So you want to repurpose your content from Substack Notes to YouTube videos?
You’ve created these bite-sized thoughts and insights on Substack, and now you’re wondering if they could find new life as long-form YouTube content.
But something’s holding you back. Maybe it’s the thought of turning those quick notes into 10+ minute videos. Or perhaps you’re unsure if your written ideas will translate well to the visual medium of YouTube.
You’re not alone. Many content creators struggle with this transition, unsure how to take something concise and expand it into something comprehensive.
Why you should repurpose from Substack Notes to YouTube videos
YouTube offers what few other platforms can: incredible discovery potential mixed with deep audience connection.
While your Substack Notes might reach your subscribers and a few others, YouTube videos can be discovered years after you publish them. The platform’s algorithm continues to serve your content to interested viewers regardless of when it was created.
Repurposing content across platforms isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about discovering where your ideas truly resonate.
Back in 2020, I created several YouTube videos about note-taking. They performed decently, but nothing special. On a whim, I decided to repurpose those same concepts into Medium articles.
The result? Those repurposed pieces exploded in popularity, allowing me to launch a profitable course that generated five figures and add 3,000 email subscribers to my list in just 12 weeks. That unexpected pivot changed everything.
Why did this happen? Because content that’s mediocre on one platform can be exceptional on another. The audience, algorithm, timing, and format all play crucial roles in a piece’s success. You simply cannot predict what will work where until you try.
The main differences between Substack Notes and YouTube videos
Substack Notes are:
- Brief, typically a few sentences to a paragraph
- Text-focused with occasional images
- Quick to consume (under a minute)
- Designed for quick engagement
- Primarily consumed by people who already follow you
YouTube videos are:
- Long-form (the algorithm favors videos over 8 minutes)
- Visual and auditory
- Time-intensive to consume (8-20+ minutes)
- Designed for deep engagement
- Discovered through search and recommendations
This fundamental difference means you’re not just changing platforms—you’re changing formats, consumption patterns, and audience expectations.
What makes a good YouTube video
Successful YouTube videos typically share these characteristics:
1. Strong hooks in the first 30 seconds that clearly communicate the value viewers will get
2. Visual variety to maintain attention (cuts, b-roll, graphics)
3. Clear storytelling structure with a beginning, middle, and end
4. Specific, actionable information rather than vague concepts
5. Authentic personality that builds connection with viewers
For example, compare these two approaches to the same topic:
Weak: “Today I’m going to talk about how to repurpose content…” (generic opening that causes viewers to click away)
Strong: “I turned one Substack Note into a YouTube video that got 50,000 views in a week—here’s exactly how I did it, step by step…” (specific claim with promised value)
Build Your Swipe File Of Winning YouTube Video Content
The best way to create successful YouTube content is to study what’s already working—especially for creators similar to your current position.
Don’t just analyze the big YouTube stars. Their established audiences and brand recognition let them get away with things that won’t work for smaller creators.
Instead, find people who’ve grown from 0 to 10,000 subscribers in the past year. Study their most popular videos:
- What titles are they using?
- How do they structure their hooks?
- What thumbnail styles generate clicks?
- How do they maintain interest throughout?
This requires upfront work, but it creates a blueprint for your success.
Download my free templates of winning YouTube content formats here.
Simple workflow to turn Substack Notes to YouTube videos
Okay, so now that you’ve have these 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 post on Substack Notes, it will automatically trigger a workflow to start transforming it into a YouTube script.
You can set up automations using tools like n8n, Make, or Zapier to streamline this process. Here’s a simple workflow that’s working right now:
1. Connect Substack RSS to your automation tool
2. When a new Note publishes, trigger an AI prompt that expands it into a YouTube script
3. The prompt could be: “Transform this short note into a 10-minute YouTube script. Maintain the core idea but expand with examples, stories, and evidence. Include a strong hook in the first paragraph, 3-5 main points in the middle, and a clear call to action at the end.”
4. Send the completed script to your preferred note-taking app or directly to your teleprompter app
5. Record, edit, and upload
This takes what might be a 2-3 hour manual process and reduces it to minutes of actual work on your part.
Stop sitting on content gold mines. Your Substack Notes are seeds that can grow into YouTube trees—all you need is the right system to make it happen.
For more tips on how to repurpose your content and grow your audience with less work, sign up for my free emails below: