How To Add External Links To Your Substack Navigation Bar
If you have an author website, a coaching page, an Amazon book page, etc, you'll want to do this.
This is your Captain Obvious speaking…
As I have said many times, nothing is obvious to everyone here on Substack. That’s why I love breaking my helpful tips down into the smallest bite-sized pieces possible. A single piece could be the A-HA moment you’ve been waiting for!
Today’s tip has been a popular A-HA for many Substackers I’ve worked with, so let me get right to the punchline.
Did you know that you can link DIRECTLY to your author website, your Amazon page, your coaching site, and pretty much anything on the internet? (Let’s avoid OnlyFans though, shall we?)
I’ve seen plenty of you who have a link on your navigation bar to a separate Substack page where you highlight your goods/services using text links. But if you want readers to be able to click ONE link on your bar and land directly where they can buy stuff, here’s how to do it:
Go into your dashboard, then to settings, then select “Website” in the left sidebar.
Once you’re there, find the heading labeled “Navigation bar links.”
Click ADD, then label it whatever you wish and paste the link into the space provided.
Here are screenshots of what it looks like:
UPDATE: As of Sept 2025, the ‘settings’ button is now in the bottom left corner of your dashboard.
For a real-life example, go to my homepage and click on ‘Testimonials’ in my navigation bar. It takes users straight to my business website testimonials page.
This is SO valuable because users have a limited attention span on the internet. The less we require of them, the better the experience. Why take them from your nav bar to another Substack page only so they have to click yet ANOTHER link to get to your book or your website?
Less clicks, less annoyance, and more direct communication = a big, fat YAAY for everyone!
And, in case you missed it a few months ago, here is yet another way to make your navigation bar a much more USEFUL experience for your readers:
You Might Not Know How Useful Substack Post Tags Are
If there’s one thing about Substack I can never stress enough, it’s this:
Unstack Substack deliveries are meant to be short and sweet, and not clutter up your inbox or your day. 😊
⬆⬆ This is a custom call-to-action and I can make you one if you like! ⬆⬆
Helpful ad always, Kristi! Thank you so much!🙏
Thanks! How do you get the new link in the navigation bar to show on the app? It's working on the website but I don't see it when I look at my Substack profile on the phone app. many thanks