These tweaks really work! A while ago I went through a number of prior posts to update the categories and tags, as well as add a description (by tapping that little gear icon on the bottom left). Lately I’ve been getting notices of readers liking my old posts. Who knew?!
Right? It's the little things, as they say. But in this case, these tiny tweaks can make a huge difference. Thanks for sharing, Linda, and hugs to Cowboy 🐶
Excellent question. You have 29 categories to choose from, so whatever fits best overall should be your first category. Here's the list:
Art & Illustration
Business
Climate & Environment
Comics
Crypto
Culture
Design
Education
Faith & Spirituality
Fashion & Beauty
Fiction
Finance
Food & Drink
Health & Wellness
Health Politics
History
Humor
International
Literature
Music
News
Parenting
Philosophy
Science
Sports
Technology
Travel
U.S. Politics
World Politics
There's still no dedicated “Writing,” “Publishing,” or “Marketing” category, which is why a lot of author-platform publications end up with combinations like:
Education + Literature (mine)
Business + Education
Literature + Culture
Good news: You can always update your two categories if you find you're not gaining traction.
I had my tags set up, and I have linked them to my areas on my dashboard, psychological resilience and economic resilience...I alternate weeks, but even though I have tagged my post about economic resilience as international, the ones that are tagged psychological resilience are also showing up under psychological resilience...I just reviewed, thanks, Rachel...
Great! So make sure your two publication categories match your tags as well (e.g., economic could work with Culture or Finance; psych, maybe Education?). Tough.
Right now, I'm not doing much to grow my Substack, but I think the day will come when I want to focus on that again. Then you will be my go-to Substack, Rachel. This is SO helpful! Question--do you have a post about tags? I don't think I even use them!
Hugs, Karen, thank you. Yes, I've written about tags, categories, and SEO in earlier posts in this series - here's a whole section on Substack Tips - look for the Substack Made Simple titles (this post is the fourth): https://badredheadmediallc.substack.com/s/substack-tips - I also link to the series at the top of the post!
Oh, great question - definitely laptop. There are many more settings options in the web app than on mobile. I'll add that to the post - thanks for the reminder, Lou!
Rachel - I also get a substantial percentage of my traffic from Facebook. But could you explain this comment: "For what it’s worth, 90% of the traffic to my publication comes from Facebook, where I share and boost my weekly posts ($1/day for a week, y’all)." You "boost" your posts? How?
Hi Gail, great question. Once you publish your post about your Substack, the option to ‘boost’ the post pops up. Click it, and it walks you through selecting your demographics and interests, budget, duration, etc. I think the minimum is $1/day.
I’ll message you a screenshot.
Also: You can go into the Pages ads module and create an ad there, skipping the above. I find boosts easier and just as effective.
Well, I feel I should report back! I tried the Boost Post button yesterday on Chapter 2 of my serial memoir. I was reckless and set the budget at $10 for a 5-day run. Already, in one day, 10 people have clicked over to read that post! And because at the bottom I've got buttons to Previous Chapter and Return to Chapter List, those are shooting up in engagement too! So far, so good.
I've just found a long list of you lessons sitting on my Chromebook, all lined up in a row. I now I can keep reading them now. I will look at your books--check them out. This is going to be very handy.
Correct - I always put Education and Literature tags on every post since those are my categories, but also what that specific post is about e.g., book marketing, writers, writing, etc.
This is SO helpful! Thank you so much!! :D
I'm so glad! Thank you. I'm learning so many little things that I created an entire Substack Tips section as well - all free.
I will definitely check it out! Thank you so much! This is such a great resource!
So welcome.
Trying a couple of these. Thank you.
Great! It's not terribly difficult, just takes a bit of patience and time.
Thank you for lots of helpful tips that are straightforward to implement. Only this morning I was checking and updating the SEO of posts.
Thank you, Robert! Great timing.
I update links in older posts a lot, as I mentioned, and add older posts to newer ones. It's a balance.
I never considered linking posts, which is another simple but effective idea. This could be my next visit to older posts.
I took my most popular post ever and added it to a bunch of older posts. Can’t hurt, right??
These tweaks really work! A while ago I went through a number of prior posts to update the categories and tags, as well as add a description (by tapping that little gear icon on the bottom left). Lately I’ve been getting notices of readers liking my old posts. Who knew?!
Right? It's the little things, as they say. But in this case, these tiny tweaks can make a huge difference. Thanks for sharing, Linda, and hugs to Cowboy 🐶
Going to give all these a go. Thank you!
Great! LMK how it goes, Jennifer.
Loved this. I think I might start using tags on my post and update my categories!
