May 1, 2025
Here’s Why Suddenly Everyone Is Coming to Substack
Substack Is Empowering Creators and Journalists to Build a Better Internet Based on My Research and Intense Experience with This Innovative…
By Dr Mehmet Yildiz
8 min read
- 1 Content Dissemination Revolution
- 2 Substack Is Empowering Creators and Journalists to Build a Better Internet Based on My Research and Intense Experience with This Innovative & Creator-Friendly Platform
- 3 Why is everyone going to Substack?
- 4 The Real Reasons For Substack's Exponential Growth
- 5 Importance of Health & Wellness in My Personal & Professional Life
Content Dissemination Revolution
Substack Is Empowering Creators and Journalists to Build a Better Internet Based on My Research and Intense Experience with This Innovative & Creator-Friendly Platform
Why is everyone going to Substack?
As an ethnographic researcher and content marketing strategist, I have written five books and many articles about Substack, helping me gain over 282,000 subscribers on Substack. I even created a series of educational books on Amazon and 6 levels of courses on Udemy. I invest my precious time on this unique platform for compelling reasons. It is not just another hype. It is real and impactful.
For those unfamiliar, Substack has rapidly evolved from a niche newsletter platform into a central hub for independent journalism, political commentary, and creative expression, attracting millions of free and paid subscribers. It is growing exponentially while other platforms are declining.
It is not because Substack is lucky, but it has a clear strategy, providing compelling value to writers and supporting them generously.
As I mentioned during my teaching and mentoring, if you failed Medium, it's not your fault; however, if you failed Substack, it is your fault, because this platform does everything creators need and goes above and beyond.
I make this bold claim because, like thousands of established writers, I did everything I could do in six years and failed Medium, with a 95% cut in my hard-earned audience due to the subjective taste of curators. But with little effort, I increased my subscribers and earned 600% on Substack in less than a year. I am just among 7000 bestselling authors, not even in the elite group yet, each earning a few million dollars annually.
This is not a criticism of Medium or praise of Substack, but to show the reality honestly and transparently. I respect both platforms as they have different goals. But I have never seen such a creator-friendly platform like Substack so far that also excels in process and technology. This story is not about Medium or my performance here, but I only mentioned it as it has been published here to give you a perspective. Here is a perspective from a recent ethnographic case study on Medium.
When Affiliate Marketing Backfires: A True Story Close to the Hearts of Many Creators Lessons in Ethics, Accountability, and Sustainability for Freelancers and Startup Builders Told Through a Leadership…
The Real Reasons For Substack's Exponential Growth
As traditional media outlets grapple with declining trust and shifting business models, driven by their own agendas, Substack offers a compelling alternative that empowers content creators to connect directly with their audiences through text, audio, and video.
Unlike other platforms, which cherry-pick content based on their worldviews and subjective tastes, Substack never censors content, allowing readers to discover raw content from the pens of creators, thought leaders, practitioners, and journalists.
Censoring important societal issues and shutting down the voices of authentic writers never makes any platform a better part of the Internet. I hope Medium understands this reality and fixes its problematic curation and distribution system before it is too late.
Unfortunately and sadly, Medium has already lost its wonderful reputation after severe distribution issues starting in June 2024, causing its best writers to stop writing and its loyal readers to unsubscribe, all going to Substack. There is so much Medium leadership can humbly and wisely learn from the authentic and servant leadership on Substack.
During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Substack experienced its most significant growth period, with an 82% increase in paid subscriptions and a 25% rise in app activity.
This surge was part of a deliberate strategy to position Substack as a primary platform for political discourse, especially as other social media platforms reduced their emphasis on authentic political content.
The migration of prominent journalists to Substack has been particularly notable in Washington, D.C. High-profile figures, such as Jennifer Rubin, Matthew Yglesias, and Andrew Sullivan, have launched their newsletters, seeking editorial independence and a direct connection with their readers.
Many journalists, reporters from mainstream media, YouTubers, and TikTokers are flocking to Subsack to escape from censoring platforms. For example, Dr Joseph Mercola, whom I featured on Substack for my subscribers, lost his YouTube channel, was banned from Facebook and other social media platforms, but he quickly built a community on Substack.
However, the same happened to his opponents as well, because Substack welcomes everyone with diversity, inclusion, and equality principles, which deeply resonate with me and thousands of scholars, thought leaders, and practitioners.
As a writer, editor, book author, content curator, and community builder, I am particularly interested in what Substack can offer to creators and avid readers.
At its core, Substack empowers writers to monetize their work through subscriptions, enabling them to maintain editorial control and build sustainable businesses.
The platform takes a 10% cut of subscription revenue, aligning its success with that of its creators. So, unless creators earn, Substack does not charge a cent to creators, which makes it extra attractive for beginners to find their audiences.
The platform also has a tool called Notes, which offers remarkable discoverability and creates a sense of community unlike other social media platforms. I haven't seen any toxic content like hate speech on Notes, unlike X or Facebook. Therefore, it is one of the better parts of the Internet.
As of 2025, Substack boasts over 5 million paid subscriptions, with top writers earning more than $1.5 million annually. I have yet to meet a popular writer earning more than $1,000 a month on Medium after June 2024, when the algorithm underwent a significant change, despite their reputation and extensive archives.
While Substack has traditionally eschewed advertising, it has begun experimenting with ways to support creators interested in sponsorships. The platform has piloted programs to help writers find advertisers and coordinate ad buys, acknowledging the challenges of scaling solely through subscriptions.
