Substack has exploded because it gives people something we’ve all been craving: a space to write that actually feels alive.
You publish something, and instead of tossing it into the void, it gets seen, shared, recommended, and talked about.
You connect with people who never would have stumbled onto your website, and you do it without chasing algorithms or hoping your blog magically resurfaces from its digital basement.
For many writers, Substack feels like the return of old school blogging energy. More conversation. More connection. More visibility that doesn’t require SEO wizardry or a Pinterest strategy.
It also feels like writing a magazine column for your little corner of the internet, which makes it fun in a way a traditional blog sometimes isn’t.
And yes, Substack is technically a newsletter platform. But it doesn’t feel like the traditional “weekly email blast” experience most people picture. It functions more like a hybrid: part newsletter, part blog, part social platform. That blend is exactly what makes it feel fresh and discoverable in a way email hasn’t felt in a long time.
It’s no surprise that people start wondering whether they even need a blog anymore. Substack feels faster, more fun, and more relevant. But your blog still plays a role Substack can’t replace, especially when you’re building long term visibility for your business.
Substack helps you find new readers in a way blogs rarely do now
Most blogs today are not being casually discovered. Search is competitive. Social reach is inconsistent. And unless you already have strong SEO or consistent Pinterest traffic (which I teach!), your posts can feel buried.
Substack solves this. It’s a writing platform and a social platform in one. Notes, recommendations, shared posts, and in-app discovery make it possible for your writing to find people who have never heard your name before. And it feels refreshing because you can publish something at 9 AM and get thoughtful comments and new subscribers by noon.
People discover you because they read your work, not because you optimized it perfectly. That’s what makes Substack feel alive.
Blogs aren’t dead but they’ve evolved
Blogging today isn’t the lifestyle-blog era of 2012. You’re not posting diary entries and hoping someone stumbles upon them. Modern blogging is strategic, search focused, and built to support your authority.
It’s where you can create depth. It’s where you share your most evergreen ideas. And it’s the platform that continues working for you long after the initial publish date. It’s where you funnel people into your email list, and grab attention through platforms like Pinterest.
Your blog helps new readers find you for years, not just today
Substack discovery happens in the moment. It’s human driven, community driven, and interaction driven. It’s valuable and meaningful, but it’s also short term.
Your blog plays the long term visibility game. A well written post can bring in readers for three years because someone searched for help on a topic. Pinterest can push your content to the right people again and again. Your site builds topical authority, and your content gets stronger with time.
Both timelines matter, but they are not interchangeable.
Substack gives you connection. Your blog gives you ownership.
Substack absolutely boosts your visibility, but it does not give you ownership.
Your blog is your digital home. You control the design, the structure, the content, the metadata, the SEO, the analytics, and the future of it. If Substack ever pivots, changes direction, or updates its features, your blog stays exactly where it is.
This ownership also affects long term growth. Posts you write today on your blog can continue to help people months or years from now. Blog visibility compounds. Substack visibility spreads through conversation.
Both are valuable. They just serve different purposes.
Substack is not built for intentional SEO growth
Substack posts can get indexed, but indexing is not the same as ranking. The platform isn’t structured for SEO performance. There’s limited control over formatting and metadata, and search engines prioritize sites with clear architecture.
That doesn’t make Substack less useful. It just means its strength comes from community, sharing, and cultural relevancy rather than search.
Blogs build visibility through evergreen value.
Substack builds visibility through human connection.
You don’t need twice the ideas. You only need to divide the roles.
To make both platforms doable, give each one a job.
Your blog gets the evergreen ideas, the tutorials, the educational content, and the strategic posts designed to support your business.
Your Substack gets the voice. The reflections. The cultural observations. The personal writing that feels meant for the present moment. The clarity that hits you while you’re walking the dog or talking to a friend.
When each platform has a clear purpose, the pressure lifts.
How to repurpose between your blog and Substack without hurting your SEO
Repurposing is not only allowed. It’s smart.
If you write something on your blog that you want to turn into a Substack post later, you can absolutely do that. The only thing to keep in mind is that you should add a canonical link so search engines understand which version to prioritize (your blog). It’s a tiny, behind the scenes step. Most platforms make it easy. And it keeps your site healthy while still letting you reuse your best ideas.
Repurposing also does not mean copying and pasting. The Substack version can be more reflective and timely. The blog version can be more structured and evergreen.
Both can come from the same idea and serve totally different purposes.
This keeps your workload realistic and helps both platforms stay active without draining you.
What to put on Substack
Your Substack is your space for:
- Cultural commentary
- Personal reflections
- Opinions, thoughts, observations
- Behind the scenes updates
- In the moment clarity
- Essays that feel alive and conversational
- Repurposed newsletters
It’s the place where you get to talk about what you’re noticing in real time, and why it matters.
What to put on your blog
Your blog is your space for:
- Educational posts
- Case studies
- Evergreen resources
- Service supporting content
- Deep dives
- Tutorials
- SEO friendly articles
It’s the place that supports your offers and helps new readers figure out what you’re great at.
You don’t have to choose between Substack and blogging
Substack brings community, conversation, and cultural relevancy back into online writing. It helps people find you. It helps you stay connected to what’s happening now. And it creates an energizing place to share your ideas without overthinking.
Your blog supports your long term visibility, your authority, your business, and your ownership of your content. It houses your best ideas in a way that lasts.
You don’t have to choose between the two. You just need to understand what each one is meant to do.
If you’re rebuilding your content strategy this year and want support creating long term content, thoughtful Substack essays, or a strategic newsletter rhythm, my agency can help you write both your blog and your Substack so they work together instead of competing for your energy.
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Want to follow our Substack? Come explore our exclusive articles on Notes from the Goal Line.