This is perfect!! I created two additional Substack publications to cover two topics that I didn’t necessarily want to be folded into my main publication. I have done NOTHING with the publications, because I have been overwhelmed with getting started, particularly with the emails. I’ve been paralyzed.
But now that I found out about “sections”, well, that sounds like exactly what I need! Thank you!
Thank you for this. I have been debating whether to add sections to my substack since I have some distinctive concepts and forms that I write. I think I'm going to give it a try, as it seems to make sense now that I've been doing this for a while. What do you think about having a section specifically for poetry while other sections would deal with specific projects that I'm working on?
Great post, thank you! A question: I want to create a section and only add a specific set of my subscribers. But when editing the new section in my Dashboard, the system only lets me add all subscribers (or all new subscribers). How can I choose a subset to whom the section is aimed at?
Alternatively, if I ask specific people to subscribe to the Section, where can they do that? Is there a link? When I open the Section link, it's blank (I haven't added content yet), and there's no option to subscribe. Where should people click to be added to the Section?
Okay, I think I found the answer to the latter question (when on the publication page, click on top-right menu, click on Manage subscription, go down to Notifications, swipe the button). My first question is still up though, is there a way to add people automatically (instead of explaining them where to click-click-go-swipe)?
Thanks for the reply! Let’s hope they implement it in thw future. (Until then, I set up a system asking people to opt in, just like I explained earlier. It’s not ideal, but that’s the best I can come up with right now.) Appreciate your blog! <3
Does anyone offer one-on-one training by phone or screen sharing? I was born a really long time ago, and if I wait until I figure out all this on my own, I'll be too old to sit at the typewriter.
Thanks for breaking this down. I'm looking at creating a 'Mumstack' space for mothers building their substack alongside raising little ones and I'm not sure how to approach it. It's relevant to my current publication and audience...but I'm being asked to have is a distinct community - so I'm thinking a 2nd publication that is paywalled almost like a membership? Or does a section make sense here? Thanks
All sections are included in a subscription but subscribers can turn off emails for a specific section. If you want to charge separately for different sections, they should probably be different publications.
If you have two publications but want to combine them into one, using Sections, would it be possible to import the email addresses from one publication and into the relevant Section in your combined newsletter, do you know?
As far as I know you can only add subscribers to your entire publication. This means they would be added to all Sections that are part your subscription by default (including your main/default section).
Thanks, Cassandra! I have many sections in my substack, I think they are great! I display them on the front page of my publication, like a magazine blog!
I love it! It's getting harder and harder to update my website given the number of possibilities that Substack offers us, and yes, the mobile version is less exciting. I think the rush won out over the charm.
In OBSCURA, my Substack, I divided it into sections about mobile photography, photographic references, equipment reviews, and now I will have online photography and lighting courses, all within this "organism".
It's almost cruel to call Substack a "newsletter" platform; it has become an increasingly perfect media hub.
Thank you for THIS!
This is perfect!! I created two additional Substack publications to cover two topics that I didn’t necessarily want to be folded into my main publication. I have done NOTHING with the publications, because I have been overwhelmed with getting started, particularly with the emails. I’ve been paralyzed.
But now that I found out about “sections”, well, that sounds like exactly what I need! Thank you!
Yes, this is the problem with new publications. They're so much work!! It's nice to have another option when the topics are related!
👏🏾🙌🏾🫶🏾
Great stuff. I’m just getting a rhythm and this will be very helpful!
Thank you! This was really useful information just when I needed it!
Have a great 2026 Casandra!
Would love sections with different pricing tiers/plans, not all together.
Substack should allow for that sooner or later! I guess many did request that!
Thank you!
Would that be any different from just creating a different newsletter?
A different newsletter requires another name, different logins, passwords, email lists etc.
I would prefer inside the same newsletter - different offerings for the various audience segments, different prices.
It would be nice to be able to customize the paid tiers more!
jep, that's it! for now we have standard and founder if I am correct.
Your publication is honestly better than Substack's own support page. Thank you! These posts are so helpful.
Aww thank you! Just sharing what I learn from hours of digging and testing!
I second this comment!
Thank you for this. I have been debating whether to add sections to my substack since I have some distinctive concepts and forms that I write. I think I'm going to give it a try, as it seems to make sense now that I've been doing this for a while. What do you think about having a section specifically for poetry while other sections would deal with specific projects that I'm working on?
I think that could work! For example, some people may only want to receive poetry so they could sign for just that section :)
Great post, thank you! A question: I want to create a section and only add a specific set of my subscribers. But when editing the new section in my Dashboard, the system only lets me add all subscribers (or all new subscribers). How can I choose a subset to whom the section is aimed at?
Alternatively, if I ask specific people to subscribe to the Section, where can they do that? Is there a link? When I open the Section link, it's blank (I haven't added content yet), and there's no option to subscribe. Where should people click to be added to the Section?
Okay, I think I found the answer to the latter question (when on the publication page, click on top-right menu, click on Manage subscription, go down to Notifications, swipe the button). My first question is still up though, is there a way to add people automatically (instead of explaining them where to click-click-go-swipe)?
As far as I know, this isn't possible right now.
Thanks for the reply! Let’s hope they implement it in thw future. (Until then, I set up a system asking people to opt in, just like I explained earlier. It’s not ideal, but that’s the best I can come up with right now.) Appreciate your blog! <3
Does anyone offer one-on-one training by phone or screen sharing? I was born a really long time ago, and if I wait until I figure out all this on my own, I'll be too old to sit at the typewriter.
Hey Jay, you could use an office hours appointment for this if you’d like! https://www.reallygoodbusinessideas.com/p/office-hours-appointments
What a great read, thanks.
Thanks for breaking this down. I'm looking at creating a 'Mumstack' space for mothers building their substack alongside raising little ones and I'm not sure how to approach it. It's relevant to my current publication and audience...but I'm being asked to have is a distinct community - so I'm thinking a 2nd publication that is paywalled almost like a membership? Or does a section make sense here? Thanks
I do not understand if a substack can charge for section by section newsletters. I.e. just subscribe to ONE section of a multisections newsletter.
All sections are included in a subscription but subscribers can turn off emails for a specific section. If you want to charge separately for different sections, they should probably be different publications.
If you have two publications but want to combine them into one, using Sections, would it be possible to import the email addresses from one publication and into the relevant Section in your combined newsletter, do you know?
As far as I know you can only add subscribers to your entire publication. This means they would be added to all Sections that are part your subscription by default (including your main/default section).
Is it possible to create a section with a different subscription value?
No, in that case you would need to create a separate newsletter. Section are all part of the same newsletter subscription.
Thanks, Cassandra! I have many sections in my substack, I think they are great! I display them on the front page of my publication, like a magazine blog!
I love it! Sometimes I imagine I'm building a little business magazine 😜
I do wish they were more visible on mobile! Different tabs in the app feed perhaps.
I love it! It's getting harder and harder to update my website given the number of possibilities that Substack offers us, and yes, the mobile version is less exciting. I think the rush won out over the charm.
In OBSCURA, my Substack, I divided it into sections about mobile photography, photographic references, equipment reviews, and now I will have online photography and lighting courses, all within this "organism".
It's almost cruel to call Substack a "newsletter" platform; it has become an increasingly perfect media hub.
Perfect timing! I was just about to find out more about this.
Thanks! 🙏🏻
Yay, glad I could help!