Our community is experiencing incredible growth! I’d like to give a huge thank you to both our longtime members, and newest arrivals for your daily energy, effort, and collaboration in expanding our reach.

Every Tuesday, I like to celebrate this momentum by spotlighting standout writers who participate in our Official Restack Exchange - a simple high-impact way to lift each other up, be seen, and grow together.

Come explore this week’s 7 featured Substack publications...

- I’m here to help 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 and communicate effectively during your next stay in Italy. I’m a qualified Italian teacher and the owner of AL DENTE, an online Italian school for busy adults. Lifelong language learner.

How to speak Italian?

Monthly delivery of effective strategies for speaking Italian. Tested on people.

By 🇮🇹 Katarzyna Ciszewska

- 🌱 Growing heirloom food and creating global vegan harvest recipes, free on my companion blog 🥕 All eaters are welcome!

Shovel & Crunch | Heirloom Gardening and Vegan Recipes

🌱 Growing global heirloom crops and creating worldwide vegan food with the harvest. All eaters are welcome. 🥕

By Shell at Shovel and Crunch

- We can build entire lives around what was once necessary, then forget why. I write about how we adapt to ordinary lives: what helps us cope, what stays with us, and what changes once we can see it.

The Adaptive Human

Essays about ordinary adaptations, the problems they solve, and the possibilities they can hide.

By Dan Ackers

- College counselor specializing in issues affecting Jewish students on campus. I write about Jews, higher education, and U.S. politics through my millennial lens.

The Liberal Jew

I write about Jews, higher education, and U.S. politics through my millennial lens.

By Jill

- I am the healed of the Lord! I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. I had treatment at CTCA in Newnan, GA with chemotherapy and radiation. Today I am cancer-free. This is my testimony and why I can say I am the healed of the Lord. Jesus saves!

- James Daniel Walsh is a writer, director & producer from Long Beach, CA. Author of the Manic Expression anthology, novels Hurt, Don Giovanni, Backstabber, and children’s book Dreamland After Dark. Directed the film Manic Expression.

James's Substack

I've escaped the gatekeepers and I'm releasing thirty years worth of work as a free and independent artist!

By James Daniel Walsh

- Born where two rivers meet, now living by the sea. I’ve built a life, raised a family, and restarted more than once. I put words to layers I’ve sensed for years, finding patterns and choices I couldn’t see before. That’s where freedom begins.

Under the Surface

The ordinary moments are never quite as ordinary once you start looking beneath the surface.

By B. Human 📝

This is a massive thanks to everyone who joined in last week. Seeing this community show up for each other and lift one another up has been truly inspiring.

The response has been overwhelming, with so many of you highlighting how well these Restacks are working as a community growth engine.

The common theme is clear: increased traffic, new connections, and steady subscriber growth.

Let’s keep this incredible momentum rolling TOGETHER!

If you’d like to be included on this list for next Tuesday, or if you’re just interested in doing a Restack Swap right now, it’s simple…

1. Just post a comment here of what you write about, or simply a link to your publication.

2. Then either choose someone listed above to Restack one of THEIR posts - or you can simply Restack THIS ARTICLE to spread the word - and I’ll get notified who it came from and Restack one for you.

And remember, by doing this… every Tuesday I feature several of our new Restack-ers in an article like this one, spreading the word even more - on our growing community!

Restacks = Community Connections, New Visibility & Growth For Both

The Official Substack Restack Exchange

Want to know HOW these Restacks work in our community? Check out the: Benefits Of A Substack Restack Swap

Looking for more growth strategies or how to expand your reach? Here’s a list of 30 links which should help you: How To Grow On Substack

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Our community is growing by leaps and bounds! Thank you to ALL the new and existing members who are jumping in and building our visibility together every day.

To celebrate this momentum, every Tuesday I like to highlight standout writers from our community who took part in our Official Restack Exchange - a simple yet powerful way to support one another’s growth.

Check out these 7 fantastic Substack publications featured this week…

- Collector of memories that don’t let go. Exploring the spaces between womanhood, motherhood, and everything in between.

Alexandra Lev

Collector of memories that don’t let go. Exploring the spaces between what we remember and what we feel. Womanhood, motherhood, identity and everything in between.

- I write about child psychology & development from a Biblical world-view to help bring practical wisdom into everyday moments of parenting. No more having to guess how to respond to child behavior!

Heart Shapers · Legacy Makers

Faith-rooted parenting meets the science of developmental psychology, written through narrative fiction. By author and speaker, Bethany Heyne.

By Bethany Heyne

- Here. Now. Me. isn’t just a magazine + creativity kit. It’s a declaration for midlife women like me who are reclaiming their epicness through making, creating, and doing. Mini adventures, art, recipes & DIY. Just you and me and a lot of real.

Here. Now. Me. Magazine and Creativity Kit

Inspiring women to rediscover joy and identity through creating and doing.

- Here for people stuck in obsessive love (limerence). Honest lived-experience essays with tools, to help you stop falling for unavailable people. Trauma-informed coach. Rewire your 🧠 one small step at a time so you find more joy in everyday life.

Sid's Safe Room

I write for people stuck in limerence, especially if you keep falling for unavailable or unrequited love. Expect shame-free insights, practical tools, and honest stories to help you return to you.

By Sidney C. Solace

- World traveler, iPhone photographer, author, percussionist and dog lover. A human who enjoys thinking, being creative and enjoying nature and life, one moment at a time.

Chickybus

Vicarious travel plus explorations of culture, creativity and the human experience. A dash of humor. iPhone-toting traveler (40+ countries) at the wheel.

By Lisa E

- Writing online since 2004, I write about work, motherhood, identity, books, travel, beauty, and the small absurdities of everyday life.

Lifestyle of a Professional

Writing online since 2004, I write about work, motherhood, identity, books, travel, beauty, and the small absurdities of everyday life.

By Ankita Bhatia Dhawan

- RN 20yrs Aries big 3 Mother of four. Abuse survivor. Gardener. Learning to heal, and grow a life rooted in love. Writing about resilience, motherhood, healing, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again. 2 part discussions with notes along the way.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated last week! It’s been incredible watching you all support and help one another out.

The feedback has been amazing - so many have shared how surprised and thrilled you are with how well Restack swaps work with-in our community. People are always telling me, “I’m getting way more visitors, making new friends, and growing my subscriber base!”

Lets ALL keep up that fantastic energy!

If you’d like to be included on this list for next Tuesday, or if you’re just interested in doing a Restack Swap right now, it’s simple…

1. Just post a comment here of what you write about, or simply a link to your publication.

2. Then either choose someone listed above to Restack one of THEIR posts - or you can simply Restack THIS ARTICLE to spread the word - and I’ll get notified who it came from and Restack one for you.

And remember, by doing this… every Tuesday I feature a few of our new Restack-ers in an article like this one, spreading the word even more - on our growing community!

Restacks = Community Connections, New Visibility & Growth For Both

The Official Substack Restack Exchange

Want to know why you should join? Check out the: Benefits Of A Substack Restack Swap

Want more growth strategies? Looking to expand your reach? Check out this list of 30 links packed with actionable advice on: How To Grow On Substack

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

What another great week of growth it’s been, building-up our community engagement and visibility to each other - with NEW and EXISTING members joining-in every day.

With that said… each Tuesday I like to feature a few writers who participated in our Restack Exchange - which actually helped everyone involved - simply by doing Restack swaps with other writers in our community!

Listed below, are several Substack publications worth taking a look at this week…

- Welcome to Hebrew by Inbal! I’m Inbal Amit, I simplify Hebrew for English speakers. Build reading, writing, and real conversation skills through my programs. 🤗

Learn Hebrew with Inbal

The place where beginners learn Hebrew the way Israelis actually speak it with a native teacher who stays with you for life.

By Hebrew By Inbal

- I write reflections, lived experiences, and lessons drawn from my life, and share human stories that inspire connection and discovery.

