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Substack Mastery V2: Building a Successful Writing Business with Purpose and Precision (Using the PILLAR Framework)
297 pages, Paperback
Published July 27, 2025
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August 1, 2025
My 5 Star Review of Substack Mastery Version 2
From a person who had no clue about Substack 2 years ago but got a bestseller badge in 2025 thanks to the author of this exceptional book coming soon to your favorite bookstores
When I left academia and the scientific world, I knew how to write for peer-reviewed journals, but I was unsure how to write for a broader audience who will read my dull content.
I had experience presenting arguments and theories, but very little practice in building relationships with an audience outside my field.
Like many of my peers, I carried a fear of irrelevance in digital spaces and skepticism toward platforms driven by visibility metrics. However, that changed after I read the first edition of Substack Mastery in 2024
The book spoke to concerns I had struggled to articulate. It did not try to impress me. It addressed my doubts with honesty, precision, and encouragement rooted in direct experience.
The structure was simple but not simplistic. What I appreciated most was how each section brought clarity without reducing complex nuances beginners need to know.
Additionally, the emphasis on email list building had a profound impact on my growth on Substack. Before reading the relevant book, Smart Email Marketing and Content Integration, the concept seemed like rocket science to me.
I also completed a three-level training program on Udemy called "From Zero to Substack Hero," designed by media expert and bestselling Substack author Aiden MC, based on the first version of "Substack Mastery." This educational program accelerated my learning.
I could tell the author Substack Mastery had lived through the very struggles I faced, uncertainty, inconsistency, mental fatigue, and lack of structure. And yet, he had moved through them in a way that made sense to someone like me.
That book helped me transition from theoretical thinking to practical execution. It gave me a foundation to understand Substack, not just as a tool, but as a system of relationships, responsibilities, and rhythms.
I built my publication on Substack using the methods outlined in that first version. I began to think more deliberately about audience fit, reader loyalty, and the timing of each decision I made.
Within months, my small list began to grow. Within a year, my publication gained recognition. Without any promotion, I received the Substack Bestseller badge, based solely on community referrals, sustained engagement, guest blogging, and word of mouth.
I read the manuscript of the updated version of Substack Mastery, Version 2, multiple times as an alpha and beta reader. I also listened to the audio version of the advanced copy through Google Play.
This new version improves upon the first in every important way. With the introduction of the P.I.L.L.A.R.™ Framework, the content becomes even more coherent and immediately applicable.
Each pillar introduced a structure I had already begun to experience intuitively, but had not yet fully named. This framework offered something rare in digital publishing: orientation grounded in lived knowledge, with room to grow.
Positioning helped me define what my writing stands for and why it exists. Intentional Content offered a lens through which I could shape ideas into formats that connect.
The section on List Growth gave me practical, ethical techniques to build visibility without draining my focus.
Loyalty Loops reminded me that meaningful communication begins with small, thoughtful gestures, not grand campaigns.
The Activation of Revenue was especially clarifying. It helped me align my offerings with the value I provide, without feeling guilty or pressured.
And Rhythm and Review taught me how to track what matters, adjust without panic, and stay engaged without losing energy.
As far as I know for decades, Dr Mehmet Yildiz does not write for applause or income. He writes to educate, inspire, motivate, and empower.
He has built systems, mentored or coached thousands of creators, and tested what works across multiple platforms, including Substack, Patreon, Medium, and other platforms.
What distinguishes this enhanced version of the book from others is its maturity. It respects both the psychological and structural aspects of writing. It avoids vague encouragement and instead offers a serious model for sustainable growth.
I have returned to this book many times over the past year, not because I needed motivation, but as I wanted a reliable source of clarity in an ambiguous digital world.
This second edition continues that role. It provides a customizable strategy, high-level roadmap, best practices, pitfalls to avoid, and essential tools.
If you are a creator looking to build something lasting, this book deserves your full attention. It helped me rethink my writing practice. It shaped my habits.
And most importantly, it reminded me that writing for real people, with respect and care, is still the most rewarding form of communication I know.
Therefore I volunteered to write the foreword and give a five star review to the Substack Version 2 authored by esteemed and caring mentor Dr Mehmet Yildiz. God bless him, his loved ones, and his ILLUMINATION community🙏🌟❤️🌹👌💐🙌
Dr Michael Broadly, August 2025
Retired Health Scientist and Substack Bestselling Author
https://substack.com/@drmikebroadly
https://medium.com/@healthierlifestyle
https://digitalmehmet.com/author/mich...
