Haide Wall Giesbrecht is a Registered Clinical Counselor (RCC), writer, and educator. Her work spans professional therapy, neurodivergent advocacy, and reflections on self-directed learning and personal growth.
Creative & Educational Work
Substack & Blogging: She is the author of the Substack Encouragement Along the Journey, where she writes about grief, growth, parenting, and “becoming.” Her writing often reflects her personal experiences as a therapist, mother, and first-generation immigrant.
Self-Directed Education: A longtime homeschooling and “unschooling” parent, Haide is an advocate for Self-Directed Education (SDE). She recently collaborated with Katy Purviance to discuss leaving conventional schooling behind and trusting children as learners.
Talking Points: How to Succeed on Substack
1. Clarity Before Content
Know exactly who you are speaking to
Be clear on what transformation you provide
Write with purpose, not just to post
If your message isn’t clear, your growth won’t be either.
2. Consistency Builds Trust
Show up regularly (weekly minimum)
Keep your voice and themes aligned
Let people know what to expect from you
People don’t subscribe to one post; they subscribe to consistency.
3. Depth Over Volume
Don’t chase quantity, focus on quality
Write pieces that make people think, feel, or act
Give insight, not just information
One strong post will outperform five forgettable ones.
4. Write Like You Speak
Be direct
Be human
Be clear
If it sounds like everyone else, it won’t stand out.
5. Build a Signature Voice
Use repeatable language (your pillars, your phrases)
Create a recognizable structure
Let your audience know it’s you without seeing your name
Familiarity builds authority.
6. Focus on Connection, Not Just Growth
Write to your audience—not at them
Invite reflection
Create an emotional connection
People stay where they feel seen.
7. Make Every Post Useful
Each piece should do at least one of the following:
Shift perspective
Provide clarity
Offer direction
If it doesn’t help them move, it won’t keep them.
8. Use Calls to Thought (Not Just Calls to Action)
Ask questions that make people pause
Encourage reflection, not just clicks
Engagement comes from thinking, not pushing.
9. Don’t Overcomplicate Monetization
Focus on value first
Build trust before asking for payment
Paid content should go deeper, not just be “more.”
People pay for insight they can’t get anywhere else.
10. Leverage Your Ecosystem
Share your Substack across LinkedIn, email, and other platforms
Repurpose your insights
Bring your audience with you
Substack doesn’t grow in isolation.
11. Build a Rhythm (Not Random Posting)
Example:
Weekly insight
Monthly deep dive
Occasional personal reflection
Predictability builds retention.
12. Stay in Your Lane (This Is Critical)
Don’t try to cover everything
Stay anchored in your message and pillars
Let your content compound over time
Clarity scales. Randomness doesn’t.
Bottom Line
Success on Substack is not about going viral.
It’s about:
clarity
consistency
connection
and content that actually moves people
Closing Remarks
Am I clear in what I’m here to say?
Am I consistent in how I show up?
Am I creating content that actually shifts people?
Thank you Patrick LaRose, Nabanita, Millie Jones-Cowles, and many others for tuning into my live video with Haide Wall Giesbrecht! Join me for my next live video in the app.
