How to Deploy a “Hero” Post That Grows Your Substack Audience
It works for Medium and Vocal, too, in fact, these tips can be applied anywhere to fuel your growth
For a fair number of us, the technology, algorithm, and fussiness of online writing platforms like Substack present a daunting learning curve. This post describes a hero post (Substack has begun calling them something else). A post pinned to your home page and spelling out why people need you is a hero post. It's essential.
We all know great writing isn’t enough—you need readers who stick around. A hero post is the kind of piece that doesn’t just get read—it converts casual visitors into loyal subscribers.
So, how do you write one? Let’s break it down step by step.
Step 1: Pick a Topic That Solves a Real Problem
Your readers won’t subscribe unless they see immediate personal value. Think about their everyday struggles and write a post offering a clear solution. Let's consider my Pen2Profit publication here and on Medium.
Example:
Instead of writing “Why I Love Writing Every Morning,”
I might use “The Simple Morning Writing Habit That Helped Me Publish 100 Substack Posts.”
🔹 Action Tip: Before you start writing, ask yourself:
What challenge is my ideal reader facing, and how can I help them overcome it? What problem can I solve for readers? Even if you write fiction, memoirs, or poetry, you will solve problems. Maybe the problem is that your readers want great entertainment from a story, want to feel emotion through poetry, or are interested in how their life experiences compare to those in a good memoir. Think about how your genre benefits them.
Step 2: Hook Readers in the First Few Lines
You only have a few seconds to solidify their attention. Your opening should be relatable and engaging. Again, my examples relate to the topic I write on.
Example of a weak opening:
"Writing consistently is important if you want to grow your Substack."
Example of a strong opening:
"You sit down with your coffee, determined to write. But before you know it, you’ve checked the news, scrolled social media, and the cursor blinks at you… mocking you. Sound familiar?"
🔹 Action Tip: Start with:
✅ A relatable struggle (“I almost quit writing last year…”)
✅ A surprising fact (“Most successful newsletters grow because of one great post.”)
✅ A bold promise (“By the end of this post, you’ll have a proven strategy to attract more subscribers.”)
Step 3: Deliver Quick Wins in the Body
Substack readers are busy—they want clear, actionable advice. Instead of explaining why something matters, show them how to do it. (Keep reading—just below the example is specific help if you write fiction, poetry, and other similar species.)
Example:
Instead of saying, “Consistency is key,”
show them how to be consistent with:
A 3-day writing challenge
A real-life example from your own experience
A quick template for writing faster
🔹 Action Tip: Keep it scannable with:
✅ Short paragraphs
✅ Bullet points & subheadings
✅ A mix of personal stories and practical advice
NOTE TO WRITERS OF FICTION, POETRY, AND OTHER SIMILAR WRITING
You specialists won't focus on advice or instructions, you will use these real benefits to attract readers. Your hero post will describe how you
Evoke emotion through stories and lyrical expression that stir feelings ranging from joy to sorrow and everything in between.
Provide escape through worlds and experiences that transport readers away from the everyday.
Spark imagination by inviting readers to imagine possibilities, engage with new ideas, and see the world (real or imagined) from different perspectives.
Explore themes and life lessons through metaphor, symbolism, and narrative that look at humanity, society, and existence.
Cultural reflection capturing the essence of a time, place, or culture, and insight into different ways of interpreting our universe.
Readers often see parts of themselves or their experiences reflected in fiction and poetry, creating a sense of kinship and understanding. Non-fiction arms readers with practical knowledge. Fiction and poetry enrich the soul, challenge perceptions, and touch hearts.
Step 4: Offer a Compelling Reason to Subscribe
In your post, don’t just ask for a subscription—make it irresistible by offering something valuable. Value equates to benefits for the reader rather than a laundry list of your accomplishments. You can put that list on your About page
Example:
❌ “Subscribe for more posts like this.”
✅ “Want a free guide on my five best Substack growth strategies? Subscribe, and I’ll send it right over.”
🔹 Action Tip: Make your CTA (Call to action, and no, it's not a dirty word and it's not spam):
✅ Clear (“Subscribe to get my weekly writing tips.”)
✅ Enticing (“Download my ‘One-Hour Newsletter Formula’ when you sign up.”)
✅ Easy (“Click here, enter your email, and the free guide is yours.”)
Step 5: End with Momentum
The last lines of your post should motivate action, not just fade out.
Example:
❌ “Hope you found this helpful. See you next time!” (Ho hum.)
✅ “Imagine waking up to an inbox full of engaged readers who love your writing. Let’s make that happen—subscribe now and let’s grow your Substack together!” (YES!)
If you want to grow your Substack audience, listen to the many writers who say they multiplied their traffic with a well-thought-out hero post that converts.
No matter what your stack is about,
1️⃣ Choose a reader-focused topic that solves a real problem. This takes deep thought.
2️⃣ Hook them with a scroll-stopping opening.
3️⃣ Provide actionable advice in a digestible way. Always give your readers a takeaway. If your publication is not non-fiction, you'll want to stretch your brain to offer something of unique value to your readers.
4️⃣ Offer a compelling reason to subscribe.
5️⃣ End with momentum and excitement.
When you promote your publication on social media, your business card, in promotional material or anywhere, instead of linking to your home page, link to your pinned hero post. If it's compelling and exciting—with an image or two, a ton of personality, and a Subscribe button, many more visitors will convert to subscribers.
Clear your to-do list for today and create your hero post, following all these steps. It will be worth the time. Got any questions? Put them in the comments or the Inkspired Community chat, and someone will help you out.
Appendix: (Links to awesome hero page examples)
Heartspoken — an interesting video hero post
Got a hankering to learn more pro secrets that will power up your writing? Bounce over to the eBook store and see what you can use.
This has nothing to do with what I write about, which I guess, says everything in your world.
The examples in this post are a great starting point. The hero story can be daunting if you've never written one. I'd like to see comments and questions from everyone coming to this community about their experience with hero story, writing, for themselves. Was it easy? Are you still not doing it? Do these specifics from Maryan help you regroup and recommit to stepping out of the shadows and showing up in the "natural state of you"?