It’s show and tell time!

I discovered something last week that’s delighting me no end.

GIFs WORK on Substack.

I experimented on a whim for two days last week as I rebuilt my StyleYOURStack site. I needed some downtime to play. After years of searching for my true vocation, I’ve landed in an amazing place. My work IS play. I couldn’t be more grateful to spend the majority of each day work-playing.

I’m like a little kid with a coloring book, or an Etch-A-Sketch, or some finger paints. None of those references are digital, so they give away my age. Yes, I’m a late boomer.

Analog toys were all I played with when I was a kid. When I was a kid, play WAS my vocation. Here I am, back at the beginning. Life does come full circle. But thankfully my range of toys has expanded to include the digital ones, and now I’m busier than ever, PLAYING!

I started with my logo. It used to look like this:

But let me loose, with a handy-dandy palette of colors, an adventurous demeanor, and some design tools…and look what happened! It’s bright, it’s slightly queer, and it’s fun!

It works on Substack. It works in the tiny little spots it has to occupy on the website and in the Substack app. It works in a profile where your readers check you out to see what you read. It WORKS! Did you know that? I didn’t until last Thursday.

Now, it’s my brand new offering to any client who’d like to up their game.

I’m all about calling attention to my stacks, and to myself. Annoying? A little. I used to be filled with shame, and never blew my own horn. I have a lot of catching up to do. Yes, I was the kid in the front row of every classroom (except math) who waved her hand wildly, “call on me, I know, I know!” For someone who considers herself mostly an introvert, this might not seem consistent with the traditional profile of an “innie.”

But, there you go. Life, and people, are full of contradictions.

Now, if you know me at all, you know that I can’t ever leave well enough alone. Because it’s never enough. I got to wondering, “Will it work on a welcome page? As a wordmark? In a post? Or an email banner?

It does! And, it’s suddenly made life at Style YOUR Stack a lot more interesting. It might make your stack more interesting, too. I always tell my clients that their stacks need to pop. To stand out. This’ll give anyone a boost. You don’t have do all the things. Maybe just your logo.

Or a divider? Or maybe, just maybe you’ll go for the whole shebang!

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Of course, I curious after designing the logo. I built a new Welcome page image:

Yep. That works, too. How about a wordmark? I’m finding a simple one is best.

It IS possible to go overboard, especially if you’re me.

So far, I’ve done just one for a client, a new pal, , who writes a stack called Flower Child. How could I resist?

Her new logo:

Rosana will be in our April 18 story slam, too. Come see her tell her story in Death & Taxes!

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Pronounce it anyway you like.

The creator of the format pronounced the acronym GIF which stands for Graphic Interchange Format (Graphic, hard G) as /dʒɪf/, with a soft g, with Wilhite stating that he intended for the pronunciation to deliberately echo the American peanut butter brand JIF, and CompuServe employees would often quip “choosy developers choose GIF”, a spoof of Jif’s television commercials.

However, the word is widely pronounced as /ɡɪf/, with a hard g, and polls have generally shown that this hard g pronunciation is more prevalent.

Adobe believes we should pronounce it “JIF.” That really messed me up last week. I’ve used the hard G for years. I valiantly tried to switch. JIF, GIF, JIF, GIF. Arrrggghhh!

I’ve always preferred Skippy Peanut Butter, over JIF, so that might be the problem.

Consider this post a gif-t!

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Here are a collection of icons (favicons) that I’ve designed over the years. Favicons are the little images that appear in browser tabs for regular websites. For now, though, an icon is what Substack calls a logo. But Substack’s logo is really an icon, because it must occupy 3-4 different places on the platform. The top left corner of the desktop version of the site AND the Substack app and the browser tab. It also lives in the list of publications you subscribe to, found in your profile. That’s a lot of work for one simple icon. So it has to POP! Simplicity, contrast, and an image with personality are key. They can be initials or some meaningful symbol that only you know the meaning of; a talisman of some kind. A logo, in general, can say more than an icon. Let’s call them what they are, Substack.

You can click on the gallery to view each icon separately.

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I design logos. I’ve been doing it for more than 15 years. They tell a story, more of a story than the simpler icons that Substack calls logos. You may be fine with the icon, but if you need more, I’ll deliver something sweet! You’ll use it for things other than the Substack “logo” designated areas. You can use it for print, you can use it on your About and Welcome pages. You can use it on a business card. Yes, people still print business cards!

Click on each group of nine logos, and you’ll be able to see each one separately.