Jessica Gilbert

I write reflections, lived experiences, and lessons drawn from my life, and share human stories that inspire connection and discovery.

- Elizabeth helps you build a bridge between left-brain stress and pain and the wisdom and joy your right brain already holds. Neurosomatic kinesiologist, 10 years in practice; she works where the body, the brain, and healing actually meet.

Wired to Heal

For the exhausted, the over-tried, and the quietly desperate: nervous system healing one safe drop at a time.

By Elizabeth Morse

- Canadian author‑poet, moving by hope’s tide; a mathematician of patterns, a frontal‑lobe physician of mind, an ethicist of the human good, honouring each soul’s distant light.

Nature of Friendship

My personal Substack

By Richard Hogan, MD, PhD(2), DBA

- The unfiltered diary of a language teacher spilling secrets on teaching and learning languages, money, AI hacks, travel, mindset and law of attraction. Subscribe for exclusive content. ✨

The Unfiltered Teacher

The Unfiltered diary of a language teacher spilling secrets on money, charging what you’re worth, trips you plan yourself, AI without the hype, mindset that actually shifts, and language learning from someone who's taught 20 years.

By Chris Castelli

- British Army veteran, single gay man, 60, living alone in Portugal with my dog Rocky. I write about immigrant life, ageing and PTSD. After 6 years here, I also offer 1-to-1 sessions to help others make their move to Portugal.

Sixty and Lost: An Expat's Life in Black and White

British Army veteran, single gay man, and 60, living alone in Portugal with my dog Rocky. Expect honest stories of survival, immigrant life, ageing and trauma, plus insider advice from four years of helping others move to Portugal.

By Sean Wright

- I work inside luxury brands. Every Tuesday, I take one apart in public. Brand Autopsy™ — the laws of luxury desire. Léa Mondoloni · ex-Chanel, Maje, Accenture.

Brand Autopsy™

I work inside luxury brands. Every Tuesday, I take one apart in public. Brand Autopsy™ — the laws of luxury desire. Léa Mondoloni · ex-Chanel, Maje, Accenture. ↓

By Léa Mondoloni | Brand Autopsy

- I am a life-long poet, fledgling fiction writer and retired teacher. I write from a boots-on-the-ground faith perspective.

I’d like to take the time to thank EVERYONE for participating last week - as I really do appreciate all of you for helping one another!

The feedback I continue to hear is “…thank you, I didn’t even realize Restack swaps could work so well - I definitely get more visitors, found some friends, and gained more subscribers!”

If you’d like to be included on this list for next Tuesday, or if you’re just interested in doing a Restack Swap right now, it’s simple…

1. Just post a comment here of what you write about, or simply a link to your publication.

2. Then either choose someone listed above to Restack one of THEIR posts - or you can simply Restack THIS ARTICLE to spread the word - and I’ll get notified who it came from and Restack one for you.

And remember… every Tuesday I feature a few of our new Restack-ers in an article like this one, spreading the word even more - about our growing community!

Restacks = Community Connections, New Visibility & Growth For Both

The Official Substack Restack Exchange

You can read more here on WHY you’d want to be involved in this community: Substack Restack Swap Benefits

Or, If you’re looking for OTHER ways to grow - here’s a list of 30 links to help you grow on Susbstack: How To Grow My Substack

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

I just wanted to take the time to thank & share with everyone several people who are always so kind - who always engage, who always share… who’s always just there!

So if there’s something/anything I could do right now to help THEM - I’m doing it.

Let’s ALL help them “be seen” (and in return, you’ll be seen too) - because I’d like to help EVERYONE grow on Substack!

Here’s - and one of his featured posts…

“I just lost two good friends. Their “moral beauty” is helping me reframe their loss.”

Here’s - and one of her most popular posts…

“You have a purpose. Even if it takes you years to uncover it. Even if your path looks nothing like everyone else’s. Even if you’re still figuring it out right now. Just don’t give up on yourself before you get there, because you WILL get there.”

Kelly Schultz-Created in Motion

You Have a Purpose, Even If It's Taking Longer to Find It

For most of my life, I thought something was wrong with me…

Read more

3 months ago · 18 likes · 5 comments · Kelly Schultz

Here’s - and one of his popular posts…

“Join us on a transformative emotional and cognitive journey- and build your Substack too.”

Transcendence Lab: Generosity compounds.

Creating for Healing & Growth

Imagine this: you are on a Zoom call with 30 people from all over the world. Someone is sharing their screen. They are scrolling through images and texts from images.google.com which depict ‘gratitude’. In essence everyone is looking at those pieces of content that most evoked gratefulness in the world in the last week. Hundreds appear…

Read more

7 months ago · 30 likes · 1 comment · John | Grow by Helping Others

Here’s - and one of her most popular posts…

“The worst part wasn’t what they said. It was that I agreed.”

One Take

They Told Me My Voice Wasn't Special

I was eighteen, a few weeks into university, when someone told me my voice wasn’t special…

Read more

2 months ago · 74 likes · 44 comments · Haru Yosano(与謝野はる)

Here’s - and one of her popular posts…

“Mökki, ice, water lilies and a different lifestyle.”

What to expect when you're expat-ing

Lakeland, Finland: Two Seasons on Saimaa

Read more

a month ago · 42 likes · 25 comments · Daniela D 🇷🇴 in 🇫🇮

Here’s - and one of his most popular posts…

“Fatigue is normal—burnout is not. What happens in our brains when we’re exhausted? And what’s the science behind keeping our fire burning so we can stay focused on our goals? Tap in to find out.”

The Neuroproductivity Hub

Fatigue in Disguise: The Neurobiology of Burnout, Mood, and Concentration

Burnout. Laziness. Fatigue. Tired. Unmotivated…

Read more

2 months ago · 38 likes · 8 comments · Wayne Lie

Here’s - and her featured post…

“My story from the first symptoms to complete recovery. A personal guide with reflections, practical advice, and a foreword by a physiotherapist.”

Shared Wisdom

How to Live Through Hip Replacement

How to prepare for hip surgery…

Read more

21 days ago · 6 likes · Ivana 47

Here’s - and one of her popular posts…

“My first ever fictional short story. Written 20+ years ago.”

Crystal Lamas

The Play-Doh Story

In a little yellow container I sit until I am chosen. Maybe I'll become a Christmas present or a birthday gift, or maybe I'm not wrapped in paper and given at all…

Read more

a month ago · 12 likes · 2 comments · The Next Chapter

Please help me help them! Read their story, leave a comment, follow them and/or subscribe if you’d like - but I’m sure they’ll be highly receptive, thankful, and appreciate it very much.

And besides… you’ll be growing your own community on here as well!

Thank you,

Helping You Grow On Substack

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Wow, we are definitely growing - with much better community engagement, and many more Restacks from multiple creators!

So every Tuesday, I feature a few writers who wanted to take part in our Restack Exchange - which actually helps everyone involved - simply by doing a Restack swap with another writer!

Here are several Substack publications worth taking a look at this week…

- Curious why productivity advice rarely sticks? I’m an Emory Biology & Psychology researcher sharing science-backed insights to help students and young professionals focus, learn, and perform better. Subscribe here to step into your flow state.

The Neuroproductivity Hub

Teaching you how to utilize your brain and neuroscience for maximum productivity.

By Wayne Lie

- I help Creators build Substack audiences through genuine relationship, community participation, and helping others. It’s the most fun (and transformative) way to succeed. Doing it this way is BOTH a personal growth path and a blog building strategy.

Transcendence Lab: Generosity compounds.

We help Creators build the audience for their newsletters and blogs through a strategy of helping other writers grow, which, since it is really a path of friendship, also turns out to be a self-improvement journey.

By John | Grow by Helping Others

- Saved by the Grace of God. He is the atonement for sin. I gave up worldly things for Yeshua (Jesus Hebrew name).

