Why I Started a Substack When I Already Have a Website and Blog
I am not quite sure what my intention was when I tentatively stepped into the realm of Substack almost two months ago now.
The last thing I wanted was to dilute my focus with yet another platform I would have to keep up with. But I was curious about having a space where my thoughts could unfold in long form, without needing to be condensed into a social media snapshot or neatly packaged into something with a clear purpose primed for SEO here on my blog.
Looking back at my essays so far, they speak to how I see life, which is also the lens through which I create everything, from the way I approach design and creative strategy to how I work with clients making sense of all the different threads that make up their businesses.
I often think about the blur between life and business, because I have never been particularly good at separating the two when so much of how I see the world is interwoven with my work. And I kinda like that.
So, let’s dive into it a little deeper…
If I already have a website and blog, why did I start a Substack?
(Here is what my Substack page and current essays look like at the time of writing this blog)
Seven reasons I wanted a space of my own on Substack
1. A fresh canvas
A website blog tends to focus on practical advice around the business niche – in my case branding, websites and creative strategy (although looking at my archives you can quickly see that my business has had various iterations that came before – see also note below*) Substack gives me room to explore the more personal ideas that sit alongside my work, without needing to fit them into a more focussed content plan.
2. Not everything needs to be SEO-driven
How I see the world influences everything I create. Sharing more of that perspective feels like a natural extension of my business, rather than something separate from it. But equally it felt as thought it needed a space to breathe beyond my website blog, and I want somewhere to write about things simply because they interest me or maybe more loosely related, without every piece needing to answer a search query or serve a clear and specific purpose.
3. A different kind of connection
A traditional blog can often feel like a one-way conversation. Substack features are inherently community driven - bringing writing, email and community connection together, creating more opportunities for readers to respond and connect.
4. Making connection easier as an introvert
I can find it hard to initiate collaborations and build connections, even when I genuinely want to. Having conversations and discovering other writers through the platform features, helps make those connections and conversations feel more natural.
5. The possibility of paid community
I don't have a grand plan for this yet, but I really like the idea of exploring a more connected space over time. Any writing I share will remain free, but there may be opportunities to develop other paid community offerings in the future and I like that this is built into the framework should I choose to pursue it.
6. More than just a place to write
I'm interested in exploring Substack's audio, podcast and video features, too. I like the idea of sharing/consuming thoughts in different ways, rather than relying on written posts alone. For a long time I’ve been curious about incorporating audio into my business, and Substack has made that easily accessible. Currently I record an audio voiceover for each essay I publish, so that people have the choice to listen instead of read. I also find that listening to a real (not AI generated) voice helps me feel more intimately connected to the author.
7. A subscriber relationship beyond the social feed
Substack is based around a newsletter style set up, with subscribers receiving the longer pieces in their inbox. Even though I have an existing independent mailing list with Flodesk, I am intrigued to see how I can build an audience through both platforms over time.
I was also curious to see who else had a Substack and blog, and what they had to say about why that worked for them and their business. Here are a couple of snippets:
Carolyn on The Latest shared this distinction which resonated with me:
Your Website = Your “Forever Home” for Content - polished, evergreen, SEO-friendly.
Substack = The Conversation About That Content - personal, warm, story-driven, community-facing.
Rachel at BadRedhead Media says:
The First Thing Most People Miss: Substack Is an Email Platform. At its core, Substack is an email newsletter platform with built-in websites (meaning our publications) and social media (Notes). When you publish a post, it lands directly in subscribers’ inboxes. That’s the whole point.
So, how does Substack fit alongside my website blog?
For me, the two serve different purposes, and I don't see one replacing the other.
My website blog
Focussed more toward practical advice and resources
Helps potential clients find my business through search
Directly supports my services and expertise
Content shaped around what readers are searching for*
Part of my business website
My Substack
Personal essays and reflections on my world view
Creates opportunities for wider/deeper ongoing connection
Explores the ideas and experiences behind my work
More freedom to follow my curiosity
A space for writing, conversation and experimentation
*I added an asterisk here, because I don’t necessarily do a good job of this yet, ha ha. I have always felt the pressure to share just ‘business stuff’ on my blog but pushed back because I needed to allow my thoughts to roam more free-flow – so my blog became something in between. In creating a Substack, I’m intended that my blog will become more focussed.
Natural Crossovers
There will naturally be some overlap. Substack posts can also be discovered through search, and my website blog can be personal. The distinction is less about rigid rules and more about my intention behind each space going forward.
I'm still working out what Substack will become for me, and that's part of the appeal.
If you're interested in the thoughts, experiences and ideas that sit behind my work, as well as the glimpses into life beyond business, I'd love you to join me there.
Subscribe to my Substack for free essays and reflections on creativity, identity, doing things differently and finding your own way.
