Substack has exploded as a result of it offers folks one thing we’ve all been craving: an area to write down that truly feels alive.
You publish one thing, and as a substitute of tossing it into the void, it will get seen, shared, really helpful, and talked about.
You join with individuals who by no means would have stumbled onto your web site, and also you do it with out chasing algorithms or hoping your weblog magically resurfaces from its digital basement.
For a lot of writers, Substack feels just like the return of old-fashioned running a blog power. Extra dialog. Extra connection. Extra visibility that doesn’t require website positioning wizardry or a Pinterest technique.
It additionally appears like writing {a magazine} column on your little nook of the web, which makes it enjoyable in a approach a conventional weblog typically isn’t.
And sure, Substack is technically a e-newsletter platform. But it surely doesn’t really feel like the normal “weekly e mail blast” expertise most individuals image. It features extra like a hybrid: half e-newsletter, half weblog, half social platform. That mix is strictly what makes it really feel contemporary and discoverable in a approach e mail hasn’t felt in a very long time.
It’s no shock that folks begin questioning whether or not they even want a weblog anymore. Substack feels quicker, extra enjoyable, and extra related. However your weblog nonetheless performs a job Substack can’t substitute, particularly once you’re constructing long run visibility for your online business.
Substack helps you discover new readers in a approach blogs hardly ever do now
Most blogs as we speak will not be being casually found. Search is aggressive. Social attain is inconsistent. And until you have already got sturdy website positioning or constant Pinterest visitors (which I train!), your posts can really feel buried.
Substack solves this. It’s a writing platform and a social platform in a single. Notes, suggestions, shared posts, and in-app discovery make it potential on your writing to seek out individuals who have by no means heard your identify earlier than. And it feels refreshing as a result of you may publish one thing at 9 AM and get considerate feedback and new subscribers by midday.
Folks uncover you as a result of they learn your work, not since you optimized it completely. That’s what makes Substack really feel alive.
Blogs aren’t useless however they’ve developed
Running a blog as we speak isn’t the lifestyle-blog period of 2012. You’re not posting diary entries and hoping somebody stumbles upon them. Trendy running a blog is strategic, search centered, and constructed to help your authority.
It’s the place you may create depth. It’s the place you share your most evergreen concepts. And it’s the platform that continues working for you lengthy after the preliminary publish date. It’s the place you funnel folks into your e mail checklist, and seize consideration by means of platforms like Pinterest.
Your weblog helps new readers discover you for years, not simply as we speak
Substack discovery occurs within the second. It’s human pushed, group pushed, and interplay pushed. It’s precious and significant, but it surely’s additionally brief time period.
Your weblog performs the long run visibility sport. A nicely written put up can herald readers for 3 years as a result of somebody looked for assistance on a subject. Pinterest can push your content material to the appropriate folks repeatedly. Your website builds topical authority, and your content material will get stronger with time.
Each timelines matter, however they aren’t interchangeable.
Substack offers you connection. Your weblog offers you possession.
Substack completely boosts your visibility, but it surely doesn’t offer you possession.
Your weblog is your digital house. You management the design, the construction, the content material, the metadata, the website positioning, the analytics, and the way forward for it. If Substack ever pivots, modifications course, or updates its options, your weblog stays precisely the place it’s.
This possession additionally impacts long run development. Posts you write as we speak in your weblog can proceed to assist folks months or years from now. Weblog visibility compounds. Substack visibility spreads by means of dialog.
Each are precious. They only serve completely different functions.
Substack will not be constructed for intentional website positioning development
Substack posts can get listed, however indexing will not be the identical as rating. The platform isn’t structured for website positioning efficiency. There’s restricted management over formatting and metadata, and search engines like google and yahoo prioritize websites with clear structure.
That doesn’t make Substack much less helpful. It simply means its energy comes from group, sharing, and cultural relevancy moderately than search.
Blogs construct visibility by means of evergreen worth.
Substack builds visibility by means of human connection.
You don’t want twice the concepts. You solely must divide the roles.
To make each platforms doable, give each a job.
Your weblog will get the evergreen concepts, the tutorials, the tutorial content material, and the strategic posts designed to help your online business.
Your Substack will get the voice. The reflections. The cultural observations. The private writing that feels meant for the current second. The readability that hits you whilst you’re strolling the canine or speaking to a buddy.
When every platform has a transparent function, the strain lifts.
How you can repurpose between your weblog and Substack with out hurting your website positioning
Repurposing will not be solely allowed. It’s good.
In case you write one thing in your weblog that you just need to flip right into a Substack put up later, you may completely try this. The one factor to bear in mind is that it’s best to add a canonical hyperlink so search engines like google and yahoo perceive which model to prioritize (your weblog). It’s a tiny, behind the scenes step. Most platforms make it simple. And it retains your website wholesome whereas nonetheless letting you reuse your finest concepts.
Repurposing additionally doesn’t imply copying and pasting. The Substack model may be extra reflective and well timed. The weblog model may be extra structured and evergreen.
Each can come from the identical concept and serve completely completely different functions.
This retains your workload lifelike and helps each platforms keep lively with out draining you.
What to placed on Substack
Your Substack is your house for:
- Cultural commentary
- Private reflections
- Opinions, ideas, observations
- Behind the scenes updates
- Within the second readability
- Essays that really feel alive and conversational
- Repurposed newsletters
It’s the place the place you get to speak about what you’re noticing in actual time, and why it issues.
What to place in your weblog
Your weblog is your house for:
- Instructional posts
- Case research
- Evergreen sources
- Service supporting content material
- Deep dives
- Tutorials
- website positioning pleasant articles
It’s the place that helps your affords and helps new readers determine what you’re nice at.
You don’t have to decide on between Substack and running a blog
Substack brings group, dialog, and cultural relevancy again into on-line writing. It helps folks discover you. It helps you keep linked to what’s occurring now. And it creates an energizing place to share your concepts with out overthinking.
Your weblog helps your long run visibility, your authority, your online business, and your possession of your content material. It homes your finest concepts in a approach that lasts.
You don’t have to decide on between the 2. You simply want to grasp what each is supposed to do.
In case you’re rebuilding your content material technique this 12 months and need help creating long run content material, considerate Substack essays, or a strategic e-newsletter rhythm, my company will help you write each your weblog and your Substack so that they work collectively as a substitute of competing on your power.
—
Wish to comply with our Substack? Come discover our unique articles on Notes from the Aim Line.
Discussion about this post