanding the platform, why people were flocking to it, and how it might support me in my creative practice. It had to be meaningful and supportive. Not another thing to add to the ever expanding to do list.
.
My ‘why’ arrived in the form of a concept I’ve been developing for some time. It has roots in my mentoring practice, where I support businesses and creatives with their brand strategy, styling and storytelling, and guide them through the variable cycles of their work. And I believe this idea could lead to greater compassion and understanding about the phases we find ourselves in, not to mention an appreciation of the importance of ideating, noticing and playing before you bring a product, service or vision to life.

Gabrielle Treanor

The Haven on Substack

"Claire shares her experience and knowledge with such honesty and generosity, you know you can trust the information and advice she gives."

Suzy Walker

Heart Leap on Substack

"Claire is my 'go to' Substack expert, she has helped me find clarity and build a community and a beautiful membership over on Substack.  She's honestly so so brilliant and I'm so grateful I met her and she told me all about Substack when she did."

Luisa Skinner

Salted on Substack

"Claire's Substack classes, workshops, and her Substack publications themselves, are absolute gold for anyone coming fresh to the platform, or looking to gently grow their own community.

Claire genuinely cares for her readers and course participants, always grabs the very latest informative material to share with us, and hits that sweet spot of professionalism with her down-to-earth, intuitive nature.

Thrilled to have connected!"

Beth Wardell

Website

"As a content creator, Substack is still a curious space for me but I have LOVED seeing you grow. Your tone of voice, content and helpful insights have a perfect balance of professionalism with a friendly voice that wants me to keep reading/clicking and coming back. It is very hard to achieve this I feel without sounding like you are marketing. You hit the nail on the head with this - well done!" 

Stephanie Jucar Cooley

Website

"After deleting instagram. you have helped me realise that being engaged ON Substack is worth the while. I actually use it more to peruse instead of the dreaded FB and IG. You gave me the courage to try new things like video and audio on my Substack."

Sharron Gaskin

Website

"The Masterclass was a great help to me as a newbie on Substack. It was really practical and gave me a really quick start guide. You have a really lovely warm and enthusiastic style which made the class really enjoyable too." 

Jack at The Daily Moat

Join over 600k subs here

"On the very first day, I recouped the entire cost of the course simply by implementing the changes Claire recommended in the first lesson and sending 1 email to my list."

Layla O'Mara at Beauty and Bone

Join Layla at Beauty and Bone

"I love Claire's open hearted, enthusiastic and generous sharing and support around Substack. It has extended my goals, I've managed to get Bestseller status (101 paid subs) within months of working with her, all whilst working intuitively, from the heart, with flexibility and always keeping my writing at the heart."

Caroline Donahue

Join Book Alchemy

"I've been overjoyed to be a Diamond Member at Sparkle on Substack, but I also snatched up Claire's book and attended the World-Class Substack workshop she ran with co-author Russell Nohelty.

Following one tip they shared led to me more than doubling paid subscribers (and my annual income from Substack) in three days!

Now let's see what happens when I read through my notes and try any of the other dozen ideas I had on just that one call. You owe it to yourself to learn from Claire if you want to build a sustainable Substack that brings you (and your readers) joy."

My clients and commissioners include

Creatively Conscious


Claire Venus

Creative Consultant, writer and Mentor