These thoughts and frequently asked questions have been compiled after working with several authors to set up Substack accounts. Please note: I am not a Substack expert. I have been getting my feet wet with this platform for just over three months at the time of this writing. I have not launched a paid newsletter, and I am sure I have blindspots yet to be discovered. I reserve the right to edit this post in the future as I continue to learn and as the platform evolves.
Part 1: My thoughts about Substack
Let me start with this: Substack is a platform for getting writing out into the world, not a social media tool. The content is different than on social and it should not be treated the same.
When I have a moment to myself to go on a platform, I find myself choosing to go to Substack to find out what the people I follow have to say, what I can learn from them, or have their writing add value to my life.
I choose Substack because it is where people are being real, authentic, and engaging with readers. It has a different vibe than doom scrolling through the never-ending self-promotion and sponsored ads in social media feeds.
Part 2: Is it right for you?
Think of Substack in two parts:
the user part—which is what you become when you create an account, and
the publication part—which is what one gets when we talk about “creating a Substack.”
➡ One can be a user on Substack without having a publication.
➡ One cannot have a publication on Substack without being a user.
I will refer to “user accounts” or “user” and “publications” for clarity when discussing the FAQs about this platform.
Who should create a user account?
People who would like to interact with writers on the platform through comments, likes, and notes. While I came to Substack through the book world, “writers” are in every field. I connect with writers who discuss climate change, education, wellness, nature, marketing, and more. The platform is not just for writers of books.
Writers who would like to create their own publication. (See next FAQ for more on this).
Writers who contribute to a shared publication who would like to have their byline linkable to a user profile where a reader could quickly see all that user’s writing (on the platform). For example the contributors to the
publication could each have a user account where their posts will automatically curate outside of the publication hosted by. One could create a user account for this purpose and then never use the platform again. I am not saying this is best practice, but it is possible.
Please remember, Substack is not just another social media platform, so please don’t join to use it like one.
Who should consider creating a publication?
Anyone who is already blogging/writing evergreen content and wants to put their content into a publication for greater discoverability through the Substack platform.
A writer who has been longing to start a blog but isn’t sure how to get it off the ground.
A writer who creates evergreen content for an email newsletter that disappears into cyberspace the moment the reader hits delete.
A writer looking for an easy, free way to manage a newsletter list. (Please note, the Substack subscriber tools do not allow automatic segmentation of your audience—like groups for those who opened a particular email, clicked on a particular link, or purchased a particular product. For these true email marketing functions, tools like Mailchimp, Constant contact, and Mailer Lite are what is needed. However, if all you want is a free way to send a newsletter with a simple subscriber list, this platform could work for you.)
Who should not create a publication?
Someone who hates to write.
A writer who doesn’t want to have one more thing to do.
A writer who already has a high traffic blog on another platform.
Part 3: I’ve joined. Now what?
First, congratulations. 🎉 Go find your community! You can comment, like, or share people’s posts or share your brief thoughts through notes. (Notes are not great for long posts like this. However you could share this post with your community through a note.)
Second, let’s take a look at a few options on the platform:
Choose Your Handle (optional)
By creating a user account, you can claim a handle. This handle will start with an ＠ symbol. If you have a standard handle you use on other platforms, I suggest making it the same for simplicity. This user account is about you, the person (not a publication).
Create Your Publication (optional)
Now that you have a user account, you can (but don’t have to) create publication. If you choose to have a publication, you will need to claim a subdomain (subdomain.substack.com) and also name your publication. Substack’s default suggestion will be“yourname.substack.com”. You don’t have to use your name. This URL will point readers to the publication address, not your user account.
Examples:
Dan Blank has the handle ＠danblank and writes the publication “The Creative Shift” at the URL: danblank.substack.com.
Jeff Nania has the handle ＠jeffnania and contributes to the publication “Feet Wet Writing” at the the URL feetwetwriting.substack.com.
Blackbird Writers has the handle ＠blackbirdwriters and hosts the publication “Blackbird Writers: Views from the Nest at the URL blackbirdwriters.substack.com to which 24 different writers contribute.
Choosing your publication URL
I don’t know the thought process behind Dan Blank’s URL, but it seems like he is the only writer under his publication, so it works. For Jeff, we chose Feet Wet Writing because A) it matches our publishing name, B) it is the name of our website, and C) I hope some day to write regular posts about publishing, so there are multiple voices under one unified publication.
Can you change your URL? Yes, but there are considerations to do so, and that is a topic for another time.
Does the name of my publication have to match the URL? No. Again, see examples above.
How do I change my publication name?
From your user account, click on your publication “Dashboard”
Click on your publication “Settings”
Click on “Basics” in the menu on the left side. Here you can set your publication name, write a description, and change your publication icon (see square logo at bottom):
What to share?
If you want people to connect with you as a user on Substack, share your handle.
If you want people to read a publication, share your publication URL.
I hope this quick overview was helpful! Please share your thoughts or wonderings about Substack in the comments!