This is helpful information. I do wonder, though, if Substack might eventually use tags differently. It’s possible they could adjust their algorithm to incorporate tags more directly. I’ve been tagging my posts with that in mind, just in case.
There's no downside to this approach, and I'll probably continue to do the same. You never know, and it helps me be agile in terms of changing how things are organized within my publication.
Hi Jason, exactly this! When I reported on the new 150 categories in September I was already looking into the future. And based on my experience as a marketing manager and helping brand be seen and my own part time online writing experience it's exactly how it goes. However, it's one thing of many. If you the time you can add tags with the new list in mine. As Linda from Substack told me in the past hashtags were a thing because the algorithm didn't know what the story is about. Now LLMs obviously are better. Still, tags can help them. Have a great weekend, Kristina 🤗
Well that's a good approach. It's probably like categories in WordPress. Maybe it will help people find more of your work. I wonder if you can add them to a post to click on.
Yes you could create a post with a list of tag names for people to click on. Add a hyperlink to the tag page to each tag name. Or just paste in the hyperlinks and let Substack do its page preview magic.
I admit I fell hard for this--I didn't notice any difference after four tag-happy posts--but you have saved me the time of going back to tag-up the back catalogue. Thanks for that and for demystifying tags, Karen!
Yeah very true. And when influencers post misleading information it creates work and frenzy that lead to reduced value in the platform. Sometimes it seems that this platform is a haven from so much garbage but it's being discovered.
Loved this breakdown, Karen. So refreshing to see someone cut through the hype with clarity and receipts. The pseudo-category insight was especially helpful—I’d noticed those extra buttons popping up but had no idea they were tied to tags.
Also appreciated the reminder that tags ≠ discoverability magic. Substack’s strength is still the human connection and consistency, not metadata voodoo.
Hey Karen, such a timely post. Thanks for setting the record straight. I especially appreciate the Hamish quote. With that said, my husband (who also writes here) and I may have stumbled upon the key to where to find these pseudo-categories. It seems they are the topics and sub-topics that you can set in your reading preferences. I happened across them about two weeks ago and started customizing them. Low and behold, that changed the categories/topics that list across my home page. I have screenshots but I can't paste them here. So I'm going to restack this post and paste the screenshots there. Since then, I've begun adding tags to my long-form posts that match these subtopics...just in case at some point in the future Substack may decide to utilize them within their algorithm. Can you think of a reason NOT to add these tags, even if they're useless now (other than categorizing, as you explained)?
Hi Sharon, I saw your note, brilliant insight thank you. I don't see any reason not to add tags to new posts, I just hated the idea that hundreds of writers were wasting hours of time opening old posts to add tags in the hope that they would magically get 45,000 new subscribers.
TBH I am probably going to start adding topic-based tags to my content from now. It's super-easy if you use templates as the tags carryover when you duplicate an old post or existing draft.
I get it about not wasting hours thinking it would help boost us to 45k subs. I read that post and was a bit skeptical. I haven’t used templates yet, but I’ll look into it. I use them constantly in my Evernote system, so I know how handy they can be. And the fact that tags are included is a nice bonus. Thanks again! Wonderful to be connected with you here. So glad I found you on Medium.
Hi Karen, happy I could help during our quick chat. Looking forward to the live.
To be honest, I don't want to write about TAGS again as they are just one of many 'tools' but maybe based on Ana's, Kristi's and your post I'll add my two cents too 😂
One think I mentioned during our call was for people who want to migrate their posts these tags can be helpful as they organize your website. Same when I moved all my Medium stories to my website.
When you look at Substack as a platform from a meta level and look at the tag cloud you'll also get a better understanding. Ok kids are up. Talk soon
Thanks for this, Karen! Your no-nonsense breakdown of tags vs. categories is exactly what I needed. So much fluff out there about 'hacking' Substack growth when really, it's all about showing up and doing the work. Appreciate you cutting through the noise
LOL, tags are such a hot debate lately! I also wrote about them last weekend, but NOT in a growth way. I read that 45K post and thought the same as you—there's no way a tag or two contributed to that much growth. Then I saw Hamish's comment, which confirmed it.