Gary Karlin

Saved by the Grace of God. He is the atonement for sin. I gave up worldly things for Yeshua (Jesus Hebrew name).

By Gary Karlin, Messianic Jewish

- Welcome! I'm a Romanian born expat living in Helsinki since '23, after 6 y of Istanbul. I'll share my experiences comparing at times, both societies from my point of view. I'll also be writing about moving, traveling and cultural events.📍🇫🇮

What to expect when you're expat-ing

I'm Daniela, the founder of "What to expect when you're expat-ing". It’s all in the name: I’m an expat, now living in Helsinki 🇫🇮, after Istanbul and Bucharest. I'll share my experiences comparing at times all 3 societies from my point of view and more

By Daniela D 🇷🇴 in 🇫🇮

- Lived experiences, personal reflections, and practical wisdom for women 45+ rebuilding strength, embracing growth, and navigating recovery, with guidance and reflections for the hip replacement journey.

Shared Wisdom

Lived experiences, personal reflections, and practical wisdom for women 45+ rebuilding strength, embracing growth, and navigating recovery, with guidance and reflections for the hip replacement journey.

By Ivana 47

- Writing online since 2004, I write about work, motherhood, identity, books, travel, beauty, and the small absurdities of everyday life.

Lifestyle of a Professional

Writing online since 2004, I write about work, motherhood, identity, books, travel, beauty, and the small absurdities of everyday life.

By Ankita Bhatia Dhawan

- Cancer & chronic disease prevention, made clearer. I translate complex research into simple daily habits to slash your hidden risks. Thoughtful, for real life. — Hui Zukauskas, PhD

I’d like to thank EVERYONE for participating last week - I really do appreciate all of you!

The feedback I keep hearing is “…thank you, I didn’t even realize Restack swaps could work so well - I definitely got noticed, found some friends, and gained more subscribers!”

If you’d like to be included on this list for next Tuesday, or if you’re just interested in doing a Restack Swap right now, it’s simple…

1. Just post a comment here of what you write about, or simply a link to your publication.

2. Then either choose someone listed above to Restack one of THEIR posts - or you can simply Restack THIS ARTICLE to spread the word - and I’ll get notified who it came from and Restack one for you.

And remember… every Tuesday I feature a few of our new Restack-ers in an article like this one, to spread the word even more - for our growing community!

Restacks = Community Connections, New Visibility & Growth For Both

Official Substack Restack Exchange

You can read more here on WHY you’d want to be involved in this: Benefits Of A Restack Swap

Or, If you’re looking for OTHER ways to grow - here’s a list of 30 links to help grow your Susbstack subscribers: How Do I Grow My Substack

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

If you’ve been writing a newsletter on Substack for a while, you probably have a graveyard of fantastic articles sitting in your archive. Posts you poured your heart into, but that now sit quietly gathering dust because the people moved on.

Most creators think the only way to fix this is to hit publish on something brand new. But there’s a much simpler trick that takes about two minutes: Go back to an old article, grab the link, and Restack it on Notes with highly targeted keywords in the Note text.

If you do this right, you aren’t just bumping a link - you’re triggering a chain reaction inside both the platform’s internal system and major search engines.

What Actually Happens When You “Restack” with Keyword Content

When you use the Restack feature to resend or share an older piece, and type out a brand new mini-update to go with it, you are feeding Substack fresh text.

Instead of just clicking the Restack button alone, you’re writing a custom note packed with specific terms related to that original piece. This matters because platforms care about context.

• The Substack Loop: The internal recommendation network looks at how content travels through feeds. When you attach a descriptive commentary note to an archived post, you give the algorithm fresh indicators about what the piece is about today. It helps route that resurfaced content toward active readers who might have missed it the first time around.

• The Google Connection: Traditional search engines crawl the web looking for updated signals, fresh text context, and active pathways. Every time you point back to an archive link with descriptive accompanying text, you create a fresh public touchpoint. Search engine crawlers index that note and follow the trail straight back to your original piece, viewing it as an active, living page rather than a dead artifact.

Why This Combination Works Wonders for Your Reach & Visibility

Some people misunderstand how visibility works online. They think visibility is a one-and-done event. You write a piece, it gets read for three days, and it disappears forever.

By strategically recycling your archive using keyword-rich commentary, you break that cycle. Here is why the mechanics favor this approach:

1. You target searches real people use: When writing your accompanying note, avoid the fluff. Write like you are explaining the piece to a friend, but drop in the exact terminology and keywords people type into search engines, when they want answers to problems you solved in that old article.

2. You compound your authority: Search engines love depth. When multiple short-form notes across the network point cleanly back to a comprehensive anchor article on your archive, it reinforces that your publication is a central hub for that specific topic.

3. It requires zero new writing: You already did the hard work of writing the core article months ago. You’re just acting as a bridge, carrying an old solution to new eyes.

If you’re interested in more Substack SEO growth strategies, you can try this article: How To Grow On Substack SEO Strategy

A Simple Workflow to Try Today

Don’t over-complicate this. Open your dashboard, scroll back through your past six months of writing, and pick one piece you think may help you show up more on Substack, as well as higher up on search engines.

• Grab the URL.

• Head over to compose a new Note.

• Write a three-sentence intro using your targeted keywords & text explaining the core premise of the article.

• Then attach your link under it.

Your archive is a goldmine! Stop letting it sit locked in the basement!

Paul Arino
The Substack Restack Exchange

If you’re looking for even MORE visibility with Restacks… come learn the Benefits of a Substack Restack Swap

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Back when letters came in a heavy canvas mailbag and the Sunday paper arrived with a satisfying thud on the front porch, community was something you could actually touch. You knew the grocer, you chatted with the neighbor over the hedge, and local writers filled the local gazette with stories that made you feel connected to the world outside your door.

Fast forward to today. The internet can feel awfully loud, crowded, and frankly, a bit lonely.

That is, until you stumble onto Substack.

If you haven’t explored it yet, Substack is a modern-day corner store of the mind. It’s a place where everyday people - writers, historians, gardeners, and thinkers - publish essays and articles straight to your email inbox, completely free of glossy advertisements and noisy pop-ups.

It feels intimate, like sitting across the kitchen table with a warm cup of coffee while someone tells you a fascinating story.

And that brings me to something I spend a lot of my time doing: helping other creators on Substack grow!

People often ask me, “Why do you spend your energy promoting the work of other writers? Aren’t they just your competition?”

The answer is simple, and it has very little to do with modern internet “marketing tricks.” It has everything to do with how neighbors used to treat one another.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

In the old days of brick-and-mortar storefronts, merchants knew a secret: if you opened a fish store next to a bakery and a hardware shop, the whole block prospered. People didn’t drive to a strip mall just to visit one store - they went because there were multiple destination’s.

Substack is no different. When I recommend a brilliant essay written by someone else, I’m not giving away my audience. I’m inviting my readers into a richer, more vibrant marketplace of ideas. A reader who loves great writing isn’t going to vanish just because they found a second writer they enjoy - they are simply going to read more.

Sharing the spotlight doesn’t dim yours - it makes the whole room brighter!

Generosity is Growth: Both on Substack & Personal

The internet can feel like a shouting match. Everywhere you look, algorithms are screaming for your attention, trying to sell you something or trick you into clicking a link.

But when you take a moment out of your day to genuinely lift someone else up - to say, “Hey, look at this great piece I just read, you really ought to read it” - you break through that noise.

It’s an act of pure goodwill. In a world that often feels rushed and transactional, taking the time to be generous feels revolutionary. It reminds us that behind every glowing computer screen is a real human heart trying to share a piece of their soul.

Finding Your Circle of Friends

Writing can be a solitary pass time. You sit in a quiet room, tap away at a keyboard, and send your thoughts out into the great digital divide, wondering if anyone is out there listening.

