Your Substack Bio and Short Description Are More Important Than Ever: A Workshop

Watch the replay | Loved this! | Go all in on your Substack with me in 2025

Loved this workshop! Such great energy.

New Focus for 2025 on Substack Writers at Work

We’re going all-in on your Substack in 2025. What makes Substack so exciting? It’s where you apply your gifts, talents, and expertise to the platform. You being you, bringing your amazing work to the world—with Substack Writers at Work behind you.

Substack’s Window of Opportunity

In the workshop, I said that the window of opportunity on Substack is closing. That isn’t to panic you. That isn’t to say that you should rush or hurry. Chris Best, the CEO of Substack, said that this time on Substack is like the early days of YouTube and podcasting. You can start a Substack and just grow, much like you could in the early days of YouTube and podcasting. The growth is phenomenal. That could last a year or two or five, but 2025 is definitely the year to take advantage of it.

New 2025 SW@W Workshop Format

We followed the new workshop structure for all 2025 Substack Writers at Work workshops. Substack Mastery Workshops will be active and participatory with feedback opportunities and network opportunities:

  1. Teaching: I’ll give you a framework you need or a change to make.

  2. Implementation: You’ll have hands-on time to implement it in the workshop.

  3. Breakout rooms: For feedback and possible collaboration opportunities. Meet each other, get to know each other. (Epic breakout rooms,

    said!)

Logistics:

  • Replays will always be available.

  • Workshops are always on the first Saturday of every month at 12:30 CT.

The Growing Importance of Your Short Description and Bio

Your short description has always been important. It’s what people see when they first land on your welcome page and often appears on your homepage.

But your short description and bio are more important than ever. Why?

  • We have pop-ups that appear for new visitors, and they only show your short description.

  • Substack inserts subscribe and recommend calls to actions in posts, and only your short description is shown.

  • In Notes, when people hover over your name, the preview is your short description and your bio.

In the workshop, I give you

  • the new requirements for your short description and bio,

  • effective examples, and

  • step-by-step directions on how to craft your description and bio.

The requirements, examples, directions, and slide deck are below.

You can also use the comments to get feedback on your short description and bio. Enjoy!

Join us for 2025! Become a paid member of Substack Writers at Work.

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Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay
The Substack Success Podcast
✦ The only expert guide to Substack ✦ Where you get subscribers, produce your best work, and earn the income you deserve ✦ A bestselling, Featured Substack ✦ 20,000+ active members ✦ One of the top 5 Substacks globally