How To Make Your Readers Relate To You

Tell more personal stories

Mar 01, 2025

In November 2024, I evaluated my Substack newsletter. Although I was grateful for my subscribers, I was trying to figure out how to get more.

I decided that my newsletter posts were too long, so I shortened them but linked to longer pieces that discussed the same subjects in more detail.

Maybe that got me another one or two subscribers per week. But I needed real answers. I asked what people wanted to read about in each newsletter, but I got no response. Either no one even made it that far or they didn't feel compelled to answer or offer any feedback.

A Better Strategy

Last month I sent direct messages to each one of my subscribers. I thanked you good people for subscribing to Purposeful Words and I asked you what drew you in. I also wanted to know what you wanted to read more of in the future.

Some of you said that you enjoyed the advice that I had for aspiring writers. A couple of you subscribed simply because you were curious about the newsletter name, which made me smile 😃.

But the one comment that I received more than once was, “I'd like to hear more personal stories.”

To be honest, I really thought I had done that but when I read back through each week's newsletter it didn't hit the same way it did in my head when I wrote it.

I tend to censor myself a lot. That was a necessity at my good government job but I have to remember that I'm retired now. This is my place.

I can…

Write what I want.

Say what I want.

Post what I want.

Starting today and going forward, I will do my best to stop trying to write the perfect post. I just need to give you guys what you need and what I'm passionate about.

Feel free to let me know if you don't believe that I'm not showing you my authentic self. I'm writing for you. If I just write for myself, I might well keep it in my journal.

It is my mission, my purpose to provide as much value to you as I can. And I take my job very seriously.

Resources

Like most writers, I was a reader first. I must admit that I am addicted to buying books (ebook, audio and paperback). It’s unfortunate that I have time to read all of them but I don’t think that will stop me from purchasing.

The book I’m currently reading is 28 Books to $100K: A Guide for Ambitious Authors Who Want to Skyrocket Their Passive Income By Writing a Book a Month by Michelle Kulp. I’m proud to say that I’m halfway through with it. Okay, I admit that there are only 94 pages but I promise you that doesn’t mean it’s not good.