Why I've Moved My LinkedIn Audience to Substack (and how it's the best decision I've ever made)
I was scrolling through my LinkedIn feed last week when I saw a post that grabbed my attention.
A creator I'd been following for months was frantically posting about losing access to his account. No warning. No explanation. Just... gone.
Thousands of followers. Years of content. An entire business built on that platform.
Vanished overnight.
The comments section was heartbreaking. Fellow creators sharing their own horror stories.
"Same thing happened to me."
"Lost my account with 50K followers."
"They said it was a 'mistake' but never restored it."
That's when it hit me.
I've been building my business on rented land.
Sure, LinkedIn has been incredible for growing my audience. The reach is amazing. The engagement is real. I've connected with thousands of people who genuinely care about what I have to say.
But here's the truth I didn't want to face: Those aren't really my followers. They're LinkedIn's users who happen to see my content when the algorithm decides to show it to them.
And that algorithm? It changes constantly.
One day you're getting 10,000 views per post. The next day, you're lucky to reach 100 people. Your content hasn't changed. Your value hasn't decreased. But suddenly, your voice disappears into the void.
Maybe you've felt this too?
That sinking feeling when your latest post—the one you spent an hour crafting—gets barely any engagement. The frustration of watching your reach decline week after week, despite posting consistently. The anxiety of knowing that everything you've built could disappear tomorrow.
You're not imagining it. The platform is designed this way.
Social media companies want to keep users on their platform, engaging with ads, generating revenue for them. They don't care about your business. They don't care about your relationships with your audience. You're just another content creator helping them make money.
The worst part? We all know this, but we keep playing the game anyway.
We keep posting. Keep hoping the algorithm will favor us. Keep building our entire business strategy around platforms we don't control.
Meanwhile, every day we wait is another day we risk losing the audience we've worked so hard to build.
But what if there's a better way?
What if you could take that LinkedIn audience—the one you've spent months or years building—and move them to a platform you actually own?
A place where algorithm changes can't kill your reach overnight. Where you can build deeper relationships. Where you can actually monetize your expertise without competing for attention every single day.
That's exactly what I’ve done. And it’s changed everything.
The Best Decision I Made for My Business
Here's what I realized after that wake-up call:
LinkedIn is an incredible audience-building tool, but it's a terrible audience-ownership platform.
Think about it. LinkedIn's algorithm is designed to help you discover new people and get discovered. It's built for networking, for making connections, for getting your content in front of fresh eyes.
But once you've made those connections? Once people are genuinely interested in what you have to say? LinkedIn becomes a bottleneck.
You're competing with everyone else in their feed. Your thoughtful insights get buried between motivational quotes and industry news. Your most loyal followers might not see your posts for weeks because the algorithm decided to show them something else instead.
That's when I made the strategic decision to use LinkedIn for what it does best—discovery—and move the real relationship-building somewhere I actually had control.
In the past 9 months, I've moved some of my LinkedIn audience to Substack and grown from 0 to 8,500+ newsletter subscribers. Now this most definitely did not all come from LinkedIn. It’s also come from Substack Notes and Recommendations.
But LinkedIn has been great for this. More importantly, I've built a $5K+ monthly business from going deeper with my audience.
Here's the difference:
On LinkedIn, I might get 500 likes and 50 comments on a post that reaches 10,000 people. Great engagement, but fleeting. Tomorrow, those same people might not see my content at all.
On Substack, I send a newsletter to 8,500 people and know that every single one of them will see it in their inbox. No algorithm. No competition for attention. Just me, my message, and the people who chose to hear from me.
The engagement is deeper too. LinkedIn comments are often quick reactions. Substack readers take time to write thoughtful responses. They share personal stories. They ask follow-up questions. They build on my ideas.
It's the difference between a networking event and an intimate dinner conversation.
The Strategic Advantage Most People Miss
But here's what makes this approach so powerful: You don't have to choose between LinkedIn and Substack.
LinkedIn remains one of the best platforms for getting discovered. The networking is unmatched. The ability to reach new people is incredible. The professional audience is exactly who you want to connect with.
The smart play is using LinkedIn as your discovery engine and Substack as your relationship builder.
LinkedIn hooks them. Substack keeps them.
And right now? The timing couldn't be better.
Substack is exploding. Every day, I see successful creators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders making the move. The platform is getting more attention, more investment, and more features.
But most LinkedIn creators are still stuck in the old mindset. They're putting all their eggs in one platform's basket, hoping their reach doesn't disappear tomorrow.
