So You Just Started a Substack

A couple of suggestions to help you get started, that aren't in the manual...

Substack now lets you generate your own art - Prompt: cartoon robot typing on a keyboard

your own artificial intelligence art creator

The Most Important Email is Your Welcome Email

💌 Which Email Message has the Highest Open Rate of All? + 10 Ways to Optimize it.

Dashboard > Settings > Welcome email > edit

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Change the default opt out message

Change “No thanks” to something more friendly and inviting

Change the message that first time visitors see when they first arrive at your front page and just want to read your posts before subscribing. Unfortunately, the default is “No thanks”. What’s that mean? It’s kind of harsh. Change it to say something more friendly and inviting.

Instead of “No thanks”, try “Let me read a bit”, “Free Trial”, “I’d like to look around first”.
I use “Check it out - Free”

Dashboard > Settings > Opt out message on the welcome page

If your content is what they are looking for, then they will subscribe after reading an article or two.

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My Home Layout Settings

Go to Dashboard > Settings > Website > Site Design > Customize > Edit Theme

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Single Space

As you’re typing, Substack may put a space before the next line. Just CTRL+Enter or Shift+Enter

Back Up

Occasionally you should back up your posts. You don’t want to be “Deplatformed”. Make your Newsletters UnDeplatformable -

📑Make your Newsletters UNdeplatformable in 2023

Back up your subscriber email list periodically: Go to your Dashboard > Subscribers > All subscribers > Export.

SEO

SEO = Search Engine Optimization. Before you publish your post, in the Settings button > Post Options > SEO
Be sure to fill these 2 fields out to optimize for search engines.

Here is more that you can do to optimize for SEO, free and easily, as you write your posts:

StackHacks - 6 Steps for More SubStack Subscribers with SEO for 2023

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Buttons

StackHacks - Customize Call To Action Buttons in SubStack - Wording and Color for 2023

Get New Subscribers

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So there you have a few things you can do when you set up your Substack newsletter. Feel free to check out some of these helpful articles: https://pau1.substack.com/s/getting-deeper-into-marketing/archive?sort=top

I have outlined some ways to optimize and market your newsletter as well as adding some writing tips. Enjoy your Substack journey. And be sure to participate in Notes, and Chats.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I may be able to help!