Add a Custom Substack Subscribe Gadget to Your Blogger / Blogspot Site

One of the simplest ways to grow an audience outside of social media is to build an email list. For writers using Blogger or Blogspot, integrating a Substack subscription button directly into your blog is an easy and effective way to encourage readers to follow your work.

In this guide, I will show you how to create a custom HTML gadget that links directly to your Substack subscription page. 

For this example, I will be using my own publication:

https://auspicedarer.substack.com/subscribe

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Step 1 — Open Blogger Layout

Log into Blogger:

https://www.blogger.com

Then:

1. Select your blog
2. Click Layout
3. Choose where you want the subscription box to appear
   • Sidebar
   • Footer
   • Beneath blog posts
4. Click Add a Gadget

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Step 2 — Choose HTML/JavaScript

From the gadget list:

• Select HTML/JavaScript

This allows you to paste custom code directly into your blog.

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Step 3 — Paste This Code

Copy and paste the following code into the content box:

<div style="text-align:center; padding:20px; border:2px solid #111; border-radius:12px; background:#f8f8f8; max-width:320px; margin:auto; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">

    <h2 style="margin-top:0; color:#111;">
        Join the Newsletter
    </h2>

    <p style="font-size:15px; color:#333; line-height:1.5;">
        Subscribe to receive essays, commentary, and new publications directly by email.
    </p>

    <a href="https://YOURSUBSTACK.substack.com/subscribe"
       target="_blank"
       style="display:inline-block;
              padding:12px 24px;
              background:#ff6719;
              color:white;
              text-decoration:none;
              border-radius:8px;
              font-weight:bold;
              font-size:16px;
              transition:0.3s;">
        Subscribe on Substack
    </a>

</div>

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Step 4 — Replace Your Substack Address

Replace:

https://YOURSUBSTACK.substack.com/subscribe

with your own Substack subscription URL.

Example:

https://auspicedarer.substack.com/subscribe

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Step 5 — Save the Gadget

Click:

• Save
• Then Save Layout

Your custom subscribe box should now appear on your blog.

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Why This Matters

Blogspot remains one of the best long-form writing platforms on the internet:

• Simple
• Fast
• Search-engine friendly
• Fully customisable
• Owned by Google

But modern publishing increasingly revolves around direct readership and email subscriptions.

Substack allows independent writers to:

• Build mailing lists
• Publish essays
• Monetise content
• Reduce dependence on social media algorithms

Combining Blogger with Substack gives you:

• the permanence and discoverability of a traditional blog
• alongside the audience retention power of email subscriptions.

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Optional Improvements

Once you have the basic gadget working, you can also experiment with:

• Dark mode designs
• Animated buttons
• Floating subscribe panels
• Pop-up subscription prompts
• Matching the gadget to your blog’s typography and branding

You can even create different gadgets for:

• essays
• fiction
• political commentary
• newsletters
• archives
• premium subscriber sections

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Final Thoughts

One of the great strengths of Blogger is that it still allows users to directly modify and control their own pages using simple HTML.

That freedom is increasingly rare on the modern internet.

A custom Substack gadget is a small addition, but it creates a direct bridge between your blog and your long-term readership — something every independent writer should consider building.