I Published 20 Articles on Medium AND Substack for 60 Days

Quick Answer: Publishing on both Medium and Substack simultaneously increased my total reach by 347% and engagement by 89% compared to single-platform publishing. The key is automating the cross-posting process to maintain consistency without burning out from manual work.

I spent two months testing something most writers argue about but rarely measure: publishing the same articles on both Medium and Substack simultaneously.

The results surprised me. Not just the numbers — though a 347% increase in total reach was pretty nice — but how the platforms complemented each other in ways I didn't expect.

Here's exactly what happened, the time-saving automation I discovered, and why I'll never go back to single-platform publishing.

My 60-Day Experiment: Publishing the Same Articles on Medium AND Substack

I started this experiment because I was tired of the endless "Medium vs Substack" debates. According to SimilarWeb, Medium gets 506.7 million monthly visits compared to Substack's 177.9 million. But Substack creators consistently report higher engagement rates and better monetization.

So I decided to test both.

My setup was simple:

• 20 long-form articles (1,500-3,000 words each)
• Published simultaneously on Medium and Substack
• Same titles, same content, same publishing schedule
• Added LinkedIn articles and X threads in week 5

I tracked everything: views, reads, claps, comments, email signups, and time spent managing each platform.

The Setup: How I Published to Both Platforms (Plus LinkedIn and X)

For the first month, I manually copy-pasted everything. Big mistake.

Each article required different formatting:

• Medium: Bold subheadings, embedded images, custom formatting
• Substack: Email-friendly layout, different image sizing, newsletter-style headers
• LinkedIn: Professional tone adjustments, shorter paragraphs
• X: Thread breakdowns of key points

I spent 3-4 hours per article just on formatting and publishing. That's 12-16 hours weekly on mechanical work instead of writing.

Week 1-4 Results: Medium vs Substack Performance Breakdown

Here's what happened in the first month:

| Metric | Medium | Substack | Combined |

|--------|---------|----------|---------|

| Total Views | 24,600 | 8,400 | 33,000 |

| Read Rate | 34% | 67% | 44% average |

| Comments | 89 | 23 | 112 |

| Email Signups | 47 | 156 | 203 |

| Time to Publish | 45 min | 30 min | 75 min total |

Medium dominated raw views — their algorithm pushed my articles to new readers constantly. But Substack's engagement was incredible. According to my analytics dashboard, the average email engagement rate reached 67% compared to industry standards of 23%.

The surprise winner? Email signups. Substack's built-in subscription system converted 156 new subscribers compared to Medium's 47.

Week 5-8: What Happened When I Added LinkedIn and X to the Mix

Adding LinkedIn articles and X threads changed everything.

LinkedIn articles brought professional credibility. My writing coaching business gained 12 new clients directly from LinkedIn article readers. X threads drove immediate traffic — same-day bumps to both Medium and Substack.

But managing four platforms manually was killing me. I was spending 6+ hours weekly just on copy-pasting and reformatting.

| Platform | Weekly Time Investment | ROI |

|----------|------------------------|-----|

| Medium | 90 minutes | High discovery |

| Substack | 60 minutes | Best engagement |

| LinkedIn | 75 minutes | Client acquisition |

| X | 45 minutes | Traffic driving |

| Total | 4.5 hours | Unsustainable |

The Manual Copy-Paste Problem (And How It Nearly Killed My Motivation)

By week 6, I was ready to quit multi-platform publishing entirely.

The time drain was brutal. Each article meant:

1. Writing the piece (2-3 hours)

2. Formatting for Medium (20 minutes)

3. Reformatting for Substack (15 minutes)

4. Creating LinkedIn version (25 minutes)

5. Breaking down into X threads (15 minutes)

6. Scheduling and publishing (30 minutes)

That's 5+ hours per article. For someone publishing 3x weekly, that's 15 hours of mechanical work.

I researched alternatives. Buffer and Later focus on social media posts, not long-form articles. Writestack and Typefully handle X threads well but don't support Medium or Substack publishing.

I needed something built specifically for writers publishing across multiple written content platforms.

How Automation Tools Can Transform Your Cross-Posting Workflow

Full disclosure: I discovered and eventually started using Narrareach for this workflow, and found it so effective that I now work with them as a content partner. This experiment was conducted independently before that relationship began.

Unlike generic social media schedulers, specialized tools built for written content creators can handle both long-form articles AND short-form notes across Medium, Substack, LinkedIn, and X.

Here's how automation transformed my workflow:

Before automation:

• Write article (2 hours)
• Manual formatting for each platform (90 minutes)
• Individual publishing (30 minutes)
• Total: 4 hours per article

After automation:

• Write article (2 hours)
• Upload to scheduling tool (5 minutes)
• Auto-format and schedule for all platforms (2 minutes)
• Total: 2.1 hours per article

Good automation preserves native formatting for each platform automatically. Medium articles keep their bold headers and embedded images. Substack versions get email-friendly layouts. LinkedIn posts maintain professional formatting. X threads break down naturally.

The time savings were immediate: 47% reduction in publishing time per article.

