Claude Skill

substack-expert

This skill should be used when creating, formatting, or optimizing content for a Substack newsletter. Covers post structure, SEO metadata (titles, slugs, meta descriptions), native engagement features (Notes, Polls, Chat), monetization tactics, and free-to-paid conversion strateg

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Download fabricioctelles-skills-skills_substack-expert-2b9f704.zip · 3 KB

fabricioctelles/skills 87 7 forks Apache-2.0 Updated 7d ago

Part of fabricioctelles/skills — 16 skills

Install

skills CLI npx skills add https://github.com/fabricioctelles/skills/tree/main/skills/substack-expert

Claude Code

claude plugin marketplace add https://llmmart.ai/marketplace.json && claude plugin install fabricioctelles-skills@llmmart

Git git clone https://github.com/fabricioctelles/skills.git

The skills CLI installs just this skill, for any of its supported agents. Claude Code installs the whole fabricioctelles/skills collection as a plugin from our marketplace. Git is the plain clone.

Skill manifest

Substack Expert

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Default
`topic`	Subject or draft content to work with	Infer from the conversation
`goal`	Primary objective: `format`, `seo`, `growth`, `monetize`	`format` + `seo` if unspecified
`language`	Output language	Match the user's message language

Workflow

1. Clarify Scope

Identify which goals apply (formatting, SEO, growth, monetization) and confirm the topic. If the request is ambiguous, default to producing SEO metadata and a formatted structure outline simultaneously.

2. Visual Formatting

Structure content with Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3 to improve readability and facilitate search-engine crawling.
Apply the centering and styling techniques described in references/formatting-best-practices.md.
Insert native engagement tools (Subscribe button, polls, Leave a comment) at natural breakpoints in the post.

3. SEO and Metadata

Produce the following fields for every post:

Title: 40–60 characters. Use clear modifiers, keywords, and authority signals (e.g., "Tested", "Complete Guide"). Avoid vague or clickbait phrasing.
URL Slug: 3–5 main keywords only, no auto-generated numbers, no dates (keeps the post evergreen). Example: /substack-seo-strategy.
Meta Description: 155–160 characters, includes the primary keyword and an implicit call to action.
Image Alt Text: Describe the image for accessibility; incorporate article keywords organically.

Consult references/seo-output-example.md for a worked example.

4. Growth Strategies

Substack Notes: Publish short snippets derived from the post to Notes immediately after publishing. Leave authentic comments on related publications to build name recognition.
Recommendations rotation: Review Analytics monthly to identify which partner newsletters drive inbound traffic. Rotate recommended partners every 30–60 days to maintain reciprocal growth.

5. Monetization (Free → Paid Conversion)

Tease & Convert: Publish the core article freely, but gate a utility bonus (template, spreadsheet, prompt set, audio) behind the paywall. Prove value before asking for payment.
VIP outreach: In the Dashboard, filter subscribers by engagement score (4–5 stars), then send a targeted direct message offering a special rate or exclusive invite to the paid tier.
Welcome email: Customize the automated welcome email to introduce the author, set publishing cadence expectations, and link to the three best existing articles. Never leave the platform default.
Homepage taxonomy: Group posts into Tags (equivalent to newspaper sections) and add them to the navigation bar via Website Themes for advanced content discovery.

Quality Checklist

Before delivering output, verify:

Title is 40–60 characters and contains the primary keyword.
URL slug has 3–5 words, no numbers, no dates.
Meta description is 155–160 characters with a keyword and implicit CTA.
All images have alt text.
Subject line (if applicable) is under 50 characters and free of spam triggers.
At least one native engagement element (button, poll, or comment prompt) is included.
Paywall placement follows the Tease & Convert model (not a mid-sentence cut).
Welcome email customization is recommended if the post is the first in a new publication.

Files (skills)

references

formatting-best-practices.md 1.8 KB

# Substack Formatting Best Practices

## Text Centering

Substack's minimalist editor lacks a standard center-align button for regular body text. To center text: select it, click "Insert Quote", then choose "Pull Quote". This creates a visual break ideal for highlighting key phrases or statistics.

## Content Hierarchy

- Use **Heading 1** through **Heading 3** to create a clear, scannable structure.
- Keep paragraphs short (3–5 sentences max) to maintain readability in both email and web views.
- Use **Bold**, *Italics*, ~~Strikethrough~~, and hyperlinks to guide the reader's eye and improve scannability.
- Use bullet points, numbered lists, and dividers to break up long sections.

## Quotes

- **Block Quote**: For clearly attributing long excerpts from external sources.
- **Pull Quote**: For emphasis on a key phrase or statistic; renders centered and visually distinct.

## Visuals and Media

- Insert images, GIFs, or charts to break up heavy text.
- Image width options: **standard**, **wide**, or **full** — choose based on the visual weight needed.
- Always add a **caption** and **alt text** to every image. Alt text serves accessibility and organic SEO simultaneously.

