Getting Started with Substack | Webinar | Beginner

Substack looks like a newsletter tool. It also behaves a bit like LinkedIn, and a bit like X. That mix is exactly why so many business owners are curious about it, and why so many are confused by it.

In this practical session we open Substack up on screen and walk through it step by step, using live demonstrations and simulated interfaces so you can see exactly where everything sits before you set up your own.

What you’ll learn

• What Substack is in 2026, in plain English, and the handful of terms you need to know

• How Substack compares with email marketing, LinkedIn newsletters and X, and where it is genuinely different

• How Posts and Notes work together, and how to use each one without burning hours

• How Australian businesses and brands overseas are using Substack, from founder journals to expert insight

• How paid subscriptions work, what the fees really are, and realistic numbers for a small business

• Which kinds of businesses suit Substack, and which are better off staying with email

• Your Australian obligations, including Spam Act consent when importing a list and GST on paid subscriptions

• A simple 30-day plan to set up, publish and start building readers

Who it’s for
Small business owners and sole traders who want to share their expertise, build a following they actually own, and test whether a newsletter could become a revenue stream. Consultants, coaches, trainers, specialists, hospitality and tourism operators, makers and anyone with a story to tell will get the most from it.

No technical experience needed. A Substack account is free, and you can follow along on a laptop or simply watch and take notes.

What you’ll walk away with

• A clear yes, no or not yet on whether Substack suits your business

• An interactive online guide to keep and work through at your own pace

• A 30-day starting plan

• Access to subsidised 1:1 support from our expert digital advisors to keep going after the session

This webinar is hosted by Dante St James from Clickstarter Education in partnership with BUSY Business for the Australian Government's Digital Solutions program. You can find out more about the program here.