Try Using This Homepage Hack To Capture More Subscribers

Because homepage envy is a REAL emotion here on Substack.

Since we’re on the topic of homepage hacks, this 40-minute video tutorial walks you through designing every element of your homepage. It touches on advanced layouts, custom color schemes, welcome page elements, feature image sizing, navigation bar links, and how to customize that forever-famous grey SUBSCRIBE bar!

Admit it.

You’ve stumbled onto the odd Substack that makes you want to scrap your plan and rethink all your life choices, am I right?

I know I have.

The first time I landed on Finding Simple & Calm by Sophie Ingleby, I felt like packing up my things and retiring. Her homepage is simply beautiful and enviable.

However, we don’t have to call it quits. We can just make one simple adjustment each day toward a homepage we’re proud to call “home.”

Today, you can take this baby step toward a more attention-grabbing homepage.

Have you ever seen a gray bar across someone’s homepage that screams "SUBSCRIBE HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A FANCY GRAY BAR!" and wondered where it came from and how you can get one?

Screenshot of my homepage

Everyone has access to the gray bar. You just have to know how and where to edit your homepage layout.

Here’s the first step.

Go to your Dashboard » Settings » Branding. Then, select the Edit Theme button.

From there, you’ll select Homepage in the left sidebar.

Toggle ON the Advanced Layout option.

Then, click on the +Add Block option and choose “Subscribe”

You will then see this block, which may appear different depending on whether you have paid subscriptions enabled or not:

Each of those fields allows you to type your own customized message for each level of subscriber.

For inspiration, here are the custom messages I use for Unstack Substack:

For non-subscribers, it displays: “Never miss an opportunity to unstack your Substack.”

For free subscribers, it displays: “Did you know you can unlock access to extra unstackable content?”

For paid subscribers, it displays: “Here's your opportunity to give the gift of Unstacking Substack.”

Or you can have some fun with it and write whimsical messages, as I’ve done with my other publication, Wildhood Wanted:

For non-subscribers, it displays: “Our Butler hand-delivers to you each week!”

For free subscribers, it displays: “Fluff up your tail feathers and support a creator's right to prosper 😂”

The beauty of these custom messages is that Substack automatically adjusts the button text for each subscriber level. The button will either read “Subscribe,” “Upgrade to paid,” or “Gift a Subscription.”

And that’s it! So simple.

Happy homepaging!

While we’re on the topic of custom homepages, this 40-minute video tutorial walks you through designing every element of your homepage. It touches on advanced layouts, custom color schemes, welcome page elements, feature image sizing, navigation bar links, and how to customize that forever-famous grey SUBSCRIBE bar!