Ready for a masterclass in Substack know-how?
I've got some serious insider knowledge to share. I had a fantastic chat with , a powerhouse in creative marketing and the current head of Lifestyle at Substack.
In our 27-minute talk, we cover all different strategies and explain how an emerging author can make the most of Substack.
One of the key takeaways?
Don't shy away from self-promotion. It's part of the game, folks.
Reach out to other writers, use the recommendations feature, and be an active part of the Substack community. And remember, growth takes time.
Start with what you can manage consistently, whether that's weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly posts. The goal is to build genuine connections with your readers, not to burn yourself out.
Key takeaways to elevate your Substack game:
Consistency and authenticity
Use audio and video content
Understand the community-building potential of chats and threads
Use the often-overlooked homepage links feature
Christina shared some stellar examples of Substacks doing it right, like Dear Life, Maggie Smith's poetry-focused newsletter.
Whether you're working on your first book or just starting to build your writing career, learning how to leverage these tools to connect with readers will cultivate your community.
So, take a deep breath, get excited, and let’s dive in.
If you want to skip to the highlights:
4:00: Cultivate Community
5:28: How people are using the chat feature
6:00 Using Notes as a social platform to grow your reach
7:25 Best practices for chats and threads
11:11 How The Squawk gossip site uses threads
12:00 Audio Features
13:52 Video Shows
16:30 Christina walks through some of her favorite Substack
21:32 Beginner basics and free vs. paid advice
22:30 The power of recommendations
26:00 Be an active part of the community and have fun!
Links Christina mentioned:
🔗 Substack Masterclass for Bloggers & Creators
🔗 Dry Down Dairies: Christina’s newest Substack
🔗 Julia Turshen: Keep Calm & Cook On
🔗 Kim France: Girls of a Certain Age
🔗 Nick Sharma: The Flavor Files
So, tell me below: Did this demystify a few things you’ve struggled with on Substack as an emerging writer? (Click like below to help more authors find this post.)
Substack 101: Christina Loff spills the tea on the art of the newsletter