Perhaps this works with very large IG accounts, as if they manage to transfer to Substack even just a percentage of their followers that still means a lot of views and possible readers/subscribers.
Trouble is that won't work if your IG is small. Instagram doesn't really like people driving traffic outside their platform (from IG to Substack, in this case), and I've noticed my views dropping dramatically ever since I started linking back to my Substack in my IG stories from my small account. A few days ago a reel by notjustanalytics about this very issue confirmed that, too... 🤷🏻♀️
I love these articles and find them really useful, but they are not relatable to most people. Substack Writers usually features writers/creators with more than 10k subscribers and followers, it would be interesting to see how to showcase emerging writers. I appreciate the expanding stories, but I think success can look different and I would be super curious on other ways in which you see success, or simply an original idea, happening.
This is interesting - I'm someone who writes a midsized Substack constantly thinking about how to expand, including whether that includes more time creating content for social media. That being said, I far prefer the longform capability Substack provides to write to my heart's content and find it allows for a closer relationship with readers.
This is a lot to take in but very helpful. I guess there are some of us whose work doesn’t fit visual media. It’s hard when you might be hesitant to be on camera. Might take the plunge to drum up a bigger IG following. Who knows.
I also moved here because I felt that my content was being shared with no retribution on instagram. I wanted to dig deeper and create a community that felt cosy and intimate. And I am managing pretty well thanks to this amazing platform. However, I do feel that most people showcased here have huge followings already and it would be interesting to see how this is for people who have around 2000-10000 followers. I think the way in which Substack will showcase emerging creators (and not only established people) is one of the things I am most curious (and hope) to see evolve.
Yes, yes, yes! As someone with an existing instagram platform, moving the bulk of my work to substack has been one of the BEST choices I have made for my small business-- both financially and creatively. Thank you for this amazing platform, @Substack!
This is OK but rather not extensive. In my article I have gone in more detail how to drive more traffic from Instagram and all other social platforms. Hope it’s helpful to you.
I did manage to amass a decent following on Instagram a while ago, but the algorithm lost interest in me when it became all about hyperactive short-form videos. Instagram Reels was bad enough, but as we all know, in 2025 Reels was followed by Instagram Spaffs – even shorter videos with a maximum length of 0.5 seconds. Not only did this to a huge rise in ADHD diagnoses, but it also caused people to start speaking over 500% faster as they became used to trying to cram entire messages into half a second. In the worst cases, as a result of thinking and talking too fast, some users experienced Full Brain Shutdown (FBS).
This! I loved this post but it quickly left me feeling overwhelmed as I just did my own "soft launch" and the idea of doing a video of myself makes me cringe.
I'm interested in working with Threads when it comes over to desktop. IG is nowhere near as toxic as Twitter/X, but it's also not super useful for linking straight to an article. Threads is pretty much custom tailored for that.
I have a beautiful, connected community on instagram. I found that the reason many on instagram don’t always jump over to Substack is because it’s genuinely a bit overwhelming the thought of a new app, a new space to learn etc.
The mental load is already high for people.
It’s the devil you know to stay loyal to one app.
It’s important for others to understand the SPACIOUSNESS Substack can offer, and the connection, depth, understanding and ease of coming to a place like this. The breath out that they don’t get on other platforms in the same way.
I made the effort to gather information about Substack, simplify it and share it to my Instagram community in a really digestible way.
I brought art into it - I set the scene and invited them to pour themselves a cup of tea and come and sit a while and exist with me here.
I never just said “come read my newsletter” and instead painted a picture of what it can be like here. How much slower the pace can be. Now nourishing it can feel. I showed them a felt experience of a more relaxed nervous system.
I published a cathedral library and a garden party to connect them to an experience here.
I also offered a free live zoom call simply for those interested in Substack as a platform. I was honestly just really excited to be here and didn’t want to be excited, alone. I was a complete Substack noob then, and the call makes me a little cringe BUT the feedback was great and so many people wanted to be apart of this beautiful space because of it
Once upon a past life I would teach on Soulful Social media and how to actually build and connect with community in a genuine way.
It absolutely doesn’t have to feel selly or be perceive as disingenuous.
If our intentions here are clear - to welcome others with open arms, uplift each other and want everyone to win-
Then it shouldn’t feel so hard.
I’m contemplating collaborating with @Claire Venus and hosting a Soulful social media training here for those wanting to invite their instagram communities over to Substack, to play in this wonderful playground. I’d be happy to host an official one for Substack for free also? My background is in facilitation, teaching and hosting engaging and uplifting workshops and I’m a big advocate for if we all win… then we all win together… and have the best afterparty.
Thanks a lot. I’ve decided to reshape my Instagram from a profile to a Substack showcase and in a few days I removed all my 5000 pictures and I’m just leaving there Substack posts and notes and links. From a hundred viewers that I usually had I went up to thousands. Wild how the algorithm got played.
Perhaps this works with very large IG accounts, as if they manage to transfer to Substack even just a percentage of their followers that still means a lot of views and possible readers/subscribers.
Trouble is that won't work if your IG is small. Instagram doesn't really like people driving traffic outside their platform (from IG to Substack, in this case), and I've noticed my views dropping dramatically ever since I started linking back to my Substack in my IG stories from my small account. A few days ago a reel by notjustanalytics about this very issue confirmed that, too... 🤷🏻♀️
I'd be so curious to hear about that reel. What did they find? That if you link outwards IG throttles reach? Or is it specific to Substack?
