Transform Your Substack Newsletter into Professional Audio with Shanda

Are you a Substack writer looking to expand your reach, engage your audience in new ways, and breathe new life into your newsletter content? Welcome to the world of audio publishing with Shanda !

What is Shanda?

Shanda is an intuitive audio publishing tool specifically designed for Substack writers who want to transform their newsletters into professional podcasts without technical skills or additional equipment. With Shanda, you can easily repurpose your written content into engaging audio that your subscribers can enjoy while commuting, exercising, or whenever reading isn't convenient.

Why Add Audio to Your Substack?

Before diving into the how-to, let's explore why adding audio content to your Substack makes sense:

• Meet your audience where they are: Not everyone has time to read a long article, but they can play a podcast while commuting or running errands.

• Combat reader fatigue: Audio provides another way to consume your content, helping address declining open rates.

• Create once, publish twice: Efficiently extend the life and reach of your existing written content.

• Connect on a deeper level: Your actual voice creates a stronger parasocial relationship with subscribers—they feel like they truly know you.

• Reach audio-first audiences: Tap into listeners on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms.

• Add a revenue stream: Create premium audio content for paid subscribers.

As one Substack writer noted after trying Shanda: "It was SO MUCH easier to edit out unwanted sentences than it is in Audacity, editing the waveform."

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Shanda with Substack

Step 1: Login to Substack and Access the Podcast Feature

1. Login to your Substack account

2. Navigate to the "Podcast" tab in your Substack dashboard

Step 2: Create a New Episode

1. Click "New Episode" in your podcast dashboard

2. You'll have two options:

   • Record directly from Substack

   • Select a pre-recorded audio file

Pro Tip: While you can record directly in Substack, many writers find it limiting because if you make mistakes, you'll need to start over. Instead, try recording on your phone, through Zoom, or another audio recording app, then edit in Shanda before uploading to Substack.

Step 3: Edit Your Audio with Shanda

This is where the magic happens! Shanda makes audio editing incredibly simple:

• No Audio Expertise Needed: One-click refinement and intuitive editing via transcript

• Filler Word Removal: Easily remove "ums," "uhs," and other filler words that distract listeners

• Background Noise Reduction: Clean up your audio for professional sound quality

• Simple Interface: Edit your audio by editing text—just like you'd edit a document

Step 4: Upload Your Edited Audio to Substack

1. Download your edited audio file from Shanda

2. Return to Substack and click "Select file" in your new episode draft

3. Upload your Shanda-edited audio file

4. Preview your recording to make sure everything sounds good

Step 5: Publish Your Audio Content

1. Add a title and optional subtitle for your episode

2. Add yourself as a guest (this helps with discoverability)

3. Toggle on "Add audio to podcast RSS feed" if you want your episode to be available on podcast platforms

4. Click "Send to everyone now" (or schedule for later)

Congratulations! You've just published professional-quality audio content for your Substack audience.

Real Benefits from Real Substack Writers

Substack writers who have integrated audio content using Shanda report several advantages:

• Increased engagement: Subscribers spend more time with their content

• Higher retention: Fewer unsubscribes as they provide more value formats

• Expanded reach: New audience members who discover them through audio platforms

• Deeper connections: Stronger relationships with their audience through voice

As one writer shared: "Audio newsletters are about meeting your audience where they are, which is everywhere. It's just another format. I think creators/industries/niches that publish fairly frequently and cross-post info will see the advantages in this (i.e., sports, finance/stocks/investments, etc.)."

Getting Started with Shanda

Ready to transform your newsletter content into professional audio? Here's how to get started:

1. Sign up for Shanda

2. Follow the simple steps above to connect with your Substack

3. Transform your best newsletter content into engaging audio

4. Publish and share with your audience

Shanda offers a free trial so you can experience how easy it is to create professional audio content from your newsletters.

Remember, you don't need any audio expertise, expensive equipment, or technical skills. Shanda handles the technical aspects so you can focus on what you do best—creating great content.

Conclusion

Adding audio to your Substack newsletter isn't just about offering another format—it's about creating a more immersive experience for your audience, expanding your reach, and building stronger connections with your subscribers.

With Shanda's intuitive tools, you can transform your written words into professional audio content in minutes, giving your audience more ways to engage with your work while opening up new opportunities for growth and monetization.

Ready to be heard as well as read? Try Shanda today and discover how easy it is to bring your newsletter to life through audio.