By helping others grow, you stop being an island. You become part of a circle.

When you champion someone else’s work, great things happen: gratitude is returned, friendships are forged, and suddenly you realize you aren’t writing alone anymore.

You are part of a community! A Substack community!

At this stage in life, many of us realize that the most rewarding moments aren’t the ones where we stand alone at the podium. They are the moments where we hand the microphone to someone else, step back, and smile as they find their voice.

That is why I like helping other Substack creators grow. Because the world is always in need of a good story, and the people telling them deserve a fuller house.

Give a helping hand to a fellow Substacker today!

Paul Arino
Helping You Grow

You can always join our Substack Restack Exchange to help another writer!

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Each Tuesday, I like to feature a few writers who wanted to take part in our Restack Exchange - which actually helps everyone involved - simply by doing a Restack swap with another writer!

Here are four Substack publications worth taking a look at this week…

- As the creator of Memorable Marketing™, Sandy empowers purpose-driven leaders & the legacy-minded to make an impact and be truly MEMORABLE! Her Christian faith leads her to inspire others to share authentically and shine their light in the world.

Memorable Connections with Sandy Goe

Memorable Connections: in Business, Culture, Family, Food, & Faith Inspirations for personal to professional growth & visibility. Memorable Marketing with God's Love & Grace

- Confessions disguised as personal essays exploring my Selfish Expression, unpacking self-betrayal, and what it looks like to *actually* choose yourself, so you don’t end up twerking to a business and life you don’t even want.

Selfishly Expressed

I write at the intersection of building a personal brand that honours your culturally-nuanced voice, and leading brave conversations with yourself so you can start living life without self-abandoning.

By Colleen Florendo

- Exploring how relationships shape worldviews. I keep following these questions, wherever they lead.

Japan for the World

Exploring the worldview behind Japanese culture through nature, history, and tradition.

By Yass

- Married GenX dad of daughters & a cat, sharing stories & reflections on growth, loss, & making your own meaning. Author of The Book Club Widowers and Narcissus Blinked: 3 Novellas.

I’d like to thank EVERYONE for participating last week - I really do appreciate all of you!

The feedback I keep receiving is “…thank you, I didn’t even realize Restack swaps could work so well - I definitely got noticed and gained some subscribers!”

If you’d like to be included on this list for next Tuesday, or if you’re just interested in doing a Restack Swap right now, it’s simple…

1. Just post a comment here of what you write about, or simply a link to your publication.

2. Then either choose someone listed above to Restack one of THEIR posts - or you can simply Restack THIS ARTICLE to spread the word - and I’ll get notified who it came from and Restack one for you.

And remember… every Tuesday I feature a few of our new Restack-ers in an article like this one, to spread the word even more - on our growing community!

Read more here on WHY you’d want to do this: Benefits Of A Restack Swap
Or this one, if you’d just like to know: What Is A Restack On Substack

Restacks = Community Connections, New Visibility & Growth For Both

Paul Arino
The Substack Restack Exchange

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Growing on Substack requires a combination of consistent long-form writing, active engagement on Substack Notes, strategic cross Recommendations, Restack swaps with other creators, and lastly… Substack SEO.

Here’s a list of 30 ways to help you grow on Substack!

Substack Growth & Strategy

• What Is A Restack On Substack?

  Using the Substack “Restack” feature, explaining how sharing other writers work amplifies community reach and boosts your own newsletter’s visibility.

• The Benefits of a Restack Swap on Substack

  Explores how strategic Restack Swaps between writers can double your audience exposure without additional content creation.

• The Substack Restack Exchange: Your New Community Growth Engine

  A deep dive into how participating in Restack Exchanges can transform individual newsletters into a collaborative growth community.

• What Is A Substack Recommendation Swap? And The Benefits For Growth

  Breaks down the power of Substack’s recommendation engine and how swapping recommendations with peers acts as a high-conversion growth channel.

• What Actually Happens When You Get Recommendations on Substack?

  An inside look at the traffic spikes, network effects, and subscriber conversions you can expect once another writer recommends your newsletter.

• Hit A Substack Growth Plateau? Learn How To Reuse Your Archive To Grow Again

  Actionable tips on how to audit, repurpose, and breathe new life into your older newsletter archive to attract fresh subscribers.

• Escape the “Substack Middle Class”: The Strategy to Break Through a Subscriber Plateau using REDDIT

  A targeted blueprint for leveraging Reddit communities to push past stagnant subscriber counts and scale your newsletter audience.

• Looking For A New Substack Marketing Strategy To Grow? Use Reddit!

  Learn how to tap into Reddit’s massive traffic pools authentically to drive high-intent readers back to your Substack landing page.

• How to Get More Substack Subscribers Using Reddit: The Ultimate Guide

  The definitive guide to finding the right subreddits, formatting your posts, and converting Reddit browsers into loyal Substack subscribers.

• An Effective Online Marketing Strategy Using Substack

  How to position your Substack not just as a newsletter, but as the central hub of a powerful, multi-channel content marketing funnel.

• The Substack Growth Obsession: Why Writers Are Always Looking To Grow

  An analytical look at the psychology behind newsletter metrics, growth culture, and balancing writing quality with audience acquisition.

SEO, Discoverability & AI Search

• The New SEO: Why Ranking #1 on Google No Longer Matters - The AI Search Disruption

  Discover how generative AI search engines are changing discovery, and why optimizing for AI answers matters more than traditional keyword rankings.

• How To Write The Perfect Substack Article To Be Featured In AI Search Answers

  Step-by-step guidance on structuring your newsletter articles so AI search tools pull your content directly into conversational answers.

• How to Use Substack to Boost your Website’s Search Results Ranking

  Leverage Substack’s high domain authority to create valuable backlinks and drive search engine traffic to your main website.

• How to Grow on Substack: The Dual-Engine SEO & Platform Strategy

  Learn how to combine internal platform discovery (Notes and Recommendations) with external Google SEO for explosive, compounding growth.

• Substack SEO Strategy: The Reverse Search-Intent Growth Loop

  A clever framework for uncovering what your target audience is actively searching for on Google and reversing it into high-converting Substack content.

• Substack Google Search Console: How To Connect Them

  A quick technical walkthrough on connecting Google Search Console to your Substack to track indexing, keywords, and search performance.

• This One Link Will Get Your Substack On Google

  A straightforward fix and essential URL trick to fast-track your new Substack publication to get into Google’s search index.

• Why Google SEO + Substack SEO = Ultimate Growth

  Explores the compounding synergy of utilizing Substack’s native search features alongside traditional search engine optimization.

• How To Grow Your Substack Subscribers With DuckDuckGo

  Unlocks alternative search engine optimization strategies focused on privacy-first platforms like DuckDuckGo to capture search traffic from a growing alternative to Google.

• Substack Tags: What Are They and What Are They Used For

  A practical guide on how to properly use tags to categorize your content, enhance on-site navigation, and improve content discoverability.

Substack Notes & Social Features

• A Detailed Explanation Of What Happens After You Post Your Substack Notes

  A behind-the-scenes look at algorithm distribution, notification loops, and engagement ripples triggered by publishing a Substack Note.

• Substack Notes Strategy for Beginners: The 2026 “Micro-Hook” Framework

  Master the art of the 2026 micro-hook to grab attention instantly and turn casual scrollers into engaged Note followers.

• How to Use Substack Notes Scheduling to Automate the 10-5-1 Growth Ratio

  Learn how to build a consistent presence on Notes using the built-in scheduling tools to streamline your daily engagement and growth ratios.

Setup, Optimization & Troubleshooting

• The Architect of Trust: Why Your Substack “About” Page Must Be an Exhaustive Manifesto

  Why a generic bio won’t cut it, and how to craft a comprehensive “About” page that converts casual visitors into committed subscribers.

