Naming Your Substack: Handles vs. Publications

How to Name your Substack (smartly)

What do I name my Substack? What if my profile @name is taken by someone else? Any pitfalls to avoid? -@Lindsey-bm1mt asked this thoughtful question and it sparked a fire of a response in me…

Why? Because if I were to do it all over again I would do it differently.

When I started my Substack I spent months trying to come up with the “perfect” publication name. It really mattered to me that it marked this new direction, chapter and breadth of topic I wanted to write about. And that’s ok. But in hindsight… all that time I spent on the name could have been spent creating instead.

Fast forward to now, after 2 years creating on Substack, I’ve found that:

1. What you create

2. Its resonance

3. And its Title + URL

matter wayyyyy more than your publication or handle names… if visibility, connection and growth are your goals.

So here’s my answer to Lindsey and what I’ve found really matters when it comes to naming your Substack↓

Tune in to hear:

• The difference between a Substack handle, profile, and publication

• What to do if your Substack @name is taken

• How Substack URLs affect (and don’t affect) SEO

• When keywords matter… and when they don’t

• Why your titles, URL slugs, and SEO settings matter more than your name

• Why creating matters more than choosing the “perfect” name

If you’re just getting started on Substack or feeling stuck trying to name your publication, this video will help you move forward with clarity and confidence- so you can stop overthinking and start creating.

Just getting started on Substack?

If you’re feeling stuck with your name or overwhelmed getting started on Substack, that’s exactly why I created my Substack mini-course and Launch Bot. It walks you through the setup step-by-step, tells you what to do next based on you, and helps you get out of decision fatigue and into creating.

Pair that with my full Substack Starter Kit, and you’ll not only get started faster—you’ll also understand how to grow and create in ways that actually feel good. I’d love to support you there.