How the Heck Can People UNsubscribe From Your Substack or Sections?

Wait, WHAT? Isn't that the opposite of what we're trying to do here?

No, we’re not trying to lose people from our lists, but there are times when knowing how to UNsubscribe may come in handy. Substack makes it easy to get on a list, but you have to be Indiana Jones with a Google map to get the heck off one.

Aside from the tiny, greyed-out “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of your emails, Substack doesn’t make it very easy or obvious for users to unsubscribe from your list. This is especially true if they have email notifications turned off and are only reading in the app.

Sorry, Karen! I’m not unsubscribing…I just had you in my inbox 😁

Let me show you how clunky it is to unsubscribe inside the app:

For free subscriptions:

1. Tap your profile picture to see your library of subscriptions

2. Select the publication you want to unsubscribe from

3. Tap the three dots in the top right corner

4. Select "Unsubscribe"

For paid subscriptions:

1. Go to Settings in a web browser

2. Click the publication you want to change

3. Scroll to Account actions and click "To cancel your paid subscription, click here"

Wouldn’t it be easier to let them click something obvious, like this button?

WHY would you want to give them such an easy option to leave you?

One word…..SECTIONS.

Raise your hand if you’ve racked your brain over how to explain to readers that they can be on one list but opt out of others? This question ranks among the top 10 for clients asking me how their readers can opt out of one section without unsubscribing altogether.

Now you have an answer.

Here’s the cheat code.

It’s your URL with /account at the end.

Here’s an example using

Veronica Llorca-Smith

’s Substack. She has more sections than anyone I know! (Thanks for being my crash test dummy again, Veronica!)😁

If you type her URL with /account at the end (like so: https://veronicallorcasmith.substack.com/account), you’ll see this:

All the grayed out ones are toggled OFF.

Once you’re on the /account page for any Substack you’re subscribed to, you should see individual toggle switches for sections and a big, red UNSUBSCRIBE button for the whole publication. Toggle off the sections you don’t want to be part of.

The next time you need to tell your readers how to get off a section list or unsubscribe altogether, give them your URL plus /account at the end.

Another helpful tip: If you’re introducing a new section and you’ve imported your current subscribers to it, let them know they have the option to OPT OUT of that section.

Marylee Pangman 📝✍️📚

recently did this like a pro - she sent an email with this headline explaining how her subs could choose what they want:

As a last resort, you can go full on Captain Obvious, steal the following graphic and put it at the bottom of your posts with a hyperlink. 😆😆

I realize this sounded a bit confusing so if you didn’t understand a portion of it, ask questions in the comments below!

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