• The Simple Fix For Substack’s Biggest Mistakes: How To Setup Your “Welcome Email”

  How to optimize your automated welcome email to set expectations, deliver immediate value, and lower your unsubscribe rates.

• Substack Tips: The Ultimate Guide To Setting Up Substack & Using It To The Fullest

  The comprehensive playbook for beginners and intermediate writers on configuring every corner of their Substack publication for maximum impact.

• What Is Substack and How Does it Work?

  A foundational overview of the Substack ecosystem, covering publishing, monetization, and audience building for newcomers.

• Not Receiving Your Substack Emails?

  A practical guide for readers and writers on fixing email delivery issues, bypassing spam filters, and whitelisting Substack domains.

• The Top 5 Questions Substack Users Ask & Want To Know!

  Answers to the most frequently asked questions about monetization, growth, and technical setups on the platform.

That’s all for now - I hope you found one useful?

Paul Arino
Substack Growth Tips & The Substack Restack Exchange

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References:

Substack Grow - a crash course for writers ready to pursue independence.

A Restack on Substack is a core sharing feature that functions similarly to a retweet on X (formerly Twitter) or a share on Facebook. It allows writers and readers to share a post they enjoyed or found valuable directly with their own Substack subscriber base or follower network, adding it to their profile’s public feed alongside a brief optional comment.

Why Do Writers Use Restacks?

Restacks serve as the primary organic growth engine within the Substack ecosystem. Key benefits include:

• Audience Cross-Pollination: When a writer restacks another creator’s post, they introduce that content to their own readers, helping lesser-known writers gain visibility.

• Community Building: Restacking acts as an endorsement, allowing creators to curate and highlight valuable insights for their audience while signaling alignment with peers.

• Algorithm Boost: Posts that accumulate a high volume of restacks gain traction on the Substack app’s recommendation network and discoverability tabs.

How to Restack a Post on Substack

Sharing content via a restack takes only a few seconds through the web or mobile app:

1. Navigate to the Substack post you want to share.

2. Click the Restack button (represented by two overlapping arrows forming a cycle, usually found at the bottom or top of the post alongside the “Like” and “Comment” buttons).

3. (Optional) Add a custom note or quote explaining why you are sharing the piece.

4. Confirm to publish the restack to your profile and distribute it to your subscribers’ feeds.

What is the Difference Between a Restack and a Recommendation?

While both features promote content on Substack, they serve completely different purposes:

• Restack: A one-time share of a specific article or post. It pushes that individual piece of content to your feed and subscriber notifications.

• Recommendation: A permanent endorsement of an entire publication. When you recommend another Substack, you are adding their newsletter to your publication’s homepage and welcome emails so new subscribers can easily find them.

*Here’s an important tip to remember though… when you post a Note on Substack - it only goes out to your OWN followers & subscribers. There is NO NEW discovery & visibility there for yourself.

But when you swap a restack with another user, it will then go out to all of THEIR followers & subscribers as well. Which is WAY better discoverability - from NEW and/or DIFFERENT people who didn’t even realize your publication existed!

If you’d like to find other writers to swap restacks with, you can learn more or take part here in The Substack Restack Exchange

Paul Arino
The Official Substack Restack Exchange

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Every Tuesday, I’ll be featuring a few writers who wanted to take part in our Restack Exchange - which actually helped everyone involved - simply by doing a Restack swap with another writer!

Here are three Substack publications worth taking a look at this week…

- On a journey to finish well and help others do the same - grounded in faith, purpose, and practical wisdom.

- Helping you become more of yourself. I write about courage, creativity, and what becoming more yourself can look like through voice acting, stories, and Japanese culture. 4× SOVAS-winning Japanese Voice Talent & Localization Voice Director.

One Take

Good Enough Notes for Finding Your Voice 💚 Writing about voice, creativity, and becoming more yourself again — slowly, honestly, and without pretending

By Haru Yosano(与謝野はる)

- I’m Kelly Schultz, I’m here for the women and men who feel the pull towards something more, but haven’t fully trusted themselves to go for it yet. I share my lived experiences and how I finally started choosing myself. I’m here for the rebels ❤️

Kelly Schultz-Created in Motion

A space for reflection, self-awareness and returning to yourself. I explore the thoughts, patterns, and identities that quietly shape our lives—and what begins to shift when we start paying attention.

If you’d like to be included on this list for next Tuesday, or just interested in doing a Restack Swap right now, it’s simple…

1. Just post a comment here of what you write about, or simply a link to your publication.

2. Then Restack this post so I can see who did it, and I will Restack one from your publication!

Are you wondering WHY you would want to do this - read more about it here: Benefits Of A Restack Swap On Substack

Restacks = Community Connections, New Visibility & Growth For Both

Paul Arino
The Substack Restack Exchange

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If you’ve been hanging out on Substack for more than five minutes, you’ve probably saw people posting about “restack swaps” or “exchanging restack’s” for growth.

At first, it sounds like some kind of growth-hacking trick. But honestly, it’s much simpler and way more effective - by using community engagement to be seen and grow.

Let’s break down what it actually is, why people do it, and why it’s secretly one of the best ways to grow without constantly feeling like a self promoter.

What is a Restack Swap, Anyway?

A restack swap is basically just Writer A shares a post from Writer B to their own audience, then Writer B does the exact same thing for Writer A.

It’s mutual support.

The Real Magic is What Happens with a Restack

To understand why restack swaps actually matter, you have to look at how Substack’s ecosystem works - specifically on Notes!

When you drop a thought or a link on Notes, who sees it? Mostly your own followers and subscribers. Which is great, but let’s be real - those people already know you exist. They already hit subscribe. They’ve already bought what you’re selling.

Publishing to your own feed is preaching to the choir. It’s comfortable, but it doesn’t get you seen anywhere new.

This is where the restack changes the entire game.

When another writer restacks your post, it instantly goes out to all of their followers, too. People who have never heard of you. People who might stumble across your writing, realize you share their exact weird obsessions, and hit subscribe.

The Compounding Effect & Why It Works

This creates what people call the compounding effect, though I just think of it as the digital version of word-of-mouth.

If you just rely on your own reach, your growth hits a natural ceiling. You can only shout so loud on your own street corner. But when you partner up with other writers, you start building bridges to entirely different neighborhoods.

• Let’s say one restack introduces you to 10 new people.

• Then from there, two of those people share your stuff or subscribe.

• Suddenly, you’re popping up in feeds you didn’t even know existed.

It turns growth from a grueling solo grind into a community effort. You’re no longer just staring at your dashboard, sweating over “how am I going to get more views?”

Instead, you’re writing, your peers are sharing your best work, and you’re doing the same for them.

And best of all, it’s actually the Substack Community helping one another grow!

Come join the new Substack Restack Exchange - where we’re currently looking for other people like you, who are interested in doing Restack Swaps.

Paul Arino
The Substack Restack Exchange Newsletter

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Helpful Reference Links:

• What is a Restack on Substack Notes

• What happens when someone Restacks my post

• A guide to growth and collaboration on Substack Notes

If you feel like you’re struggling to get your writing noticed on Substack, or searching for a better way to connect with like-minded writers… your search ends here!

This newsletter is officially launching as The Substack Restack Exchange.

What is the Restack Exchange?

Think of this as a cross between a discovery engine, a networking hub, and a mutual growth engine. The concept is simple, powerful, and built entirely on the collaborative spirit of the Substack ecosystem - a dedicated place to find, share, and restack other people’s posts, and in return they will restack yours.

Growth on Substack doesn’t have to be a lonely uphill battle fought entirely through SEO or Recommendations.

True growth happens through community and it’s restacks - and putting that great work in front of fresh eyes.

That is precisely what we’re going to be building together!

Oh, and it will always be FREE to Subscribe

Why I Built This

Substack’s built-in recommendation and restack features are some of the most potent tools available for writers, but connecting with & finding people can be overwhelming.

