How I Use Substack as a Author [+ Tips for Readers]

There’s all the time a brand new device, platform, course of, you identify it, that you just simply have to strive.

It’s exhausting as a content material creator to attempt to sustain with the newest developments and time-consuming to discover ways to use utterly new platforms. It could actually additionally really feel dangerous to begin creating content material someplace new when the place you’re is already working for you.

However it’s my skilled opinion that in case you are a author (or reader), you have to get acquainted with Substack.

Self-described as “a brand new financial engine for tradition,” it launched in 2017 and has develop into a well-liked house for everybody from famed, skilled authors to younger 20-somethings searching for a spot to air their grievances.

It’s the right mix of weblog, journal, and publication, with the bonus of a sort and thought-provoking group. Nonetheless skeptical? Learn on for extra details about Substack and a few suggestions and finest practices for writers and readers alike.

Desk of Contents

Substack does greater than permit writers to curate an area for his or her content material — it additionally supplies instruments for authors to ship and handle electronic mail newsletters.

Content material creators can even uncover new writers on the platform, and pay the love ahead by subscribing to different writers.

As a author, I battle to know the place I ought to share my writing. I might keep on with social media and put up content material on X, however this limits my viewers to followers and comparable thinkers.

Whereas there are a lot of methods to make cash on social media, they sometimes contain partnering with manufacturers on sponsored content material or paid advertisements, which takes away a number of the autonomy in your writing.

The great thing about publishing content material on Substack is that it’s designed to present creators freedom of thought and speech whereas serving to these creators monetize their work. You’d be hard-pressed to discover a platform that’s as decided to assist writers succeed — in spite of everything, Substack solely makes cash if you happen to do.

Substack is widespread amongst writers, journalists, and creators seeking to publish unbiased content material digitally. On Substack, writers personal their mental property whereas nonetheless publishing it in a public house.

It differs from opponents like WordPress as a result of it lets writers arrange podcasts, add movies, and construct a constant viewers.

One thing that units Substack aside from different content material creation platforms is the possibility to attach authentically along with your viewers. George Saunders talked about in an Esquire article, “With Substack, I’m speaking to the identical folks nearly daily, each week. It’s given me a deeper expertise of my readers.”

If you happen to’re a fan of Saunders’ work, you’ll be happy to listen to he’s one among many celebrated writers and creators who publish on Substack, together with Margaret Atwood, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In line with Backlinko analysis, Substack has greater than 2 million paid subscriptions and greater than 500,000 paying subscribers. Greater than 17,000 writers receives a commission for his or her newsletters on Substack, and the ten highest-paid authors on Substack collectively make greater than $25 million per 12 months.

When you might not have plans to be in that high 10, it’s evident there’s a marketplace for subscribers prepared and excited to pay for entry to your unique content material.

The flexibility to publish and simply ship electronic mail newsletters of your work by way of Substack is a large plus, because it helps you attain audiences that will not be on Substack.

Electronic mail newsletters may be difficult to handle and ideal, so you possibly can discuss with our information to electronic mail newsletters to make sure you apply one of the best suggestions and tips in your Substack publication.

I particularly loved the “When ought to I activate paid subscriptions?” information, which detailed some nice choices to make the most of a paid subscription, resembling pay-walling your posts however utilizing the free preview device to present readers a pattern of your work to entice them to subscribe.

Your author’s dashboard can be the place you possibly can edit your Substack’s identify, look, and really feel. If you happen to toggle to the tab “Settings” you possibly can replace your publication identify, website design, about web page, emblem, branding, and far more.

3. Create your first put up(s).

Lastly, we’re on to the enjoyable half! I made a decision to put in writing a brand-new put up for my Substack debut (which you’ll try right here!) however many writers might think about importing an present piece of content material to start.

This could both be a bit you’ve beforehand written that has but to see the sunshine of day or, extra usefully, a bit you’ve already printed that has gained traction elsewhere. If there was a likeability and shareability to the subject on a unique platform, that’s a very good signal that it’s going to carry out effectively on Substack.

If you happen to resolve to go the paid route, you possibly can repost some present posts as free content material to seize the eye of recent subscribers, after which begin posting new content material below a paid subscription mannequin.

4. Take a look at and publish your put up.

When you’ve completed your put up, you possibly can preview how the put up will look in varied codecs: cellular versus desktop, net versus electronic mail, and free versus paid subscribers.

If you happen to’re proud of how the put up seems in its varied codecs, you possibly can ship a take a look at electronic mail to your self to make sure the textual content and picture formatting seems right. I additionally used this to confirm my first put up didn’t seem too lengthy on cellular.

I knew it will be a 4-minute learn, however I didn’t need subscribers to be deterred by a prolonged electronic mail.

After you’ve examined, you possibly can lastly publish your put up! Substack will carry you to the under display screen, the place you will have the choice to share your put up to many platforms, resembling Instagram or LinkedIn, or copy the hyperlink if you happen to’d want to distribute it your self.

Substack creates free pictures you possibly can obtain and share on Instagram Tales or in-feed to advertise your put up. It’s one other instance of how Substack can provide a lot to content material creators totally free that helps you promote your work.