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Logo and icon (favicon) design is just one element of creating a brand identity. It’s an important element for a content creator on Substack to have in place. I work with my clients to home in on the meaningful values they hold, the message, the mission they want to convey to potential subscribers. A great logo that represents you and your brand is a must!

But. What Substack calls a “logo” is what I think of as an icon.

Because the Substack “logo” icon must occupy at least 4 very different places on Substack, and they’re all quite small. So they have to be simple. Doesn’t mean you can’t have a logo, too. Something more complex, that might include your name or the name of you stack. But first, you need an icon.

Here are a collection of icons (favicons) that I’ve created over the years for my website clients. But in website world, they’re called favicons. They’re the little images that appear in browser tabs for regular websites. For now, though, an icon must occupy 3-4 different places on Substack. On Substack, you’ll find that icon in the top left corner of the desktop version of the site AND in the Substack app in a couple of places. AND in the tab in an internet browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, as examples).

That’s a lot of work for one simple icon. So it has to POP!

Simplicity, contrast, and an image with personality are key. They can be initials or some meaningful symbol that only you know the meaning of; a talisman of some kind.

Here are some logos I’ve created over the past 15 years. I can design one for you, for your Welcome page or your About page. It’s more involved than your icon and can serve a purpose by telling your reader more about you.

But they can’t be used for Substack’s idea of what a logo is.

Wordmark. What’s a wordmark? I’ll tell you. It’s the graphic representation of you stack title. And it shouldn’t be the boring default text that Substack provides. It should be eye-catching, it should be clean-looking, and inviting. It should have flavor and introduce your readers to YOU. Here are some I’ve designed. Wouldn’t you like to look your best, too?

Some examples:

See more examples of wordmarks.

Wordmarks

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What’s a wordmark? I’ll tell you. It’s the graphic representation of your stack title. It shouldn’t be the boring default text that Substack provides. It should be eye-catching, it should be clean-looking, and inviting. It should have flavor and introduce your readers to YOU. Here are some I’ve designed.

Wouldn’t you like your stack to look its best?

Amazement Seeker

[BOLD] AGE

Brand Therapy™

Cultivating Terraphilia

The Armchair Journalist

Can't Sink THIS Rainbow

The Joy of Financial Security®

The Long Climb

Permission Granted

Random Conversations

The Pink Zones

The Next Write Thing

You are here!

Wham! Bam! Thank You! Slam!

You need a

• wordmark

• logo

• welcome page

• divider

• email banner

• profile image

• more? more is always possible!

Message me, or skip that part, and make an appointment. We’ll work together to make something beautiful that represents you and all you have to offer.

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Read the raves, then hire me to STYLEYOURSTACK!

If you need help styling your stack, Zoom with me. Want a logo? A wordmark? The whole shebang? I do it all. I’m here to help you shine!

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Susan J Tweit: Cultivating Terraphilia

Working with Nan is an absolute delight. She’s funny, brilliant, and her creativity and design skills were just what my stack needed!

Lyn Chamberlin: Brand Therapy™

Nan branded the brander—and that’s no small feat. I came to her with existing brand assets, a strong voice, and a clear audience—but absolutely no idea how to translate any of it to Substack. Nan didn’t just make it work. She reimagined it. From the title to the logo, the favicon to a fresh color palette, she gave my newsletter a visual identity that felt both completely new and unmistakably mine. She knows how to fuse design with strategy in a way that actually builds audience. Nan didn’t just make things look good—her design brought in new subscribers from day one. Working with her was a revelation.

Abigail Thomas, master memoirist: What Comes Next?

As far as computers go, I know how to write on one and how to open email. That’s it. I am a technical illiterate. But I know a good thing when I see it, and after Nan did whatever she did to my Substack page, all I can tell you is I don’t need a website anymore. I love how it looks. So if you are anything like me, or just don’t have the time, give Nan a call. She has a great eye, and she really knows her stuff.

Eileen Dougharty, You’re Right, I Do Look Tired

Working with Nan is a truly collaborative process. I had no clue where to begin, I just knew I wanted to make my Substack more eye-catching and reflective of my personality. Nan encouraged me to explore colors and fonts and come up with themes that spoke to me. We exchanged some possibilities with Nan using her expertise to guide me on what would best represent my unique style. Nan was receptive, reassuring, and adamant that I was pleased with the results. Between her knowledge of the platform and her exquisite taste, there is truly no one better than Nan Tepper to elevate your Substack to the next level.

