Should My Business Use Substack?
Have you been seeing all the buzz over Substack recently?
Big brands have been joining the platform left and right. And us? We've actually always been fans of Substack and predicted that it would be on the up tick in 2026.
Blogs, emails, and slow marketing platforms are something we are having clients lean more toward in 2026, in addition to socials. Not just because of this trend toward slow marketing, but because this type of content has major legs. It's evergreen, it's powerful, it's ??
If you haven't heard about Substack yet or are just wondering if it's something your brand needs to add to the strategy deck, read through this blog for all the answers.
The Rise of Slow Marketing
First, to understand Substack, we have to address the slow marketing movement that's plastering our screens. Slow marketing involves taking a slower, more strategic, more authentic, long-term approach to marketing. That means marketing channels like print, blogs, and evergreen feel-good content are coming back and being prioritized again over trends and fast-paced platforms.
Gen Z seems to be embracing this the most. "Gen Z consumers are turning away from their digital lives to live a bit slower," i.e., taking breaks from social or not having them at all. That's giving plenty of opportunities for slow marketing channels to come back into play, but in creative ways.
What Is Substack?
Substack is a publishing platform that combines blogging, email marketing, and audience-building all in one place. It allows creators and brands to write long-form content that gets delivered directly to subscribers’ inboxes. If you're keeping track, that means no complex algorithms, pay-to-play reach, or chasing trends.
It's basically a newsletter, blog, and community-based platform all rolled into one. There are two sides to it: public posts, or you can have a paywall to make revenue from content. Unlike standard blogging platforms, where traffic depends on SEO or promotion, Substack is built around relationships.
Who is Substack for?
Substack isn’t just for writers anymore. If you are a...
Service-based business
Founder and/or personal brand
Educator and coach
Agency and consultant
Product-based brand
Substack could be for you. Especially if your brand already creates educational content, thought leadership, and storytelling content.
Should my Brand Be On Substack?
Everyone can join Substack, but is it worth your while? (aka, is the ROI there for you?) If you are focused on:
Nurturing your audience
You’re tired of relying on social media alone for visibility
You want content that doesn’t disappear after 24 hours
Substack could be a good fit for your brand with the proper planning. Anyone with a strategy and a message can leverage Substack.
Why Your Brand Needs To Be On Substack
Owned Audience
You probably have heard that social media platforms are a "rented" audience. Meaning that, algorithms change, reach fluctuates, and accounts can disappear overnight. We have all seen a blackout or glitch of one social media app or another in recent years, showing us just how fast those accounts and platforms can disappear. Substack, on the other hand, like your website and traditional email list, can be considered more of an "owned" audience. It's an email list you control, no matter what trend or app update pops up.
Email + Blog in One Place
Substack removes the added work. Every post automatically becomes an email. That means, no extra formatting, no added subscriptions in your tool kit, and no scheduling on multiple platforms. You’re publishing once. Think about the time and money being saved in just this aspect alone.
It's Focus on Authenticity, Community, and Trust-Building
Being in someone's inbox? That's personal. Long-form content allows you to go deeper and connect directly. You can explain your process, share insights, break down trends, and position your brand as a resource. Not to mention, this content should lean into your brand's authenticity and nurturing side. You want your audience to get to know you, read on, and earn that spot in their inbox even more.
Monetization
As we mentioned, this platform gives you an option to monetize your content. Opportunities like premium content, paid communities, workshops and resources, sponsorships, and collaborations are all on the table. Having the option gives your content potential for major ROI and revenue opportunities.
We aren't saying abandon social media altogether, or jump on the app tomorrow. But keep Substack on your radar and continue to feel out if it will be the right move for your brand. Social media and Substack should work together to attract and nurture your audience, and a move to a new platform should always be a cohesive and strategized one.
If you're looking for a platform that leans into the slower, evergreen, and authentic content for your brand, Substack is ready for you, and we can help you pull it off from ideation to strategy to execution.
