Substack adds the ability to follow your favorite writers without the need to subscribe to their newsletters

Substack has introduced a "Follow" button feature, transforming its platform to resemble more like a social networking experience. This new feature enables users to follow writers on Substack without subscribing to their (paid) newsletters, a feature that was in high demand by both writers and readers.

The "Following" function is aimed at boosting writers' audience growth within the Substack network, working in tandem with subscriptions rather than replacing them. Users who follow a writer can keep up with their reading, liking, publishing, and subscribing activities via the Substack Notes feed and profiles.

The "Follow" button will now be visible on individual notes, profiles, and suggested account lists, although the main focus remains on the "Subscribe" button for unfamiliar writers. Substack aims to use notifications to prompt followers to also subscribe to writers' newsletters, based on trending posts and milestones. The new feature not only simplifies subscriptions but also enhances readers' ability to share writers' content, potentially increasing visibility.

In line with Substack's strategy to compete with X (formerly Twitter), the platform is attempting to make changes by introducing more classic social network features, showcasing its intentions to grow beyond just a newsletter platform. Substack is encouraging creators to migrate their X followers to their platform, an strategic move in response to recent changes in Twitter's landscape, such as the transformation of XPro (TweetDeck) into a paid service, or the recent rumors about the removal of the block button.