Sarah Fay: Substack Writers@Work and Sarah Fay, Author site

Nan has a keen eye for branding that pops yet is also elegant. The best of both worlds. I so enjoyed working with her on making my Substack my website (which has never been done before). She brought what I had in mind to fruition. Hire her!

Rona Maynard: Amazement Seeker

Nan has it all: style, marketing savvy and a keen eye for each client’s distinctive essence. More than an ace designer, she’s been a trusted partner in bringing my work to the world with power, presence and authenticity. She listened to my hopes and set me straight––in the nicest way––when I needed to let go of a bad idea. If I still ran a major magazine, I’d want Nan’s magic touch on the pages. She not only elevated my stack in record time, she made the whole process fun. Do your stack a favor and let Nan make it shine.

Douglas Halpert: Intermittently Human

The first correct decision I made was to hire Nan for the full Style Your Stack package. The second correct move was to give her wide leeway to do her thing. By that, I mean I provided a title, some concepts and text and let her bombard me with her many curious questions about who I am as a person and a writer, and what type of audience I am looking to attract. And then I went away on a vacation, leaving Nan alone with my project.

When I came back, there was an e-mail from Nan in my inbox containing a link to my new Substack. I have just put up my first post and already I am getting rave reviews from people about how beautiful my Substack looks, how it is “so me” and that they are eager to share it with others. I am proud of my wisdom in delegating the entire arduous Substack project to Nan since she did a wonderful job for a very reasonable fee, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the fun Zoom sessions that we had during the Substack Lamaze process.

For the entire review (he waxes eloquent and refers to me as “Nan the Substack Goddess”) click here.

Oh, Nan! Let me tell you about Nan—she’s like that friend who tells you the truth in a way that makes you laugh, cry (just a little), and then say, “Dang, she’s right. Let me fix my life.” Working with her was like getting a makeover for my entire brand—and my confidence—because she didn’t just upgrade my newsletter; she somehow upgraded me.

Her creativity? Next level. I mean, she took my message, my quirks, and even my messiness, and turned them into something polished, magnetic, and so me that I almost cried when I saw it. Her design elements weren’t just good—they were spot-on, like she reached into my brain and pulled out the exact vibe I was trying (and failing) to communicate. It’s like she knew what I wanted to say before I even did.

But here’s the thing: Nan’s not afraid to get real. She gently (but oh-so-kindly) pointed out some of the not-so-pretty truths about my site, my writing, and the overall “energy” I was putting out. And honestly? I needed to hear it. She didn’t just tell me what was wrong—she gave me solutions, ideas, and a big, empathetic pep talk wrapped in a killer sense of humor.

On top of that, she’s an absolute workhorse—super responsive, with timely emails and Zoom calls that somehow felt like a mix of therapy and creativity boot camp. You just know she’s putting her heart into every little detail.

Bottom line? Nan is a genius, a truth-teller, and honestly, the branding magician you didn’t know you needed. She’s transformed my brand, my work, and probably my soul a little too. 10/10 recommend.

Barri Leiner Grant: Permission Granted

I met Nan in the Substack Writers @ Work Cohort offered by the inimitable Sarah Fay. I first enjoyed Nan’s vulnerable essays and then discovered her design and tech prowess under the hood. Sign me up! I suggested a font called Peignot that was used for my Bat Mitzvah invitation (I am a grief girl for as long as I am a font girl!). Peignot is also the font that was used for the opening and closing titles of The Mary Taylor Moore Show when I was a kid. I suggested we use it to create a new identity for the rebrand of my stack, Permission GRANTed. Her enthusiasm for my font choice, my illustration (by Jen Vallez), and a favorite hot pink/orange combo sealed the deal. I have had so many writers notice and comment, which fills me up. Grief does not have to be sad, and she agreed. If you are looking for a partner in design? Yes.

Permission Granted.

Nancy Jainchill: The Armchair Journalist

“When I decided that it was time for me to have my own Substack page, I knew I’d need help. Fortunately, I knew Nan Tepper could make it happen. She’d already designed and manages my website, so I knew how skilled she was with the visual elements that are key, including the wordmark, welcome page, and logo image-specifics to Substack. Not only great with the technical aspects, Nan teaches you enough to do it for yourself. This week I scheduled my own post, a big deal! I couldn’t have done any of this without Nan.”

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Q: What kind of logo should I make? Do I even need one?

A: Yes, you do. It can be simple, yet iconic. Bold and memorable. People will come to equate your brand with you and your stack. It can even be animated! That’s my new passion.

Q: A wordmark? What’s a wordmark? Oh, that’s a wordmark!

