The #1 Missed Opportunity to Grow Your Paid Subscribers
Apply Superfan Engagement Method (SEM) & Turn your 4-5 star readers into paying members
It doesn’t matter whether you’re just about to launch paid subscriptions or already have hundreds of paying readers. This strategy can help you:
Convert more free readers to paid
Craft more relevant paid benefits
Understand what your core audience actually wants
Build deeper relationships with your most valuable subscribers
I call it: Superfan Engagement Method (SEM)
You don’t need a massive audience to grow a paid newsletter.
You need to pay attention to the people already paying attention to you.
Your most loyal free subscribers are already halfway there. All they need is a thoughtful nudge and a reason to say yes.
In Substack terms, these are your 4 and 5-star readers, people who actively open and read your posts. And yes, it’s incredibly easy to identify them right inside your dashboard.
But knowing who they are is just the first step. The real work begins once you connect with them personally and invite them into your paid community.
This approach is what I’m focusing on right now, and I’ll show you exactly how I’m doing it, so you can apply it, too.
In this article, you’ll learn how to:
Identify your 4 and 5-star readers inside Substack
Build a simple Superfan CRM to track and understand them
Reach out personally and arrange 1:1 calls
Use those calls to co-create and gain new paid members
Build lasting relationships
Why Superfans Matter (Through a Marketing Funnel Lens)
If you want to build a paid newsletter that is truly sustainable, I’ll say this on repeat:
Your newsletter is your product. And you need to treat it with a business mindset.
Instead of relying on random acts of marketing or chasing short-lived growth tactics, it’s time to zoom out and look at the bigger picture.
This is where the marketing funnel mindset comes in.
Just like any business, your audience exists at different levels of awareness and engagement:
Some are just discovering your work
Some read your newsletter occasionally, but aren't fully engaged
And some are so active, they’re practically waiting for a reason to upgrade
That last group—your most loyal free subscribers—is where the biggest opportunity lies.
They sit at the bottom of your funnel.
This is the first group you need to focus on to gain new paid subscribers. Why? Because they already:
Find value in your free content
Trust you and follow your work closely
Are most likely to be curious about what’s behind your paywall
Yet, few creators actively engage this group. That’s the gap we’re closing today.
How to Apply Superfan Engagement Method (SEM) & Turn Your 4-5 Star Readers Into Paid Members
Step 1: Identify Your Most Loyal Subscribers
Start by figuring out who’s already actively reading and engaging with your content.
Look for signals like:
Subscribers who consistently open and click your emails
Readers who reply to your newsletters
People who’ve filled out surveys
Followers who’ve commented, DMed, or mentioned you online
🛠 How to Find 4- and 5-Star Readers on Substack:
Go to your Subscribers dashboard
Click "Filter" on the right side
Set filter: Activity Level → 4-star or 5-star
Click the checkbox on the left to select all.
Click the three dots on the right and choose “Export” from the dropdown.
Repeat the process separately for both 4-star and 5-star readers.
📊 In my case: 477 subscribers are rated as 5-star, and 600+ as 4-star.
💡 You don’t need hundreds to start. Just 5–10 highly engaged subscribers can be a powerful foundation.
🔍 Bonus: Go One Level Deeper
Substack’s star ratings are based primarily on open rates.
If you want to refine your definition of a “superfan,” consider adding clicks as an additional layer.
For example, you can filter subscribers who clicked a link in your newsletter posts within a certain time frame—like the past month—for a stricter and more up-to-date list.
💡 Add click data to your segmentation if you regularly include links in your emails. If your content is mostly text with no links, this metric won’t be helpful in identifying your most engaged readers.
Step 2: Create Your Superfans CRM
Okay, this is where the real work begins.
When you export your 4- and 5-star readers from Substack, you'll get detailed information about each subscriber.
Start by importing that data into Google Sheets or Excel, whichever tool you prefer to work in.
✍️ Key information to keep:
Email
Name
Subscription type (Free vs. Paid)
Subscription date
Subscription source
Hide the rest for now, and add new columns for the insights you actually need.
✍️ Key information to add for outreach and personalization
Think like an investigative journalist. Learn everything you can about your superfans—especially details that help you tailor your outreach.
Find their social media accounts, profession, experience level—anything relevant to your niche.
Yes, this step requires some manual digging, but it’s crucial for three reasons:
It helps you understand who your content truly resonates with
It shows which platforms you should repurpose content on for more growth
It reveals alternative ways to reach and personalize messages to your 4–5 star readers
For example, I target newsletter creators running or planning to launch a paid newsletter. So I look for:
Do they already have a newsletter?
Is it free or paid?
Are they on Substack?
Any public info on subscriber count or growth?
Their LinkedIn profile
💡 Decide what you need to know about your audience to reach out meaningfully and encourage them to upgrade to your paid content.
