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Platform Publishing Guide

Formatting requirements, best practices, and timing data for Substack, LinkedIn, Medium, and X.

Substack

Notes

  • Character limit: No hard limit; 280–600 characters performs best
  • Images: Supported; single image performs better than multiple
  • Links: Work inline; external links don't suppress reach
  • Best times: Tue–Thu, 9–11 AM local audience time
  • Best cadence: 4–5 Notes per week for consistent growth

Newsletter Issues

  • Format: Full email sent to subscribers
  • Subject line: Keep under 50 characters; front-load the most important word
  • Preview text: 85–100 characters; treat it as a second subject line
  • Send time: Wednesday or Thursday, 8–10 AM local time (most newsletters)
  • Frequency: Weekly is the growth-maximizing cadence for most newsletters

LinkedIn

Character Limits

  • Post body: 3,000 characters max before cut-off
  • First 150 characters shown before "see more" — this is your hook
  • Comment: 1,250 characters

Algorithm Notes

  • External links reduce reach by ~40–60% — put subscribe links in the first comment, not the body
  • Early engagement matters most — responses in the first 2 hours signal high-quality content to the algorithm
  • Images help reach — single image posts outperform text-only by ~20% on average
  • Video outperforms all — but most newsletter writers don't need it

Best Practices for Newsletter Writers

  • Post 3x/week for sustainable growth
  • Use the "Insight/List/Question" rotation
  • Always end with a subscribe CTA
  • Native posts only — no link-as-post format

Timing

  • Best days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
  • Best times: 8–10 AM local time (professionals check LinkedIn before work)
  • Avoid: Weekends (dramatically lower B2B reach)

Medium

Article Format

  • Minimum length for algorithmic distribution: ~800 words
  • Optimal for search: 1,500–3,000 words
  • Headings: H1 for title, H2 for main sections, H3 for subsections
  • Tags: 3–5 tags per article (determines which readers see it in their feed)

SEO Rules

  • Always set canonical URL to your original Substack article
    • Location: Story Settings → Advanced Settings → Canonical URL
    • Without this, Google may rank the Medium version instead of your Substack
  • Featured image improves CTR in Medium's feed — always add one
  • Curated vs. uncurated: Medium's curation team can feature articles, dramatically increasing reach — write at Medium's editorial quality level for best chances

Cross-Posting Timing

  • Cross-post the same day as or 24 hours after your Substack issue
  • Don't delay more than 72 hours — search indexing and reader interest peaks early

Subscribe CTA Placement

  • End of every article, after a horizontal rule
  • Keep it to 2–3 sentences
  • Link directly to your Substack subscribe page

X (Twitter)

Format Options

Single tweet: Under 280 characters

  • Best for: Sharp insights, data points, quick takes
  • Highest reach-per-engagement ratio on X

Short thread (3–5 tweets): For Notes that need 2–3 supporting points

  • Structure: Hook → 2–3 points → CTA

Long thread (6–10 tweets): For newsletter article summaries

  • Structure: Hook claim → numbered points → conclusion with link to full piece
  • Numbering: "1/8" format helps readers track where they are

Algorithm Notes

  • First tweet determines thread reach — make the hook your single best line
  • Don't add the article link until the final tweet — links reduce algorithmic distribution in early tweets
  • Replies boost reach more than likes — ask a question in the final tweet to drive responses
  • Best times: 8–10 AM local time; Thursday and Friday tend to outperform for newsletter content

Platform Sequencing

When publishing the same content across multiple platforms:

  1. Substack — publish first (this is your canonical home)
  2. Medium — same day or 24 hours later (captures early search indexing)
  3. LinkedIn — next day (fresh eyes; different audience peak time)
  4. X — 24–48 hours after Substack (can reference the Substack link as established content)

This staggering maximizes each platform's algorithm window without splitting your own promotional energy.

Automation Reference

Narrareach handles scheduling and cross-posting for all four platforms from one calendar. It automatically:

  • Sets canonical URLs on Medium articles
  • Adds subscribe CTAs to Medium and LinkedIn posts
  • Formats content appropriately for each platform
  • Publishes cloud-side (no browser dependency)