How to Cross-Post and Guest Write on Substack: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writers and Publications

A symbiotic relationship in which the writer and the publisher help expand each other's reach and subscriptions

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This isn’t light reading—it’s intended as a guide to save and use as needed. There are two ways to share your work with a larger audience on Substack.

Cross-posting means you share a published post that lives in your pub or someone else's entirely by way of a linked version. Guest posting means a publication agrees to publish (under your byline) a post you submit and distribute it to their readers. Both are effective ways to help each other grow. Neither is the same as taking a writer or collaborator role in a publication. That’s a separate story.

Using either protocol on Substack is a fantastic way to increase your reach, introduce your work to a new audience, build connections within the writing community, and establish relationships with other Substackers. Whether you’re looking to share a published piece or you’re running a Substack publication accepting guest writers, here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to making it seamless.

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Understanding substack’s cross-posting feature

Substack has a built-in cross-posting feature for writers. It's not the same as restacking. It is distributed via your newsletter, allowing you to share another writer’s post with your audience while giving full credit to the original writer and their pub. Unlike guest posting, where you submit content and a pub places it in their newsletter, cross-posting links directly back to the entire original post and retains its engagement.

Almost half of all free subscriptions and 15% of paid subscriptions come right out of the Substack network.

How to cross-post your article to a substack publication

Before you link an article to your Substack publication, you should get specific permission from the original author. It's possible to post without, but not very courteous. Do you want to get a cringe reputation?

Send a warm, friendly email or Substack Direct Message to the author, introducing yourself and inquiring about whether they want their work cross-posted.

1. Locate your post that you want to cross-post.

2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) at the top of the post.

3. Select “Cross-post” from the dropdown.

4. Add an optional note to readers explaining why you’re sharing the post.

5. Click “Cross-post,” and the post will appear on your Substack with a link to the original. Substack help file says it will be sent to your subscribers via email.

This method ensures proper attribution while increasing the visibility of both writer and pub. I have not done much of this, so if you find in accuracies, let me know in the comments. I plan to do more.

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Everything you always needed to know about guest posting (attention: writers and publishers)

I use guest writers frequently in all my pubs on all platforms because it gifts my readers with expert viewpoints besides mine. I'm pretty capable, but hey, variety is the spice. (Got a hot idea? Direct message me!)

For writers who want to propose an article to another pub

Your piece should match the tone and topics of the publication you want to submit to. Read a few articles in your target pub so you get them, or you'll look like an annoying noob. Okay, now you're ready.

Step 1: Prepare your article

If it has been published previously, make slight modifications to maintain SEO benefits and avoid duplicate content penalties

• Adjust the title and introduction slightly.

• Add a note at the beginning or end mentioning where the article was first published and linking to the original. This is similar to a canonical link which Substack isn't set up for.

• Consider updating any examples and links in the text or formatting it to fit the new audience.

Step 2: Communicate with the target publication owner

Some pubs have submission or guest writer guidelines on their About page. Find them and follow to the letter. They may want to receive a draft via Substack, a DM link, or an email share. If you don't find guidelines, ask.

Send a warm, friendly email or Substack Direct Message to the pub owner, introducing yourself and inquiring about whether they are interested in guests and how they want to receive the article. Offer to allow them to guest post in your pub.

Step 3: Submit your article

Like I said, different publications have different submission preferences.

1. Via Google Docs or email – Some publications prefer receiving drafts this way. If they do, they probably want you to share the doc with the Google Share button. You can ask if they can work with a WORD doc if that's your thing. Simply attaching a document to an email may add extra work to the publisher's day—so ask them what they want.

2. As a draft in Substack – If you have been added as a writer to the publication, you can submit directly. Ask the publisher if they would like to do add you as a writer. If so,

   • Go to your Substack dashboard

   • Click “New Post”

   • Write or paste your content

   • Click “Send to Publication” (if the option is available)

Step 4: Add a canonical disclaimer

If your story appears elsewhere online, transparency is key to avoiding search engines labeling both instances "duplicate" and banning both. At the top or bottom of your post, add:

*This article was originally published on [Whatever platform, publication, or website it is also on] (insert link). It is reposted here with permission.

Step 5: Publish and engage with readers

• Once the piece is live, share it on your social channels.

• Monitor comments in the pub and engage with readers to build relationships. If they connect with you, you'll get new followers and subscribers.

• Thank the publication for featuring your work and offer future submissions.

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For Substack publishers who want to include guest writers in their publication and newsletter

If you run a Substack publication and want to feature guest-written articles from other writers, here’s how to do it smoothly.

Step 1: Establish guest guidelines on your About page or create a Subsmissions page

• Your guidelines outline what types of posts you accept.

• Specify whether you prefer exclusive content or allow previously published stories.

• Clarify whether writers should submit via email, Google Docs, or as a draft on Substack and give them a brief description of how or link them to instructions elsewhere.

Step 2: Review the submission

• Ensure the post aligns with your audience.

• Check for grammatical errors or formatting inconsistencies.

• Verify that proper attribution is included for images, quotes, facts, etc., so you avoid copyright infringement problems.

Step 3: Format and publish the post

If posting manually from a .doc or other document

Copy and paste the article into a new post and adjust the formatting as needed for consistency.

• Enter your guest as an author at the top of the story. Click the plus sign, type the author's name or email. The system will fill in the correct name or auto-send an email to get the writer's approval. Remove your byline

• Compose a Publisher's note at the beginning of the story describing the author and the story—maybe why you chose it.

• Add a disclaimer such as:
  This article was originally published on [Original article location](insert link) and has been republished with permission. Skip this step if the article has never before been published anywhere online.

• Schedule for later or publish immediately.

If the writer is submitting as a draft within Substack:

1. Review the draft.

2. Make edits if necessary.

3. Publish it under your publication.

Step 4: Notify the guest writer and share

Once the post is live

• Send a quick email, Substack Note, or DM to the writer.

• Encourage them to engage in the comments.

• Share it on your social platforms and tag the writer. Ask the writer to do the same.

• I always send the writer a screenshot of the email from Substack about how many readers and comments there were. I also forward them the promotional assets from Substack.

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Final Tips for Successful Cross-Posting

• Be clear about attribution – Always give credit to the original source.

• Avoid duplicate content penalties – Change small parts of the post (title, intro, images, alt text, headings, maybe images) if possible. Use canonical type link disclaimers.

• Promote effectively – Both parties should share the post on social media for maximum reach.

• Maintain relationships – A good cross-posting relationship can lead to future collaborations and guest posts.

When done correctly, cross-posting and guesting benefit the writer and the publication, expanding audience reach, and strengthening Substack communities. Have you tried either? Share your experiences in the comments!

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