The Substack
Field Guide
The No-Bullshit Guide to Building a Publication That Actually Works
10,000 words · 14 chapters · 80 pages · Updated throughout 2026
Every Substack guide you've seen was written by someone selling a course about Substack. They tell you it's easy. They tell you subscribers appear if you post consistently and believe in yourself.
They leave out the part where it's actual work, where the first three months feel like writing into a void, and then they want to sell you a course that teaches you things the platform's own help docs cover for free.
Written by someone in the trenches at 500 subscribers, not lecturing from a mountaintop at 100k.
What's Inside
Initial Setup
Configuration that wins on day one. No guesswork.
Notes Strategy
How the algorithm actually works in 2026.
Audio & Podcasting
Automatic Spotify distribution + the brand-new Recording Studio.
Video & Livestream
Video posts, YouTube delivery, Substack TV, and livestreaming.
Community Tools
Chat, comments, and community — the right way.
Growth (No BS)
Getting subscribers without tactics, funnels, or follow-for-follow schemes.
Going Paid
Honest pricing math and exit surveys that actually help.
AI Discoverability
How to make your content findable in the age of AI.
Platform Risk
The full backup plan. Because you should always have one.
14 Chapters. Zero Fluff.
The Farmer's Almanac
for Your Publication
This guide is free. It gets updated throughout 2026 every time Substack ships a new feature or changes how something works. Grab it, set up your Substack, and come back for the updated edition when the platform moves.
Ready to Download?
The Substack Field Guide: 2026 Edition
80 pages · 4.69 MB · PDF · Free (pay what you want)
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