How to Build a Newsletter with Substack

What is Substack? Substack is a free interactive digital content delivery service that allows writers to send out newsletters, chat with subscribers, create social media opportunities (such as Notes and live video), distribute podcasts, and provide an app experience for readers.

Recommended Reading: What Actually is a Substack by Simon K. Jones

Setting Up Your Substack. Three questions you should answer before you start your Substack:

• What is the name?
• What is the purpose?
• How much time/energy am I willing to commit?

Substack has a step-by-step guide for setting up your Substack for the first time here:

Setting up your Substack for the first time

Substack’s tools are designed so writers, podcasters, and video creators can do their best work, supported by their subscribers—whether that’s exploring a creative side project or building an independent media business.

On Substack

Recommended Reading: The Hidden Substack Features that 99% of Writers Don't Use by Wes Pearce

Crafting Engaging Content. The type of content you create depends whole-heartedly on the purpose of your Substack. No matter what you want your Substack to do, to gain traction and readers, you’ll need to:

• Post consistently (at least once a week).
• Engage with your audience (Notes, Chat, Live Video).
• Make friends with other Substackers.

Building a Subscriber Base. Posting consistently, engaging with your audience, and making friends with other Substackers will be the foundation of your subscriber base. Let your readership grow organically because the readers who choose you for your content will usually stick with you.

Recommended Reading: What to Do When Your Substack Isn't Growing (At All) by Matt Giaro

Monetizing Your Newsletter. Getting readers to pay for your content means having content that’s worthwhile for them. This is a more difficult sell for fiction writers. Getting a reader to commit to $5/month or XX/year for just one writer's fiction is a hard sell.

Getting subscriptions relies on your purpose, your consistency, and your Substack’s importance to your readers. Building subscriptions is often slow-going. Substack offers metrics to show you which content is the most popular, which allows you to create more content based on what engages your audience.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Average Paid Subscriber Conversion Rate on Substack? by Casandra Campbell

Join Michele’s Discord and Get Exclusive Access to the Substacker Channel. When you use the free invite link, post in welcome-and-rules and let me know you want the Substacker role.

https://discord.com/invite/tEY4Y3RJyP