For example:
If you're running a newsletter for professional chefs, you might want to check:
Do they own or work at a restaurant?
What cuisine do they specialize in?
Are they beginners or industry veterans?
The more context you have, the better your conversations and the more tailored your paid benefits can be.
Step 3: Reach Out Personally & Set Up One-on-One Video Calls
Now that you’ve identified your most loyal readers, your goal is simple:
Arrange one-on-one video calls with your 4- and 5-star subscribers.
The more conversations you have, the better.
There’s no better way to:
Understand their needs and motivations
Gather honest feedback
Invite them to upgrade to your paid membership
This is more than just outreach. It’s co-creation with your most loyal audience.
And in the startup world, it has a name: Founder-led sales.
It’s about doing the unscalable things, until you can scale.
💬 How to Reach Out:
Connect with your 4- and 5-star readers on social media
Send personalized, one-on-one messages and emails
Use any channel where you can grab their attention - DMs, replies, LinkedIn, etc.
Follow up—don’t hesitate to send 2–3 reminders if you don’t hear back
This is where most creators hesitate.
But trust me, this type of individual, human outreach will become your superpower.
These readers already know, like, and trust you. A thoughtful message won’t annoy most of them, if anything, it makes them feel seen and appreciated.
Here is an example of message I started sending to my superfans:
✉️ Example Message:
Subject: Thank you [Name] — and a special invitation
Hi [Name],
I noticed you’ve been an active reader of Newsletter Circle, and I just wanted to say thank you. I truly appreciate your support.
I also saw that you’re running a paid newsletter with over [xxx] subscribers. That’s incredible!
I’m currently working on more actionable content to help creators grow their paid newsletters, and I plan to launch a community.
I’d love to invite you to be one of the early members and hear more about your experience building and growing your newsletter.
Would you be open to a quick 15-minute call to connect?
If so, I’d also love to share a special offer as a thank-you gift for your time.
And of course, no pressure at all. I’m just really glad to have you as part of the community.
Warmly,
Ciler
Why this works:
It’s specific — not a generic mass message
It’s human — not something that feels automated
It highlights the incentive without pressure
Even if they don’t convert, it deepens the relationship
💡 If you can’t book as many calls as you’d like, try sending a short feedback survey instead. It’s a lightweight way to learn from your readers and keep them engaged.
Step 4: Have Calls & Offer Grandfather Pricing
Once you’re on the video calls:
Ask what made them follow your content in the first place
Explore what more they’d love to see — this helps shape your paid offer
Share what you currently offer behind the paywall
These conversations are incredibly valuable. Someone carving out time to speak with you is already showing deep interest and trust.
🎁 As a thank-you:
Offer a special discount to your 4- and 5-star readers who take the time to chat. This is called a “grandfather offer.”
Here’s how to do it effectively:
Apply at least a 50% discount on the annual plan
Position it as a reward, not a sales tactic. Keep it warm and genuine
Make it time-limited (e.g., valid for 3–5 days) to encourage action
Mention it at the end of the call, or earlier if the conversation flows naturally
💡 If you’re collecting feedback via surveys, you can still make this offer. Just send a personalized email afterward and follow up if needed.
This approach builds stronger relationships while gently guiding your superfans to upgrade.
Step 5: Nurture the Relationship
After your call, keep track of who upgraded from free to paid and who didn’t.
✅ For new paid members:
Stay in touch. Ask what they think of your paid content and what else they'd love to see. Keep the feedback loop open.
🤝 For those who didn’t upgrade (yet):
Don’t disappear. Send a follow-up asking what held them back and what they’d expect from a paid membership. Many will still convert later, especially if you continue delivering value and listening.
The goal is to build lasting relationships, not one-time transactions. Your most loyal readers are your best compass. Keep learning from them.
Final Thought: Conversion Starts with Connection
This month, I’ll be laser-focused on sharing actionable posts to help you grow your paid newsletter and talking to my 4 and 5-star readers.
If you’re an active reader of Newsletter Circle, my inbox is always open. I’d love to hop on a call and hear from you!
I’ll also keep sharing what works (and what doesn’t) as I go, so we can learn and improve together.
But don’t wait.
Start today. Even if you don’t have a huge list, even if you’re still running a free newsletter.
I know that this isn’t a quick growth hack that will skyrocket your numbers overnight.
The strategy is simple but not easy. I call it a high-effort, high-impact approach. And if you apply it, you’ll already be ahead of most newsletter creators out there.
Because this is:
The path to truly understanding your audience
The path to creating real, lasting relationships
The path to building a sustainable paid membership
If I were starting over, this is exactly what I’d do from day one.
Thank you for reading.
See you on Sunday with a brand new Substack Bestseller interview.
Ciler
This has great insight. very well written.
I love the new direct and this article!