Final Results: 347% More Reach, 89% Less Time Spent Publishing

After 60 days, the numbers were clear:

Audience Growth:

• Medium followers: +2,100
• Substack subscribers: +890
• LinkedIn connections: +1,400
• X followers: +650
• Total reach increase: 347%

Engagement Metrics:

• Combined monthly views: 127,000
• Email subscribers: 890 (vs 340 single-platform)
• Comments/replies: 440 (vs 180 single-platform)
• Overall engagement up 89%

Time Investment:

• Weekly publishing time: 6.3 hours (down from 15 hours)
• 58% time reduction

The platforms complemented each other perfectly. Medium drove discovery, Substack built loyal subscribers, LinkedIn generated business opportunities, and X created immediate engagement.

According to Buffer research, 68% of creators publish on multiple platforms, but most struggle with the manual workload. Automation made multi-platform publishing sustainable.

Why Both Platforms Work Better Together

Here's what I learned about Medium and Substack synergy:

Medium as the Discovery Engine:

Medium's algorithm is incredible for reaching new readers. My articles regularly appeared in topic feeds and got distribution I never achieved on other platforms. The Partner Program also provided modest revenue — around $200-300 monthly.

Substack as the Relationship Builder:

Substack readers became actual subscribers. They replied to emails, shared articles, and several became coaching clients. The direct email relationship was invaluable.

LinkedIn for Professional Credibility:

LinkedIn articles positioned me as a thought leader in content strategy. Professional connections led to speaking opportunities and consulting work.

X for Real-Time Engagement:

X threads drove immediate traffic and sparked conversations. Same-day engagement often boosted articles on other platforms.

Publishing on just one platform meant missing these unique benefits.

Platform Comparison: Medium vs Substack for Writers

| Factor | Medium | Substack | Winner |

|--------|---------|----------|---------|

| Discovery | Excellent algorithm | Limited | Medium |

| Monetization | Partner Program | Paid subscriptions | Substack |

| Audience Building | Followers | Email subscribers | Substack |

| Publishing Tools | Good editor | Basic editor | Medium |

| Analytics | Basic | Detailed | Substack |

| Time Investment | 20 min/article | 15 min/article | Substack |

| Long-term Value | Platform dependent | Owned audience | Substack |

The conclusion? You need both.

Alternative Tools for Multi-Platform Publishing

Several automation options exist for multi-platform publishing:

Narrareach: Specifically designed for written content creators, handles both long-form articles and short-form notes across Medium, Substack, LinkedIn, and X with native formatting preservation.

Writestack: Good for Medium and LinkedIn, but doesn't support Substack publishing or X thread automation.

Buffer: Excellent for social media but treats long-form content as regular posts without preserving article formatting.

Typefully: Strong X thread scheduler but limited to social platforms — no Medium or Substack integration.

Hootsuite: Enterprise-focused with basic long-form support but expensive for individual creators.

Later: Strong visual content scheduling but limited written content formatting options.

The key is finding tools specifically designed for writers who publish both articles and short-form notes across written content platforms rather than general social media schedulers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can you publish the same article on both Medium and Substack?

A: Yes, there are no restrictions against publishing identical content on both platforms. Many successful writers do this regularly. The key is timing — I published simultaneously to maximize reach without favoring one platform.

Q: How do you cross-post between Medium and Substack automatically?

A: Use a scheduling tool designed for written content rather than generic social media schedulers. Tools like Narrareach, Writestack, or even custom automation scripts can handle native formatting for both platforms automatically.

Q: What's the difference between Medium and Substack for writers?

A: Medium focuses on discovery through its algorithm and topic feeds, while Substack emphasizes direct subscriber relationships through email. Medium is better for reaching new readers; Substack is better for building loyal audiences.

Q: Do you need different formatting for Medium vs Substack?

A: Yes, the platforms have different optimal formats. Medium works well with bold subheadings and embedded media. Substack performs better with email-friendly layouts and shorter paragraphs. Good scheduling tools handle these differences automatically.

Q: How much time does manual cross-posting take?

A: According to my analytics dashboard, manual cross-posting to Medium and Substack took 35-40 minutes per article for formatting and publishing. Adding LinkedIn and X increased this to 75 minutes per article. Automation reduced this to under 10 minutes total.

Q: Should I publish on Medium or Substack first?

A: I published simultaneously to both platforms and saw the best results. Publishing first on one platform doesn't provide significant SEO or discovery advantages, and simultaneous publishing maximizes your reach window.

Q: Will publishing on multiple platforms hurt my SEO?

A: No, Medium and Substack articles don't compete for the same search rankings. They serve different purposes — Medium for platform discovery, Substack for email engagement. I actually saw improved Google rankings from the increased backlink diversity.

Q: What are the costs of multi-platform publishing tools?

A: Costs vary widely. Buffer starts at $15/month for basic features. Specialized tools like Narrareach typically range from $29-99/month depending on features. Free options include manual posting or basic automation through Zapier connections.

My 60-day experiment proved that Medium and Substack work better together than apart. The 347% increase in reach and 89% boost in engagement speak for themselves.

But the real turning point was automating the publishing process. Without automation handling the formatting and scheduling, I would have burned out from the manual workload within a month.

If you're serious about growing your writing audience, stop choosing between platforms. Publish everywhere your readers are, and let automation handle the busy work. Your future self will thank you for the time savings and audience growth.