## Interactive Engagement Tools

- **Native buttons**: "Subscribe", "Share your post", "Leave a comment".
- **Custom buttons**: Insert any URL to drive a specific reader action (e.g., download, survey, external link).
- **Polls**: Exclusive to paying subscribers; functions as a passive engagement and retention mechanism.

## Email Subject Line Rules

- Keep subject lines under 50 characters to prevent truncation on mobile.
- Avoid ALL CAPS, excessive exclamation marks, and spam-trigger phrases like "Buy Now" or "Act Now".
- Test deliverability by checking spam scores before sending to the full list.

seo-output-example.md 1.4 KB

# SEO Metadata — Output Example

## Input

> "Create SEO definitions for an article about how digital nomads can choose the best smartwatches."

## Output

| Field            | Value                                                                                                      | Notes                                                        |
|------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Title**        | The 5 Best Smartwatches for Digital Nomads in 2025                                                         | Utility trigger, audience specification, timeliness signal   |
| **Meta Description** | Discover the essential smartwatch features for trails and global travel. Read the complete guide for Digital Nomads and choose your gear. | 155–160 chars, includes keyword and implicit CTA             |
| **URL Slug**     | `/smartwatches-digital-nomads`                                                                             | 3–5 keywords, no dates, evergreen-friendly                   |

## SEO Rules Applied

- Title is 50 characters (within the 40–60 char target for maximum CTR).
- Slug contains no auto-generated numbers or filler words.
- Meta description closes with an action-oriented phrase without being a hard sell.

SKILL.md 4.1 KB

---
name: substack-expert
description: This skill should be used when creating, formatting, or optimizing content for a Substack newsletter. Covers post structure, SEO metadata (titles, slugs, meta descriptions), native engagement features (Notes, Polls, Chat), monetization tactics, and free-to-paid conversion strategies.
metadata:
  author: ft.ia.br
  version: "1.1"
  date: 2026-03-05
  repository: https://github.com/fabricioctelles/skills
  license: Apache 2.0
  category: library-and-api-reference
---

# Substack Expert

## Parameters

| Parameter     | Description                                            | Default                          |
|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| `topic`       | Subject or draft content to work with                  | Infer from the conversation      |
| `goal`        | Primary objective: `format`, `seo`, `growth`, `monetize` | `format` + `seo` if unspecified |
| `language`    | Output language                                        | Match the user's message language |

## Workflow

### 1. Clarify Scope

Identify which goals apply (formatting, SEO, growth, monetization) and confirm the topic. If the request is ambiguous, default to producing SEO metadata and a formatted structure outline simultaneously.

### 2. Visual Formatting

- Structure content with `Heading 1`, `Heading 2`, and `Heading 3` to improve readability and facilitate search-engine crawling.
- Apply the centering and styling techniques described in `references/formatting-best-practices.md`.
- Insert native engagement tools (Subscribe button, polls, Leave a comment) at natural breakpoints in the post.

### 3. SEO and Metadata

Produce the following fields for every post:

- **Title**: 40–60 characters. Use clear modifiers, keywords, and authority signals (e.g., "Tested", "Complete Guide"). Avoid vague or clickbait phrasing.
- **URL Slug**: 3–5 main keywords only, no auto-generated numbers, no dates (keeps the post evergreen). Example: `/substack-seo-strategy`.
- **Meta Description**: 155–160 characters, includes the primary keyword and an implicit call to action.
- **Image Alt Text**: Describe the image for accessibility; incorporate article keywords organically.

Consult `references/seo-output-example.md` for a worked example.

### 4. Growth Strategies

- **Substack Notes**: Publish short snippets derived from the post to Notes immediately after publishing. Leave authentic comments on related publications to build name recognition.
- **Recommendations rotation**: Review Analytics monthly to identify which partner newsletters drive inbound traffic. Rotate recommended partners every 30–60 days to maintain reciprocal growth.

### 5. Monetization (Free → Paid Conversion)

- **Tease & Convert**: Publish the core article freely, but gate a utility bonus (template, spreadsheet, prompt set, audio) behind the paywall. Prove value before asking for payment.
- **VIP outreach**: In the Dashboard, filter subscribers by engagement score (4–5 stars), then send a targeted direct message offering a special rate or exclusive invite to the paid tier.
- **Welcome email**: Customize the automated welcome email to introduce the author, set publishing cadence expectations, and link to the three best existing articles. Never leave the platform default.
- **Homepage taxonomy**: Group posts into Tags (equivalent to newspaper sections) and add them to the navigation bar via *Website Themes* for advanced content discovery.

## Quality Checklist

Before delivering output, verify:

- [ ] Title is 40–60 characters and contains the primary keyword.
- [ ] URL slug has 3–5 words, no numbers, no dates.
- [ ] Meta description is 155–160 characters with a keyword and implicit CTA.
- [ ] All images have alt text.
- [ ] Subject line (if applicable) is under 50 characters and free of spam triggers.
- [ ] At least one native engagement element (button, poll, or comment prompt) is included.
- [ ] Paywall placement follows the Tease & Convert model (not a mid-sentence cut).
- [ ] Welcome email customization is recommended if the post is the first in a new publication.