{"id":73826,"date":"2024-12-06T15:08:55","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T04:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elements.blog-cms.envato.net\/?p=55053"},"modified":"2025-12-02T17:10:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T06:10:19","slug":"substack-email-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/substack-email-marketing","title":{"rendered":"Beyond newsletters: How designers are using Substack to grow their business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Substack has emerged as more than just another newsletter platform\u2014it&#8217;s becoming a powerful tool for creative people to build their brands, share their expertise, and create new revenue streams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The platform combines hassle-free publishing with monetization options, letting creatives focus on what they do best: content. So, let&#8217;s look at four designers who use Substack in distinctive ways. We&#8217;ll see what works and help spark your own thinking about <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/creative-trend-predictions-envato\">how you can use Substack<\/a> as a designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Substack (and why should designers use it?)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At its core, Substack offers a straightforward proposition: write emails, grow your audience, and get paid for your work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But for designers, its value extends beyond basic newsletter functionality. The platform&#8217;s clean, minimalist interface puts your content center stage. Plus, the community features can help you grow and connect your following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DCiGGz_PNQd\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DCiGGz_PNQd\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On traditional social media, algorithms largely control the content feed. In contrast, Substack delivers your content directly to subscribers&#8217; inboxes. If they subscribe (and check their email), you dramatically improve your chances of being seen. This direct line of communication helps you build a passionate audience that you can continually reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s check out four leading design professionals using Substack to grow their audience and design following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creator spotlight: David Airey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For veteran designer <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/davidairey.substack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">David Airey<\/a>, the journey to Substack was driven by practicality. After years of jumping between costly email platforms, Airey searched for a better solution. &#8220;With more price increases coming from other providers, I heard good things about Substack and decided to switch. Now I send my newsletter completely free,&#8221; he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"607\" src=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/identity-designed.jpg\" alt=\"David Airey on Substack\" class=\"wp-image-89640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/identity-designed.jpg 850w, https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/identity-designed-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/identity-designed-768x548.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But moving to Substack was about far more than the cost savings. Airey&#8217;s approach is an excellent example of how designers can build trust and showcase their industry engagement. He maintains a consistent publishing rhythm, sending newsletters every month or two. Each edition is packed with carefully curated articles and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Airey&#8217;s approach to email marketing on Substack uses these principles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Consistency is king<\/strong>. Because he maintains a clear content focus, subscribers know exactly what to expect, leading to higher retention rates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quality over quantity.<\/strong> Monthly publishing allows time for thorough curation and prevents subscriber fatigue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Professional development showcase.<\/strong> The newsletter serves as proof to potential clients of active industry engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Just start,&#8221; Airey advises designers considering the platform. &#8220;Especially if you&#8217;re not already sending a newsletter, because it&#8217;s another way to show potential clients you&#8217;re actively interested in your profession and you can be trusted to deliver.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">David Airey&#39;s books are one of the best I&#39;ve come across on brand design and client-designer relationships. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SAByPCQ0qj\">pic.twitter.com\/SAByPCQ0qj<\/a><\/p>&mdash; GoodMan\u2122 (@OkunadeGoodMan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OkunadeGoodMan\/status\/1536757939037405188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">June 14, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Busy designers often worry about time management. Isn&#8217;t a Substack just <em>one more thing to do?<\/em> Airey&#8217;s approach shows that you don&#8217;t have to constantly send a newsletter to succeed. By sending just one newsletter each month, Airey manages to share insights while keeping his focus on client projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creator spotlight: Ali LaBelle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ali LaBelle&#8217;s Substack is more than just a newsletter platform. It&#8217;s a space to explore the overlap of creativity, design, and personal style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her newsletter <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/alilabelle.substack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u00c0 La Carte<\/a> now reaches 19,000 readers. Think of it like getting a fresh magazine in your inbox each month. Her &#8220;Sample Platters&#8221; show readers what catches her eye and shapes her work. Anyone can read these updates and interviews for free. If you want more, paid members get access to things like her handmade mood boards and guides to her favorite shops and products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cn7M8_HpUC4\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cn7M8_HpUC4\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LaBelle keeps things simple and organized in both her work and her newsletter. &#8220;I work at my dining table with my laptop and a mushroom lamp,&#8221; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/spacies.substack.com\/p\/29-questions-with-ali-labelle\" target=\"_blank\">she told the Spacies Substack<\/a>, showing how she values a clean, focused approach. She carefully plans each month&#8217;s content, ensuring readers get fresh ideas about all kinds of creative topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"542\" src=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ali-labelle-ala-carte.jpg\" alt=\"A La Carte by Ali LaBelle on Substack\" class=\"wp-image-89641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ali-labelle-ala-carte.jpg 850w, https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ali-labelle-ala-carte-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ali-labelle-ala-carte-768x490.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What sets \u00c0 La Carte apart is its strong community focus. A referral program rewards readers who share the newsletter. Plus, a portion of paid subscriptions goes to rotating charitable causes each quarter. &#8220;\u00c0 La Carte is a place to explore how we can live a life of creative abundance,&#8221; LaBelle <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/alilabelle.substack.com\/about\" target=\"_blank\">explains on her About page.