In-app video publishing, Notes stats, and a new type of food festival
Bulletin: News, resources, and community updates
Welcome to the latest edition of the Substack Bulletin, where publishers get a roundup of the latest news, resources, and events in one place. Today, we’re highlighting in-app video publishing tools, celebrating the launch of live video shows, and reviewing Notes stats in the app.
We’re continually striving to improve this series, and we value your input. Please share any feedback or suggestions in the comments.
News
In-app video publishing: Writers and creators can now publish video posts in the app, marking the first time they can upload, publish, and monetize video directly from their phone. Each video post reaches subscribers instantly through email, app notifications, or both, ensuring a direct connection with their audience. Learn more about posting in the app in the announcement post.
Live Video recording enhancements: To make publishing even easier, we’ve introduced automated enhancements, which refine your recorded live video by trimming dead space at the beginning, enhancing audio and video quality, and reformatting the layout into a polished side-by-side view. This ensures that your video looks professional and is ready to share with minimal effort.
Live video viewing on desktop: Viewers can now watch live videos on their computer, increasing accessibility and providing more opportunities for engagement and feedback on live videos.
Notes stats in the app: Previously only available on the web, Notes stats can now be accessed directly in the app. Publishers can track key insights, including estimated revenue increase, new paid and free subscribers, and interaction metrics like shares, profile visits, and likes.
Resources
Launch a live video show: Live video is taking off on Substack, with more creators making it a regular part of their programming. To help you get started, we’ve created a comprehensive guide with tips, strategies, and best practices for hosting a live show that engages your audience, builds community, and grows your business.
Join us on Wednesday, March 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET, for the Substack masterclass Launch a Live Video Show. The class will cover how to find your niche, grow your audience, and maximize engagement using live video, collaborations, and strategic promotion to drive paid subscriptions. Register on the event page.
Breaking through as an independent writer:
, who writes , shared insights on finding success as a “little guy,” and how she went from unanswered pitch emails to a book deal.Moving on from YouTube:
is the cookbook author, recipe developer, and video host behind . She recently shared The True Costs of Being on YouTube, a deep dive into the financial and creative challenges of the platform. Substack’s sat down with Carla to discuss breaking free from the algorithm, embracing imperfection, and the power of owning your work.Succeeding with a multimedia strategy:
went live with of , a multimedia publication that covers the Cleveland Browns, to talk about providing value across multiple mediums, determining the right publishing cadence, and finding your niche.Substack and independent publishing: Substack co-founder
spoke with the about the evolving landscape of independent publishing and the opportunities Substack provides for writers and creators. The discussion focused on audience ownership, sustainable business models, and growth strategies, highlighting how Substack enables creators to build direct relationships with subscribers.Chatbot question of the week: How do I get a verification badge on my Substack?
On Substack, we don’t have verification badges—instead, we have bestseller badges that are earned based on paid subscriber count. These badges come in purple (tens of thousands of paid subscribers), orange (thousands of paid subscribers), or white (hundreds of paid subscribers). The way to earn a bestseller badge is to grow your paid publication to the required number of subscribers. (Free trials and comped subscriptions don’t count toward the badge requirements.)
Upcoming events
Grubstack: a live video food festival: Join top Michelin-starred chefs and the most exciting food creators for Grubstack, a live video food festival happening March 13 through 15. Guests including
, , , , , and will discuss how they’re pushing culinary boundaries, building communities, and shaping the future of food. Learn more in the announcement post, and stay tuned for the full lineup and schedule!Fashion panel in France: On March 5,
of and of are hosting an event in Paris: “A New Fashion: Navigating Substack in an Age of Oversaturated Platforms.” The panel will feature top creators discussing Substack’s role in independent publishing, its impact on the creator economy, and strategies for success. Speakers include , , and . Register to attend on the event page.
Community
Writer drinks in NYC: Substack co-founder
joined a group of writers and creators in New York to celebrate the growing community of independent publishers building their businesses on Substack. The evening brought together a diverse mix of journalists, authors, and creators, including , , , @Brandon Taylor, and , who shared insights, exchanged ideas, and discussed the future of independent publishing—all over good drinks and great conversation.