In general, there are WAY too many growth "hacks" on this platform when the real deal is to keep writing and engaging and actually be INTERESTING. The whole hack topic here is giving Medium vibes, which is one of the reasons I left Medium. It's kind of pukey, IMO.
Hi Kristi, Karen sent me a DM where she told me tags would be a hot topic. Then I did some research and found Hamish statement on Substack. Apparently first he said tags wouldn't do anything. Then he edit this. You know how much I love this platform however it's still "just another platform" with similar tools as others and tags are one of them.
Was happy to share my take on tags then as Karen told me she wanted to write an in depth piece.
As Linda Lebrun shared in our interview: Substack is about unique stories, personality, heart and soul.
Maybe you have time and want to join our LIVE Kristi. We have a date and time already. I'll send you a DM. Would be great to chat with Karen and you about TAGS & beyond. Greets from Germany 🌊
Thanks for this run through! I have a Section on my substack which I'd like to orgainse by tags, but it seems I can only do this on my home page. Is that your experience too?
Thanks for the mention and the great advice. I’m following your and Kristina’s advice and adding 5 tags to each new long-form post. The first one is whatever category that best fits the post. The remaining four are any grouping tags I’ve created and pseudo-categories that seem applicable. Since they are already set up in my custom tags, it’s super easy. I just add them from the drop down.
I don’t have enough content yet, but in the future, i will create a TOC post and link to these grouping tags. I’m doing this rather than adding them as a home page tab because people using the app wouldn’t otherwise see them, and the days of people reading mostly from their computers via browsers are behind us. Most now read from their phone using the Substack app.
It's going to take a few days for me to process all this. I think it will be helpful once I figure it all out. I've always thought I had the content, I just lacked the strat to get it out. So, thank you.
This is helpful information. I do wonder, though, if Substack might eventually use tags differently. It’s possible they could adjust their algorithm to incorporate tags more directly. I’ve been tagging my posts with that in mind, just in case.
There's no downside to this approach, and I'll probably continue to do the same. You never know, and it helps me be agile in terms of changing how things are organized within my publication.
Hi Jason, exactly this! When I reported on the new 150 categories in September I was already looking into the future. And based on my experience as a marketing manager and helping brand be seen and my own part time online writing experience it's exactly how it goes. However, it's one thing of many. If you the time you can add tags with the new list in mine. As Linda from Substack told me in the past hashtags were a thing because the algorithm didn't know what the story is about. Now LLMs obviously are better. Still, tags can help them. Have a great weekend, Kristina 🤗
Oh yeah that's a good point. Maybe LLMs are better so they just save us some time. That's AI working doubly hard for us.
Well that's a good approach. It's probably like categories in WordPress. Maybe it will help people find more of your work. I wonder if you can add them to a post to click on.
Yes you could create a post with a list of tag names for people to click on. Add a hyperlink to the tag page to each tag name. Or just paste in the hyperlinks and let Substack do its page preview magic.
I explain the tag page hyperlinks in my post.
I admit I fell hard for this--I didn't notice any difference after four tag-happy posts--but you have saved me the time of going back to tag-up the back catalogue. Thanks for that and for demystifying tags, Karen!
Yeah very true. And when influencers post misleading information it creates work and frenzy that lead to reduced value in the platform. Sometimes it seems that this platform is a haven from so much garbage but it's being discovered.
Loved this breakdown, Karen. So refreshing to see someone cut through the hype with clarity and receipts. The pseudo-category insight was especially helpful—I’d noticed those extra buttons popping up but had no idea they were tied to tags.
Also appreciated the reminder that tags ≠ discoverability magic. Substack’s strength is still the human connection and consistency, not metadata voodoo.
😍 metadata voodoo 😍 I may need to steal this!
Hey Karen, such a timely post. Thanks for setting the record straight. I especially appreciate the Hamish quote. With that said, my husband (who also writes here) and I may have stumbled upon the key to where to find these pseudo-categories. It seems they are the topics and sub-topics that you can set in your reading preferences. I happened across them about two weeks ago and started customizing them. Low and behold, that changed the categories/topics that list across my home page. I have screenshots but I can't paste them here. So I'm going to restack this post and paste the screenshots there. Since then, I've begun adding tags to my long-form posts that match these subtopics...just in case at some point in the future Substack may decide to utilize them within their algorithm. Can you think of a reason NOT to add these tags, even if they're useless now (other than categorizing, as you explained)?