Thanks to the visibility of Substack, my content found millions of readers while being censored by other platforms.
Here is a recent compelling advertisement they piloted in Washington, DC:
Substack's model nurtures a direct relationship between writers and readers, reducing reliance on algorithms and third-party platforms.
This approach has resonated with audiences seeking unfiltered, authentic content. By allowing creators to maintain control over their work and engage directly with subscribers, Substack is cultivating a more trustworthy and transparent media environment.
Substack's ease of use and monetization options have attracted authentic creators, from seasoned journalists to niche content producers. This diversity enriches the platform's content offerings, providing readers with access to perspectives that may be underrepresented in mainstream media.
As Substack continues to evolve, it faces the challenge of balancing its commitment to an ad-free experience with the financial realities of supporting a growing creator base.
Its ongoing experiments with advertising and sponsorships indicate a willingness to adapt while maintaining its core values.
In an era where media trust is eroding, Substack's model of direct engagement and creator empowerment offers a promising path forward.
By prioritizing authentic connections and sustainable monetization, Substack is not just reshaping the media landscape; it is helping to build a better internet. Therefore, I am an advocate and contributor to this wonderful platform.
Most of my readers ask, "Why is everyone talking about Substack ?" I explain them as I did in this story. For more info from other sources on Substack's rise and its impact on the media industry, you can read the full Newsweek article here.
Here is another new arrival that can inspire you.
Justin Welsh Joined Substack 2 Days Ago — Now He's the #1 New Bestseller. Here's Why! Everyone saw the headline, but few understood its meaning. I articulate the quiet truth they don't want creators like…
Here is why Medium struggles while Substack shines:
Why This Is the First Unusual Story I Nominate for Staff Picks Out of 3,000 I've Written Hint: Because When Medium Features Opinions About Substack and Substack Never Does the Same, Writers and Readers…
If you are a writer, it is time to try Substack because it gets saturated like YouTube because it will of its value. My Substack Mastery book can get you started. If you are a reader, you may check out what it can offer you. I wrote a short book titled Substack for Avid Readers, which can guide you.
As a publisher, in addition to my personal publications, I created a new public publication on Substack called ILLUMINATION Writing and Reading Academy. All authentic writers are welcome to join this journey. I wrote the initial submission guidelines to inform and educate writers:
ILLUMINATION Writing Academy: Submission Guidelines 2025 An introduction to our first public publication on $ubstack
We also published our first curated story written by Yana G.Y., which can educate and inspire new writers:
The First Curated Story of ILLUMINATION Writing Academy "In August 2024, I Made a Decision that Changed Everything" by Yana G.Y.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
Importance of Health & Wellness in My Personal & Professional Life
Health and wellness are essential to me and my readers. Therefore, I focus on these topics by writing and curating insights from other writers, practitioners, and thought leaders.
One of my focuses is stress management. To guide my readers, I wrote a book titled Cortisol Clarity, reflecting my decades of experience.
Cortisol Clarity: Why I Wrote a Book About the Stress Hormone Published on 1 January 2025 Chronic stress is a causal factor for major health conditions like insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type II…
In addition, the brain, cognitive performance, and mental health are my research and interest areas. Therefore, I recently authored a book titled Train Your Brain for a Healthier and Happier Life and shared some sample chapters on this platform. You can find links to ten chapters through this introductory story:
Early Access to "Train Your Brain for a Healthier and Happier Life" Why I wrote this comprehensive book and how readers can benefit from it to improve their cognitive performance and…
Congratulations, ILLUMINATION Health and Wellness Network 🌟
I'm pleased that our Health and Wellness Network was announced as a bestselling publication on Substack in March 2025. I wrote a story about this on Medium to guide freelance writers. Thank you for being part of our joyful and exciting journey.
To celebrate this milestone, I am providing a 50% discount to free subscribers who want to support our work and help this community grow fast.
Thank you for being part of our joyful and exciting journey.
I am pleased that my three new books, What the Brain Needs, Why We Fail, and How We Can Fix It, Ketosis + BDNF: The Healing Molecules That Saved My Life, and Cellular Intelligence, were published in December 2025 and are now available in many bookstores.
You can check out my FEATURED series of 50+ books on Amazon markets:
Substack Newsletter Mastery, Excellence, and Eminence Series
Some of my books are published at Apple Stores, Smashwords, Vivlio, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, BooksaMillion, Fable, or my discount bookstore.
If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 40K writers who contribute to my publications on this platform. Check out the recent update for the writers of my publications.
You can contact me via my website. If you are a new writer, check out my writing list to find some helpful stories for your education. You can also join my author platform as a guest blogger.
I have written many stories explaining the fundamental requirements of the brain, mind, and nervous system, with nuances in previous stories, so I link them as a reference here:
Here's How to Make the Nervous System More Flexible and Functional
Here's How I Train My Brain Daily for Mental Clarity and Intellectual Productivity.
You can find many relevant stories about brain health and cognitive performance on this list: Brain Health and Cognitive Function.
I invite you to subscribe to my publications on Substack, where I offer experience-based and original content on health, content strategy, book authoring, and technology topics you can't find online to inform and inspire my readers.
Healthspan Mastery (NEW)
Check out Free Blog Posts by Digitalmehmet Contributors. Here is the link to my FREE personal blogs. Now you can read our blog posts via a Flipboard Magazine for convenience.