Supercharge Your Substack: Harnessing Blogging for Growth
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The Power of Blogging for Substack Growth
This chapter explores how integrating blogging into your strategy can enhance your Substack newsletters. Blogging has proven to be an effective tool for growth, especially in the last year as I intensified my focus on Substack. Initially, my subscriber count grew slowly, limited by my use of Substack's built-in discovery features. However, by actively blogging about my Substack content and sharing it through email, I experienced substantial growth in my publications.
While I’ve always recognized the importance of blogging, I wish I had acknowledged its specific benefits for Substack sooner. Since I began sharing my Substack posts on my website and contributing guest blogs, the growth of my three Substack publications has been remarkable. I manage multiple blogs, contribute to others, and invite guest bloggers to my own site, which further amplifies my reach.
As I’ve previously mentioned, I view Substack as just another platform. It cannot replace a dedicated website, as its future is uncertain; changes in rules or even the closure of the platform are possibilities. Although blogging is feasible on Substack, it lacks the robust capabilities found on dedicated blogging platforms.
Many writers have inquired whether Substack could serve as their primary blogging platform. If no other options are available, it can be used in that way. However, Substack is not optimized for blogging; it lacks vital features such as search engine optimization (SEO) and customizable discovery options. In my experience, Substack blogs are not easily discoverable on search engines.
Nonetheless, Substack presents itself as a blogging service that includes email subscription features, indicating that the company is likely to invest further in enhancing this aspect, supporting creators in innovative ways. My ongoing research into various blogging platforms has provided valuable insights for my clients, students, and mentees. The landscape of blogging platforms is ever-evolving, with some gaining traction while others fade away. Choosing the right platform is a crucial step in any content marketing strategy.
For instance, Forbes highlights the top seven blogging platforms for 2024: WordPress, Wix, Weebly, Drupal, Squarespace, CMS Hub, and Medium. Medium, which I frequently use, is free and open to the public for blogging, offering a partner program for monetization.
My experience with WordPress for hosting my site and Medium as a secondary platform over the past five years has been overwhelmingly positive. WordPress.com offers various tools, such as Jetpack, Pressable, WooCommerce Marketplace, Akismet, SenseiLMS, and WPJobManager, which have contributed to my website's growth.
Both WordPress and Medium have proven effective for bloggers and freelance writers alike. These platforms boast a domain authority of 95, and several of my posts have gained substantial visibility, with some even going viral. By combining WordPress with Medium, I have developed a successful content distribution and marketing strategy. These platforms collectively possess nearly a billion backlinks, which I will discuss further in another article focused on the importance of linking for SEO. Incorporating Substack into this mix could be transformative for freelance writers.
Why Blogging is Essential for Substack Success
You may wonder how blogging on your own site or guest blogging can enhance your Substack's growth. I will elucidate the significance of blogging for your Substack success, provide best practices for maximizing growth, and highlight potential pitfalls to avoid.
Think of Substack as a road trip and blogging as flying: both allow you to reach a wider audience, but blogging can accelerate your journey when promoting your content. Substack has a built-in boost feature for visibility, but if you aim to expand your reach and grow your audience, blogging is an invaluable asset. This is why I’ve incorporated guest blogging as a supplementary service for my writing community—it’s the quickest way to amplify your content.
Let’s delve into the various ways blogging can benefit your Substack newsletters, drawing from my personal experiences and observations of successful bloggers.
Video Title: Chapter 23: Building a Freelancing Agency | Six-Figure Freelance Writer [Audiobook]
Blogging has a rich history and serves as a formidable tool for freelance writers seeking to thrive on Substack. Blogging platforms empower writers to cultivate an audience, convert readers into paying subscribers, and monetize their content in diverse ways.
From my experience, whether you blog on your own site or contribute guest posts elsewhere, it can greatly enhance the growth of your Substack newsletter. Here are compelling reasons to adopt this strategy:
- Increased Online Visibility: Regularly posting on your blog enhances your online presence, as search engines favor blog content.
