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

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

It’s exhausting as a content material creator to attempt to sustain with the newest developments and time-consuming to learn to use fully 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 grow to be a preferred house for everybody from famed, skilled authors to younger 20-somethings on the lookout for a spot to air their grievances.

It’s the proper 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 ideas and finest practices for writers and readers alike.

Desk of Contents

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

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

As a author, I wrestle to know the place I ought to share my writing. I might stick with social media and publish content material on X, however this limits my viewers to followers and related thinkers.

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

The fantastic 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 any case, Substack solely makes cash should you do.

Substack is well-liked 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 rivals like WordPress as a result of it lets writers arrange podcasts, add movies, and construct a constant viewers.

One thing that units Substack other than different content material creation platforms is the prospect to attach authentically together with your viewers. George Saunders talked about in an Esquire article, “With Substack, I’m speaking to the identical individuals virtually day by day, each week. It’s given me a deeper expertise of my readers.”

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

In response to 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 yr.

Whilst you could 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 power to publish and simply ship e mail newsletters of your work through Substack is a big plus, because it helps you attain audiences that might not be on Substack.

Electronic mail newsletters could be difficult to handle and ideal, so you possibly can consult with our information to e mail newsletters to make sure you apply the most effective ideas and tips to 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, reminiscent of pay-walling your posts however utilizing the free preview software 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. Should you toggle to the tab “Settings” you possibly can replace your publication identify, web site design, about web page, brand, branding, and way more.

3. Create your first publish(s).

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

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

Should you resolve to go the paid route, you may 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. Check and publish your publish.

When you’ve completed your publish, you possibly can preview how the publish will look in varied codecs: cellular versus desktop, internet versus e mail, and free versus paid subscribers.

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

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

After you’ve examined, you possibly can lastly publish your publish! Substack will deliver you to the under display screen, the place you may have the choice to share your publish to many platforms, reminiscent of Instagram or LinkedIn, or copy the hyperlink should you’d favor to distribute it your self.

Substack creates free pictures you possibly can obtain and share on Instagram Tales or in-feed to advertise your publish. It’s one other instance of how Substack can supply a lot to content material creators without spending a dime that helps you promote your work.

I shared my publish to my Instagram Story after which checked my e mail the place I acquired my printed publish as an e mail publication.

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

5. Maintain 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 publish and the way these readers discovered it (outlined under), my e mail open price, information on my subscribers, and extra.

As essential as our freedom of thought is, it’s equally as essential to make sure persons are really discovering and studying our ideas. Substack provides 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 may as well edit and create a New Reader Survey which can assist you get extra demographic details about your readers. This additionally allows you to perceive your target market and may encourage you to provide content material that may be most interesting to these audiences.

For example, if I noticed most of my readers had been based mostly within the U.S. and aged 18-24, I might analysis what present American faculty college students are most concerned with, 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 should utilize to find different content material. Whereas this function is very useful for readers, it’s a good way for writers to seek out different sturdy or related writers.

When you discover a author you’re feeling obsessed with, 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. Under, you possibly can see that I’ve beneficial my buddy Ginny King’s Substack.

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

Hetty Lui McKinnon is one in all my favourite New York Occasions Cooking recipe builders and cookbook authors, so I shortly discovered and subscribed to her Substack.

You may repeat this course of for no matter writers you desire to, and it’s a easy strategy to educate the platform on the sorts of publications you’d be concerned with.

Professional tip: Wait to grow to be a paid subscriber to any accounts except you’re already a die-hard fan. Many writers could have a free subscription choice, even when it limits the content material you possibly can entry, and it could actually show you how to get a way of their Substack earlier than you totally decide to paying.

Whereas I’d like to financially help each author, I need to ensure that I decide and select the publications that the majority converse to me earlier than placing down my bank card.

3. Discover related new writers.

When you’ve subscribed to some already-known writers, chances are you’ll need to discover new writers who poke your fancy. That is the place you should utilize the Discover function once more.

Right here, you possibly can browse below the For You tab, which incorporates publications that Substack thinks will align together with your pursuits. In any other case, you possibly can look by Workers 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 may have made a Substack to learn extra a couple of specific topic. I’m concerned with spicing up my dwelling 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 facet, the place you possibly can view a number of the high publications inside that matter. It’s a fast and straightforward strategy 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 a substitute of the desktop interface, should you’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 prompt publications on the app and subscribe to those you favor. You’ll get an e 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 favor to obtain push notifications from the app, so I turned off e mail notifications, however you may have the choice to maintain each.

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

5. Get entangled in the neighborhood.

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

I feel 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 individuals gravitate to for particular intentions, somewhat than a big public medium like social media, the discourse is way 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 immediately, as you possibly can see under in a feedback thread on one in all 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 listing 5 niches you possibly can align with, that are instructional (educating abilities), informational (educating info), leisure (offering humor, nostalgia, or pleasure), time-saving (bringing the whole lot they want into one place), or money-making (sharing ideas for investing or companies).

You may 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 can assist you earn cash.

Take former NBA participant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who has since began a Substack. He instructed CBS Information, “There are occasions while you don‘t have any alternative 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 essential message that what you write about on Substack needs to be one thing you take pleasure in, admire, and discover essential.

2. Publish usually and constantly.

Summer season Brennan wrote, “Somebody [told me] it wasn’t truthful 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 sort of leg up by the platform, so they might obtain the identical consideration and development.

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

Attaining success as a author on Substack whereas not an already-famed author means chances are you’ll want to attain some kind of virality or at the very least sturdy shareability to develop your subscriber base. The extra usually you publish, the extra probably you’re to publish one thing that resonates and will increase your recognition.

Should you publish one thing that goes “viral” — be warned that virality could look a lot smaller on Substack than on X — sustain the momentum. Trip the coattails of that well-liked publish and use it as a possibility 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 revolutionary 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 day by day 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 help different individuals in your trade, and studying their publications can shed some gentle on totally different finest practices and show you how to play with fashion, size, and codecs to draw new, wider audiences.

Commenting on and recommending different publications is a good way to attach with and present your help for different writers and construct your community, particularly in your early days. This may probably 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 increase your community as a lot as potential.

4. Don’t take it too significantly.

I’m a author as a result of I really like to jot down (you possibly can learn extra about that in my inaugural Substack publish). I hope that anybody who writes finds some pleasure in it, even when it brings frustrations and worries. Typically, 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, mentioned it finest:

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

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

If you’re beginning a Substack primarily as a brand new technique of revenue, that’s in fact severe and one thing to take significantly. However it’s very potential to be severe and enjoyable. Take some dangers and take a look at one thing new. You may all the time attempt once more after.

The essential factor is that your viewers will come and develop, particularly if in case you have one thing to say and a real approach 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 onerous political information to journey ideas for each nook of the world. There’s a place for each author and each sort of writing, and an viewers to match.

I’ve by no means used a platform that was so seamless to jot down a publish proper inside the platform. My debut Substack publish 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 publish, 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 publish, I’ll completely proceed utilizing it to publish a few of my extra private and inventive writing (Should you really feel so inclined, I’d admire a subscribe).

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