In the press:
of published an essay in Elle on the Old West’s influence on fashion. CNBC and The Publish Press spoke with about her decision to leave YouTube, her plans to focus on Substack, and how her content strategy is evolving. authored an opinion piece for the New York Times, making the case for “downgrading” from a smartphone to a dumbphone. The Walrus profiled , detailing her rise to fame and future plans, including a book deal with Knopf. of @Mediatox shared her thoughts with the Huffington Post about resisting the urge to check your phone during “in-between” moments, like waiting for the subway or between meetings. The New York Times ran a feature on , exploring how she built into a must-read newsletter for business and finance power players. Vogue Spain examined the rise of newsletters as an alternative for readers with limited time or focus for books, highlighting and as two writers reshaping digital publishing. The Publish Press covered Hannah William’s journey building and why starting a Substack was the next step for the business. The Wall Street Journal reviewed ’s cookbook, Sift, praising its appeal to both expert bakers and novices. InStyle included insights from and in its feature on the season’s must-have skirts. Axios spotlighted the launch of ’s Substack, which offers advice on careers, relationships, motherhood, and more. RUSSH spoke with about launching her first Substack and the books, newsletters, and voices that continue to inspire her.
Celebrating a milestone or press feature? Email milestone@substackinc.com or let us know in the comments.
Another update with a ton of new features that benefit video creators, and nothing new for writers.
What about SEO tools? Grammar help in post editor? Readability tips?
Your core community is writers. Please start appreciating the writers that have been here from Day One and stop gushing over the video creators that came here a month ago.
Could not have said this better.
I AM a video content creator… And I agree with you 100%.
Been loving all of the video features! I have found them super helpful for establishing connections with other creators. Keep up the good work!
“Writer drinks” needs to be a thing everywhere 😍🫶🏽 UK based and for it
Are 'Notes' views counted on the Dashboard's 'Stats' graphs?
No those pertain specifically to published posts.
Ok thank you. Can you make a tab for Notes stats in the dashboard?
Also, being able to add captions under videos the same way you can with images would be super helpful.
When will written articles be downloadable, or save-able to the app, to read offline (like when on a plane)? Many podcast apps have a download feature to listen offline. Thought it'd be a handy feature for Substack too.
Yes!
I do not understand what you are doing
I love reading: Obviously MOST Americans don't do this fine 'hobby' which is why we need videos.
IF I see a video without subtitles I Ignore it...........I am deaf like millions on this earth.
I was a young person once and had NO idea how difficult it was to become aged! It's a horrible place to be in.
Yes I watched my Grandparents and parents become: arthritic/unable to hear/eye problems etc.
IF you young people don't think this is going to happen to you I suggest you stop the endless 'podcasts' and start reading (with subtitles).
Amen to that 🙏
Growing old sucks until you consider the alternative.
The only alternative right now is death. Happy to die.
When will Substack let you write and publish article from the mobile app?
You already can! We introduced the in app text publishing in July 2024. Learn more here: https://on.substack.com/p/mobile-editor
As long as you keep video off Notes, that's OK with me.
But... And this is a big, bold, capitalised but - keep in mind that the core userbase is made up of writers. We need more tools, especially in the SEO department.
Yes! We are writers and we want to write, read other author's posts and connect with our audience to our content needs to reach people
We don’t want videos . I don’t want them.
Que sensacional. Até que enfim uma ferramenta maravilhosa que nos deixa no controle de nossos conteúdos e não nos escraviza como Instagram. Parabéns pelos novos recursos. Amei.
What Substack are cooking for photographers and cartoonists? Notes is not direct email and UX/UI is ot friendly and interactive and you cannot flip through
Notes stats do not work, they especially don't work on desktop.
Hi Stephanie! Have you updated your app to the latest version?
I'm a writer I do most of my work on my desktop not the app. I don't use the app because I have an old phone with limited storage.
SOME of us do NOT have 'phones!
Мне тоже нравится читать художественную литературу! Вы не знаете точно, этот интерактивный журнал именно для писателей?
Nooooo don’t bring videos into this app!!!!!!!! I love the peace and quiet unlike Instagram and tik tok. Don’t you dare turn this app into those …
I guess this is where I deleted my account and remove this app… I joined to publish and read articles not for another instagram, TikTok, YouTube copy cat. This app was about writing not fucking content creators who are reproducing the same annoying short videos. Sorry Substack but you’ve lost me fully.
Any writers have good alternatives where I can publish content and be surrounded by an actual audience
I paid $50 for Heather Cox and I am not getting the subsciption. Please advise. Judith K. Patterson, judykpat@gmail.com.
