Hey there, fellow Substack creators! Want to give your publication's homepage a fresh new look and enhance your readers' experience? You're in the right place! In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through the process of switching up your homepage layout in just a few clicks. Think of me as your friendly Substack guide, here to explain each layout option in detail, offering tips and insights to help you make the best choice for your publication. Let's dive in and transform your homepage into a reader magnet!

Finding the Homepage Layout Settings

First things first, let's find where these layout settings are hiding. Simply log into your Substack account and click on your profile icon in the top right corner. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. In the "Website" section, you'll see "Publication theme." Click the "Edit theme" button next to it, and you're in!

Understanding the Building Blocks: Intro (Header) and Body

Your Substack homepage is primarily composed of two main parts: the Intro (Header) and the Body.

Think of the Intro as the welcome mat of your publication. It's the very top section that determines what visitors see first. You'll usually use this to showcase your most important or recent posts.

The Body is where the rest of your content lives. It dictates how your posts are arranged below the Intro.

Within the "Homepage" settings, you'll find options to customize both of these areas. To unlock even more advanced layout choices, make sure to check the box next to "Advanced layouts."

Intro (Header) Layouts Explained: Crafting Your Homepage's First Impression

In the Intro section, you have a bunch of cool "Header styles" to choose from. These determine what your readers see first when they land on your homepage. Let's explore them:

Feature

This layout puts your single most recent or pinned post right at the top, front and center. It's great for highlighting your latest content or a specific, crucial post you want to emphasize.

Newspaper

The Newspaper layout displays three pinned posts alongside five top posts at the top. It's perfect for content-rich publications that want to showcase a mix of important and popular content simultaneously.

Note: The center image in the Newspaper layout has an aspect ratio of 3:2. You might need to adjust the aspect ratio of older posts with images containing text to fit the new design.

Magazine

This layout showcases five of your most recent or pinned posts at the top, giving it a visually engaging, magazine-style presentation. It's a great choice for creators who regularly publish multiple posts.

Highlight

The Highlight layout features your single most recent or pinned post at the top, with three recent posts displayed on the sidebar. It's a good way to balance a focus on a key piece of content with visibility for other new posts.

Media Feature

This layout headlines your most recent post at the very top of your homepage, making it ideal for publications centered around news or media reporting.

Podcast

If you publish a podcast on Substack, this layout is for you! It prominently displays your show at the top, and you can even choose to show your top episodes and links to external podcast players.

Pro Tip: Pinning Posts

Want to pin a post to the top? Easy! In your posts list, find the post you want to pin, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select "Pin to homepage."

How Are Top Posts Generated?

Top posts are automatically generated based on a combination of views, engagement, and recency. If you choose the Feature or Magazine layout, you can enable a dedicated "Top Posts" bar by checking "Show top posts."

Tip: To exclude a post from the "Top Posts" section, click the three-dot menu on the individual post and select "Exclude from Top."

Body Layouts Explained: Organizing Your Content Effectively

The Body section is where you decide how your posts are arranged below the fold.

Posts View

You have three primary options for displaying your posts:

• List: Presents your posts in a simple, chronological list.
• Grid: Arranges your posts in a compact grid format, maximizing space.
• Groups: Organizes your posts into groups based on Tags or Sections. To set this up, go to the Themes editor, select "Groups (sections or tags)" from the "Posts" dropdown menu, then choose the tags or sections you want to feature. Note: To use the Groups view, you need to have tags or sections set up for your publication.

Adding a Content Block

By enabling "Advanced layouts," you can add various content blocks to enrich your homepage further. Currently, you can add:

• List: Displays a list of posts.
• Grid: Shows posts in a grid.
• Feature: Highlights a specific post.
• Subscribe: Adds a subscribe button.

You can add up to 10 content blocks and mix and match them to best suit your publication. For instance, you could add a Grid block for recent news, a Feature block for a particular series, and a List block for recent posts.

Adding Sidebars

When you choose the List or Grid layout, you have the option to add left or right sidebars. You can populate these with:

• Contributors: Displays the latest posts from contributors to your publication who are set to "public" in your settings.
• Links: Add links to your books, social media accounts, resources, and more.
• Podcasts: If you have a podcast on Substack, add it to your sidebar.
• Recommendations: Showcase other Substack publications you enjoy and want to share with your audience.
• Subscribe: A customizable banner prompt encouraging visitors to subscribe.

Customizing Your Sections Pages

You can now also customize the appearance of your individual Sections pages. Choose to display the section's logo and description or highlight the latest posts within that section. In the "Body" section, you can select either a List or Grid layout for displaying posts within the section.

For podcast sections, you have three header options:

• Default: Shows your podcast logo and description.
• Podcast: Displays your podcast logo, description, and optional links to external podcast players.
• Feature media: Headlines your latest podcast episodes.

You can also choose between a List or Grid layout for displaying podcast episodes within the section's "Body."

Conclusion:

By following these steps, you can create a visually appealing and user-friendly Substack homepage that effectively showcases your content. Remember that different layouts cater to different content types and target audiences. Don't hesitate to experiment with various combinations to discover the perfect fit for your publication! I hope this detailed guide has been helpful. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy Substacking!