Struggling to decide whether to build your audience on LinkedIn or Substack? You’re not alone. We, for one, faced the same dilemma with our Nuesletter.
Both platforms have exploded in popularity over the past few years, but they serve very different purposes. LinkedIn Newsletters are tied to the world’s largest professional network, offering instant access to your connections and built-in discoverability.
Substack, on the other hand, is designed for creators who want to monetize their writing and build a subscriber-focused business.
In this post, we’ll break down the head-to-head differences between LinkedIn and Substack so you can choose the platform that aligns with your goals, and maybe even use both in tandem for the best of both worlds.
What to Expect When Using LinkedIn or Substack for Newsletters
Before you dive in, it’s important to understand what each platform offers at its core. While both LinkedIn and Substack allow you to publish newsletters and grow an audience, they’re built for very different experiences.
LinkedIn Newsletters
Think of LinkedIn Newsletters as an extension of your professional brand. With over 1 billion users on the platform, LinkedIn gives you instant access to a built-in audience and algorithmic discovery.
- Built-in professional network: Your existing connections and followers are automatically notified when you launch a newsletter.
- Easy promotion: Your newsletter gets prime placement on your profile, in your posts, and in network notifications. LinkedIn even sends out email alerts to subscribers on your behalf.
- Familiar interface: Publishing feels like writing a LinkedIn post but with more room for long-form ideas and insights. If you want to see a LinkedIn newsletter in action, check out ours.
Substack
Substack, on the other hand, is designed specifically for creators, writers, and businesses who want to own their audience and focus on delivering value directly to inboxes, while being able to make money from their content.
- Subscriber-centric platform: Built for email-first communication, Substack lets you grow a loyal list of readers who opt in to hear from you.
- Monetization: You can launch free newsletters or introduce paid subscriptions to create a steady revenue stream.
- Elegant publishing tools: With rich formatting, analytics, and archive features, Substack feels like home for long-form content. Here is our Substack newsletter with over 10,000 subscribers for you to check out.
When to Use LinkedIn Newsletter vs Substack Newsletter
81% of B2B marketers report that email newsletters are their most frequently used form of content marketing. But when it comes to platforms like LinkedIn and Substack, the question isn’t which one is “better”, it’s about finding the right fit for your goals, audience, and stage of growth. Here’s how to decide:
When to Choose LinkedIn Newsletter
If your priority is visibility among professionals, LinkedIn is hard to beat. The platform makes it easy to distribute content to your existing network and leverage algorithmic discovery to reach new audiences.
- You want fast discoverability among peers and industry leaders.
- You’re looking to build credibility and thought leadership within your professional niche.
- You already have an established LinkedIn network and want to maximize its potential.
When to Choose a Substack Newsletter
If you’re ready to focus on deep writing and audience ownership, Substack is the better fit. It’s designed for creators who want to control their subscriber list and potentially monetize their work. This is also a great option if you already have an email list you’d like to import into your newsletter.
Plus, with tools like Nuelink, you can seamlessly schedule and share your Substack posts across all your social platforms, helping you grow your audience faster while keeping your focus on writing.
- You prefer long-form writing.
- You plan to monetize directly through paid newsletters or memberships.
- You want full ownership of your content and subscriber data.
When to Combine Both
For many creators and professionals, including ourselves, a hybrid approach works best. Use LinkedIn to grow awareness and funnel your most engaged followers to Substack. This way, you benefit from LinkedIn’s reach while building a private email list you fully control.
- You already publish on LinkedIn but want to own your audience.
- You’re looking to experiment with monetization while maintaining professional visibility.
- You want the best of both worlds, algorithmic discovery and email list ownership.
LinkedIn vs Substack: Which Newsletter Platform Should You Choose?
Both LinkedIn and Substack have their place in a well-rounded content strategy, but the right choice depends on your goals.
- If you’re focused on building credibility and reaching a professional audience quickly, LinkedIn’s built-in network and discovery tools give you an immediate advantage.
- If you’re looking for ownership, deeper connections, and direct monetization, Substack offers the freedom to grow on your own terms.
For many creators and businesses, the smartest move is to leverage both platforms together. Use LinkedIn to attract attention and drive engagement, then guide your most loyal followers to Substack to cultivate a private, high-value subscriber base.
By understanding how each platform serves different purposes, you can make an informed choice, and even design a strategy that takes full advantage of both.
Choosing between LinkedIn and Substack comes down to what matters most for your content and business goals.
Consider your priorities, whether it’s quick discoverability or owning your subscriber list, and don’t hesitate to combine both platforms for a balanced approach. Ultimately, the best newsletter platform is the one that helps you connect meaningfully with your audience and supports your growth over time.
