3 things the best Substack creators don't do

Smarter Substack | May 27, 2026

The best Substack creators aren’t just doing more. They’re doing less of the wrong things.

Here’s what’s worth your time today:

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🧠 Strategy

3 Things Top 1% Substack Creators Don’t Do — Most struggling newsletters share the same patterns: writing for themselves instead of their reader, ignoring distribution, and relying on motivation instead of systems. Jari Roomer breaks down all three and what to do instead.

👉 Read it here

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📈 Growth

This ONE Note Type Brought In 164 New Subscribers — Tracy Friedlander breaks down the “Relatable Experience Note” — the format consistently outperforming everything else in the feed right now. Includes real examples and a step-by-step approach for any niche.

👉 Read it here

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✍️ Writing

4 Things That Make Your Writing Stand Out — Even When AI Wrote the First Draft — AI drafts taste like boiled chicken: technically fine, completely hollow. Matt Giaro’s four-part edit framework — expertise, lived experience, a clear stance, and specificity — is what actually makes a reader stop.

👉 Read it here

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P.S. Want a full year’s worth of Substack Notes — already written? The 365 Notes Templates give you a done-for-you prompt for every single day.