While they're worried about algorithm changes, you can be building something that belongs to you.
Here's exactly how I did it—and how you can too.
The 5-Step System to Move Your LinkedIn Audience to Substack
Step 1: Turn Your LinkedIn Profile into a Substack Funnel
Your LinkedIn profile is prime real estate, but most people waste it.
Instead of just listing your job title and experience, turn every section into a strategic pathway to your Substack.
Start with your headline. Don't just say "Marketing Director at XYZ Company." Say something like "Marketing Director | Helping B2B founders scale through strategic content | Weekly insights in my newsletter ↓"
Your “About Section” becomes your newsletter pitch. Tell people exactly what they'll get from subscribing to your Substack. What problems do you solve? What insights do you share? Why should they care?
And here's a move most people miss: Use LinkedIn's Featured section as your lead magnet showcase. Pin your best Substack posts, your most valuable resources, anything that gives people a taste of what they'll get when they subscribe.
Every piece of your profile should answer one question: "Why should I follow this person's newsletter?"
More people hang out on your profile than you realize. Be sure to give them somewhere to go next…
Step 2: Create Content That Drives Profile Visits (Not Just Likes)
Here's where most LinkedIn creators go wrong. They optimize for engagement on the post itself, but they never think about what happens next.
Your goal isn't just likes and comments. Your goal is getting people curious enough to visit your profile, where you can convert them into subscribers.
I use a three-part content mix that works incredibly well:
High-level engaging content that gets broad appeal. Think industry insights, helpful tips, relatable observations. This content gets seen by lots of people and introduces you to new potential followers.
Polarizing or slightly controversial posts that show you have a stance on something. These make you memorable. People might not agree with everything you say, but they'll remember who you are. And controversy drives profile visits.
Personal branding and story posts that build deeper connection. Share your journey, your failures, your breakthroughs. This is where people decide they actually want to follow your work long-term.
Use videos, images, carousels, quotes—all formats work. But every piece of content should make people think: "I want to know more about this person."
Step 3: Launch a LinkedIn Newsletter (The Secret Weapon)
This is the strategy that changed everything for me, and most people have no idea it exists.
LinkedIn lets you create up to 5 newsletters now on different topics. When you launch your first LinkedIn newsletter, every single one of your connections gets invited to subscribe. Automatically.
Even better? When new people follow you on LinkedIn, they get an automatic invitation to subscribe to your newsletter too.
Here's the key: Don't treat your LinkedIn newsletter like your main Substack. Keep it short, engaging, and story-focused. Think of it as a bridge, not a destination.
Write 3-4 paragraphs of compelling content, then include 1-2 strategic links to your best Substack posts. Something like: "I wrote more about this strategy in my latest newsletter [link]. And if you missed last week's post about [topic], you can catch up here [link]."
You're giving value on LinkedIn while naturally introducing people to your deeper content on Substack.
Step 4: Create a Lead Magnet Bridge (The Advanced Move)
If you really want to accelerate the process, create a lead magnet and feature it prominently on your LinkedIn profile.
This could be a framework, a template, a mini-course, or a resource guide. Something valuable that requires an email signup to access.
Use a service like Kit, FloDesk, or ConvertKit to capture those emails. Then create a simple welcome sequence that introduces new subscribers to your best Substack content.
Email 1: Welcome + your best post about solving their biggest problem
Email 2: Your most popular framework or strategy
Email 3: A personal story that shows your expertise
Email 4: Direct invitation to subscribe to your Substack for more insights like these
This creates multiple touchpoints and dramatically increases your conversion rate from LinkedIn visitor to Substack subscriber. Just keep giving them opportunities to head from your email list over to Substack.
Step 5: Master the Relationship Transition
Here's the nuance that most people miss: LinkedIn and Substack serve different purposes in the relationship journey.
Use LinkedIn for discovery and initial connection. This is where people learn who you are and what you're about.
But move the deeper conversations to Substack. Respond to newsletter comments personally. Engage in your Chat feature. Build real community around your content.
LinkedIn hooks them with your expertise. Substack keeps them with your authenticity and depth.
The goal is getting people to think: "I follow lots of people on LinkedIn, but this person's newsletter is different. This is where I actually learn something new."
Why This System Works So Well
The beauty of this approach is that you're playing to each platform's strengths.
LinkedIn's algorithm is designed for discovery. It wants to show your content to new people. It rewards engagement and connection-building.
