Started with zero followers, but a bold idea.

Wander Wealth by Clauida Faith

May 18, 2025

Newsletter Circle is your go-to source for building a successful newsletter business through a paid subscription.

👋 MEET THE CREATOR

Just one year ago,

Claudia Faith

left behind the world of traditional entrepreneurship to build something entirely her own with no investors, no big team, no roadmap. Just having a laptop, a clear vision, and a commitment to consistency, she launched Wander Wealth
on Substack.

She started with zero followers, no email list, but a bold idea: to build a meaningful business with just her words. Today, Wander Wealth is a Substack Bestseller with nearly 7,000 subscribers and around 200 paying members.

But Claudia’s growth didn’t come from hacks, it came from connection. Through honest Notes, warm CTAs, and a deep understanding of her readers' emotional journey, she built a shining newsletter and a business she truly loves.

In this interview, Claudia shares:

How she grew her newsletter from 0 to 6,900+ subscribers in under a year
The conversion strategies that helped her turn free readers into paid members
Why Notes and Substack Chat became the heart of her community-building
Her approach to launching paid offers, courses, and bootcamps
What solopreneur freedom really looks like, and how she’s designing life on her terms

Enjoy!

🏷 NEWSLETTER IDENTITY CARD

⚒️ TOOL STACK

ESP: Substack
Task Management: Apple Notes
Curation & Note taking: Google Workspace, Apple Notes
Design of visuals design: Midjourney, Canva
Digital Products: Canva, Kit, Gumroad, Loom
Testimonials: Senja.io
Payments: Stripe
Sponsorships: Passionfroot
Mini-Site Builder: Komi

🥁 START

How and why did you start Wander Wealth in the first place?

I started WanderWealth because I wanted to prove to myself—and to others—that you can build a meaningful business with just your words. No investors, no big team, no perfect plan. Just a laptop, an internet connection, and the courage to show up consistently.

After years of building companies the “traditional” way, I craved more freedom, creativity, and connection. So I started writing. What began as a personal experiment turned into a business, and a community I care about.

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🚀 GROWTH

Which strategies did you use to grow over 6,900 subscribers?

0 – 1,000 Subscribers

Write Notes regularly. Show up. Leave thoughtful comments. Connect with other writers. This is all about getting seen and starting conversations.

1,000 – 3,000 Subscribers

Start focusing more on Chats. Send direct messages to your subscribers. Use your group chat to build real connection, help people find their own tribe within your world.

3,000 – 5,000 Subscribers

Shift your focus toward your subscribers’ current needs. What are they struggling with right now? What do they want more of? Listen closely and create around that.

5,000+ Subscribers

Keep a close eye on what’s working. Track your best posts, open rates, and engagement. Follow platform shifts and lean into trends while staying true to your voice.

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.

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You're an active Substack Notes user, and some of your Notes get high engagement. What are the top 3 factors that helped you attract new subscribers through Notes?

Mix it up. I don’t just drop blocks of text. Some are short and snappy, others longer with images or quotes. I always design them to catch the eye and invite interaction.

Build trust. I use Notes to share the real stuff: what I’m trying, what’s working, what’s not. The journey matters. That honesty builds connection over time.

Make people feel something. Posts are great for value and teaching. But Notes are where I create emotion, connection, and make people feel like they’re part of something.

Claudia_Faith_Wander_Wealth_Newsletter_Substack_Notes

💸 MONETIZATION

When did you launch your paid subscription and how did you decide that it was the right time for you to activate it? How long did it take for you to become a Bestseller?

I launched mine about 3 months in, when I had around 200–300 free subscribers. I used those first months to find my voice, test formats, and understand what my readers cared about. Once I felt confident I was creating something people valued, I turned on paid.

Funny enough, my first two paid subscribers came on the same day from a Note I wrote about giving Substack time. I’d been showing up daily for 3 months, writing into the void. That post resonated, and those two people are still with me to this day.

I became a Bestseller in January, 7 months after starting from zero in May.

What are your strategies to convert free subscribers into paid ones or gain new paid subscribers?

I just wrote a full post on this: 👉 The Real Reason Your Subscribers Convert from Free to Paid

Key takeaways from the post:

People convert when they feel emotionally connected, not just when they get value.
Use your Notes to build trust and resonance.
Paid content is great but how you show up (consistency, story, honesty) is often what tips the scale.
Include CTAs that feel natural and warm—less “buy now,” more “come along.”

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned from running a successful paid subscription? What would you do differently if you had a chance to start over?

I would’ve focused on community earlier. I initially tried to build the paid group off-platform in Slack but it didn’t work. People want to stay in one place, and Substack's group chat is powerful when used right. Activating that sooner would’ve helped me build more connection early on.

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Beyond paid subscriptions, you also monetize through channels like courses and bootcamps. Could you share more about how you effectively promote and upsell these products through your newsletter?

Each week, I pick one topic or product to focus on. Instead of cluttering my main posts, I send targeted promotional emails directly on Substack.

You can segment by free, paid, or engaged readers, which is super helpful. Since I track who received which offer, I don’t send duplicates, and I keep the tone warm and relevant.

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📌 IMPACT & LEARNINGS

How did building Wander Wealth newsletter contribute to your life professionally and personally?

It changed everything. It gave me the freedom to live and design a life I actually love. I’ve always loved building startups, but I never loved the pressure that came with it: investor meetings, late-night calls, constant external expectations. It drained me.

Substack is different. It gives me energy, every single day. The feedback, the connection, the sense that what I do actually helps someone. That’s something I never truly felt in my other businesses.

What would you do differently if you had a chance to start over Wander Wealth?

Honestly, not much. I’d probably push myself to connect with other creators earlier, I was a bit shy at the beginning. But otherwise, I’m glad I just kept showing up and figured it out along the way.

What would it be if you had the right to give one piece of advice to aspiring newsletter creators?

Trust the process. Give it time. Most people give up too early and never get to see what could have been. Be patient. Keep writing. Trust yourself. You’re building something powerful, even when it’s quiet.