Hi Sharon, I saw your note, brilliant insight thank you. I don't see any reason not to add tags to new posts, I just hated the idea that hundreds of writers were wasting hours of time opening old posts to add tags in the hope that they would magically get 45,000 new subscribers.
TBH I am probably going to start adding topic-based tags to my content from now. It's super-easy if you use templates as the tags carryover when you duplicate an old post or existing draft.
I get it about not wasting hours thinking it would help boost us to 45k subs. I read that post and was a bit skeptical. I haven’t used templates yet, but I’ll look into it. I use them constantly in my Evernote system, so I know how handy they can be. And the fact that tags are included is a nice bonus. Thanks again! Wonderful to be connected with you here. So glad I found you on Medium.
As always Karen, you offer smart, practical advice with wit and compassion. Thanks for saving me some strain on the brain.
I recommend Charles Heidsieck Non Vintage Champagne if you like Veuve!
Wow this was a big help! Definitely going to bookmark this for reference! Thank you 😊
Hi Karen, happy I could help during our quick chat. Looking forward to the live.
To be honest, I don't want to write about TAGS again as they are just one of many 'tools' but maybe based on Ana's, Kristi's and your post I'll add my two cents too 😂
One think I mentioned during our call was for people who want to migrate their posts these tags can be helpful as they organize your website. Same when I moved all my Medium stories to my website.
When you look at Substack as a platform from a meta level and look at the tag cloud you'll also get a better understanding. Ok kids are up. Talk soon
Thanks for this, Karen! Your no-nonsense breakdown of tags vs. categories is exactly what I needed. So much fluff out there about 'hacking' Substack growth when really, it's all about showing up and doing the work. Appreciate you cutting through the noise
LOL, tags are such a hot debate lately! I also wrote about them last weekend, but NOT in a growth way. I read that 45K post and thought the same as you—there's no way a tag or two contributed to that much growth. Then I saw Hamish's comment, which confirmed it.
In general, there are WAY too many growth "hacks" on this platform when the real deal is to keep writing and engaging and actually be INTERESTING. The whole hack topic here is giving Medium vibes, which is one of the reasons I left Medium. It's kind of pukey, IMO.
Hi Kristi, Karen sent me a DM where she told me tags would be a hot topic. Then I did some research and found Hamish statement on Substack. Apparently first he said tags wouldn't do anything. Then he edit this. You know how much I love this platform however it's still "just another platform" with similar tools as others and tags are one of them.
Was happy to share my take on tags then as Karen told me she wanted to write an in depth piece.
As Linda Lebrun shared in our interview: Substack is about unique stories, personality, heart and soul.
Maybe you have time and want to join our LIVE Kristi. We have a date and time already. I'll send you a DM. Would be great to chat with Karen and you about TAGS & beyond. Greets from Germany 🌊
Super helpful article and easily digestable.
Thank you for clarifying this. Every day is a school day here on Substack. Still so much to learn.
Thanks for this run through! I have a Section on my substack which I'd like to orgainse by tags, but it seems I can only do this on my home page. Is that your experience too?
Yes, sadly that’s right, you can’t organise section pages with tags :(
Thank you for this! Who knew tags could do so much heavy lifting? I’ll give it a shot and see what happens. Appreciate you sharing!
Thanks for the mention and the great advice. I’m following your and Kristina’s advice and adding 5 tags to each new long-form post. The first one is whatever category that best fits the post. The remaining four are any grouping tags I’ve created and pseudo-categories that seem applicable. Since they are already set up in my custom tags, it’s super easy. I just add them from the drop down.
I don’t have enough content yet, but in the future, i will create a TOC post and link to these grouping tags. I’m doing this rather than adding them as a home page tab because people using the app wouldn’t otherwise see them, and the days of people reading mostly from their computers via browsers are behind us. Most now read from their phone using the Substack app.
It's going to take a few days for me to process all this. I think it will be helpful once I figure it all out. I've always thought I had the content, I just lacked the strat to get it out. So, thank you.