How to Build a Newsletter with Substack
Michele Bardsley's Workshop Handout
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:
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. Let your readership grow organically because the readers who choose you for your content with 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 have 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 engaging, which allows you to create more content based on what engages your audience the most.
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.