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creator spotlight: Jesse Nyberg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graphic designer Jesse Nyberg brings a rebellious spirit to his Substack newsletter. It mixes <a href=\"https:\/\/design.tutsplus.com\/articles\/what-is-swiss-design-and-why-you-should-know-its-history--cms-38463\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Swiss design<\/a> principles with post-modern flair. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/gluesletter.substack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Glue&#8217;s Letter<\/a> shares an eclectic mix of content that somehow sticks together perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gluesletter.substack.com\/p\/post-whatever-the-fck-you-want\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/gluesletter.substack.com\/p\/post-whatever-the-fck-you-want\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In a recent post<\/a>, Nyberg advised, &#8220;Stop worrying a<\/span>bout what you think the algorithm wants.&nbsp;Focus instead on creating what you&#8217;re passionate about and what you actually enjoy.&#8221; This philosophy shapes his approach to both client work and content creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/glues-letter-screenshot.jpg\" alt=\"Glue's Letter by Jesse Nyberg on Substack\" class=\"wp-image-89642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/glues-letter-screenshot.jpg 850w, https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/glues-letter-screenshot-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/glues-letter-screenshot-768x425.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you read Glue&#8217;s Letter, you feel as if you&#8217;re peeking into Nyberg&#8217;s sources of inspiration. Instead of chasing trends, his newsletter puts you in the shoes of a working designer. The publication spans studio updates, creative insights, music recommendations, and more. This personal approach has helped him build an engaged community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Some post cards to honor my time in Switzerland.<br>More in thread below\ud83d\udcab\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffb <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/whi3nOnZNO\">pic.twitter.com\/whi3nOnZNO<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Jesse Nyberg (@permanentglue) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/permanentglue\/status\/1841892681284518050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">October 3, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While keeping his newsletter free, Nyberg encourages readers to &#8220;pay it forward.&#8221; He stays grassroots with his growth by asking his readers to refer his newsletter to their network. For those who want to dig deeper, he maintains an active <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/JesseNyberg\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube channel<\/a> focused on design and freelancing tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creator spotlight: Anthony Tseng<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With a background in cognitive science and human-computer interaction, Anthony Tseng has transformed his UX expertise into a specialized Substack. The <a href=\"https:\/\/uxmovement.substack.com\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/uxmovement.substack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UX Movement<\/a> newsletter is a paid publication that dives deep into the psychology of design. It takes a rigorous, research-backed approach to interface design challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udca1Native form components aren&#39;t always the best choice. Redesigning them can significantly improve the UX of your form.<br><br>Read article: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/t82aFiY1Nc\">https:\/\/t.co\/t82aFiY1Nc<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ELRa5dnGDM\">pic.twitter.com\/ELRa5dnGDM<\/a><\/p>&mdash; UX Movement (@uxmovement) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/uxmovement\/status\/1841866501571195012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">October 3, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UX Movement eschews short-form content for design deep dives. The posts offer comprehensive analysis backed by visual examples. Take his recent exploration of product image displays: it&#8217;s a mix of reviewing challenges and proposing solutions. He shares innovative solutions like scrolling image streams that ignite ideas for his audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ux-movement.jpg\" alt=\"UX Movement on Substack\" class=\"wp-image-89652\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ux-movement.jpg 850w, https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ux-movement-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ux-movement-768x524.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The newsletter operates on a premium model, reflecting its usefulness to professionals. Each article offers a healthy balance between theory and practical steps. UX Movement helps its audience make better choices in their day-to-day design work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;You&#8217;ll learn how human perception and cognition affect user behavior so you can make your interfaces easier to use,&#8221; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/uxmovement.substack.com\/about\" target=\"_blank\">Tseng explains<\/a>. Drawing upon his industry experience, he offers design advice beyond the standard, well-known UX principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Explore Substack today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Success on Substack comes in many forms for designers. David Airey shows how a simple monthly newsletter can build trust with clients. Ali LaBelle turned her creative interests into a thriving magazine-style community. Jesse Nyberg keeps things real with his raw, personal take on design life. And Anthony Tseng proves there&#8217;s room for deep, technical design content that readers will pay for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What links them all? A clear focus, regular posts, and content that truly reflects who they are. And there&#8217;s room for your unique perspective on Substack, too. Keep showing up in your readers&#8217; inboxes for a year, and watch where it takes you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need more creative inspiration that you can use, make sure to check out <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/\">Envato<\/a>. With one creative subscription, you get access to unlimited assets that you can use to grow your creative following. Learn more about email marketing with our post on <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/how-to-build-an-email-list\">how to grow your email list<\/a>, and be sure to check out the <a data-wpil=\"url\" data-wpil-url-old=\"aHR0cHM6Ly9lbGVtZW50cy5lbnZhdG8uY29tL2xlYXJuL2RpZ2l0YWwtbWFya2V0aW5nLXRyZW5kcw==\" href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/marketing-trends\">digital marketing trends<\/a> to expect in 2025 (hint: one of them is the growth of Substack partnerships!).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to use Substack from these four successful examples.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":89931,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[157,273],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design","category-marketing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73826\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}