How To Repurpose Substack Newsletters Into Instagram Reels

So you want to repurpose your Substack newsletter into Instagram Reels?

You’ve spent hours crafting thoughtful articles for your Substack subscribers, but now they’re just sitting there, only being seen by your email list.

Meanwhile, Instagram Reels are exploding with reach potential, and you’re wondering if there’s a way to get your carefully written insights in front of thousands of new eyes without starting from scratch.

The struggle is real. You want to maximize your content’s lifespan, but who has the time to create entirely new content for every platform? And honestly, the idea of filming yourself talking on camera might make you break out in a cold sweat.

Why you should repurpose from Substack to Instagram Reels

Here’s the truth: you never really know what content will resonate on which platform until you try.

Back in 2020, I created a series of YouTube videos about note-taking that didn’t get much traction. On a whim, I decided to repurpose those ideas into Medium articles. That simple decision to reformat my content led to launching a profitable five-figure course and adding 3,000 email subscribers to my list in just 12 weeks.

This difference isn’t random. It happens because of various factors:

Platform algorithms favor different content types
Audience preferences vary across platforms
Content timing and trends affect performance
Format suitability matters for your specific message

Your Substack gold might perform even better as Instagram Reels – but you’ll never know unless you try.

The main differences between Substack and Instagram Reels

Substack and Instagram Reels are practically different universes:

Substack:

Long-form, text-based content
Audience in “reading mode” – more focused and deliberate
Higher complexity tolerance
Subscription-based model
Primarily consumed via email

Instagram Reels:

Short video content (up to 90 seconds)
Audience in “scrolling mode” – looking for quick hits
Needs to grab attention instantly
Algorithm-based discovery
Primarily consumed on mobile

Why you should post on Instagram Reels

Instagram Reels offer explosive reach potential that simply doesn’t exist on Substack. While your newsletter might reach your existing 500 subscribers, a well-crafted Reel can potentially reach hundreds of thousands of viewers.

The Instagram algorithm heavily favors Reels content right now, giving creators unprecedented organic reach. Plus, Reels viewers who connect with your content are excellent candidates to become Substack subscribers.

What makes good Instagram Reels content

Creating effective Reels from your Substack content requires understanding what works on this visual, fast-paced platform:

Hook in the first 3 seconds – You need to grab attention immediately with a bold statement or question
Keep it concise – Extract your single strongest point rather than trying to cover everything
Visual stimulation – Use movement, text overlays, and visual elements to keep viewers engaged
Clear value proposition – Answer “what’s in it for me?” instantly for viewers
Conclusion with CTA – End with a clear action step (like following you or checking your Substack)

For example, if you wrote a Substack piece on “5 Morning Habits of Successful Creators,” your Reel might focus solely on the most counterintuitive habit, with on-screen text highlighting the key point while you explain the concept using simple visuals.

Build Your Swipe File Of Winning Instagram Reels

The best way to create effective Reels is to study content that’s already performing well. Each platform has its own unwritten rules, so find specific examples to understand exactly what to extract and adapt.

PRO TIP: Focus on creators who are new to Reels but getting significant traction. The established influencers can get away with approaches that might not work for smaller accounts because they already have momentum. New but successful creators will show you what actually works from a standing start.

This requires some initial research, but it will dramatically improve your results.

Download my free templates of winning Instagram Reels formats here.

Set up an automation to turn Substack posts to Instagram Reels

Okay, so now that you have these insights laid out…

You could either do this manually like a monkey.

Hire a VA that you need to train for weeks on Fiverr…

Or (my favorite way):

You could use AI and automation tools to make this process as smooth as butter.

Here’s an example:

As soon as you publish on Substack, an automation workflow extracts the core insights and transforms them into Reels-ready scripts.

You can create automations using tools like n8n, Make, or Zapier. Here’s a simple workflow:

1. Set up a trigger when a new Substack post is published

2. Extract the content via RSS feed

3. Send the content to an AI tool with this prompt: “Extract the 3 most compelling insights from this article and convert each one into a 15-second Instagram Reels script with a strong hook and visual direction notes.”

4. Deliver the Reels scripts to your preferred app or email

This way, you’ll have ready-to-film Reels scripts waiting for you whenever you publish on Substack.

Stop letting your brilliant Substack insights gather digital dust! Start repurposing them as attention-grabbing Reels today, and watch your audience grow exponentially.