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Victor D. Sandiego's avatar

Yeah, that's the problem with pure numbers. You can have X subscribers, but how many are really reading? For my part, I want readers, not numbers.

I see the changes happening here which are focused on numbers, metrics, etc. without considering if this produces engaged readers or just a higher dot on a line chart. It concerns me because Substack was great, focused sharply on delivering writing to folks.

I find the movement toward social media not so welcome. However, I understand it's probably inevitable because the #1 rule of tech is that you can never let a good thing be.

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Julie Dee's avatar

Once my email open rate drops below 40% I actively delete those who aren’t engaging as it’s just demotivating.

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Christiaan DeFranco's avatar

IDK. In my experience as a reader, don't lots of folks subscribe just for access and then go straight to the site themselves (instead of messing with emails)? That's what I do. My inbox is overcrowded already with subscriptions. I just go to those sites on my own after I've signed up.

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💎 Jaime Buckley's avatar

That is EXACTLY what I do as well. Thanks Christiaan, for bringing that up. How do I know when my readers area actually reading?

They tell me in the comments and invite more people/share the content. If there's another way to tell, I don't know what it is yet.

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Jeff Meade's avatar

I do the same thing. Keeping the open rate high is the real dopamine hit for me.

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Julie Dee's avatar

Vanity metrics otherwise if no-one is engaging.

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