Structure
Know exactly what to work on each day.
30-day Substack challenge
Ready to get your first 500 Substack subscribers?
Starting or growing a Substack? You don't need to have it all figured out. Follow 30 days of guided action to build your publication and work towards your first 500 subscribers.
Built from 700+ subscribers across two Substack accounts.
£49Founding cohort
30 days • 4 live calls • community • feedback
The first 500
In progress30-day progress Example view
Day 12 / 30
12
Days done
18
Days left
40%
Complete
Your next step
Share your publication
This week's focus
Distribution
Next live call
Schedule to follow
You don't have to work it out alone.
The goal is your first 500 subscribers. You get a structure to work towards it, with guidance and feedback as you implement. Your progress comes from showing up and doing the work.
Accountability
Stay consistent with a group working towards the same goal.
Feedback
Get direct feedback on your Substack throughout the challenge.
Your guide
Learn from someone who's been building newsletters for years.
I'm Anirban. What I've learnt building, teaching and coaching is what I'll bring to your publication.
3 years
Building newsletters
$80
First newsletter sold
30+ people
Coached
1,000+ people
Trained in email marketing through a masterclass
Insideletter
Currently building a newsletter about newsletters
700+ subscribers
Built across two Substack accounts
The curriculum
What you'll work on
01
Positioning your Substack
Decide who you're writing for and what readers can expect from your publication.
02
Getting your first subscribers
Put practical ways of finding your first readers into action.
03
Building a sustainable growth strategy
Build a repeatable process you can keep using beyond the challenge.
04
Using Substack Notes for distribution
Use Notes with purpose to bring your writing in front of potential readers.
05
Creating content people want to subscribe to
Turn your ideas into writing shaped around a clear reader promise.
06
Understanding how to monetise your audience
Understand your options for earning from the audience you're building.
Your outcome
What you'll leave with
Leave with a publication, a process and a clear way to keep working towards your first 500 subscribers.
A clear Substack direction
Know what you're writing about, who you're writing for and what your publication promises.
A publication you're confident sharing
Put your positioning, profile and content direction in place.
A repeatable content system
Know what to write and how to turn your ideas into consistent publishing.
A distribution process
Have practical ways to get your publication in front of potential subscribers.
A subscriber growth system
Know how to work towards your first 500 instead of waiting to be discovered.
A plan for what comes next
Finish with a clear focus for your next 30 days.
The 30-day journey
Here's how the next 4 weeks will look like
Week 1
Foundation
Define your audience, shape your positioning and set up a publication with a clear direction.
Week 2
Content
Start publishing, build a writing rhythm and put Substack Notes to work.
Week 3
Distribution
Try outreach and collaborations to get your publication in front of more people.
Week 4
Growth + monetisation
Review your progress, refine your growth system and explore how monetisation works.
Inside the challenge
Everything you need for 30 days
01
30-day action plan
Know what to work on each day instead of wondering what comes next.
02
4 live group calls
Get guidance, ask questions and work through problems with the group each week.
03
Private community
On Discord, ask questions, share progress, discuss ideas, get feedback and stay up to date.
04
Templates
Use frameworks for positioning, content, distribution and subscriber acquisition.
05
Weekly feedback
Get direct feedback on your Substack as you put the plan into practice.
06
Next 30-day plan
Leave with a clear direction for what to focus on after the challenge.
Personal feedback
I'll personally review your Substack.
Everyone inside the challenge gets personal feedback from me. I'll look at your positioning, profile, content and growth opportunities, then give you specific next steps you can act on.
Substack review
From AnirbanPositioning
Profile
Content
Growth opportunities
Next steps
A considered review with specific next steps for your publication.
Participant recognition
#1 participant gets a reward!
One participant gets lifetime access to Insideletter OS, my paid community. I'll recognise someone who shows consistency, puts the work into practice, makes progress, contributes to the community and acts on feedback.
The standout participant
Insideletter OS
Access granted
Who this is for
You can start where you are.
You don't need to understand Substack already. Bring an idea, a willingness to write and 30 days to put things into practice. We'll bring the structure and guidance.
You're starting a Substack
You haven't used it before, or you're not sure how to turn an idea into a publication. Start here.
You already have a Substack
You have a few subscribers but need a clearer direction and a way to reach more readers.
You want to build an audience
You have ideas to write about but need a publishing and distribution system you can stick with.
This isn't for you if you're looking for overnight growth without doing the work.
Before you join
You don't need to know everything. You need to show up.
You don't need
An established audience, a perfect publication, previous Substack experience or a large social following.
Bring with you
30 days, an idea or topic to explore, a willingness to publish, to do the tasks and to participate in the community.
How it works
Just give me 30 days!
Your action plan, live calls and Discord community give you a place to start, ask questions and keep going.
Join the challenge
Follow the 30-day roadmap
Implement, get feedback and keep building
Founding cohort
£49
One payment for 30 days of guided action, four live calls, community and personal feedback.
- 30-day challenge
- 4 live calls
- Private community
- Templates
- Weekly feedback
- Personal Substack feedback
- Insideletter OS opportunity
Limited founding cohort
Your first steps
After you join
01
Get access to Discord
02
Complete your onboarding
03
Share your Substack and starting point
04
Start Day 1
FAQ
Before you join
Who is this for?
Beginners and early-stage Substack writers who want guidance, structure and a process for growing their publication.
Do I need to already have a Substack?
No. You can start from an idea. Week one helps you set up and position your publication.
Is this a course?
No. It's a 30-day implementation challenge with an action plan, live calls, Discord community and feedback.
How much time do I need each day?
Make consistent time to work through the actions. The focus is on implementing, not meeting a fixed daily time target.
Will you personally review my Substack?
Yes. I'll give every participant personal feedback on their positioning, profile, content, growth opportunities and next steps.
Will I get access to Insideletter OS?
Only one standout participant receives lifetime access, recognised for their consistency, implementation, progress and contribution.
What happens after the 30 days?
You'll leave with a next 30-day plan and a system you can keep working on.
Is the £49 price for the entire challenge?
Yes. One payment covers all 30 days, four live calls, the Discord community, templates and feedback.
30-day Substack challenge
Your first 500 starts with the first subscriber.
You don't have to figure out Substack alone. Bring your idea and your willingness to act. You'll have 30 days, a roadmap and personal guidance to help you build towards your first 500.
£49
Founding cohort