Collaboration Is the Growth Hack No One Talks About. Here’s How to Do It on Substack.
A practical guide to every collaboration feature on Substack.
Most people treat Substack like a solo sport: write alone, publish alone, promote alone. But the creators growing fastest right now? They’re playing a different game.
They’re collaborating.
And not in vague, feel-good ways. They’re co-writing essays, trading guest posts, shouting each other out in Notes, and cross-promoting their lists in ways that feel genuine and useful. When done right, these collaborations can also be wildly effective.
If you’ve ever wished for faster growth, more energy, or just a way to make this whole thing feel less lonely, collaboration is the unlock.
Why Collaboration Beats Going Solo
There’s a romantic idea about being the lone writer, holed up in a room somewhere, cranking out brilliant posts and building a devoted following one essay at a time. But here’s the truth: that path is slow, lonely, and often unsustainable.
If you want to grow on Substack, especially in 2025 when readers are overwhelmed with content,1 collaboration isn’t optional. It’s a force multiplier.
When you team up with other creators, you’re not just expanding your reach; you're also expanding your opportunities. You’re building social proof, tapping into existing trust, and creating richer experiences for readers. Think of it like compound interest for attention.
Here’s what collaboration can do for you:
Accelerate growth. One well-placed recommendation or guest post can introduce you to hundreds or thousands of new readers who already trust the person promoting you.
Boost credibility. When another respected writer brings you into their world, you borrow some of their authority.
Increase motivation. Writing can be isolating and draining. Collaborations keep you energized and accountable.
Spark better ideas. Talking shop with other writers leads to creative breakthroughs, cross-pollination, and smarter content.
Many breakout Substackers didn’t go viral; they went collaborative, using everything from Recommendations to guest features to bundled newsletters to accelerate their audience growth.
In fact, a lot of my own growth can be attributed to collaboration. I was lucky to have a former colleague with a much bigger publication in my industry start recommending me almost immediately after I launched. And writers with big audiences, like
and , have linked to my content in their articles.The good news? You don’t need to be famous to benefit from collaboration. You just need to start from wherever you are, and this guide will walk you through every option.
7 Ways to Collaborate on Substack
Some of these ideas are quick and easy to test. Others take more effort but can lead to big results. Whether you’re just getting started or already have a solid subscriber base, there’s something here for every stage and style.
Each method for collaborating on Substack is explained in detail below, with examples for each. Use them as inspiration, or as a playbook to start building smarter, faster, and with a little help from your peers.