Restack? Chat? Notes? 8 Substack Terms Finally Explained!

Substack Made Simple: Key Terms Explained in Minutes

Apr 01, 2025

When I created my Substack account a few short days ago, I did not understand the inner workings of this newly discovered platform. I only knew it looked to be where humans understood the inherent need to have a sacred place to launch and honor their soul-filled missives out into the world.

So Many Questions!

Once I began navigating this platform, I realized many others had the same questions I had been asking myself for days:

What is a note?

How do I chat? And with whom?

Is Following the Same as Subscribing?

And on and on. Because of these wonderings, I launched myself into ‘research mode’ and uncovered the answers to my lingering questions. If my digging and unearthing brings at least one person a smoother journey on this platform, I will secretly do the happy dance.

No Affiliate Links

There are no affiliate links attached to this post (Yes, this is an example of a post), no money earned (unless you decide to buy me a cup of coffee, which would be amazing and wonderful), merely a Substack Newbie wishing to place some positive energy and knowledge out into the world.

I have included several Substack support links at the end of this post if you wish to explore these terms in more depth. Okay, let’s get started.

SUBSTACK TERMS

POST

A post is a single piece of content similar to a blog post. So far, I have shared three ‘Posts’ on Substack (this is #4), and they include two short stories and a piece titled “60 Seconds is a Long Time” that reads more like a poem. I’ve included the link to “60 Seconds…” as it demonstrates your freedom within a post.

A. Posts can be used to share news, ideas, insights, stories, poems, etc. One lovely feature is that you can schedule your posts if you choose to.

B. Also, if you choose to write a newsletter, this is generally shared as a post.

NOTE

A note is a short-form post where writers can share ideas with their readers in the form of a note, a quote, a poster, a photograph, a short missive, etc.

A. From ‘Home,’ you can see notes from the people you follow and subscribe to on Substack.

B. You can also see other notes from publications that are recommended by the Substacks you subscribe to. Here is a sample note from my Substack on the ingredients needed for an EPIC story.

C. From ‘Following,’ you can see notes from Substacks you are subscribed to and the people you follow on Substack.

If this is confusing, breathe easy. There’s plenty of time to master the unique nuances of Substack. Feeling Stressed? Here are a few quick options for regaining balance and lowering stress levels:

Write a love note to yourself

Hug yourself (something I try to do regularly)

Give someone else a hug

Take a deep breath…2…3…4… Hold…2…3…4… Exhale…2…3…4…

It’s remarkable how doing a quick breathing exercise (Box Breathing Technique above) or sending yourself some love can rebalance your entire way of being in the world. Okay, back to those glorious Substack terms and their inner workings.

FREE SUBSCRIBER

Once a person submits their email and becomes a free subscriber to your Substack, they will receive your free posts via the email address they submitted when subscribing. They will also see your notes in their feed and automatically follow you.

PAID SUBSCRIBER

A paid subscriber will automatically follow you and see your notes in their feed. They will also subscribe to your publication on a monthly, annual, or foundation plan and receive all your posts through the Substack app or email.

*If someone is a paid subscriber, they no longer need to “Follow” you to view your notes and reading activity.

FOLLOW

When you “follow” a writer or reader, you can stay updated on what they are publishing, reading, liking, and subscribing to.

A. A “Follower” will see your notes, but since they did not subscribe, you won’t receive their email, and they will NOT get your posts in their inbox.

B. Also, anyone can see your list of followers and who follows you. Yes, fact. After absorbing this information, I devised a formula to demonstrate how this works.

SUBTACK A Subscribes to SUBSTACK B.

SUBSTACK B notices you subscribe to SUBSTACK C.

SUBSTACK B reads SUBSTACK C and decides to Subscribe, and the circle goes round and round.

RESTACK

Now that I know what they are, I LOVE RESTACKS! A “restack” is when you share a post or a note with your subscribers, starting a new conversation in the Home feed.

BEAUTIFUL ATTRIBUTES OF A RESTACK

A. You support another person’s post/note by sharing it with your readers, possibly gaining them more views, likes, comments, and restacks. Yay!

B. If someone restacks your note/post, they have just given you an enormous gift and sprinkled some love upon your carefully crafted note/post.

C. You can also highlight another person’s post and share it as a restack. Lovely!

CHAT

This is a Subscriber-only community where the Substack creator can set all the rules, such as who is in the Chat, when it happens, etc.

A. Chat is a space for writers to host conversations with their subscribers. According to Substack, “Chat extends the relationships that writers and creators have already developed with subscribers on Substack. Writers can host Chat conversations for all their subscribers or those who pay.”

B. A chat is just between you and your subscribers; people not subscribed to your publication cannot access it. You get to decide if the chat will be offered to free, paid, or to all subscribers.

SUBSCRIBE BUTTONS

Once you have completed your post and are ready to publish, click on the Editor menu.

Two Options:

A. Subscribe now

B. Subscribe with a caption

I always choose the ‘Subscribe with the caption’ button as it enables me to place my unique message.

*The subscribe button provides a seamless way to add subscribers to your Substack and encourages current subscribers to upgrade to a paid subscription.

There you have it! Substack terms served on a platter of deliciously scintillating inspiration in hopes that you will follow in the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson,

“ARISE, GO FORTH, and CONQUER”

Tennyson’s quote loomed large within the bedrooms of my youth, and those words nestled themselves into the deepest recesses of my psyche.

Substack is the easel of your destiny. Line your pathway with flowers of inspiration, soulmates who support and visualize your highest self, and all the love you so deserve.

Buy Me a Cup 😊💖

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be honored if you’d consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support means the world to me. I wish you a beautiful day filled with peace and beautiful moments.