The Complete Guide to Launching or Relaunching Your Substack in 2025
And how to use Notes to do it
Below, I take you through how to launch or relaunch your Substack.
It’s a way to introduce yourself on the platform (a Substack custom) and let people know about your Substack.
Below is my step-by-step guide for launching or relaunching on Substack.
6 Steps to Launching or Relaunching Your Substack
Step 1: Make sure you’re ready.
You should
know the DNA/core of your Substack,
have revised your About page,
have revised your short description and bio,
are sure about your title (at least for now).
Have a goal for the launch. It will keep you focused and focus everything you write: Paid subscribers, free subscribers, shares, book sales, etc.
Pick a date for your launch email (more below) and the first post after your relaunch (more below).
Step 2: If you’re launching for the first time and importing a list, send an email to notify them they’ll be hearing from you from a different email address
Something like: I have exciting news… (or something) On [date of the first post], [Name of newsletter] will look a little different. You’ll receive emails from this return address, so please add it to your contact: [your Substack email address]. More soon… [or some other sign-off]
Step 3: Customize your imported subscriber email
You’ll find this in Dashboard Settings under Emails.
A brief welcome telling them that they’re now a free subscriber to your Substack. Add something like: To stay, you don’t have to do anything. If you’d rather not, you can unsubscribe below. But stay! Your Substack’s short description and why what you’ll be doing on your Substack is exciting and how it will benefit them.
Include this:
Add [your Substack’s email address] to your contacts and respond to this email to avoid emails ending up in your junk/spam folder.
Sign-off.
Add a P.S. If you feel comfortable, ask them to do what you want: upgrade to paid, share, buy your book, etc. Include a button.
Step 4: Ready your other welcome emails
Customize your free/paid/founding welcome emails to be sure they reflect your new vision/Substack.
Step 5: Once you have everyone on your list, send a launch email
You want to send an email rather than a post to reach everyone.
Remember your goal: share, convert to paid, outside sales, etc. Most likely it’s growth (asking them to share) or income (asking them to upgrade).
This email needs to be short and the call to action (to share or upgrade) very clear.
If you want them to share about your Substack:
Subscribe and share buttons
Dear [reader],
You’re receiving this because you’re a [topic of your Substack, e.g. car lover, sailor, or interested in things you didn’t know fascinate you].
Define your Substack in one sentence—and why someone would want to subscribe. You can elaborate but only in a short sentence or two.
My goal is to grow my readership and get it to as many people as possible.
If you’re on Substack, please share about [name of your Substack]:
[Share Publication button (not Share this post)]
Or forward this email to someone you think would be interested.
Sign off.
Testimonials if you have them.
If you want them to upgrade:
Subscribe button
Dear [reader],
You’re receiving this because you’re a [topic of your Substack, e.g. car lover, sailor, or interested in things you didn’t know fascinate you].
Define your Substack in one sentence—and why someone would want to subscribe. You can elaborate but only in a short sentence or two.
Paid subscribers make my work possible. [or any short call to action asking them to upgrade]
[Subscribe button—this converts to an upgrade for paid subscribers]
Sign off.
Testimonials if you have them.
Step 6: Use Notes to get the word out
Notes is an incredible opportunity for growth.
Introduce yourself.
Share about your Substack. Some people feel like this is self-promotion, but you’re just letting us know you’re here and what your Substack is about. People have gotten a lot of subscribers doing this—one of my clients got 5000 subscribers from one Note. Another got 17,000.
Don’t link to your Substack. You don’t need to. Substack has a subscribe button on the Note.
Examples:
Post a Note looking for people who also publish on your topic or area.
Bonus step: Celebrate!
You’re amazing. You’ve found the core of your Substack and how your talents, expertise, and gifts can work on the platform. You’re here.
Perfect timing! I've been on a seven month hiatus and just opened Substack for the first time. I can't wait to get back to writing!
Wish I’d seen this before I relaunched my newsletter last month! Still some great tips in here, thank you!