So I created the Substack Restack Exchange to solve three major problems for writers:

• Discovery Limitation of Notes: Posting on Notes only goes out to your own followers or subscribers - who already know you exist! But when someone else restacks your post, it goes out to all of their followers as well - which creates the compounding effect, and NEW visibility for that post!

• The Visibility Gap: Great writing deserves a wider audience. By sharing and restacking each other’s work, we amplify individual voices to get them heard by people outside of our own neighborhood.

• Isolated Growth: Building this audience is way easier and much more fun when you do it shoulder-to-shoulder with other creators who share your drive.

How It Works

Moving forward, every edition of this newsletter will serve as a launchpad for community connection. Here is what you can expect:

• Featured Spotlights: Hand-picked posts from our community restack members that deserve a wider read.

• The Comments Section: This will be a dedicated space where you can drop your best recent post, find fellow writers in your niche, and coordinate restacks.

• Growth Insights: Actionable tips, tricks, and strategies on how to optimize your Substack, engage your subscribers, and make the most of the platform’s network features.

Let’s Build Together

The Substack Restack Exchange is only as powerful as the community inside it. Whether you’re a seasoned writer with thousands of subscribers or just published your very first post today, you have a home here.

Here’s what you can do right now to kick things off:

1. Leave a Comment on this post so others can see you - or post a link to the Article or Note you’d like to be restacked by others - then you restack one for them!

2. Subscribe so you never miss an edition or an opportunity to share your work

3. Hit the Restack button on this post to spread the word to your own subscribers and welcome other writers into this community.

4. Keep an eye on your inbox - every Tuesday I’ll be featuring a few of our most engaging restackers, to get their work in front of ALL our free members.

Let’s find, share, and grow together.

Come learn the Benefits of a Restack Swap - and why you’d want to use them!
…or if you just want to know What Is A Restack On Substack?

Paul Arino
The Substack Restack Exchange

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References:

How a Substack Restack works!

Remember the good-ole-days of search engine optimization? Back when everyone was sacrificing readability just to cram “Best Substack SEO Growth Techniques” into a heading five times?

We spent decades bowing to the algorithm updates of Google’s crawling bots. We obsessed over keyword density, meta descriptions, and back-link profiles all for one holy grail - Ranking Number One.

That victory meant the lion’s share of web traffic, ad revenue, and brand authority.

That game is effectively over!

While marketers are still frantically tweaking their pages for traditional keyword rankings, the entire landscape of how we find information has shifted. People aren’t scrolling through ten blue links anymore. They’re opening an AI chat interface, typing a complex question, and reading a single synthesized answer.

If your service/brand/newsletter isn’t cited in that answer, you don’t exist. Which means the entire objective of digital marketing has inverted.

The goal is no longer to rank #1 on Google. It’s to become the foundational training text and retrieval data that LLMs use to answer the question in the first place.

The Shift from “Destination” to “Synthesizer”

To understand why traditional SEO is losing its teeth, look at your own behavior over the last year.

When you want to know which AI Tools are best for writing newsletters, do you open a search engine, click through three different affiliate listings stuffed with identical pros and cons, and dig for the truth? Or do you ask an AI model to break down the top three options based on your exact constraints?

Most of us more and more are choosing the latter.

When AI responds, it doesn’t send the user away to a webpage immediately. It processes a massive web of data, extracts core concepts, and delivers a definitive, native synthesis.

For brands, this changes the conversion funnel entirely. We’re moving from a traffic economy (getting people to click a link) to an authority economy (being the foundational source of truth that shapes AI’s understanding).

If an AI model’s training data or live retrieval mechanism deeply understands your articles, your case studies, and your unique methodology - your ideas become the architecture of its answer.

You aren’t fighting for a click anymore. You are fighting to be baked into the collective consciousness of the machine.

How LLMs Actually “Read” Your Industry

If you want to influence AI’s answer, you have to understand how these models ingest information. They don’t care about your keyword stuffing. In fact, modern algorithms are increasingly hostile to generic, formulated content.

Instead, AI models consume the web in macro-chunks - developer documentation, deep Reddit threads, academic papers, niche industry forums, transcripts from obscure podcasts, and authoritative Substacks.

• They look for consensus and depth: If twelve different engineers on GitHub and three respected technical blogs all agree that your API handles memory management a certain way, AI internalizes that fact.

• They value raw primary sources: AI models are trained to sniff out fluff. Content that regurgitates the same generic internet consensus gets flattened into noise. Content that introduces original data, unique terminology, or contrarian frameworks gets weighted as a signal.

This creates a brutal paradox for traditional marketers. The cleaner, safer, and more “SEO-optimized” your post may be, the more invisible it is to AI.

LLMs look right past generic marketing copy because it lacks informational density. They want the raw, messy, highly specific meat of your actual expertise.

The Playbook: How to Optimize for the AI Brain

If ranking #1 is dead, what does a modern visibility strategy look like? How do you optimize for AI’s internal neural network?

1. Stop Writing for Keywords, Start Inventing Mental Models

AI loves structure, but it also loves distinct concepts. If you want an LLM to cite your Substack or services offered when answering a question, you need to give it a vocabulary it can latch onto. Name your frameworks. Define your proprietary processes. Give clear, distinct names to your methodologies so when an AI model processes text across the web, your brand name is permanently fused to that concept.

2. Plant Your Flag in High-Density Text Communities

Where do LLMs scrape for deep human differences? Not sterile corporate landing pages. They pull heavily from targeted subreddits, developer forums, niche Substack publications, professional Discord servers, and open-source documentation. If your brand isn’t part of the organic, messy conversations happening where industry practitioners actually argue and solve problems, AI will never learn your name. Try to cultivate organic advocacy where the experts actually talk.

3. Publish Primary Research and Untwisted Data

AI models are hungry for grounded truth statistics, raw benchmark tests, and unvarnished case studies. When you publish original research that nobody else has, you become an indispensable voice in the web’s information graph. Every time another blog, journalist, or researcher references your data, AI’s training weight and retrieval probability for your brand skyrocket.

4. Optimize for Retrieval, Not Just Recognition

Search Generative Experiences and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) mean AI systems pull live context from the web on the fly. When these systems crawl your site, they need to find clear, modular, highly structured information. Use precise headings, clear definitions, and direct answers to complex problems. Make it as easy as possible for a scraping algorithm to parse your logic without having to decode three paragraphs of marketing transition words.

If you’d like to know more about formatting your Substack articles or newsletter to be featured on AI Answer engines, you can use this: Substack Featured In AI Search

The Bottom Line

The era of gaming an algorithm with tricks, plugins, and keyword counts is coming to a quiet, unceremonious end.

The business or brands that win tomorrow won’t be the ones with the best SEO agencies manipulating a search engine. They’ll be the ones whose ideas, data, and terminology are so deeply embedded in the digital ecosystem - that AI cannot answer a question about their topic without echoing their name.

Stop trying to rank for Google search, and start building the text the world thinks with!

Paul Arino
Substack Growth Tips

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Like to learn more:

• How Gemini AI Search Works

• How Perplexity AI Search Works

• How ChatGPT AI Search Works

• How Microsoft Copilot AI Search Works

If you’re a new Substack creator, your “About” page is often treated as a digital afterthought - a mere placeholder for a brief bio or a handful of social media links. This is a critical strategic error.

Your “About” page is not a biography, it’s your Conversion Manifesto. It’s the primary checkpoint where a curious reader decides whether to invest their most precious resource - Time - into your newsletter. To move beyond the casual browser and cultivate a committed subscriber, your page must be exhaustive, serving as a comprehensive blueprint of your value proposition.

The Triad of Authority

An exhaustive “About” page must solve for three psychological hurdles that every potential reader experiences upon landing on your site: Relevance, Utility, and Credibility.

