✳ PLAYBOOK · THOUGHT_LEADERSHIP · SUBSTACK
Talking head short on Substack
Deliver one point of view / update / opinion directly to camera in a 30-60 second vertical clip.
What to produce
- Written version of the same point - (no aspect)
Recommended inputs
- Phone selfie camera
- Eye-level tripod
- Lav mic
Platform-specific guidance
- Hook
- Lead with the strongest sentence in the script. Don't start with 'Hey guys'.
- Aspect
- 1:1
- Duration
- 60s
- Captions
- Plain text
- Reframe 16:9 to 9:16
- No
- Safe-zone overlay
- Not required
- Caption guidance
- Full burned-in captions - talking head clips die on mute without them.
Workflow
- Write the script: One sentence per line. Aim for 12-18 lines for 60s.
- Record 2-3 takes: Cut to the strongest take - do not edit awkwardness in post.
- Apply safe-zone + burn captions: Subject high; captions below. (Burn-in)
- Export per platform: 9:16 across the board. (Content Pack)
Pitfalls to avoid
- Eye contact lost (looking at notes)
- Lav mic picking up room noise
- Subject placed too low in frame
Tools and presets
Frequently asked
How do I make a talking head short for Substack?
Write the script; Record 2-3 takes; Apply safe-zone + burn captions; Export per platform.
What aspect ratio should I use on Substack?
Use 1:1 (Substack's safe native ratio).
Do I need burned-in captions on Substack?
Plain text is enough; no burned-in captions needed.
Which export preset should I pick?
No sourced preset for this surface yet; use MP4 H.264 + AAC as the safe default.
Sources
LinkedIn B2B Institute (verified 2026-09-18) - Wistia Learn creator playbook (verified 2026-09-18)