From a person who had no clue about Substack 2 years ago but got a bestseller badge in 2025 thanks to the author of this exceptional book coming soon to your favorite bookstores
When I left academia and the scientific world, I knew how to write for peer-reviewed journals, but I was unsure how to write for a broader audience who will read my dull content.
I had experience presenting arguments and theories, but very little practice in building relationships with an audience outside my field.
Like many of my peers, I carried a fear of irrelevance in digital spaces and skepticism toward platforms driven by visibility metrics. However, that changed after I read the first edition of Substack Mastery in 2024
The book spoke to concerns I had struggled to articulate. It did not try to impress me. It addressed my doubts with honesty, precision, and encouragement rooted in direct experience.
The structure was simple but not simplistic. What I appreciated most was how each section brought clarity without reducing complex nuances beginners need to know.
Additionally, the emphasis on email list building had a profound impact on my growth on Substack. Before reading the relevant book, Smart Email Marketing and Content Integration, the concept seemed like rocket science to me.
I also completed a three-level training program on Udemy called "From Zero to Substack Hero," designed by media expert and bestselling Substack author Aiden MC, based on the first version of "Substack Mastery." This educational program accelerated my learning.
I could tell the author Substack Mastery had lived through the very struggles I faced, uncertainty, inconsistency, mental fatigue, and lack of structure. And yet, he had moved through them in a way that made sense to someone like me.
That book helped me transition from theoretical thinking to practical execution. It gave me a foundation to understand Substack, not just as a tool, but as a system of relationships, responsibilities, and rhythms.
I built my publication on Substack using the methods outlined in that first version. I began to think more deliberately about audience fit, reader loyalty, and the timing of each decision I made.
Within months, my small list began to grow. Within a year, my publication gained recognition. Without any promotion, I received the Substack Bestseller badge, based solely on community referrals, sustained engagement, guest blogging, and word of mouth.
I read the manuscript of the updated version of Substack Mastery, Version 2, multiple times as an alpha and beta reader. I also listened to the audio version of the advanced copy through Google Play.
This new version improves upon the first in every important way. With the introduction of the P.I.L.L.A.R.™ Framework, the content becomes even more coherent and immediately applicable.
Each pillar introduced a structure I had already begun to experience intuitively, but had not yet fully named. This framework offered something rare in digital publishing: orientation grounded in lived knowledge, with room to grow.
Positioning helped me define what my writing stands for and why it exists. Intentional Content offered a lens through which I could shape ideas into formats that connect.
The section on List Growth gave me practical, ethical techniques to build visibility without draining my focus.
Loyalty Loops reminded me that meaningful communication begins with small, thoughtful gestures, not grand campaigns.
The Activation of Revenue was especially clarifying. It helped me align my offerings with the value I provide, without feeling guilty or pressured.
And Rhythm and Review taught me how to track what matters, adjust without panic, and stay engaged without losing energy.
As far as I know for decades, Dr Mehmet Yildiz does not write for applause or income. He writes to educate, inspire, motivate, and empower.
He has built systems, mentored or coached thousands of creators, and tested what works across multiple platforms, including Substack, Patreon, Medium, and other platforms.
What distinguishes this enhanced version of the book from others is its maturity. It respects both the psychological and structural aspects of writing. It avoids vague encouragement and instead offers a serious model for sustainable growth.
I have returned to this book many times over the past year, not because I needed motivation, but as I wanted a reliable source of clarity in an ambiguous digital world.
This second edition continues that role. It provides a customizable strategy, high-level roadmap, best practices, pitfalls to avoid, and essential tools.
If you are a creator looking to build something lasting, this book deserves your full attention. It helped me rethink my writing practice. It shaped my habits.
And most importantly, it reminded me that writing for real people, with respect and care, is still the most rewarding form of communication I know.
Therefore I volunteered to write the foreword and give a five star review to the Substack Version 2 authored by esteemed and caring mentor Dr Mehmet Yildiz. God bless him, his loved ones, and his ILLUMINATION community🙏🌟❤️🌹👌💐🙌
Dr Michael Broadly, August 2025
Retired Health Scientist and Substack Bestselling Author
https://substack.com/@drmikebroadly
https://medium.com/@healthierlifestyle
https://digitalmehmet.com/author/mich...
Displaying 1 of 1 review