- Direct Subscription Opportunities: Readers visiting your blog can discover your Substack newsletter through clear calls to action, prompting direct subscriptions.
- Exposure to New Audiences: Guest blogging on high-traffic sites relevant to your niche introduces your content to fresh audiences, allowing for links to your Substack in author bios or within the articles.
- SEO Benefits: Understanding the basics of search engine optimization is crucial. I will delve into SEO in a future chapter, but for now, know that consistently publishing keyword-rich content can improve your domain authority and organic traffic.
- Building Authority: Blogging helps establish you as a credible authority in your niche. Readers who find value in your posts are more likely to subscribe to your Substack for additional insights.
- Enhanced Credibility Through Guest Blogging: Being featured on reputable platforms bolsters your credibility, leading to increased trust and subscriptions to your newsletters.
- Content Diversification: Repurposing content from your blog or guest posts can provide deeper insights for your Substack, keeping it fresh and engaging.
- Cross-Promotion Opportunities: Guest blogging can offer chances for promoting your Substack directly and inviting readers to access exclusive content.
- Engaging with Your Audience: Interaction with blog readers can foster community and encourage newsletter subscriptions.
- Paid Subscriber Growth: Driving traffic from your blog to your Substack can increase the likelihood of building a paid subscriber base.
- Networking Opportunities: Collaborations from guest blogging can introduce you to new readers and subscribers through word-of-mouth.
- Content Testing: Blogging provides a platform to test topics and formats, refining them based on audience feedback for your Substack.
- Monetization Options: You can monetize your blog in various ways while using Substack as an additional income stream.
By weaving blogging into your content strategy, you can create a robust online presence that directs interested readers to your Substack, enhancing both readership and engagement.
Understanding Substack vs. WordPress
Many of my clients and students have asked about the differences between Substack and WordPress. To illustrate this, I like to use an analogy.
Substack is akin to a restaurant with a unique menu—its offerings are specific to the brand, and if you leave, you can’t take your “menu” (content features) with you. However, if the restaurant changes its offerings, you may need to adapt.
In contrast, WordPress is like an oven used by numerous restaurants. If one establishment closes, you can still operate elsewhere with the same technology, as WordPress is a widely utilized platform.
Getting Started with Blogging: A Beginner's Guide
For those new to blogging, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to establishing a website and starting a blog to promote your Substack newsletters. This advice stems from my experience with WordPress, a top choice for bloggers.
- Choose a Blogging Platform: Select an easy-to-use platform. WordPress is recommended for its flexibility, while Wix is user-friendly for beginners.
- Register a Domain Name: Choose a domain that reflects your brand. WordPress often offers a free domain for the first year, but alternatives like Namecheap are also viable.
- Sign Up for Web Hosting: If using WordPress.org, find a hosting provider (like Bluehost or SiteGround). Platforms like WordPress.com or Wix include hosting.
- Set Up Your Website: Install WordPress on your hosting service. Choose a responsive theme that aligns with your blog's aesthetics.
- Add Essential Pages: Create key pages, including your homepage, about page, contact page, and a newsletter signup page for your Substack.
- Install Essential Plugins (for WordPress): Consider plugins like Yoast SEO for optimization and WPForms for creating signup forms.
- Integrate Your Substack: Embed your Substack newsletter signup form on your website, making it easy for visitors to subscribe.
- Write and Promote Your First Blog Post: Start with a post introducing your newsletter's value, keeping it conversational and linking to your Substack.
- Maintain Consistency: Regular blogging and integrating your Substack on your site will enhance audience engagement.
Next Steps for Growth
As you refine your blogging skills, employ effective calls to action, email segmentation, and testimonials to convert free readers into paying subscribers. Monitor your analytics to understand what strategies yield results and adjust your approach accordingly.
By mastering blogging for Substack with consistent, high-value content and strategic conversion tactics, you can cultivate a sustainable income stream as a freelance writer.
Thank you for exploring my insights. I wish you success and fulfillment in your writing journey.
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