Should it be easy to import WordPress into Substack?
I have been experimenting with the options around importing my archive of WordPress posts into Substack. I soon ran into four five issues that have started me thinking Substack could be improved.
Issue 1 - Limited imports
The import function on Substack only seems to accept a URL for a limited set of other platforms or an RSS feed. There does not appear to be the ability to import a CSV, XML or HTML file. That’s despite the Subtack support page saying: “Alternatively, you can upload a .csv file of your posts.”1 Additionally, Substack does not support Markdown either.
Issue 2 - Drafts vs Published
Imported posts appear on Substack as Published rather than Drafts. This might seem trival, but it is important as imported posts need checking for layout, image import, hyperlinks etc before they are published.
Issue 3 - Footnotes
If you have footnotes on your posts in WordPress a footnote link (a superscript number) appears in the Substack post, but there is no actual footnote! What happens is the link points back to the original WordPress post. It feels like someone did not complete the Substack coding!
Issue 4 - Substack support
This might be a showstopper. I have raised these issues with Substack support only to find that there isn’t any real support, just an AI chatbot that regurgitates the help pages, interspersed with a few “can you rephrase that” and “I’m sorry”.
If you have solved these problems, do let me know; otherwise, let’s discuss.
Issue 5 - Formatting errors
Yes, you do need to check the imported posts. I have found that when you import from WordPress Substack adds a little line at the end of your post that tells you where it was originally published, nothing wrong with that except that it doubles up on the HTML tags. So instead of reading:
The post Why Edintone? first appeared on Miscellanea Edintone.
it appears as:
<p>The post Why Edintone? first appeared on Miscellanea Edintone.</p>
You could say, ‘sloppy’!
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https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/34558456517396-How-do-I-move-from-my-current-platform-to-Substack
Hi Graham, Welcome to the community. I have struggled with moving my Wordpress files to Substack. I've put my move on hold, but I'll continue to watch your journey.
Hey, Graham. First, congratulations on your first post and welcome to the genealogy community here on Substack. It's great to have you. I'm always happy to see some of our earliest Projectkin members find their way to Substack. (In fact, you just might find some friends noticing you from Notes. 😉)
I've dropped you a private email with a few tips to address the challenges you mentioned. You might also want to look at the Office Hours and now Tips series coming out of my sister-publication, MissionGenealogy.Substack.com. You'll find several other genealogy-centered resources here on Substack, including GenealogyMatters.Substack.com, and a few new ones as legendary genealogy voices make homes here: the eponymous RandySeaver.Substack.com, DanielLoftus.Substack.com, and DearMytle's Village Square at DearMyrtle.Substack.com. Finally, miss a chance to sign up for Robin Stewart's weekly GenStack newsletter at genealogymatters.substack.com/s/genstack either!
Oh... and a weird tip. Who knew but links in comments DO autolink. I can't tell you why, but there you go. My Office Hours post from May included a one-page table of Substack Formatting behaviors (because I tested so you don't have to...) missiongenealogy.substack.com/p/office-hours-may-2025