Blog For Marketing Substack Writer’s Guide to Using Video for Growth

A Substack Writer’s Guide to Using Video for Growth

An image of Substack landing page

As a writer, you pour your heart and soul into your Substack newsletter. You craft the perfect sentences. You also provide immense value to your readers. But, in a world of overflowing inboxes, even the best writing can struggle to find a bigger audience. So, how do you grow?

From our experience helping thousands of creators build their brands, the answer is clear. You need to go beyond the written word. You need to embrace video. This guide is a playbook for Substack writers. We will show you how to use a simple AI video. Ultimately, it will help you attract new subscribers and delight your existing ones.

Why Video is the Ultimate Upgrade for Your Substack

Substack website features

Your newsletter is your core product. However, video is the ultimate marketing tool for it. Here’s why this strategy is so effective.

First, video helps you stand out. A dynamic video teaser on social media is far more likely to stop the scroll than a simple link to your article. Second, it caters to different learning styles. Some people in your audience will always prefer watching over reading. Finally, video builds a personal connection. When subscribers see and hear from you, it builds a much deeper sense of community and trust.

5 Ways to Use AI Video to Supercharge Your Substack Growth

Substack video tool

Here are five proven strategies that we’ve seen creators use to grow their newsletters with AI video.

1. Create “Video Teasers” for Social Media

This is the most powerful way to promote your latest post. Instead of just tweeting a link, create a 30-second video. This video can highlight the most interesting hook or key takeaway from your article. As a result, it creates curiosity and drives high-quality traffic directly to your Substack.

2. Turn Your Newsletter into a “Video Summary”

After you publish, you can repurpose the article. Use an AI tool to turn the main points into a short, 2-minute summary video. Then, you can upload this to YouTube. This allows a whole new audience to discover your work through video search.

3. Offer “Video-Exclusive” Content for Paid Subscribers

This is a fantastic strategy for converting free subscribers to paid. You can offer a short, exclusive video that expands on a topic in your newsletter. This creates a powerful incentive to upgrade. It makes your paid tier feel much more valuable.

4. Create Animated Audiograms for Your Podcast

Many Substack writers also have a podcast. However, sharing audio clips on social media can be difficult. An audiogram is a short video that combines your audio with an animated waveform and captions. It’s a highly effective format for sharing your best podcast moments.

5. Make a Personal “Welcome Video” for New Subscribers

When someone new subscribes, you want to make a great first impression. Instead of a text-only welcome email, include a short, personal video from you. This simple touch can dramatically increase reader loyalty from day one.

How to Create a Substack Teaser Video in 3 Minutes with VidAU

You don’t need to be a video editor to create these assets. Here’s the simple process.

  • Step 1: First, copy the most interesting sentences from your Substack article.
  • Step 2: Next, paste that text directly into VidAU AI. The AI will instantly generate video clip variations and add animated captions.
  • Step 3: Finally, add your branding and export the video. It’s now ready to be shared on Twitter, LinkedIn, or any other platform.

Conclusion: Your Writing Deserves a Bigger Audience

You are already doing the hard work of writing a fantastic newsletter. Now, it’s time to give that work the audience it deserves. By embracing video, you can break through the noise. You can also build a stronger community and grow your subscriber list faster than ever before.

Click here to try VidAU for free and create your first Substack promo video today!

FAQs

Q: How do I promote my Substack on social media?

A: Sharing links is a start. However, the most effective way is to create unique content for each platform. A short “teaser video” summarizing your article is the best way to capture attention on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn.

Q: How often should I post on my Substack to grow?

A: Consistency is the most important factor. Whether it’s weekly or bi-weekly, stick to a schedule. We’ve found that creators who post consistently and promote each new post with a unique video see the steadiest growth.

Q: Is it better to have a free or paid Substack?

A: Most successful writers use a hybrid model. They offer a high-quality free newsletter to attract a large audience. Then, they offer exclusive content, like in-depth articles or bonus videos, to convert their most loyal readers into paid subscribers.

Scroll to Top