Incorporating official policies, success examples, growth mechanics, and risks as of 2026.
Substack is a publishing platform that combines a newsletter with a blog, allowing writers to own their mailing list directly. It enables creators to charge for subscriptions and keep ~80% of the revenue, allowing them to grow through an internal recommendation network rather than relying on social media algorithms.
1. Why Choose Substack? (Platform & Policy Analysis)
- Official Policy on Adult Content: Substack explicitly supports “a wide range of writing… including material intended for adult audiences.”
- Allowed: Erotic literature (text-based fiction) and artistic/journalistic nudity.
- Prohibited: “Porn or sexually exploitative content,” including visual depictions of sexual acts for the sole purpose of sexual gratification.
- Enforcement: Text erotica is generally tolerated if not purely exploitative. However, enforcement can be vague (ban threats have been reported even for literary erotica), and explicit content may be hidden from discovery features (Search, Recommendations). Strict no-nudity rule applies to profile images.
- The Business Model:
- Economics: You keep ~80% of revenue.
- Discovery: The internal network generates ~30% of new free subs and ~10% of paid subs platform-wide.
- Retention: High retention via inbox delivery and the Substack app (millions of downloads).
2. The 10-Step Execution Plan
Phase I: Foundation & Security
1. Niche down precisely
Choose a specific, underserved subgenre or kink (e.g., emotional/situational hotwife, everyday erotic with sensory depth) rather than generic smut.
- Why: Specific kinks/genres drive early growth via direct searches.
- Warning: Avoid ultra-generic content; you need a specific hook to stand out in the internal recommendation ecosystem.
2. Set up securely and anonymously
Adult content is often flagged as “high risk” by processors. Protect your identity and billing status:
- Account: Use a pseudonym and a dedicated email (e.g., ProtonMail).
- Billing (Stripe): Use an alias for the billing name, a virtual mailbox for the address, and a Google Voice number.
- Profile: Mark content 18+/Mature. Use absolutely NO NSFW images in your profile or headers.
3. Build a substantial content buffer
Stockpile 6–12 stories in Google Drive before public launch.
- Workflow: ~1 hr/day is viable. Quick outline → Rest period → Draft → 1–2 Edit passes.
- Goal: This buffer prevents burnout and ensures the consistency required for algorithmic growth.
Phase II: Content Strategy
4. Define content & posting plan
- Frequency: 2–3 posts/week is sustainable for growth (Benchmark: REVickerson).
- Length: 2,000–3,500 words is the tested sweet spot. It aligns with Medium read-time preferences and feels substantial for a newsletter.
- Style: Use “Literary Framing” (deeper themes, emotions, stakes) to ensure ToS compliance and separate your work from “pure smut.” Nonfiction erotica essays also succeed (e.g., Zachary Zane’s newsletter).
5. Launch free-heavy
For the first 3–4 weeks, publish only free stories.
- Tactics: Focus on strong hooks, substance, and cliffhangers to drive initial organic views and search traffic.
Phase III: Growth & Community
6. Actively engage the community
- The Mechanic: Engage via Notes, comments, and Restacks. This triggers chain reactions from bigger erotica Substacks.
- Note on Interaction: Low public engagement (likes/comments) is normal in this niche due to reader privacy. Focus on retention over interaction.
- Promotion: Share discreet (non-explicit) teasers on Substack Notes. Cross-post stories/teasers to Reddit where appropriate. No paid ads are needed initially.
7. Implement strategic paywalling
- Ratio: Shift to ~4–5 free + 4–5 paywalled posts monthly.
- Placement: Place the paywall late in the story or series, at the moment of highest emotional stakes or dilemma (“What happens next?”). Use series formatting to drive retention.
- Pricing: $8/mo or $80/yr are standard benchmarks.
8. Leverage Substack discovery tools
- Search: Optimize titles and subtitles for search (tags like “First Time,” “Cuckold,” etc.).
- Recommendations: Actively use the Recommendations feature. Once you reach a critical size, the algorithm will boost your visibility.
- App: The Substack app drives discovery via leaderboards and reader profiles.
Phase IV: Analysis & Long-Term
9. Monitor, measure & iterate
- Revenue Benchmarks:
- Case A: Niche erotica (Hotwife) reached ~$4K ARR in 5 months starting from zero.
- Case B: ~2k subs and ~$400/month (from ~40 paid subs) in 7 months.
- Reality: ARR projections (e.g., “$4K–$6K”) in dashboards are estimates; track actual Stripe payouts separately.
- Adjustment: Weekly dashboard checks for views/conversions. Adjust hooks or length based on data.
10. Protect & plan long-term
- Backup: Regularly export/backup your subscriber list.
- Diversify: After 3–6 months, evaluate success.
- Hybrid Models: Use Amazon ebooks as a marketing funnel (low direct revenue, high leads).
- Medium: Test for volume/read-time earnings alongside Substack.
- Own Site: Consider moving to your own site if platform risk (ban threats) becomes too high.
3. Risks and Realistic Expectations
- Platform Risks: Enforcement is vague. Explicit content may be hidden from discovery features. Stripe/payment processors categorize adult material as high-risk, leading to scrutiny.
- Compliance: Keep content text-focused and non-exploitative. Avoid visual extremes or “non-consensual” descriptors that could trigger automated flags.
- Realism: Respectable side income is possible (e.g., $4K ARR in months with niche fit + consistency), but it is not a “passive” or “get rich quick” scheme. 99% will not replicate top benchmarks exactly. Success relies heavily on community interaction and algorithmic momentum.