7 AI Prompts to Help Build Your Substack Newsletter Growth Engine Starting Today
While 5M+ paid subscriptions flood Substack, most creators still struggle with basics. These 7 AI prompts can change everything for you.
Welcome to another issue of Excellent AI Prompts.
The situation
You're sitting at your desk, staring at the blank “About” page of your Substack. The cursor blinks mockingly as you try to articulate what makes your newsletter worth subscribing to.
Later, you'll need to write a welcome email that doesn't sound like everyone else's, write upgrade messages that actually convert, and somehow maintain a consistent publishing schedule that keeps readers coming back, all while staying true to who you are and why you started a newsletter on Substack in the first place.
The truth is, most newsletter creators spend more time wrestling with the mechanics of their publication than actually creating the content their audience craves. I’ve been there. You’ve been there. Let’s fix this.
The problem
As of March 2025, there are more than 5 million paid subscriptions on Substack, yet most creators are still approaching their newsletter setup like it's 2017.
The challenge
Most publications have less than 1k subscribers, largely because creators focus on content creation only, while neglecting the foundational elements that drive growth and move you past “hobby” status.
The AI solution
AI can transform your newsletter from a scattered side project into a systematic growth engine.
And instead of agonizing over every piece of copy, you can use AI as a tool to assist you in creating the marketing content you need to keep your ecosystem fresh and exciting for you and your readers.
🔑 The key is understanding that AI can be a strategic partner that can help you think through subscriber psychology, optimize your messaging, and create systems that work even when you're not actively managing them.
Action Prompts
Best AI Tool: ChatGPT
Best Model: Start with 4o, Revise with o3
Pro-tip: Use prompt appends for even better results.
1. About Page Optimization
I need to create an About page for my Substack newsletter that converts visitors into subscribers.
My newsletter topic: [YOUR TOPIC]
My target audience: [YOUR AUDIENCE]
My unique angle/expertise: [YOUR EXPERTISE]
Please create an About page that:
1. Opens with a relatable problem my audience faces
2. Positions me as the solution provider
3. Clearly states what subscribers get (both free and paid)
4. Ends with a compelling reason to subscribe today
5. Uses "you" language throughout and avoids generic phrases like "I write about..."
Format it with scannable headers and keep paragraphs under 3 sentences. Make it feel like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend, not a resume.
Here’s an example.
I used the following input for the placeholders in the prompt above:
My newsletter topic: Parisian style baking
My target audience: people who love a good pastry
My unique angle/expertise: baking aficionado
ChatGPT Response:
Craving Paris in Every Bite?
You’ve stood in front of your oven, hoping that croissant dough will puff like the ones stacked in a Parisian boulangerie—only to pull out something flat and buttery-sad. You want pastries that transport you to Rue Montorgueil without a plane ticket.
Your Pastry Insider
I’ve spent years reverse-engineering the flakiest layers and glossiest glazes from the city’s best pâtisseries. I test, tweak, and translate those techniques so **you** can nail them in a home kitchen—no expensive equipment or culinary degree required.
What You Get for Free
Step-by-step bake-along emails every Friday, sized for a standard oven.
Quick “Why it Works” tips that demystify laminating, proofing, and chocolate tempering.
Ingredient alerts when French-grade butter or seasonal fruit hits peak quality near you.
Unlock the Pâtisserie (Paid)
Video deep dives that show every fold, roll, and proof in real time.
Members-only Q\&A sessions where you post photos and get instant troubleshooting.
Monthly Paris Dispatch—field reports from my bakery crawls, complete with copy-cat recipes and shop histories.
Exclusive holiday masterclasses (think Bûche de Noël and Galette des Rois) with replay access.
Why Subscribe Today
Every missed bake costs time, ingredients, and pastry dreams. Hit Subscribe now, and the next email in your inbox will guide you to a café-worthy bite that flakes in thirty-six layers—guaranteed to impress even the toughest croissant critic (a.k.a. you). Let’s turn your kitchen into a little corner of Paris, one buttery fold at a time.