Start Here: The Simple Path to Building Your Substack
A directory of free posts and paid workshops to help guide a new Substack user
If you don’t know where to start on Substack, or you find yourself overwhelmed with all the settings and decisions to make, this is a simple path you can follow.
You don’t need to do everything at once. In fact, this process works much better when spread out over time. Start with your foundations, then begin writing. Once you have some consistency, you can move into structure, discoverability, and growth.
Before you start
If you’re still getting familiar with how Substack works, these will help you get your bearings:
Lost on Substack? Find your way through homepages and settings.
Foundations
Start by setting up the core elements of your publication. These are the pieces that help your Substack feel complete and trustworthy to new readers.
Create your profile, and start your publication setup: Profiles and Publications.
Get your Publication Essentials in place
Start Writing
The next step is to begin writing.
Growth and structure both depend on having content in place first, so don’t wait until everything feels ready. Write your first post and send it out. Then write a few more before coming back to refine anything else.
If you’re unsure how often to publish, or whether to turn on payments right away, these will help:
Structure
Once you’ve written several articles, you’ll start to get comfortable with your workflow and publishing rhythm.
At that point, it’s worth stepping back and organizing your content so readers can easily find their way through it.
Designing Your Substack Structure Workshop (available for purchase)
Discoverability and Growth
Once you have content and structure in place, the next step is helping people find you, and giving them a reason to subscribe.
Substack Notes is one of the most effective tools for this. It allows you to connect, interact, and increase visibility within the platform.
Understanding Substack Notes Workshop (available for purchase)
Growth with Substack Notes Workshop (available for purchase)
You don’t have to master all of Substack at once.
Start with a strong foundation, begin writing, and build from there. Each stage will make the next one easier.
If you’d like more ongoing support, paid membership gives you access to Tuesday Post-It Notes & Chat Q&A, monthly Zoom help, included workshops, and 15% off small-group cohorts.
It’s designed for writers who want reliable guidance as they build on Substack without jumping straight into one-to-one coaching.
A beautiful roadmap! It gives beginners permission to be imperfect. Too many people abandon good ideas because they think they need to look established before they have had time to become established. Thank you!