# Substack podcast import, then 301 the old feed

> After importing a podcast into Substack, submit the new feed to directories and 301 the old host's feed so the audience moves with you instead of starting from zero again.

- Canonical HTML: https://growth.iangoh.com/growth-ideas/substack-podcast-import-then-301-the-old-feed/
- Source: [support.substack.com](https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037830571-How-do-I-move-my-podcast-to-Substack)
- GrowthDex source hub: [Substack Support: How do I move my podcast to Substack?](/sources/substack-support-how-do-i-move-my-podcast-to-substack-support-substack-c/)
- Last checked: 2026-06-06T14:20:00Z
- Rarity: rare
- Budget: low
- Channels: Substack, Distribution, Retention
- Stages: substack, podcast migration, feed redirect, audience carryover


## Why this can grow

Content migrations often copy the archive and forget the distribution plumbing. Substack's podcast-import guide keeps the real job in view. Importing the back catalog is only the first half. The publication still has to tell podcast directories about the new feed and ask the old host to redirect listeners through a 301. That is the difference between a clean handoff and a fake relaunch where the archive looks complete but the audience is stranded.

## Ian's take

From scaling consumer platforms across MENA and Southeast Asia, my default is to distrust growth work that only looks good in a slide. My bias is to treat this as a small market test first. Make the audience narrow, make the promise concrete, and let the first real response decide whether it deserves more work. I would run it small enough to learn quickly, then only scale the parts that real users repeat, save, reply to, or buy from. For this tactic, I would watch one clear growth signal before putting more time or budget behind it.

## Action plan

1. Define one narrow startup segment where substack podcast import, then 301 the old feed can create a measurable lift.
2. Turn the tactic into one offer, page, campaign, or workflow for the Substack and Distribution channel.
3. Use the evidence from support.substack.com to set the first version of the message, format, and audience.
4. Launch a small test for 7 to 14 days with one success metric: one measurable growth signal.
5. Review the result, keep the winning message, remove weak variants, and turn the learning into a repeatable growth playbook.

## Source-backed example

Substack's podcast migration guide says publishers should submit the new feed to podcast directories and ask the previous host to redirect listeners with a 301 permanent redirect after import.

## Adjacent tactics in the same lane

- [Substack Chat invite post with permission explainer](/growth-ideas/substack-chat-invite-post-with-permission-explainer/) - 2 shared channels, 1 shared stage
- [Teams admin pins hold the top slot while users experiment below](/growth-ideas/teams-admin-pins-hold-the-top-slot-while-users-experiment-below/) - 2 shared channels
- [Teams admin pin path before adoption drift](/growth-ideas/teams-admin-pin-path-before-adoption-drift/) - 2 shared channels
- [Substack skip-button copy lets browsers say not yet](/growth-ideas/substack-skip-button-copy-lets-browsers-say-not-yet/) - 1 shared channel, 1 shared stage

## Read GrowthDex essays

Browse the plain-English essay index at [GrowthDex Blog](/blog/).

## Related GrowthDex essays

- [The Substack welcome path should not end at the subscribe box](/blog/the-substack-welcome-path-should-not-end-at-the-subscribe-box/) - email, conversion, community-led growth

## Advisory

If you want help turning this into a working growth system, Ian Goh offers advisory at https://iangoh.com/advisory.