A: A wordmark is the title heading that appears at the top of your website. Mine is “Style YOUR Stack.” A wordmark reflects your personal style, features a favorite color(s) and font, and stands out more than Substack’s default version of your newsletter’s title.

Q: Do I really want a photo of myself on my welcome page or on my About page?

A: I think you do. It’s a good move. Readers appreciate that touch. it. It supports the person-ality of your stack. It makes them feel more connected to your writing and to you––in a sweet, not stalky, way.

Q: Is my “About” page that important?

A: You bet it is. Why are you writing on Substack? Who are you? What do you want your readers to know about you? What will you offer a potential subscriber, paid or free? It’s a place to say hello, let readers know what they might expect, what your subscription prices are, and what they’ll get for the level they choose. You can let them know if there are extra perks for going paid. This is the place to do it.

Q: Stripe? What’s that? Maybe I won’t turn on “accept payments,” it seems too complicated, too intimidating.

A: Nonsense! You deserve to be paid, especially if your readers want to acknowledge your efforts this way. Don’t take that away from them.

I’ll guide you through the process, iet’s completely doable–– if not a little annoying at moments––but once it’s done, it’s done. There’s something sort of thrilling when I get an email from Stripe saying they’re going to deposit $3.67 in my checking account the next day. I feel so seen, so cared about, and sooooo wealthy!

Q: “Oh, Nan, how do I make this thing work?” you plead, trying to resist pulling your hair out by the roots. “I feel like all I do is go around and around in circles! It doesn’t make sense!”

A: Fret no longer, my dear. There are answers, and that’s where I come in. I’ll teach you how to get it done. Or I’ll do it for you, if that’s what you prefer.

More questions? I’m all ears.

Make an appointment. Talk to me.

Schedule a call

I’m Nan Tepper, the creator of STYLEYOURSTACK, a design service for Substack writers.

I’m a writer, first and foremost. I’m also a web + graphic designer with 15 years of experience. I’ve specialized in designing for writers, my favorite folks!

Besides having tech and design skills, I ask important questions when I meet with you. I dig deep to learn about you and your priorities for your stack.

Am I a coach? Yeah, I guess I am.

Do I have a lot of opinions? Oh…YES, I do and I share them freely.

My aim is to demystify the process of publishing on Substack, and help you understand and utilize the ever-expanding selection of tools available to you as a publisher on this platform.

These tools will help you do the thing you’re actually here to do: WRITE!

If you prefer not to do the backend work, I can lay out and schedule your posts, curate photos, and teach you about recording audio and video to add value to your publication. That frees you up to get to the business of writing and creating content. That’s why you’re here in the first place, right?

I’m here to make sure that while you’re writing and publishing, you look good, too!

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Services:

• Logo, wordmark, welcome page graphics, email banner, custom divider, profile cover image

• Branding

• Branded Calls To Action (CTA)

• Back-end instruction: how to post, add audio and video to your stack.

• Front-end instruction: how it works. I’ll show you how to use Notes to your best advantage.

• Complete newsletter set-up: top to bottom, you’ll be ready to roll.

• The perfect photo selection for each post to draw attention to your post. Need a Virtual Fairy? If you don’t want to do it (the backend stuff, the logo, wordmark, cover image, post set-up), but need someone who does––and can, it’s time to talk.

Talk to me.

Reach out to me to schedule a consultation on Zoom or by phone. Use my scheduling calendar to set it up and we’ll get started.

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Rates:

Initial consultation: $125/hour and $70/30 minutes. We’ll discuss your newsletter, and your design aesthetic. What do you want to accomplish with your stack? I’ll answer your questions and then I’ll ask you questions, too.

My rate is $125/hour.

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Periodically, I’ll write about the writers I’ve worked with, so you can see who they are and what they do. I’ll share the design elements I’ve created, whether it’s just a wordmark and logo, or the whole shebang.

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A little more about me.

I started working on my first newsletter, The Next Write Thing, in January of 2024. I publish a weekly personal essay and have fallen in love with the Substack community. It’s become a hard habit to break, so I’ve decided I don’t have to. In January 2026, I launched the debut show of my new project, a live monthly story slams for feminist storytellers at Wham! Bam! Thank You! Slam!

If you haven’t seen a show yet, check out our calendar.

This is fun. Take a gander at the video I made in 2016. My hairstyle was a little different, a bit shorter. Franco Vogt, the amazing NY-based portrait photographer helped me execute the concept. It’s dedicated to my love of eyeglasses and being silly!

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