Reginaldo Osnildo
Learn how to launch your Substack news site with this simple, step-by-step guide for beginners. Perfect for local journalists and creators.
Step-by-Step: How to Launch Your Local News Site on Substack
Hey, it’s Reginaldo Osnildo here again!Let me guess—you’ve been thinking, “Okay, Substack sounds great, but how the heck do I actually set it up?”
No worries—I got you.In this post, I’ll walk you through how to set up your Substack-based local news site from scratch. You don’t need to be a designer, coder, or digital wizard. Just follow these steps, and you’ll have your publication ready to go in no time.
Let’s dive in!
1. Create Your Substack Account
Go to substack.com and click “Start Writing”.
You can sign up using:
- Your email
- A Google account
- Or even your Apple ID
Once you’re in, Substack will guide you through the basics: choosing a name, setting a description, and claiming your custom URL (like mycitynews.substack.com).
Pro Tip: Choose a name that clearly reflects your local focus. That makes it easier for people to remember and trust your site!
2. Customize the Look & Feel
Now it’s time to make your site look like a legit news outlet. Substack gives you simple tools to do this—no Photoshop skills required.
Here’s what to update:
- Logo: Upload a clean, clear logo that represents your community or theme. Don’t have one? Try free tools like Canva.
- Header Image: Add a cityscape or local photo to make it feel “homegrown.”
- Color Palette: Pick two or three colors that represent your vibe—clean, bold, and readable is the goal.
- Fonts: Stick with something simple and legible.
It doesn’t have to be fancy—it just needs to be clear, welcoming, and consistent.
3. Set Up Your Pages and Navigation
Substack lets you create fixed pages and a navigation menu. Here’s what you should include:
- Home: Where the latest news appears
- About: Tell your story! Who are you? What’s your mission?
- Contact: Let readers reach out (and maybe pitch stories)
- Categories: Politics, Culture, Sports, Events—whatever makes sense for your community
- Subscribe: Make that “Subscribe” button visible everywhere!
The goal? Make it easy for people to find what they want and get involved.
4. Write Your First Post
Click “New Post” and draft a quick welcome article.
Here’s what to include:
- Who you are
- Why you started this site
- What readers can expect
- How often you’ll publish
- A big, bold invite to subscribe
Keep it friendly and personal. Think of it as your “grand opening” post.
5. Set Up Your Newsletter Settings
Substack automatically turns every post into a newsletter—this is your secret weapon.
Here’s what to configure:
- Sender Name: Use your publication name or your real name
- Reply-to Email: So people can respond directly
- Welcome Email: Add a short message welcoming new subscribers
- Email Schedule: Choose how often you’ll send content (daily, weekly, etc.)
Consistency is key here—don’t ghost your readers!
6. Enable Paid Subscriptions (Optional but Powerful)
Wanna monetize? Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings > Monetization
- Enable Paid Subscriptions
- Choose your pricing (monthly, annual)
- Decide which posts are free vs. paid
- Connect your Stripe account to get paid
Pro Tip: Offer 80–90% of your content for free at first. Use paid posts for exclusive interviews, early access, or deep-dive analysis.
7. Preview, Test, and Launch
Before going live, do a test run:
- Click around your site
- Send a test newsletter to yourself
- Try subscribing from a friend’s phone or email
Make sure everything looks good and works properly.
When you’re ready… hit “Publish”!Your news site is live, and you’re officially in the game.
Let’s Make This Happen (With a Little Help)
Setting up your Substack site is just the beginning. If you want a full roadmap—design, content strategy, newsletters, monetization, audience growth, and more—I’ve got the perfect guide for you.
Grab my e-book:👉 Local Journalism on Substack: How to Create a Low-Cost, Monetizable News Site and Newsletter Network
It’s packed with real-world advice, templates, and action plans to get your news project off the ground—fast.
Trust me: if you care about your community, your voice matters.
Now go build something amazing.