So you want to repurpose your content from Substack to Medium?
I get it. You’ve been pouring your heart into your Substack newsletter, crafting valuable insights for your subscribers. But now you’re wondering if those same articles could find a second life on Medium.
The struggle is real. You’ve already done the hard work of creating great content, but it feels like it’s only reaching a fraction of its potential audience. Your expertise deserves more eyes on it.
Why You Should Repurpose from Substack to Medium
Here’s something most content creators don’t realize: you never really know which platform will make your content shine brightest.
Back in 2020, I was creating YouTube videos about note-taking. They were doing okay, but nothing spectacular. On a whim, I decided to repurpose that content for Medium. The result? I launched a profitable five-figure course and added 3,000 email subscribers to my list in just 12 weeks. That single decision completely changed my business trajectory.
Why did the same content perform so differently across platforms? It comes down to various factors:
- Different audience demographics
- Platform-specific algorithms
- Timing and trends
- Content format preferences
Medium has 170+ million readers actively looking for in-depth, thoughtful content. Many of them are willing to pay for quality through their membership program. That’s an audience you can’t ignore.
The Main Differences Between Substack and Medium
Before you start copying and pasting, understand that these platforms serve different purposes:
Substack:
- Newsletter-first approach
- Direct relationship with subscribers
- Subscription-based monetization
- More personal, intimate tone
- Your own little ecosystem
Medium:
- Publication-style format
- Discovery-driven through topics and recommendations
- Partner Program monetization
- More professional, editorial tone
- Part of a larger ecosystem
Why Medium Deserves Your Attention
Medium isn’t just another publishing platform. It’s a discovery engine for thoughtful content. The algorithm actively promotes quality writing to interested readers, even if you don’t have a following yet.
The Medium Partner Program lets you earn based on engagement with your stories. Writers regularly earn hundreds or thousands of dollars from a single viral post.
Plus, Medium’s domain authority gives your content SEO benefits that Substack simply can’t match.
What Makes Good Medium Content
Medium readers have specific expectations:
1. Depth and nuance: Medium isn’t for quick hot takes. Readers expect thoroughly explored ideas.
2. Clean, distraction-free formatting: Notice how Medium’s design emphasizes readability with plenty of white space.
3. Strong headlines: Your title needs to promise clear value without resorting to clickbait.
4. Storytelling elements: Even factual articles perform better when they include narrative hooks.
5. Relevance to trending topics: Medium promotes content that connects to current conversations.
For example, a Substack post titled “My Thoughts on Productivity” might become “How I Doubled My Output While Working 5 Hours Less Per Week” on Medium. Same content, different packaging.
Build Your Swipe File Of Winning Medium Content
The most effective way to succeed on Medium is to study what’s already working. Each platform has its own unwritten rules, and Medium is no exception.
Pro tip: Look for relatively new writers who are getting traction, not just the established gurus. The big names can break rules that newcomers can’t because they already have massive followings.
I recommend creating a swipe file of:
- Headlines that made you click
- Opening paragraphs that hooked you
- Formatting patterns that improved readability
- Topics that consistently perform well
Yes, this requires upfront work, but it’s far more effective than blindly republishing your Substack posts.
Download my free templates of winning Medium content formats here.
Set Up an Automation to Turn Substack Posts to Medium Stories
Okay, so now that you’ve laid the groundwork…
You could repurpose content manually like a monkey.
You could hire a VA on Fiverr that you’ll need to train for weeks…
Or (my favorite way):
You could use AI and automation tools to make this process as smooth as butter.
Here’s a simple workflow:
1. You publish on Substack
2. Zapier detects the new post
3. It triggers an AI tool like ChatGPT to reformat it for Medium
4. The AI-optimized version is sent to your email for review
5. You approve and publish to Medium with one click
For example, here’s a basic prompt you could use in your automation:
“Transform this Substack post into a Medium article. Keep the core ideas but optimize the headline, add subheadings, break up long paragraphs, and add a stronger opening hook. Make sure the tone matches Medium’s more editorial style.”
Tools like n8n, Make, or Zapier can handle this workflow easily. You’ll spend an hour setting it up once, then save countless hours on every piece you repurpose.
Stop letting your brilliant Substack content reach only a fraction of its potential audience. Your ideas deserve to spread far and wide – and Medium is your ticket to get there.
For more tips on how to repurpose your content and grow your audience with less work, sign up for my free emails below: