Substack Tags: What Are They and What Are They Used For
So, what actually are Substack Tags and how should you use them!
Think of Substack tags not as a chore, but as a digital roadmap for your readers!
Unlike rigid SEO keyword stuffing you may see on other blogs, Substack tags function as a living organizational tool. They categorize your posts into targeted collections, allowing new subscribers to find your articles based on their specific interests.
When you tag a post, you’re essentially building a library that helps the platform’s recommendation engine surface your work to the right people, transforming a random collection of newsletters into a cohesive, searchable destination.
So, what actually are Substack tags?
Think of tags as your own internal filing system. They aren’t the broad categories you see on a news site - they are metadata labels you slap onto your posts to group them by theme, series, or sections.
When you tag a post, Substack automatically generates a unique dedicated landing page for that tag. Suddenly, that one post isn’t living in isolation - it’s sitting at a table with every other post you’ve written on that specific topic.
And the best part is, you can use that tag URL as links in your posts or articles!
Why bother?
Aside from making your publication look professional, tags solve the “new reader” problem. When someone discovers your newsletter today, they aren’t going to read your last 50 posts. They want to know, “Does this person write about stuff I care about?”
If you have a tag for “Deep Dives” or “Case Studies” or “Friday Rants,” a new reader can click that link and instantly see the best of your work in that topic. It turns a chaotic feed into a categorized portfolio.
The Substack Homepage Trick: Turning Tags into Navigation
Most writers look at the Navigation section in their Substack settings and see “Home” and “About.” They leave it at that. But if you scroll down to the bottom of that menu, you can add custom links. This is where you level up.
Here is exactly how to do it:
Tag Consistently: First, go back through your older posts and add tags. Be disciplined. If you create a tag called “Writing Tips,” don’t also create one called “Tips for Writing.” Pick one and stick to it.
Grab the URL: Navigate to your Dashboard > Settings > Website > Tag Section - and click to open one of those Tag URL’s, then copy it - it will look something like this
(https://yourdomain.com/t/writing-tips).Update Your Homepage Navigation Bar: Head to Dashboard > Settings > Website > Navigation.
Add the Link: Click Add Item. Enter the Title for it, and in the Link box paste that tag URL you just copied.
Save: Hit save and refresh your homepage.
* As an easier way to do this in the future, you can just click the three dots (…) next to a tag in your tag list there - and choose “Add to navigation bar”
So now, the links at the top of your homepage aren’t just showing - Home, Notes, Archive, About… it’s a table of contents.
You just effectively transformed your publication from a static blog into a living, searchable resource. It takes maybe ten minutes to set up, but it makes your site feel like a destination rather than a chore to navigate.
Stop letting your best work get buried in the pile. Start tagging, link them in your header, and actually show your readers what you’ve built.
You can use this link if you’d like to learn more about Adding Tags To Your Substack Posts
Paul Arino
Substack Tips For Growth
I recently shared a Detailed Explanation of Substack Notes as well, and what actually happens after you post them.