Making Substack Your Own
Whatever you want it to be
A Note by made me curious about how other people make their own Substacks.
I came to Substack in September, 2024 and hadn’t even heard of it prior to downloading the app. I only joined the fray to check out
written by Sharon McMahon. I quickly appreciated the efforts of many writers on the platform, and noticed how differently Substack felt in attitude, design and content compared to other social media/writing communities. And the beauty of no ads. Seriously, no ads.
It took a bit to navigate my way around and my first actual interaction developed from a helpful workshop presented by
and on creating Notes. Not long after that, Notes became a part of my day.I began to notice that people’s perceptions of Substack and its applications seriously varied among users, including
Artists, photographers and other creatives
Writers of all types
PR and marketing
Educators, coaches and gurus
Social media influencers
Book Reviewers
Activists and political commentators
Humorists
Historians
Just about anyone else.
Being an exceptionally curious person and relationship builder (social introvert), I explored all those different types of contributors. After becoming exhausted with Instagram, I do have to admit that I generally avoid influencers and anyone whose main goal is collecting followers. Otherwise, I dove in and had a great time getting to know the fascinating folks on Substack. I enjoyed a scone and cup of coffee while I perused the many creatives represented by their Notes, newsletters and comments. My paid subscriptions alone represent almost every previously mentioned type of contributor. (To read more about my sundry paid and free subscriptions, I wrote about them here.)
Then I saw the following Note:
My first thought was “Well, that’s not true.” and then, as I often do, I backed off from being offended for my fellow writers, and I reread the Note which was actually a call to action for Substackers to consider the marketing strength of the platform. I even ended up leaving a comment about the many tools available on Substack.
I think the beauty of Substack is that with all the tools offered, you can make it what you want. You won’t get rich from $5 subscribers, but not everyone is in here to get rich. And if you are desiring to create wealth, then there are ways to do that as well. It’s all about who you connect with and your goals. Just make it your own.
Funny enough, that Note actually motivated me to write this article. Thanks
!Why are you here?
Determining why you’re even here will prevent you from roaming around and wasting time. Unless, of course, you’re here to just explore and have fun.
Are you seeking an audience for your serial fiction? Hoping to encourage people to join in your cause or organization? Maybe you want to share your art, teach others to write and create, or just make the world a better place with your humor. Maybe you have a passion to share: history, fitness, culinary arts, etc. Is your voice loud and bold as a political activist? Are you desiring to help others promote themselves and their work?
Whatever your reason, understanding why you’re here makes it easier to determine how to design your Substack and which tools will help you reach your goals.
Is income a factor?
Ways to earn, how much you can earn and how to get people to financially support you are huge topics on this platform. Yet, it wouldn’t be correct to assume that everyone on Substack came for the income.
If money is a motivating factor for you out of necessity or desire, then you’ll want to approach your Substack from a paid perspective. You might want to explore some of the many contributors who write about how to earn a living on the platform. Again, I refer you to
and . But just scrolling through Notes, you’ll find an abundance of contributors who focus on the fiscal opportunities available here. Just be cautious as there are definitely “too good to be true” and “get rich quick” marketing schemes that show up. I’ve read a couple, purely out of curiosity, and quickly realized they weren’t for me.How do your gifts line up with the Substack tools?
Every tool offered on the platform may not be for you.
There are writers who only write long form. Some of them also produce Notes. I read the description of one Substack yesterday stating the contributor only reads and comments on Notes. If interested, you can read a light hearted article I wrote about making that my new career.
If you’re primarily the author of a serial novel, you may only feel comfortable with the long form and maybe doing an audio version of each chapter. Of course, if you plan on selling your novel, delving into Notes and maybe even live videos or a podcast could be helpful for marketing.
If you’re a coach or teacher, utilizing live videos provides excellent opportunities for demonstrating your subject matter. Even if you’re not a writer, Notes are helpful for getting the word out about what you’re offering.
I listened to someone on a podcast recently who noted that he felt uncomfortable with his appearance and the sound of his own voice. He did great, but if you don’t enjoy being on video, there are definitely other ways to get your message across.
Everything - but maybe not all at once
If you aren’t already comfortable with writing, audio, video and podcasting, I’d recommend starting where you are comfortable and then adding different options as you move forward. It could be stressful to jump in with all of it before you’re ready. Or maybe you’re one of those brave souls that loves to jump in and mix it up as an immersive experience.
The convenience of having all the tools at your fingertips makes learning how to use them and utilizing them regularly so much easier.
You don’t have to make audio and videos somewhere else and import them. But if you want to, you can do that too.
You can set up a podcast and invite others into your world without a bunch of hassle. (If you’re looking for some guidance in setting up a podcast, I’d suggest checking out
or - both offer some easy to use videos on the subject.)You can write your memoir or that novel that’s been floating around in your head for a decade.
You can create a newsletter for a specific group of readers.
You can get the word out about everything you’re doing by posting on Notes.
And that’s the brilliance of Substack. You have it all right here.
Your Substack is your own. You can make it anything you can imagine. So what will you do with it today? I can’t wait to find out!
Curiously yours,
thank you! ❤️
Thanks so much Beth!
I like to write like I used to back when public journals were more prevalent. I’m just happily writing because it makes me feel good and then I get personal messages that so,etching I said was relatable to them. That’s a plus. I do like the vibe of Substack so far. It has substance.