Substack's ecosystem is designed for depth. It rewards consistency, authenticity, and genuine value. The readers who find you there are looking for more than quick tips—they want real insights they can't get anywhere else.
Plus, LinkedIn's audience is already business and professional-minded. These are exactly the people who appreciate newsletters, who are willing to pay for quality content, who understand the value of ongoing learning.
You're not trying to convert random social media users. You're moving an already-qualified audience from one platform to another.
The Wake-Up Call You Can't Ignore
But here's what I want you to understand: Every day you wait is another day you risk losing the audience you've worked so hard to build.
I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to save you from the heartbreak I've watched too many creators experience.
Last month alone, I saw three different LinkedIn creators lose access to their accounts. One had 75,000 followers. Another had built his entire consulting business around his LinkedIn presence. All of them had to start over from zero.
Meanwhile, my Substack subscribers? They're mine. No algorithm can hide my newsletter from their inbox. No policy change can make my content disappear. No platform update can cut my reach in half overnight.
The peace of mind that comes from owning your audience is priceless.
What Happens When You Make the Move
I won't sugarcoat this: Moving your audience takes effort. It's not a "set it and forget it" strategy.
But the results speak for themselves.
Within three months of implementing this system, I was consistently gaining 10-15 new Substack subscribers daily from LinkedIn. Not from viral posts or lucky breaks—from a systematic approach that compounds over time.
More importantly, the quality of relationships changed dramatically.
LinkedIn connections might engage with your posts occasionally. Substack subscribers become genuine fans. They forward your newsletters to friends. They reply with detailed thoughts and questions. They buy your products and recommend your services.
It's the difference between having followers and having a community.
And from a business perspective? There's no comparison.
My LinkedIn posts generate awareness and credibility. My Substack generates actual revenue. The deeper relationships, the owned audience, the direct access to people who genuinely want to hear from me—that's where the real value is.
📌 Ready to Stop Building on Rented Land?
Look, I get it if this feels overwhelming. The idea of moving your entire audience strategy can be intimidating, especially when LinkedIn has been working for you.
But what if I told you that you could accelerate this entire process and avoid the months of trial and error I went through?
Over the past 9 months, I've refined this LinkedIn-to-Substack system into a repeatable process that consistently delivers results. The same approach that helped me grow from 0 to 8,500+ subscribers and build a $5K+ monthly newsletter business.
I've documented much of it my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass—and right now, you can get access to something special.
When you join the masterclass now, you'll get two exclusive bonus trainings that I'm not going to offer again:
Bonus #1: "LinkedIn Leverage: How to Leverage LinkedIn to Fuel Your Substack's Growth" This is the complete, step-by-step system I just outlined, but with even more detail. I'll show you the exact profile optimization strategies, content templates, and conversion tactics that moved thousands of my LinkedIn connections to Substack.
Bonus #2: "Substack Storytelling Growth Training" Advanced tactics for using storytelling to connect with your audience and grow more quickly. The specific narrative frameworks that turn casual readers into devoted subscribers, and subscribers into customers.
Each of these bonuses will be sent out to my Substack Class members on June 10th. But, you need to join now in order to get those bonuses included.
These bonuses alone are worth about 5X the price of the entire masterclass. But they're only available until June 10th.
After that date, I'm removing them and focusing on new training content.
Inside the Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass, you'll discover:
The complete LinkedIn-to-Substack migration system I use
How to create content that builds your Substack audience while growing on LinkedIn
The monetization strategies that generate $5K+ monthly from newsletter relationships
Advanced community-building tactics that turn subscribers into superfans
The daily habits and systems that make growth predictable, not random
This isn't about choosing between LinkedIn and Substack. It's about using both platforms strategically to build something you actually own.
Join 100’s of other creators who are taking control of their audience and building businesses that can't disappear overnight. You can join us below:
Playing devil’s advocate: we’ve complained about Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and every other platform as they get large, impersonal, governed by the algorithm, and controlled by the needs of the owners to make money.
How do we know that Substack won’t suffer the same fate? There are no guarantees.
This post nails something I’ve been feeling but hadn’t quite put into words: the difference between broadcasting and belonging. LinkedIn felt like I was always standing on a stage trying to prove something. Substack feels like I’m at the firepit telling stories to the people who already brought a chair.
I’m writing a memoir called Barefoot and Bulletproof—small-town mischief, memory, and the slow fade of place and people. Substack’s been the first platform where I don’t have to translate or tone it down. Just tell it straight.
Appreciate your honesty here, Wes. Following along—and nodding the whole way.