I shared my put up to my Instagram Story after which checked my electronic mail the place I obtained my printed put up as an electronic mail publication.

Within the high proper nook of the e-mail, it says “Forwarded this electronic mail? Subscribe right here for extra.” That is one other nice tip — you possibly can ahead a duplicate of the e-mail publication to folks, freed from cost, to encourage them to subscribe (paid or in any other case) to your publication.

5. Preserve observe of your stats.

Your author’s dashboard has a Stats tab that’s an incredible place to trace the efficiency of your posts and publication.

I can see the visitors to my Substack after my first put up and the way these readers discovered it (outlined under), my electronic mail open charge, information on my subscribers, and extra.

As vital as our freedom of thought is, it’s equally as vital to make sure persons are really discovering and studying our ideas. Substack offers you some energy as a author with the Stats tab to determine the place most individuals discover your content material and meet them the place they’re.

You can too edit and create a New Reader Survey which may help you get extra demographic details about your readers. This additionally allows you to perceive your audience and might encourage you to provide content material that might be most interesting to these audiences.

As an illustration, if I noticed most of my readers had been primarily based within the U.S. and aged 18-24, I might analysis what present American school college students are most all for, and attempt to incorporate a few of my findings into my writing.

6. Uncover and advocate different writers.

Any author is aware of the worth of a suggestion from one other author. That provides you a much-needed ego enhance whereas additionally opening you as much as the followers of that author’s work.

Subtack has an Discover function which you need to use to find different content material. Whereas this function is very useful for readers, it’s an effective way for writers to search out different sturdy or comparable writers.

When you discover a author you’re feeling keen about, you possibly can click on “Advocate” on their Substack. In your profile, their publication will seem below “Suggestions” to anybody who views your web page. Beneath, you possibly can see that I’ve really helpful my pal Ginny King’s Substack.

Recommending writers gives your readers different trusted publications to speculate money and time and positions you as a author prepared to assist different writers. And that’s certain to encourage different writers to return the favor.

Hetty Lui McKinnon is one among my favourite New York Instances Cooking recipe builders and cookbook authors, so I rapidly discovered and subscribed to her Substack.

You possibly can repeat this course of for no matter writers you prefer to, and it’s a easy technique to educate the platform on the sorts of publications you’d be all for.

Professional tip: Wait to develop into a paid subscriber to any accounts until you’re already a die-hard fan. Many writers may have a free subscription choice, even when it limits the content material you possibly can entry, and it will probably show you how to get a way of their Substack earlier than you absolutely decide to paying.

Whereas I’d like to financially assist each author, I need to be sure that I decide and select the publications that almost all communicate to me earlier than placing down my bank card.

3. Discover related new writers.

When you’ve subscribed to some already-known writers, it’s possible you’ll need to discover new writers who poke your fancy. That is the place you need to use the Discover function once more.

Right here, you possibly can browse below the For You tab, which incorporates publications that Substack thinks will align along with your pursuits. In any other case, you possibly can look by Employees Picks or, my private favourite, by matter, as I did within the instance above by clicking Meals & Drink.

That is particularly useful if, as a reader, you will have made a Substack to learn extra a few explicit topic. I’m all for spicing up my house cooking, so I clicked on Meals & Drink to filter for food-related content material.

One other nice function is the Leaderboard on the right-hand aspect, the place you possibly can view a number of the high publications inside that matter. It’s a fast and simple technique to discover and subscribe to a number of the hottest writers with out scrolling mindlessly.

4. Obtain the Substack app.

I extremely advocate utilizing the Substack app as an alternative of the desktop interface, if you happen to’re not already. The app mimics a social media platform and makes a number of the lengthier posts much less intimidating to learn.

It’s a lot simpler to scroll by recommended publications on the app and subscribe to those you favor. You’ll get an electronic mail notification while you subscribe to somebody’s publication, alerting you that you just’ve subscribed to a free plan however have choices to improve your subscription.

I want to obtain push notifications from the app, so I turned off electronic mail notifications, however you will have the choice to maintain each.

What I additionally recognize in regards to the app interface is that Notes from each subscribed and recommended publications seem in chronological order, just like your Fb Timeline or X Feed. This helps Substack really feel pure and present, with the power to compensate for the newest updates first.

5. Get entangled locally.

I’m in a guide membership, and I’ve found how far more excited I get to learn a brand new guide once I know I’ll get to debate it for hours with my associates. People are naturally social beings, and there may be immense satisfaction within the dialogue of ideas and sharing of concepts.

I believe for this reason the feedback sections in Substack publications are such a promoting level for writers and readers alike. And since Substack is a platform folks gravitate to for particular intentions, relatively than a big public medium like social media, the discourse is far more forgiving and considerate.

It’s a spot the place you possibly can voice your reflections with out worry of societal disgrace and cheer on beloved writers instantly, as you possibly can see under in a feedback thread on one among Alison Roman’s Substack posts of readers congratulating her on opening a grocery retailer in upstate New York.

Karen Cherry wrote, “In your Substack publication to achieve success, you have to have one thing of worth to supply your subscribers.”