Judith, is it possible you subscribed to Heather Cox’s publication with a different email than the one you usually use with Substack. I did this myself a few months ago when I was on a tablet instead of my desktop and I didn’t realize the email field had populated with a different email.
please unsubscribe me
HARPOON A TRUMP SAVE A NATION!
nice
Samanta. Novembris
We can’t always get the videos to open. Are others having this issue? We LOVE The Contrarian don’t want to miss a word!
What do you mean by “press feature?”
Do you mean publications outside substack or when our Substack is featured?
If I had the money I would be a paid subscriber
This is really cool!
How do I get a conversation going in Notes? Looks like no one is replying.
Hi Ruthie, previewing an upcoming post or restacking another publisher’s work with your thoughts are great ways to get started. Check out more tips in this guide! https://on.substack.com/p/getting-started-with-notes
Thanks, Matt. I’ve already done this. Obviously, I can do it again… have an amazing day!
Oh that's great 👍 we do have a growing wave of video creators. That's good and bad at the same time. The space is competitive to no end in sight. Whomever has the next best tool wins eyes 👀. In the end of the day it's more about marketing than creating.
Unfortunately..
I was unable to upload my video ,please help
How does one upload photos to incorporate in a Post? And file share (text)?
I could be wrong but I don't believe live video supports the horizontal camera view. If Substack is going to compete with YouTube this will be a must.
Beautiful Mildstone
Hi I just created an account now I am trying to figure out how to use sub stack . How to I publish something ?
Substack is amazing, but we need a robust backup and restoration function desperately.
Question: when you talk about monetising videos, do you simply mean that authors have to beg people to pay for a subscription (i.e. there are no actual monetisation advantages for going live for smaller creators)? Thanks
Hello everyone
Muy interesante la información recibida, espero aportar a la comunidad por el bien ❤️🩹 y el bienestar de la humanidad, claro! Aprendiendo con ustedes cómo hacerlo más y mejor ❤️🩹 en cada esfuerzo de mi parte y de la comunidad
If you could include automated subtitles that would be amazing! I miss this in so many apps and that's taking the most of my time as a creator!
Do you still need to have 10 before going live?
This going to be 🔥
Gracias por Este feature. Me estoy pensando en grabar videos mucho pero mi mayor uso es el de newsletter. Si buscan generar comunidad y son hispanohablantes ¡Nos leemos!
I think the perfect application is progressing very successfully.
All of this, and Substack has just destroyed my ability to make money from paid subscriptions.
My paid subscribers are no longer able to get what they are paying for: full-size, full-rez copies of my photos.
Now all they get is a scaled-down .webp of what I uploaded.
I'm gonna hafta issue refunds to all of my paid subscribers.
In-app video publishing is definitely changing how content is consumed. It's interesting to see how platforms are optimizing storage and delivery for seamless streaming. Managing large video files efficiently is crucial, and I’ve found https://teraboxapkdownload.com/ helpful for cloud storage and organization.
I have many papers from my initiative titled "Represenational Studies" that I'd like to get into Substack. Please advise how to do that. I am assuming someone from Substack will see this. Please email me at elliott42649@hotmail. com with your instructions or links. Thank you.
I have copied a one page paper below as an example that could go as is into Substack.
Thank you.
Elliott Libman
February 28, 2025 THEMATIC BIO SKETCH Elliott Libman, MSW Retired elliott42649@hotmail.com My blog link: https://representationalstudies.wordpress.com/
I am not a scholar but a psychotherapist practicing at publically funded mental health programs for over 30 years. In 2015 I retired from WA State's Western State Hospital, after being lead Psychiatric Social Worker (PSW) at the Center for Forensic Services my last 7 years. As a career PSW therapist, I cast a wide socio-cultural net helping clients heal/grow - integrating traumatic experiences & exploring future life-enhancing potentials. I have been thinking&writing about the state of the world since the 1960s.
I announced an initiative on July 16, 2021, originally titled: "Challenges & Opportunities of the Atomic Era." I now call it "Representational Studies." We use representational language to name & refer to our selves, others, objects, concepts & myriad units of pattern-recognizing gestalt generalizations: ways of keeping track of things & making sense of the world. Seldom is it a focus of inquiry itself, even though it is the means by which most enquiries are conducted. Representations, under the lingering effects of past trauma, in what I call the defense syndrome, "representational identification" (RI): 1) often divert attention from the embodied now; & 2) often act as cultural filters distorting perception - skewing mentation. Alfred Korzybski (Science and Sanity, 1933) wrote: "the map is not the territory," suggesting experience of maps & other symbolic reps is quite different from experiencing alive embodied presence.