1. Identify Your Specific Audience (Who You Serve)

Generic content targets everyone, and consequently, resonates with no one. An exhaustive page narrows the lens. You must explicitly define your ideal reader.

• The “Vibe Check”: Describe not just their demographics, but their psychology. What are they worried about at 2:00 AM? What are their professional aspirations?

• The In-Group Signal: Use language that signals, “If you are reading this, you are in the right place.” By naming your audience, you simultaneously filter out those who aren’t a fit, which actually strengthens your brand authority.

2. Define the Transformation (The Problems You Solve)

Readers don’t subscribe for information, they subscribe for transformation. Information is a commodity, your unique perspective on how to apply that information is the premium product.

• The Pain/Gain Mapping: Explicitly list the specific problems your publication addresses. If you write about productivity, don’t just say “I write about time management.” Say, “I solve the problem of burnout for mid-career software engineers by replacing outdated culture with systems-based workflow design.”

• The Promised Land: Clearly articulate the outcome of reading your work. What will they know, feel, or be able to accomplish after a month of following your newsletter?

3. Establish Your Credentials (Professional Background)

Why should a stranger trust your voice over the thousands of others competing for their attention? Your background is the social proof that justifies your authority.

• Curate, Don’t Catalog: You don’t need to provide a chronological resume. Instead, highlight the specific experiences, failures, or certifications that make you uniquely qualified to hold your current stance.

• The “Why Now?” Narrative: Briefly explain the pivot point in your career that led you to Substack. Sharing the “origin story” of your expertise helps humanize your professional accolades, making your authority accessible rather than intimidating.

The Structural Anatomy of an Exhaustive “About” Page

To ensure your page performs, organize it into a logical flow that guides the reader toward a subscription:

• The Hook: A high-level mission statement that addresses the reader directly.

• The "Who You Are": A concise, authority-building summary of your background.

• The Roadmap: An explanation of what to expect (content, recurring segments, etc.).

• The Call to Action: A direct, friction-less invitation to subscribe.

The Strategic Advantage: The “Depth” Dividend

When you make your “About” page exhaustive, you achieve two secondary benefits:

• Search and SEO: By explicitly including the keywords, topics, and problem statements relevant to your niche, you make your newsletter more discoverable to people searching for those specific solutions.

• Content Pillars: An exhaustive “About” page forces you to clarify your own brand. If you find it difficult to write an exhaustive page, it is a diagnostic indicator that your newsletter’s focus may be too scattered. Use this process to refine your editorial mission.

Ultimately, readers are looking for a sense of certainty. By taking the time to detail exactly who you serve, what problems you solve, and why you’re the expert to solve them, you are doing more than writing a page - you’re building the foundation for a future subscriber.

Paul Arino
How To Grow Your Substack

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What is a Substack Recommendation Swap?

A Substack Recommendation Swap is a growth strategy where two newsletter writers agree to recommend each other’s publications to their respective audiences. By adding one another to their “Recommendations” lists, which typically appear during the subscription flow or on a dedicated discovery page - writers can share their subscriber bases, leveraging high-trust referrals to drive growth rather than relying on cold traffic or social media.

How does a Recommendation Swap work?

To execute a successful recommendation swap, writers typically follow these steps:

1. Identify Compatible Audiences: Find a newsletter with a similar reader base or niche that complements your own, ensuring the content is valuable to both sets of readers.

2. Propose the Swap: Reach out to the author via chat or Substack Notes, suggesting a mutual recommendation. Be specific about why the partnership makes sense for both parties.

3. Update Recommendation Settings: Once agreed upon, both writers navigate to their Dashboard > Recommendations settings and add the other publication.

4. Confirm and Validate: Once added, both newsletters will start displaying the other’s publication, allowing subscribers to opt into both simultaneously when signing up.

Why use Recommendation Swaps for growth?

Recommendation swaps are highly effective for three primary reasons:

• High-Trust Referral: Readers are significantly more likely to subscribe to a newsletter that comes recommended by a writer they already trust, compared to finding it through a link on another site or social media feed.

• Zero-Cost Acquisition: This growth strategy relies on mutual cooperation, effectively making it a free way to gain high-quality, relevant subscribers.

• Algorithm Synergy: Substack’s recommendation engine uses these connections to suggest newsletters to other potential readers, creating a compounding loop that increases visibility across the platform.

Use this if you’d like to learn more on asking other publications for Substack Recommendations

Are you looking for or planning to coordinate a Recommendation Swap for your own newsletter?

Paul Arino
Substack Growth Tips

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When we hit publish on these Substack posts, we’re all doing the same thing… betting (or hoping) that someone else, somewhere, cares about what we have to say.

But the what changes everything. For some, Substack is a filing cabinet for their professional expertise. For others, it’s a therapist’s office, a place to sort through the messy, non-linear reality of being alive.

So, I want to turn the microphone on you.

If you’re a writer on this platform (which I’m assuming everyone is), I’d like to know: What do you write about, and why now?

Are you trying to document & share your complex life? Are you trying to help others with your expertise? Are you trying to grow your small business or services? Are you translating complex AI jargon into human language? Are you writing the comic or book you’ve always had in your head?

I’m genuinely interested in the “Why”! Not just the topic (though I’d love to hear the specifics) - but the motivation. What was the moment you said, “I’m going to start a newsletter and start writing on Substack” - and what keeps you coming back to that blinking cursor when the initial excitement fades?

Now Onto The Discoverability Part of Substack

Do you wish your topic or writings were more easily discovered by others?

Because while you’re sharing your “Why”, I’d have to ask: Are you actually looking for more discoverability?

Now’s your chance to share it here with others!

We all talk about growth, but there’s a tension there. Do you want your work to be found by anyone with an internet connection, or are you actually building a smaller quieter room where you can be truly understood?

Is the growth & discoverability struggle holding you back from writing more of what you actually want to?

Drop a comment below, and share anything you want about your Substack. Or, better yet, link to a post you feel perfectly captures what your Substack is all about.

Let’s see what we’re all building?
Sharing = Discoverability

Paul Arino
Substack Growth Tips

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Most writers think the goal of a Substack post is to keep a subscriber glued to the page until the very last sentence. That’s great for retention, but it’s terrible for discoverability.

If you want your writing to appear in Google’s AI Overviews - those bold, summarized boxes that pop up before the actual search results, you have to stop writing for people and start writing for queries.

AI models are not searching for your “thought leadership” or your “writer voice.” They are looking for definitive, structured, and factual answers to specific questions.

If you want to land in the snippet, here is the blueprint.

Structure Your Headlines as Questions

AI systems act as librarians. When a user asks, “How do I grow a newsletter without social media?”, AI scans the web for a page that directly addresses that question.

If your article title is “My Thoughts on Growth,” you will never be found. If your title is “How to grow a Substack newsletter without using social media,” you’ve just handed AI the key.

Use your headers (H2 and H3 tags) to pose sub-questions that a real human would type into a search bar.

The Answer-First Paragraph

AI loves the use of few words to express a point. It wants the answer to be contained in a single punchy paragraph, ideally within the first 100 words of your post.

Don’t start with a three-paragraph personal realization about how you felt while drinking coffee this morning. Start with the solution.

• The formula: [The Problem] is best solved by [The Solution] because [Reason]. To do this, you need to [Step 1], [Step 2], and [Step 3].

By front-loading the answer, you make it easy for AI to scrape your content as a complete summary.

Use Definition Blocks

AI models love clear concise definitions. If you’re writing about a specialized topic, create a block of text that defines a key term or process.

Example: “A Substack Recommendation Loop is a growth strategy where writers cross-promote other newsletters to share subscriber bases. It’s effective because it relies on high-trust referrals rather than cold traffic.”

When you isolate a definition like this, you make it incredibly easy for Google to pluck that snippet and put it into an AI answer.

Provide Data or The Friction

AI is great at synthesis but bad at experience. It can’t tell you how a software package feels to use or what happened when you tried a strategy and failed.

