Getting Started with Posting
To create a new post, go to "New Posts" in your dashboard. From the dropdown menu, you can choose from several post types:
Text post
Video post
Audio post
Notes post
Chat post (if enabled)
Live video (desktop only)
Creating and Styling Text Posts
Start by entering your title and subtitle (also called headline, sub-headline, or subhead). Begin typing your content in the main text area.
Text Formatting Options
The formatting toolbar includes:
Undo and redo buttons
Heading styles (Heading 1 through Heading 6)
Text styling: bold, italics, strikethrough
Limited coding functionality
Hyperlink insertion (add URL in the designated field)
Inserting Media: Images, Audio, and Video
Images
Single Image: Click "Add an image" to insert individual photos
Gallery: Add multiple images that display together
Captions and Alt Text: Include captions and alt text for accessibility (alt text helps visually impaired readers using voiceover)
Image Editing Options
Click on any image and select the three dots to:
Edit the image itself
Modify caption and alt text
Add watermarks
Adjust width (wide width or full width)
Delete the image
Resize using the hover bars
Audio Integration
Two audio options are available:
Voiceover: Appears at the top of your post
Audio Embed: Can be placed anywhere within your text
You can either upload an audio file or record directly on Substack.
Video Options
Embed videos within your post (different from video posts) by uploading files or recording directly on the platform.
Advanced Formatting Options
Quote Styles
Standard quotes
Block quotes
Pull quotes
List Formatting
Bullet points
Numbered lists
Indent and outdent options
Additional Features
Access more formatting tools under the "More" menu:
Code blocks
Dividers
Financial charts
Footnotes
LaTeX expressions
Paywalls
Poetry formatting
Polls
Engagement and Sharing Features
Interactive Buttons
Multiple engagement options are available:
Subscribe (with customizable captions)
Share your post (with optional captions)
Share your publication
Leave a comment
DM requests
Join the chat
Get the app
Custom buttons (customize text and insert URLs)
Substack-Specific Features
Refer a writer (encourage others to join Substack)
Special offers
Gift subscriptions
Group subscriptions
Survey links
Post Analytics and History
Track your post details including:
Character count
Word count
Sentence count
Estimated reading time
Speaking time
Draft history access
Post Settings and SEO
Audience Settings
Configure who receives your post:
Everyone
Paid subscribers only
Free subscribers only
Organization Tools
Sections: Categorize your content
Tags: Organize posts on your homepage (not hashtags)
Test emails: Send preview emails before publishing
SEO Optimization
Custom SEO title
SEO description
Post URL customization
Social preview image selection
Email Formatting
Custom email headers and footers
Banner images for posts
Audience-specific formatting options
A/B Testing
Test different approaches with your audience:
Title Testing: Send different titles to different subscriber groups
Performance Tracking: Monitor which versions get more views or opens
Finalizing and Publishing Your Post
Pre-Publication Checklist
Before publishing, review:
Audience selection (who receives the email)
Comment permissions (everyone, paid subscribers, or no one)
Section assignment
Tags for homepage organization
Social preview image
Publishing Options
Send via email: Delivers to subscribers' inboxes
Publish to web only: Available on your site but doesn't email subscribers
Schedule publishing: Set a specific time for release
Send immediately: Click "Send to everyone" when ready
Final Steps
Review all settings one final time
Choose your delivery method
Schedule or send immediately
Cancel if you need to make changes
Your post will then be live and accessible to your chosen audience according to your specified settings.
Timestamps
00:00 Getting Started with Posting
00:22 Creating and Styling Text Posts
00:54 Inserting Media: Images, Audio, and Video
02:03 Advanced Formatting Options
02:17 Engagement and Sharing Features
03:34 Post Settings and SEO
04:39 Finalizing and Publishing Your Post
Looking for more help? Or just to connect? As a paid member, you get access to the Substack Writers at Work community in the chat here.
And don’t forget to bookmark the Substack Writers at Work homepage, where you’ll find everything that’s part of your paid subscription.
» If you’re interested in step-by-step guidance to grow, you can find the full Substack Success Foundations Course here. The course isn’t part of the paid membership, as it’s a complete 4-session, self-paced course. Enroll and find out more here.
