Adding a Wordmark to My Substack Blog
Adding a wordmark isn’t a huge deal - every Substack page already has a heading. The trouble is, the default one is bland. Why not dress it up a little?
It took me a little trial and error to get a wordmark on this Substack page looking the way I wanted. That experience inspired this post. If it gave me trouble, chances are it might trip you up too. So here, I’ll show you how to get it right the first time.
What is a Wordmark?
If you look up, you’ll see my wordmark. It’s my name, designed as a graphic logo. Substack gave me a plain text header when I first set up this page, but I wanted more flexibility. So, I made an image in Photoshop instead. Even though it’s just a simple letter-based design, turning it into an image gave me the creative freedom I was looking for, even if I haven’t done much with it yet. Here’s what it looks like up close.
And this is where the placement is on the website. It’s located at the top of every page.
What I’ll Cover in This Post
My goal here is to take the mystery out of Substack wordmarks. If I miss anything, or if you have questions, drop them in the comments below.
Here’s what I’ll cover:
Do you actually need a wordmark for your Substack blog or publication?
The best way to create a graphic-based wordmark.
The ideal size for your graphic.
How to add your wordmark to Substack.
Proven methods for designing wordmarks.
Common mistakes to avoid.
Does My Substack Page Need a Wordmark?
No, a wordmark isn’t necessary. I went without one until recently. If you never touch the wordmark feature, nothing is lost. It simply replaces the default text logo at the top of your page with a graphic version. Whether you make that upgrade is entirely up to you.
What’s the Best Way to Make a Substack Wordmark?
Wordmarks are simple graphics, so if you have a graphics editor like Adobe Photoshop, you can create your mark there. Otherwise, free online tools like Canva work perfectly.
What’s the Proper Size for a Substack Wordmark?
There are two key measurements to keep in mind when creating a wordmark for your Substack page. First, the image size should be 1344 × 256 pixels, and the aspect ratio should be 21:4. If you create the image using these exact pixel dimensions in your editor, you don’t need to worry about the aspect ratio - it will already be built into the final graphic.
How to Add a Wordmark to a Substack Page
The instructions are simple:
Go to your Substack dashboard.
Click Settings.
In the Appearance section, click Website.
Click Go to Website Theme Editor.
Select Branding.
In the Publication Wordmark area, follow the on-screen instructions to upload your graphic.
Tried-and-True Methods for Creating a Wordmark
There are a few key specifications to keep in mind when creating your wordmark:
1. Keep it crisp and simple. Avoid adding small images or extra graphics. While the design may look large in your editor, it will shrink significantly after upload. Extra details can make it look muddy.
2. Save as a .PNG. This format helps maintain clarity and supports transparency.
3. Make the background transparent. This ensures your wordmark looks sharp on your Substack page, even if you later change the site’s background color to off-white, tan, or another light shade. A transparent background lets your graphic adapt seamlessly without needing a new version.
What to Avoid
I’ve already mentioned avoiding a cluttered wordmark, but there’s one universal annoyance everyone who’s dealt with them has encountered:
Why does it look so small?
Even though your original graphic is 1344 × 256 pixels, it will shrink dramatically once uploaded to Substack. Why? I don’t know. The key to making it look presentable is to extend your content all the way to the edges of the canvas - no buffer zone needed. The header area already provides padding, so you don’t have to leave any space in the file itself. The larger the content within your file, the larger it will appear on the site.
But again, keep it simple. Don’t cram too much into the design.
In Conclusion
Some people prefer sticking with the default text title Substack provides. I left mine that way for years, too. It wasn’t until recently that I added a wordmark to give myself more flexibility with the site’s design. Adding a wordmark is straightforward and usually takes just a few minutes once you get the hang of it. If you have any questions about adding one to your site, feel free to ask in the comments. I’d be happy to help.