Cherry goes on to record 5 niches you possibly can align with, that are instructional (educating abilities), informational (educating info), leisure (offering humor, nostalgia, or pleasure), time-saving (bringing every little thing they want into one place), or money-making (sharing suggestions for investing or companies).

You possibly can choose any matter you want, as long as it constantly delivers on one of many above targets. This could additionally show you how to uncover why you’re beginning a Substack, what you hope it does for readers, the way it will evaluate to different publications, and the way it may help you make cash.

Take former NBA participant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who has since began a Substack. He informed CBS Information, “There are occasions while you don‘t have any selection however to talk the reality…I’m at this level in my life, and that is precisely what I’ve to do.”

Whereas not all writing must really feel fairly as revolutionary, it’s an vital message that what you write about on Substack must be one thing you get pleasure from, recognize, and discover vital.

2. Publish usually and persistently.

Summer time Brennan wrote, “Somebody [told me] it wasn’t honest to those that didn’t have the bandwidth to publish fairly often to should compete with extra established writers. They thought they need to be given some form of leg up by the platform, so they may obtain the identical consideration and progress.

Whereas I can actually relate to the frustration… the fact is that if you wish to construct a readership, you do should publish.”

Reaching success as a author on Substack whereas not an already-famed author means it’s possible you’ll want to attain some type of virality or no less than sturdy shareability to develop your subscriber base. The extra usually you publish, the extra seemingly you’re to put up one thing that resonates and will increase your recognition.

If you happen to put up one thing that goes “viral” — be warned that virality might look a lot smaller on Substack than on X — sustain the momentum. Experience the coattails of that widespread put up and use it as a chance to encourage readers to maintain tuning in for extra of the identical.

If you’re making an attempt to provide a excessive quantity of posts and struggling to give you progressive codecs and types, try our full assortment of content material creation templates that may be utilized to all types of content material.

3. Join and construct relationships with different content material creators.

Being a author can usually really feel like a lonely, unbiased job. It’s one thing you do daily by your self, and also you don’t sometimes obtain stay suggestions. However with Substack, you possibly can join with a large ecosystem of writers and readers.

Subscribing to different Substacks is crucial for a author. It reveals your willingness to assist different folks in your trade, and studying their publications can shed some mild on totally different finest practices and show you how to play with type, size, and codecs to draw new, wider audiences.

Commenting on and recommending different publications is an effective way to attach with and present your assist for different writers and construct your community, particularly in your early days. This may seemingly encourage these writers to take a look at your work and provide the similar badge of approval.

Substack is a welcoming place with room for everybody. Don’t deal with it like a contest — when your community grows, you develop with it, so broaden your community as a lot as potential.

4. Don’t take it too significantly.

I’m a author as a result of I like to put in writing (you possibly can learn extra about that in my inaugural Substack put up). I hope that anybody who writes finds some pleasure in it, even when it brings frustrations and worries. Generally, you simply want a spark of inspiration to modify up your writing and make it really feel contemporary.

Sophia Efthimiatou, the Head of Writer Relations at Substack, stated it finest:

“What is going to you write about? Who cares… You’ll suppose identified writers with massive audiences have it straightforward right here, however the strain to succeed is felt extra amongst them. The stakes are low in case you are by no means identified. There is no such thing as a viewers to lose, just one to achieve. And achieve you’ll.

Maybe while you begin your solely subscribers shall be your finest pal, your lonely neighbor, and your aunt—who can’t even learn English. After which, sooner or later, a fourth subscriber will roll in, a complete stranger. That individual shall be there simply to learn you.”

If you’re beginning a Substack primarily as a brand new technique of earnings, that’s after all severe and one thing to take significantly. However it’s very potential to be severe and enjoyable. Take some dangers and check out one thing new. You possibly can all the time strive once more after.

The vital factor is that your viewers will come and develop, particularly you probably have one thing to say and a real method of claiming it.

I didn’t anticipate to like Substack as a lot as I did. I actually see the imaginative and prescient and why it has greater than 20 million month-to-month lively subscribers.

There’s a broad breadth of content material to be consumed, from hilarious fictitious tales to arduous political information to journey suggestions for each nook of the world. There’s a place for each author and each form of writing, and an viewers to match.

I’ve by no means used a platform that was so seamless to put in writing a put up proper inside the platform. My debut Substack put up was one of many quickest items of writing I’ve ever written, and an enormous a part of that was how uncomplicated it was to make use of Substack.

It was additionally extraordinarily straightforward so as to add my family and friends as subscribers, preview and ship the e-mail publication of my put up, share it on social media, and even customise my Substack profile to make it really feel particular. I’ve used Mailchimp and WordPress, and neither is as easy to make use of or observe stats.

Whereas I created my Substack to check it for this weblog put up, I’ll completely proceed utilizing it to publish a few of my extra private and artistic writing (If you happen to really feel so inclined, I’d recognize a subscribe).

I encourage any writers and content material creators to present the platform an opportunity; it will probably carry your audiences from blogs, social media, or different locations to a way more collaborative, accepting surroundings.