Five ways to grow your newsletter with collaborations
Here’s what nobody tells you: other creators want to work with you.
Writing alone gets exhausting. I spent months on Substack convinced I had to figure everything out by myself, every post, every strategy, every subscriber. Then I started actually talking to other writers, and things started to change.
Here’s what nobody tells you: other creators want to work with you.
They’re dealing with the same problems, facing the same blank pages, wondering if anyone’s actually reading. And there’s a practical reason to team up beyond just feeling less isolated. When you collaborate well, you both get access to readers who are already primed to care about what you do.
How do I find collaborators?
I’m glad you asked! I have something new on the horizon for paid subscribers, coming this week, designed to help you find real newsletter creators to collaborate with.
Soon, you’ll be able to swap recommendations with writers who cover similar topics. If you want a smarter way to get in front of the right readers, keep an eye out for details and ensure you’re on the premium list to access everything once it’s live.
Otherwise? You’ve got to look for them! Nobody is going to collaborate with you if you don’t ask. Use the Substack search function, scan through your subscriptions. I promise you that your collaborations really are out there!
Five ways to grow your newsletter with collaborations
1. Share each other’s work (and actually mean it)
Look, we all know this one. Tweet someone’s article, mention it in your newsletter, drop it in a LinkedIn thread. Simple stuff. But here’s where most people mess it up: they do it like they’re ticking a box on a networking checklist.
The secret is sharing things you’d genuinely send to your friend or colleague. When I share work, I don’t share it because I think the author might return the favour. I share it because it holds actual value, either to me or somebody else.
Readers can spot obligation from a mile away. But genuine enthusiasm? That stands out. And people notice when you champion their work, often doing the same in return. If you have a creator you particularly enjoy reading, you could even approach them about this sort of collab. Just remember that sincerity is key!
2. Write guest posts
Guest posting sounds obvious until you try to do it well. The goal isn’t just to slap your name on someone else’s publication, it should be to serve their audience while showing what you’re capable of.
If you want to use this technique to actually grow, find creators with readers who might like your stuff but perhaps aren’t following already. Find the sweet spot between ‘completely different audiences’ and ‘we’re essentially competing for the same 150 people.’ Overlapping interests is the key.
A guest post could use some of your previous work, or build on something you’ve already touched on. It should be fresh, but plays to your strengths and fits their editorial style. Offer actual interest or value.
Think of it like going to a dinner party where you don’t know anyone. You wouldn’t walk in and immediately launch into your life story. You’d ask questions, tell relevant stories and find common ground. The same principle applies here.
And when someone offers to write for your newsletter? Consider saying yes (so long as the content matches what you want). It can give you a break, add variety for your readers, and when they share on their own channel, can bring a few of their subscribers over to check you out.
3. Use the recommendation function
Substack built this feature specifically to help writers support each other.
When you recommend another newsletter, it shows up as a suggestion for your new subscribers. It’s so straightforward, and so effective. Across my newsletters, I’ve received 1,500+ new subscribers since recommendations became a thing.
Your readers get introduced to something you already value, and the other writer gets a proper introduction from someone their new audience already trusts.
Go through your own subscriptions right now. Pick three to five newsletters you actually read and recommend them. Don’t overthink it. Your readers will appreciate the curation, and you’re not promising anyone that you’ll make them famous overnight.
And yes, you can just ask people if they want to swap recommendations. There are no specific rules for doing this, just remember to be polite and not spam with this. The more recommendations you dish out, the less impactful they’ll be.
One tip for you: don’t recommend everything. I’ve seen writers with hundreds of recommendations, and at that point it just looks like spam. Quality over quantity works better here.
4. Co-host events, workshops or live sessions
Running a live event with another creator gives both audiences something they can’t get from just reading. Actual interaction, real-time answers, and the feeling of being part of something.
You don’t need a massive production. A simple workshop where you solve a real problem together can work. Perhaps you just share similar interests or talk about similar things, and the session works like a podcast or chat. It doesn’t have to be paid!
The magic happens because it’s live and it’s collaborative. Your readers see you in a different context, and they get access to another expert’s perspective without having to go hunting for it themselves.
5. Run a collaborative challenge or series
Challenges work because they give people a reason to show up repeatedly and participate, not just consume. I’ve done monthly writing sprints and reading challenges, and these can be great for building community.
The structure matters less than the commitment. Pick something doable like a 30-day prompt series, a book club with weekly discussions or even a creative challenge where people submit responses. Trade off hosting duties, or just divide the work however makes sense. Just make sure you’re both putting in the effort.
People love joining something they didn’t have to organise themselves. You create the framework, they show up and participate and both of your communities get more active. The participants often stick after the challenge ends, too.
Plus: you can repurpose this as much as you like!. Compile the best responses into a recap post. Share highlights in your regular newsletter. Use it as proof that your community actually does things together, which makes new readers more likely to join in next time.
A note on these ideas…
All of these strategies work better when you’re not keeping score. Tit for tat style approaches feel inauthentic and won’t last, like it’s some dreadful LinkedIn networking event.
The best collaborations happen with the creators you like and trust. Share work because it’s good. Run a live session because you have similar interests. Recommend because you actually want to share something helpful to your new subscribers.
Often, generosity comes back. Not always, and that’s fine too. If you give your readers something valuable, isn’t that sort of the whole point of this?
Start with one approach, find someone whose work you genuinely rate and just reach out. The worst they can say is no. The best case? You make a real connection, grow your audience and remember why you started writing in the first place.
Two heads really are better than one. Unless you’re shopping for hats.