How to feature your Substack newsletter on your Squarespace website
Building a community through your email newsletter is more than just staying in touch. It’s a way to share your insights, showcase your expertise and connect deeply with the clients, collaborators and colleagues who value your work. Substack is one of the leading platforms helping creators and experienced professionals do exactly that, giving you full control of your audience and content.
Recently, I worked with a messaging and content consultant who was launching her Substack to share her distinctive insights. However, she wasn’t sure how to effectively integrate her Substack newsletter into her Squarespace website. Should she use a simple text link? Embed a sign-up form? Place it on the homepage or tuck it away on a dedicated page?
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* What is Substack?
Substack is more than a newsletter platform. It’s a place for established practitioners, thought leaders and creators to share their insights and expertise directly with their audience. You maintain full ownership of your subscriber list and can offer premium, paid content for those who want deeper access. With no ads or algorithms interfering, Substack makes it easy to communicate your ideas clearly and professionally, giving your work the visibility and value it deserves.
For established practitioners, consultants and thought leaders, your newsletter is an extension of your expertise and professional presence, giving your audience access to your insights and guidance in a space you control.
Where to feature your Substack on your Squarespace website
The best placement for your Substack depends on how central your newsletter is to your overall business strategy. Here are several effective options, with examples to inspire your own approach.
1. Dedicated newsletter page
Creating a dedicated page on your site for your newsletter, complete with a description and sign-up form, is one of the most effective ways to draw attention to it. This page can serve as a focal point for sharing the unique value of your Substack newsletter, explaining what readers can expect and offering an easy way to subscribe.
Examples
Writer and podcaster Emma Gannon dedicates an entire page to her newsletter, featuring a sign-up form and compelling copy about what readers will gain by subscribing. (Emma’s site features gorgeous illustrations that really stand out!)
Gardening writer Alice Vincent’s newsletter page includes a welcoming description and makes it easy for readers to subscribe.(And I love her newsletter name: “Savour”.)
Cookbook author Melissa Hemsley adds a ‘subscribe’ button to her website navigation, linking to this newsletter page.
Pros & cons
✓ Increases visibility and presents your newsletter professionally.
✕ Overcrowding your site’s navigation can overwhelm users. If your navigation already feels cluttered (best practice is to limit it to 5-6 items), adding a new newsletter link may not be ideal. Prioritise navigation links based on your overall business strategy.
2. Homepage integration
If your Substack newsletter is central to your business strategy, featuring it on the homepage ensures it gains attention from new visitors. Adding a dedicated call-to-action section is an effective way to highlight its value and encourage sign-ups.
Examples
Novelist, journalist and broadcaster Elizabeth Day briefly mentions her newsletter, called Daylight (lovely name!) on the homepage, above the footer, making it easy for readers to find it without disrupting the flow of her site.
Pastry chef and food writer Nicola Lamb prominently mentions her weekly newsletter, Kitchen Projects on her homepage.
Author and podcaster Katherine May, directly embeds the Substack sign up form on her homepage.
Pros & cons
✓ High visibility and increased likelihood of conversions, especially for new website visitors.
✕ It can compete for space if your homepage already has multiple high-priority elements.
3. Footer placement
The footer is an excellent, subtle location for a newsletter sign-up. Visitors who scroll to the footer often do so to find essential links, so placing your Substack there gives it consistent exposure on every page of your site.
Example
In addition to her dedicated page, Alice Vincent includes her newsletter link in the footer, maximising its visibility across her site.
Pros & cons
✓ Appears on every page and can feel less intrusive.
✕ Lower visibility than a homepage feature; may be overlooked by casual browsers.
4. Mentions on blog posts
If you regularly publish content on a blog or journal page, incorporating mentions of your Substack is a smart way to reach readers already engaged with your work. Including a thoughtfully placed banner or link within your blog posts ensures the promotion feels natural and remains highly relevant.
Example
Melissa Hemsley adds a call-to-action on her blog posts encouraging readers to subscribe to her newsletter for recipes and tips.Check out a blog post example here. Melissa has also written a blog post about her Substack newsletter.
Pros & cons
✓ Reaches an already-engaged audience; feels like a natural extension of your content.
✕ May not capture users who only visit your homepage or other sections.
How to mention your Substack newsletter
Once you’ve chosen the best spots to feature your Substack, it’s important to write a compelling invitation. Here are a few tips:
1. Explain the value
Why should readers subscribe? Share specific benefits, such as exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights or curated recommendations.
2. Clarify free vs. paid options
If you offer both free and paid versions of your Substack, be clear about what’s included in each.
3. Consider your audience’s familiarity
Not everyone may be familiar with Substack. A brief note on what Substack is and why you chose it can be helpful.
Linking and embedding
Now, let’s talk about the technical side of adding Substack to Squarespace.
1. Linking
A simple text link is the easiest way to start. For example, create a button or add a link within your site’s navigation, leading to your Substack page.
2. Embedding a sign-up form
Substack provides an embeddable sign-up form that you can place on your website, but note that Squarespace requires a bit of tweaking for this to work. Use an HTML block and follow Substack’s instructions to add the form code. This creates a seamless sign-up experience right on your site.
Strategic tips for placement
When deciding where and how often to mention your Substack on your site, keep these strategic considerations in mind:
1. Prioritise key areas
If building a community on Substack is a major focus for your business, consider placing links or sign-up forms in multiple high-visibility areas.
2. Avoid overcrowding the navigation
If you want to include a link in your navigation, try to keep it to around 5-6 items for a streamlined look.
3. Consider opening links in new tabs
Avoid losing your website visitors by setting links to your Substack page to open in a new tab. This keeps users on your main site while they explore your newsletter.
4. Use pop-ups and announcement bars
Use Squarespace’s pop-up and announcement bar features to grab attention without cluttering the site.
Final thoughts
Featuring your newsletter strategically ensures your Squarespace site reflects your expertise and professional presence. Multiple mentions across your site help your audience discover and engage with your work while reinforcing authority, credibility and trust.
If you're unsure where to start or want strategic guidance to integrate your newsletter in a way that highlights your expertise and supports your professional goals, feel free to reach out . I’d be happy to help you develop a newsletter strategy that positions your work with clarity and authority.