My Favorite Substack Feature to Increase Your Visibility

How to grow your audience by borrowing trust—not just posting more.

Apr 20, 2026

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Each time I’m asked to co-author a collaborative article or I write my own collaborative with another Substack writer…I do the same thing.

I cross-post it.

One, it’s one of my favorite features on Substack, but two, also because I understand what that moment actually is.

When you cross post it’s not just:

A collaboration.
A feature.
A nice opportunity.

It’s leverage.

I’m not just writing for someone else’s audience.

I’m also bringing that visibility back to mine.

So instead of that moment living in one place…it now exists in two! And that changes everything.

Most people miss this completely.

The Problem Most Writers on Substack Don’t See

Most creators think growth comes from:

Posting more.
Writing better.
Being more consistent.
Showing up more.

And while that matters…

It’s not what actually moves the needle early on because when you’re starting, the real problem isn’t content.

It’s visibility.

If no one sees your work…it doesn’t matter how good it is.

The Shift

One of the fastest ways to grow on Substack has nothing to do with going viral.

It has everything to do with:

Borrowing attention and trust.

And one of the simplest ways to do that?

Cross-posting!

Why Cross-Posting Works

Cross-posting works because it compounds three things:

1. Visibility

You’re not just relying on your own content.

You’re expanding into:

Other creators.
Other audiences.
Other networks.

2. Relationships

Substack growth isn’t algorithm-driven.

It’s network-driven.

Cross-posting is how you build that network—naturally.

3. Trust

When you share something, you’re signaling:

“This is worth your attention.”

That builds authority faster than posting alone.

The Cross-Posting Framework

1. Only Share What Aligns

Ask:

“Would I want my audience to read this?”

If not, don’t post it.

2. Add Your Perspective

Never just share the post.

Always explain:

Why it matters.
What stood out.
Who it’s for.

3. Make It Intentional

Cross-post when:

You collaborate as a co-author.
You’re featured.
You genuinely respect the work.
You think the piece will be useful and beneficial to your audience.

Definitely not just to “stay active.”

4. Use It As A Bridge

This is the part most people miss.

Cross-posting isn’t just content.

It’s connection.

It opens doors to:

Future collaborations.
Shared audiences.
Long-term growth.

How To Cross-Post

Open the article you want to share with your audience.
Click the “three dots” on the upper right side of the article.
Scroll down the menu and click “Cross post.”
In the box, where it says “Say why this post is worth reading,” add your commentary to the post, which will be displayed to your audience at the top of the article once published.
Choose your publication to post it to and who you want to send it to…your free subscribers or paid subscribers, or everyone.
Then, choose your delivery to cross-post, either to your audience’s emails or your publication’s web page, or both.
Then, sent it right away or schedule it on a timer. It will publish like any other post.
Here is what the final product will look like once you publish a cross-post. You can see here, right at the top of the article, is the commentary you wrote in the box about why the post was worth reading. And, that’s it!