Substack for Bookstagrammers: Is It Actually Worth It?

How can you utilize Substack to drive traffic to your Instagram page and books as an author

The answer is, absolutely yes!!!

I recently started posting on Substack, trying to write better in English (since it’s not my first language), to drive traffic to my digital shop and yapp with people in general about books. And if you are on Bookstagram or an author, I think you should do it too!

Writing book reviews, or just your experience with life on social media it’s the best idea if you want to grow an audience and your presence online and even monetize your reading hobby at one point.

What is Substack?

Substack is an online platform that enables writers, podcasters, and content creators to publish, monetize, and distribute their work directly to subscribers via email and an app. It combines a blogging system with subscription tools, allowing creators to offer free or paid newsletters and exclusive content while retaining ownership of their audience.

Do you need paid subscriptions to monetize?

You don’t need paid subscribers or a massive following to monetize your passion for books. What you actually need is an ecosystem where every platform you’re on is quietly pointing people toward your shop. I use Stan Store for my products. You can check it out here.

Here’s how it works in practice:

Your Instagram brings people in and warms them up. When they’re ready to go deeper, your bio link takes them straight to your Stan Store/Linktree. Your Substack gives those same people a reason to stick around between posts, and every newsletter naturally leads back to both your shop and your Instagram. Meanwhile Pinterest is doing the heavy lifting in the background, auto-publishing your Instagram posts and creating pins for your Substack articles, which means people who have never heard of you are discovering your work through search every single day.

So you create something once on Instagram, it goes to Pinterest automatically, someone finds it six months later, lands on your profile, clicks your link, and buys something. That’s a sale you made while you were reading. 🎀

That’s the whole funnel. Three platforms, one shop, and it keeps working whether you’re actively posting or not. This is genuinely what works for me and I wanted to share it because nobody talks about building it this way.

But Nissa, I don’t have time to post everywhere!!!

No worries! You don’t actually need to post every day on neither of the platforms. What you can do → post 3 times a week on Instagram, 1 article a week on Susbtack, 5 extra pins a week on Pinterest, the most important part is to be consistent for months, you might not see results in the first few weeks, and that is normal !!!

What about authors?

Okay so, is Substack worth it for authors? Genuinely yes,but let me be real with you about what it actually is and isn’t.

The biggest thing that makes it worth starting is that you own your list. You write something, it lands directly in their inbox. As an author that’s everything, because your readers are your whole business, and Bookstagram/Instagram can shut down at any moment, but your email list, it’s yours.

Where it actually shines for authors specifically is serialized fiction, behind the scenes content, personal essays, early chapter drops, deleted scenes, the stuff that makes readers feel like insiders. It’s a place to write without the pressure of performing for an algorithm and that alone is worth something when you’re also trying to write a whole book.

If you’re a writer who actually enjoys writing and wants to build a real connection with readers who chose to be there? Substack is genuinely one of the most underrated things an author can do right now. Think of it less as a revenue stream on its own and more as the place where your most loyal readers live. 🎀

How do I grow on Substack?

• Post Daily: (NOT Articles) Use Notes to share short-form thoughts, ideas, or insights. Notes offer much higher discovery potential than just writing articles alone.

• Engage with Others: Actively like and leave thoughtful comments on the notes of other creators in your niche (aim for the 10-5-1 rule: 10 likes, 5 comments, 1 direct message to a peer daily or every other day).

• Restack: Use the "restack" feature with your own commentary to build relationships and show your perspective

• Create “Entry Points”: Rather than just posting chronological posts, focus on creating “signature series” or evergreen, high-value content that encourages sharing (e.g., guidebooks, unique research). This also applies to Instagram, valuable content is what grew my account!

• Define Your Niche: Be clear in your “About” page and bio about what you offer.

How do I auto-publish on Pinterest?

When you publish an article on Substack, you will get some suggested images with your article, download them and publish them as well on Pinterest.

I will create another article for Pinterest that is more in depth, so make sure to Subscribe <3.

What subjects and niches you can write on Substack?

1. Technology & Digital Skills

• Software & Design: UX/UI insights, technical analysis, and programming trends.

• Web3 & Crypto: Analysis of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency trends.

2. Business & Finance

• Niche Finance: Personal finance, stock market analysis, and investment opportunities.

• Entrepreneurship/Solopreneurship: Building businesses, side hustles, and solopreneur strategies. (What I am trying to do but with the book /Bookstagram community)

3. Culture, Lifestyle & Society

• Motherhood/Parenting: Niche parenting advice (e.g., autism parenting, gentle parenting).

• Food & Cooking: Specialized newsletters on baking, specific cuisines, or recipe sharing.

• Travel & Expat Life: Personal narratives, travel tips, and stories from living abroad

4. Self-Improvement & Wellness

• Psychology & Health: Mental health insights, specialized medical topics (e.g., congenital heart disease), and wellness.

• Personal Growth: Self-discovery, journaling prompts, and philosophical explorations

5. Creative Arts & Education

• Fiction & Poetry: Serialized novels, short stories, and poetry.

• Comics & Illustration: Visual storytelling and daily/weekly comic strips.

• Book Reviews & Literary Analysis: Deep dives into specific genres, authors, or literary criticism.

This is specifically for Bookstagrammers!

Here's what nobody tells you: The most profitable newsletter niches aren't about your passions - they're about solving expensive problems.

Did this convince you? Thank you so much for reading!

Kisses <3