Thank you, Tucker. Yeah, tags are a definite must. I've played around with my categories but the only one I rank on consistently is Education.
What if you're writings are eclectic. I'm not really philosophy, nor am I home and garden, nor am I really art, although I am creative...
Excellent question. You have 29 categories to choose from, so whatever fits best overall should be your first category. Here's the list:
Art & Illustration
Business
Climate & Environment
Comics
Crypto
Culture
Design
Education
Faith & Spirituality
Fashion & Beauty
Fiction
Finance
Food & Drink
Health & Wellness
Health Politics
History
Humor
International
Literature
Music
News
Parenting
Philosophy
Science
Sports
Technology
Travel
U.S. Politics
World Politics
There's still no dedicated “Writing,” “Publishing,” or “Marketing” category, which is why a lot of author-platform publications end up with combinations like:
Education + Literature (mine)
Business + Education
Literature + Culture
Good news: You can always update your two categories if you find you're not gaining traction.
Thank you!
🙏
I had my tags set up, and I have linked them to my areas on my dashboard, psychological resilience and economic resilience...I alternate weeks, but even though I have tagged my post about economic resilience as international, the ones that are tagged psychological resilience are also showing up under psychological resilience...I just reviewed, thanks, Rachel...
Great! So make sure your two publication categories match your tags as well (e.g., economic could work with Culture or Finance; psych, maybe Education?). Tough.
Thanks for these tips. I’ll try updating and fixing my categories and see how that goes.
Great, Barbara! I'd love to know how it goes for you.
Right now, I'm not doing much to grow my Substack, but I think the day will come when I want to focus on that again. Then you will be my go-to Substack, Rachel. This is SO helpful! Question--do you have a post about tags? I don't think I even use them!
Hugs, Karen, thank you. Yes, I've written about tags, categories, and SEO in earlier posts in this series - here's a whole section on Substack Tips - look for the Substack Made Simple titles (this post is the fourth): https://badredheadmediallc.substack.com/s/substack-tips - I also link to the series at the top of the post!
Thank you so much, Rachel!
Thank you! I’ve saved this to read and implement when it’s not late at night.
Rach, are the actionable parts best done on my laptop, as opposed to phone, or does it not mater?
Oh, great question - definitely laptop. There are many more settings options in the web app than on mobile. I'll add that to the post - thanks for the reminder, Lou!
Awesome, thanks Rach. Please give Pip a chin scratch or head rub for me- whichever he prefers 😄
On it (and both).
You only rise on rising boards with paid subscriptions.
Thank you, Kelly! I never noticed that. Good to know.
Rachel - I also get a substantial percentage of my traffic from Facebook. But could you explain this comment: "For what it’s worth, 90% of the traffic to my publication comes from Facebook, where I share and boost my weekly posts ($1/day for a week, y’all)." You "boost" your posts? How?
Hi Gail, great question. Once you publish your post about your Substack, the option to ‘boost’ the post pops up. Click it, and it walks you through selecting your demographics and interests, budget, duration, etc. I think the minimum is $1/day.
I’ll message you a screenshot.
Also: You can go into the Pages ads module and create an ad there, skipping the above. I find boosts easier and just as effective.
Thanks, I’ll try it and see if it makes a difference.
Do you hook them on facebook with a partial read and have them come over to finish?
I write a one- or two-line summary of the post and drop the link. There’s an opportunity to do this at the end of every post.
Exactly, though sometimes I'll do longer than a one or two-line summary just to see how it does. I haven't found the winning combo yet.
Other times, a short summary is perfect, like when I shared my post about Pip's Tips - the photo is the star (of him, of course).
Yes. I give the title, attribution, link, a short snippet, appropriate hashtags, and post. Then I boost for $1/day for one week.
Well, I feel I should report back! I tried the Boost Post button yesterday on Chapter 2 of my serial memoir. I was reckless and set the budget at $10 for a 5-day run. Already, in one day, 10 people have clicked over to read that post! And because at the bottom I've got buttons to Previous Chapter and Return to Chapter List, those are shooting up in engagement too! So far, so good.
I've just found a long list of you lessons sitting on my Chromebook, all lined up in a row. I now I can keep reading them now. I will look at your books--check them out. This is going to be very handy.
Thank you, Judy! I'm putting together a book of Substack tips now. Glad it's helping you 🙏
When you say match your categories, do you mean that you tag your posts with #education #literature?
Correct - I always put Education and Literature tags on every post since those are my categories, but also what that specific post is about e.g., book marketing, writers, writing, etc.
Hrmm I have not been doing that… I guess I need to re tag a million posts 😂