Write • Build • Scale How This Substack Creator Became a Bestseller in 8 Months (With Less Than 2,500 Subscribers)
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Jan 12, 2026 Benjamin Heese, founder of the Digital Citizen Substack, shares his thrilling journey from having under 2,500 subscribers to becoming a bestseller in just eight months. He discusses his early mistakes, like writing for a broad audience, and the surprising success of basic content. Benjamin reveals his monetization strategies, including a $5,000 coaching offer, and emphasizes the importance of specificity in guides. His mantra? Be impatient with actions but patient with results. A treasure trove of insights for aspiring creators!
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How He Started Moving And Writing
- Benjamin first moved abroad to Australia after high school and later lived in Cyprus and the UAE, learning visas and residencies firsthand.
- A coworker in Bangkok suggested Substack, which sparked his decision to start writing about global mobility.
Pick One Reader, Not Everyone
- Avoid writing for everyone; pick one clear reader and tailor your content to them.
- Narrowing your audience makes it easier to create targeted, higher-value posts that attract subscribers.
Basics Often Outperform Advanced Content
- The curse of knowledge makes creators skip basics that beginners desperately need.
- Writing simple, foundational posts often helps more readers and drives engagement than advanced topics alone.