I love these articles and find them really useful, but they are not relatable to most people. Substack Writers usually features writers/creators with more than 10k subscribers and followers, it would be interesting to see how to showcase emerging writers. I appreciate the expanding stories, but I think success can look different and I would be super curious on other ways in which you see success, or simply an original idea, happening.
I agree, how can substack support emerging writers more?
Thank you for sharing Substack team and thanks for writing articles like this to help out new writers :)
This is interesting - I'm someone who writes a midsized Substack constantly thinking about how to expand, including whether that includes more time creating content for social media. That being said, I far prefer the longform capability Substack provides to write to my heart's content and find it allows for a closer relationship with readers.
This is a lot to take in but very helpful. I guess there are some of us whose work doesn’t fit visual media. It’s hard when you might be hesitant to be on camera. Might take the plunge to drum up a bigger IG following. Who knows.
I’ll start backwards. Follow me here:
https://instagram.com/theone_chiv?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
IG/Meta is the worst platform for censorship. Hope Substack continues to support free speech! I interviewed artist Arthur Kwon Lee about how he got banned on Instagram: https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/how-to-make-art-great-again-arthur-kwon-lee
Congrats on the tick Mr Bezmenov.
Give my regards to G Edward Griffin.
I also moved here because I felt that my content was being shared with no retribution on instagram. I wanted to dig deeper and create a community that felt cosy and intimate. And I am managing pretty well thanks to this amazing platform. However, I do feel that most people showcased here have huge followings already and it would be interesting to see how this is for people who have around 2000-10000 followers. I think the way in which Substack will showcase emerging creators (and not only established people) is one of the things I am most curious (and hope) to see evolve.
Yes, yes, yes! As someone with an existing instagram platform, moving the bulk of my work to substack has been one of the BEST choices I have made for my small business-- both financially and creatively. Thank you for this amazing platform, @Substack!
Same
These are great, now I wish I had a bigger instagram following
This is OK but rather not extensive. In my article I have gone in more detail how to drive more traffic from Instagram and all other social platforms. Hope it’s helpful to you.
https://open.substack.com/pub/raisini/p/from-zero-to-100000-subscribers-the?r=aegif&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
🔥🔥💯
I did manage to amass a decent following on Instagram a while ago, but the algorithm lost interest in me when it became all about hyperactive short-form videos. Instagram Reels was bad enough, but as we all know, in 2025 Reels was followed by Instagram Spaffs – even shorter videos with a maximum length of 0.5 seconds. Not only did this to a huge rise in ADHD diagnoses, but it also caused people to start speaking over 500% faster as they became used to trying to cram entire messages into half a second. In the worst cases, as a result of thinking and talking too fast, some users experienced Full Brain Shutdown (FBS).
You can read the rest of my memories of Instagram here: https://danielpiper.substack.com/p/remembering-instagram
If they are able to bring people over from Instagram, must mean they be good. Because people on Instagram never click links.
Any tips on relaunch for current substack if we never did a big push at the beginning? Thanks!
This! I loved this post but it quickly left me feeling overwhelmed as I just did my own "soft launch" and the idea of doing a video of myself makes me cringe.
I'm interested in working with Threads when it comes over to desktop. IG is nowhere near as toxic as Twitter/X, but it's also not super useful for linking straight to an article. Threads is pretty much custom tailored for that.
Hey @Substack @Substack Writers
I have a beautiful, connected community on instagram. I found that the reason many on instagram don’t always jump over to Substack is because it’s genuinely a bit overwhelming the thought of a new app, a new space to learn etc.
The mental load is already high for people.
It’s the devil you know to stay loyal to one app.
It’s important for others to understand the SPACIOUSNESS Substack can offer, and the connection, depth, understanding and ease of coming to a place like this. The breath out that they don’t get on other platforms in the same way.
I made the effort to gather information about Substack, simplify it and share it to my Instagram community in a really digestible way.
I brought art into it - I set the scene and invited them to pour themselves a cup of tea and come and sit a while and exist with me here.
I never just said “come read my newsletter” and instead painted a picture of what it can be like here. How much slower the pace can be. Now nourishing it can feel. I showed them a felt experience of a more relaxed nervous system.
I published a cathedral library and a garden party to connect them to an experience here.
https://open.substack.com/pub/katriver/p/cathedral-library-and-a-garden-party?r=1mqemy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I also offered a free live zoom call simply for those interested in Substack as a platform. I was honestly just really excited to be here and didn’t want to be excited, alone. I was a complete Substack noob then, and the call makes me a little cringe BUT the feedback was great and so many people wanted to be apart of this beautiful space because of it
https://open.substack.com/pub/katriver/p/replay-link?r=1mqemy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Once upon a past life I would teach on Soulful Social media and how to actually build and connect with community in a genuine way.
It absolutely doesn’t have to feel selly or be perceive as disingenuous.
If our intentions here are clear - to welcome others with open arms, uplift each other and want everyone to win-
Then it shouldn’t feel so hard.
I’m contemplating collaborating with @Claire Venus and hosting a Soulful social media training here for those wanting to invite their instagram communities over to Substack, to play in this wonderful playground. I’d be happy to host an official one for Substack for free also? My background is in facilitation, teaching and hosting engaging and uplifting workshops and I’m a big advocate for if we all win… then we all win together… and have the best afterparty.
Thanks a lot. I’ve decided to reshape my Instagram from a profile to a Substack showcase and in a few days I removed all my 5000 pictures and I’m just leaving there Substack posts and notes and links. From a hundred viewers that I usually had I went up to thousands. Wild how the algorithm got played.
This is very smart. Did you archive the older posts or deleted them all?