To win, include primary data. Don’t just say “cross-posting helps.” Say, “I tracked 50 posts over six months, and cross-posting resulted in a 14% increase in new subscribers, while social media posts resulted in less than 2%.”

AI models are heavily weighted to favor sources that provide original evidence. If your article contains a unique data point or a specific “I tried this and here is exactly what went wrong” section - you may become the most valuable source on the web for that query.

Kill the Vague Headlines

“You Won’t Believe What I Learned About Substack” is the death of your SEO. It provides zero context for AI.

AI doesn’t know what you learned, and it won’t gamble on your link to find out.

Be boringly specific.

• Bad: The Truth About Substack.

• Good: A step-by-step guide to migrating a WordPress blog to Substack.

The Litmus Test

Before you hit publish, ask yourself… If AI had to explain this topic to a user in three sentences, could it pull the answer directly from my headers and first paragraph?

If the answer is yes, you started writing a map for AI to find you. You aren’t just writing a post - you’re building a resource that the internet’s most powerful tools need to cite to stay relevant.

3 Reasons WHY You Want To Be Featured On AI Overviews

1. Enhanced Brand Authority and Trust: Being cited as a source in AI Overview signals to both Google’s systems and your readers that your content is trustworthy, authoritative, and expert-level. This halo effect can strengthen your reputation even among users who do not click through to your site, as it associates your brand with credible information.

2. Prime Visibility and "Top-of-Funnel" Exposure: AI Overviews occupy the most prominent space at the top of search results - often appearing before traditional organic links. This placement guarantees high brand recognition and puts you in front of users early in their research process, creating a foundation for discovery even in a search environment where some queries become zero-clicks.

3. Access to Qualified, High-Intent Traffic: While AI features may reduce the total volume of casual clicks, the traffic you do receive is often higher quality. Users who click through from an AI summary are typically more educated on the topic and have a genuine high-intent interest in reading the in-depth context or unique insights that only your full article can provide.

Have you tried optimizing your Substack articles for AI search yet?

Paul Arino
Substack SEO Growth Strategies

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If you’ve been writing on Substack for a while, you’ve probably noticed the “Recommendations” link in your dashboard. Maybe you’ve even seen your subscriber count jump a little and wondered, Did someone actually just recommend me?

It’s easy to think there’s some complex algorithm deciding who gets promoted, but the truth is much simpler, and honestly, way more human. Here is what’s going on behind the scenes when a fellow writer adds you to their list.

You Get a Notification (Usually)

When someone adds you to their recommendations, the system doesn’t always ping you instantly. Substack wants to make sure the recommendation is actually driving traffic before they bother you.

• If they already subscribe to you: You’ll likely get an email notification within about an hour.

• If they aren’t a subscriber: You won’t hear a peep until their recommendation starts actually converting into new readers for you.

Essentially, Substack waits for proof that the recommendation is “working” before it formally introduces you to your new fan club.

Your Substack Gets a Prime Spot in the “Subscribe Flow”

This is the real magic. When a reader clicks Subscribe on another writer’s publication, they’re immediately shown a Recommended screen. Your publication appears there alongside others the creator has chosen.

Because this happens at the exact moment a reader has already committed to subscribing to someone else, they are in a discovery mindset. They’ve already decided they like the host writer’s taste, so they’re much more likely to trust that recommendation and hit Subscribe on your page, too.

Your Link Lives on Their Homepage

Unless the other writer has disabled it, your publication is now effectively a permanent fixture on their homepage. It’s a subtle ongoing endorsement that lives there as long as they keep you in their settings. It’s not a one-time blast - it’s a steady stream of passive discovery that happens whenever someone visits their site.

You Might Show Up in a “Digest” Email

Every once in a while, Substack sends an automated email to that writer’s subscribers highlighting their new recommendations. If they’ve included a blurb - a short note about why they like your work, it gets featured in that email.

Here’s-a-Tip: If you’re the one doing the recommendations, always add a blurb. It’s the difference between a cold link and a personal endorsement. It signals to the reader why they should care, and it gives the writer you’re recommending a nice piece of text they can copy and paste onto their own Welcome Page.

Does it actually help your Substack grow?

Honestly, yes. But it’s not magic.

If you get recommended by a massive account, you’ll see a spike. But I’ve found that being recommended by a smaller, hyper-active writer who’s in the trenches growing their own list often pays off more. They’re actively pushing their own publication, which means more eyeballs on that Subscribe flow page where you’re featured.

Here’s the takeaway though? Don’t stress about beating the system. It’s just networking. If you’re writing stuff people actually want to read, other writers will notice. And when they do, that recommendation isn’t just an algorithm boost - it’s a real person telling their readers, “Hey, you should check this person out as well.”

That’s how you actually grow a sustainable publication. You don’t need a viral post - you just need enough people with good taste to vouch for you.

If you’re interested in actually asking others for a Recommendation - you can read my previous article here: How to Ask for Substack Recommendations

Paul Arino
HowToTipsTricks.substack.com

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Think of Substack tags not as a chore, but as a digital roadmap for your readers!

Unlike rigid SEO keyword stuffing you may see on other blogs, Substack tags function as a living organizational tool. They categorize your posts into targeted collections, allowing new subscribers to find your articles based on their specific interests.

When you tag a post, you’re essentially building a library that helps the platform’s recommendation engine surface your work to the right people, transforming a random collection of newsletters into a cohesive, searchable destination.

So, what actually are Substack tags?

Think of tags as your own internal filing system. They aren’t the broad categories you see on a news site - they are metadata labels you slap onto your posts to group them by theme, series, or sections.

When you tag a post, Substack automatically generates a unique dedicated landing page for that tag. Suddenly, that one post isn’t living in isolation - it’s sitting at a table with every other post you’ve written on that specific topic.

And the best part is, you can use that tag URL as links in your posts or articles!

Why bother?

Aside from making your publication look professional, tags solve the “new reader” problem. When someone discovers your newsletter today, they aren’t going to read your last 50 posts. They want to know, “Does this person write about stuff I care about?”

If you have a tag for “Deep Dives” or “Case Studies” or “Friday Rants,” a new reader can click that link and instantly see the best of your work in that topic. It turns a chaotic feed into a categorized portfolio.

The Substack Homepage Trick: Turning Tags into Navigation

Most writers look at the Navigation section in their Substack settings and see “Home” and “About.” They leave it at that. But if you scroll down to the bottom of that menu, you can add custom links. This is where you level up.

Here is exactly how to do it:

1. Tag Consistently: First, go back through your older posts and add tags. Be disciplined. If you create a tag called “Writing Tips,” don’t also create one called “Tips for Writing.” Pick one and stick to it.

2. Grab the URL: Navigate to your Dashboard > Settings > Website > Tag Section - and click to open one of those Tag URL’s, then copy it - it will look something like this (https://yourdomain.com/t/writing-tips).

3. Update Your Homepage Navigation Bar: Head to Dashboard > Settings > Website > Navigation.

4. Add the Link: Click Add Item. Enter the Title for it, and in the Link box paste that tag URL you just copied.

5. Save: Hit save and refresh your homepage.

* As an easier way to do this in the future, you can just click the three dots (…) next to a tag in your tag list there - and choose “Add to navigation bar”

So now, the links at the top of your homepage aren’t just showing - Home, Notes, Archive, About… it’s a table of contents.

You just effectively transformed your publication from a static blog into a living, searchable resource. It takes maybe ten minutes to set up, but it makes your site feel like a destination rather than a chore to navigate.

Stop letting your best work get buried in the pile. Start tagging, link them in your header, and actually show your readers what you’ve built.

You can use this link if you’d like to learn more about Adding Tags To Your Substack Posts

Paul Arino
Substack Tips For Growth

I recently shared a Detailed Explanation of Substack Notes as well, and what actually happens after you post them.

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