My Readers Are Not Engaged

Many of you may not be aware—at least those who do not have their own Substack—that Substack writers have the ability to track and observe the reading habits of their individual subscribers. While it’s good to see many of you reading my articles, I notice that engagement with my content is low. Instead of receiving comments from my actual subscribers, I often receive comments from individuals who are more interested in trolling than meaningful discussion, while many of my core supporters tend to remain silent. This lack of interaction makes it challenging for a writer to assess their impact when the audience is present but not actively participating—it can feel like writing into the void.

I would much prefer to cultivate a smaller, engaged readership that actively contributes to my work and expresses appreciation through likes and comments on my articles, rather than a larger audience that remains passive. Meaningful interaction not only enriches the conversation but also motivates me to continue creating content that resonates with you.

Moreover, engaging with my articles through likes and comments can enhance visibility within the platform’s algorithm, allowing my work to reach a broader audience. When you interact with my content, it signals its value, helping others discover our discussions. When no one likes or comments, the algorithm pushes my publication further down the list.

With that said, I invite you all to join and participate in the conversation, share your constructive thoughts, and help create a space where dialogue can flourish. Your contributions to this space are important in driving me to create productive material and projects.

Jeff Green