Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Substack, Kit, and the Power of Automated Workflows
Description
* Listen/subscribe on Pocketcasts
Many writers are discovering how a Substack newsletter can help them reach new audiences with minimal fuss. Yet, if you’re looking to do more than simply send out articles—especially if you’re interested in segmentation, welcome sequences, or more robust marketing—you quickly realize that Substack alone may not be enough. That’s where an additional email platform (like ConvertKit, colloquially called Kit) and intelligent automations come in.
In essence, you can think of Substack as a dynamic publishing tool that’s great for building initial awareness and community engagement. Meanwhile, Kit (or a similar email service provider) excels at segmenting subscribers, sending personalized sequences, and tracking revenue-driving metrics. By automating the data flow between Substack and Kit, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: maintaining a vibrant presence on Substack while feeding your most loyal subscribers or potential buyers into finely tuned email funnels. Below, we’ll explore exactly why and how to create such an automation pipeline, as illuminated by one creator’s experience.
Why Substack Alone Might Not Be Enough
First, let’s clarify what Substack does well—and where it shows limitations:
* Organic Discovery and SimplicitySubstack makes it easy to write and publish. The interface is intuitive and free from clutter: you can focus on words (and maybe a few images) instead of tinkering with design. Plus, features like Recommendations and Notes open a window for organic discovery and reader interaction.
* Community InteractionSubstack has built-in community features—chats, comments, and the public “Notes” feed—that can nurture conversation. For writers who want to dialogue with their audience, this is an enormous advantage.
* Limited Sales & Marketing ToolsSubstack’s Achilles’ heel is handling in-depth marketing tasks. Its segmentation is basic; reporting can feel minimal or confusing; and you don’t get the ability to easily automate multiple-step welcome sequences or complex campaigns. If you run courses, sell products, or want deep insights into subscriber actions, you’ll likely find Substack’s native toolset too shallow.
This is precisely why many creators keep Substack for community-building and general outreach—but then port the email addresses over to a more powerful platform for advanced marketing.
Why Bring Kit (ConvertKit) Into the Mix?
Kit, or ConvertKit, is a dedicated email service provider built with creators in mind. You might also consider Mailchimp, MailerLite, or other similar platforms. However, many writers gravitate to Kit for these reasons:
* Ease of Writing & FormattingKit still treats the written word as core. Its editor is clean and user-friendly, which matters immensely to word-centric creators.
* Segmentation & AutomationYou can create welcome funnels, advanced tagging systems, and specialized campaigns that might not be possible on Substack alone. Want to welcome new subscribers differently than long-time fans? Tag them. Want to create a mini-course via email? A few button clicks in Kit is all it takes.
* Clear AnalyticsWhereas Substack’s analytic tools can be opaque, Kit provides stats on open rates, click-through rates, unsubscribes, and more, helping you refine your future launches or funnels.
Together, Substack and Kit can form a powerhouse: Substac