My work is a systemic analysis (which MSW training emphasizes) of relevant knowledge from several disciplines that help understand the roots of our growing dangerous dysfunction. At risk of seeming audacious & grandiose, I think I have figured out several key factors in Western Civilization that have been crucial in creating our increasingly dystopian contemporary world. Also suggesting socio-cultural adaptations - choices - to change its trajectory & establish a sustainable, harmonious & thriving future.
Inequality began millennia ago with agricultural surplus, when alpha-males took-over matrilineal partnerships creating patriarchal hierarchies. When the earth was huge, before 20th century tech, human action had little impact on environment or peoples separated geographically - no longer. We have reached the peak of alpha-male patriarchal plutocratic grandiosity: 1% of the population (2023 stats) owns more wealth than the entire middle class combined! (Bing search eng. 11/23/24.) Tech has created 1st world middle class abundance, we must spread that abundance out to provide basics for all.
Our adaptive challenge is to transcend cultural identifications, curb (media +) tech's problematics, prov- ide essentials for all & heal/grow: My aim is to Identify & help alter customary contentious social conditions blocking the "happy hormone" oxytocin, perpetuating gross inequity, racism, violence, misogyny & misery. With massive WMDs, esteem-eroding addictive social media, climate change/pollu- ion & rise of dictators, we can no longer afford to foment unrest inherent in gross inequality. A healing 1%er, w. better relationships & more joy will realize they don't need such inequity for adequate esteem.
A UN Development Program study was conducted in 1998, concluding $40 billion annually could provide essential needs for all humans (see John Perkins, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, P. 230, note #4, 2004). With population growth & inflation that number would likely have to be at least tripled.
A video plus several initiative papers are available by email request - see top of page.
Thanks for including me! ✍🏼✍🏼
'On Substack' does not display properly on when opened in Outlook on Chrome - Win 11 (all fully up to date). It is very wide with the inserts centered. It does not respond to making the window wider or narrower. Clicking 'remove extra line breaks' has no effect. Clicking 'view in browser brings up
<https://eotrx.substackcdn.com/open?token=eyJtIjoiPDIwMjUwMjI4MTgwMDU3LjMuNjZmZDRiM2M0MjQyOGM2MUBtZzIuc3Vic3RhY2suY29tPiIsInUiOjIyMDQ1ODA3NCwiciI6IldheW5lLmhld2l0dEBzaGF3LmNhIiwiZCI6Im1nMi5zdWJzdGFjay5jb20iLCJwIjoxNTgxMTQ0MTMsInQiOiJuZXdzbGV0dGVyIiwiYSI6ImV2ZXJ5b25lIiwicyI6MSwiYyI6InBvc3QiLCJmIjp0cnVlLCJwb3NpdGlvbiI6InRvcCIsImlhdCI6MTc0MDc2NzI1NywiZXhwIjoxNzQzMzU5MjU3LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMCIsInN1YiI6ImVvIn0.p-OSevPVJCBOToLlA8SA2Dc3HcI3Xg8Sdap4YpHjaYE> Bulletin: News, resources, and community updates͏ . . . ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
💯❤️
New content upload reall videos
❤️.
Hashtags in notes and comments would be a good idea 💡
Been loving all of the video features ! have
F
A superb series
This video features I find interesting and thrilling for creating content and more importantly the contention of others on dashboard
Important to know who supports us.
An early adopter I appreciate this.
Been looking all of video features ! I have
founded them super helpful for establishing connection with other creators. Keep up the good work!
You should make it so you can pause when recording a podcast (not video) and restart where you left off. Thanks
What is the red checkmark next to my name in my profile?
Mills workin the algo!
Loving the video feature!!
goog
I find leaving a comment can be difficult, requiring an update to one's profile, which never works. Can people leave comments on my Substack without going through hoops?
I might be old but I have been on several websites and each one thinks only in terms of money.
IF you grow a website and keep your 'morality' maybe more people would join.
I am getting really pissed off with substack....you are becoming a major pain in the arse.
Writers were here first.
Maybe another website will launch from what substack was!
I think there has been a misunderstanding, I am NOT a publisher!
I enjoy viewing and saving other people's RECIPES, that’s all.
I would like to know how to cancel a subscription on my phone. I subscribed on my phone so I should be able to cancel on it also
what would be the pros/cons of doing this vs embedding or linking a video published on youtube?
Hello yeah cool with it
50000
hi