MODULE 11: SEO for Substack
Overview
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of optimizing content so search engines like Google show it to people searching for relevant topics. For Substack publications, SEO represents passive, evergreen growth—readers actively searching for solutions finding your content and subscribing.
This module covers the technical mechanics of Substack SEO, realistic expectations, Google Search Console setup, on-page optimization, backlink building, and long-term maintenance. All statistics drawn from 2024-2025 industry data.
Critical Reality Check: SEO is a 6-12 month minimum investment before meaningful results. Anyone promising “rank on Google in 30 days” is lying. Google’s own John Mueller confirms: “It takes several hours to several weeks just to index content,” and ranking takes much longer. This module documents what actually works over realistic timeframes.