Thank you for these new features! Being able to create chats for paid subscribers/founding members will def make me feel inclined to use the chat feature more. Had some weird replies when I first used it and never went back.
Since Chat is the subject of this post, I'm prioritizing responding to comments asking questions about Chat (including negative feedback, such as noisy chats where people want the option to leave).
The Substack team is working on a lot of other features right now too—including the notes algorithm, search/discoverability, and more. But we'll share more about those updates in other posts.
I haven't used this feature, but as I hit 100 subscribers I wonder if I have enough 'mass' now to make this worthwhile. Does anyone have any tips on starting out and welcoming your subscribers with a first thread on the Chat feature?
If you have a smaller list, Chat will require a bit more proactive investment from your end to let your subscribers know about the feature, and make it a core part of participating. There's a "Join my chat" button you can add to posts, and I might recommend creating a ritual like a weekly AMA.
But I also think it's fine to wait to build your core newsletter list and introduce a community feature later, too. We'll keep sharing more tips & resources on Chat in the coming days.
Thanks! I'll read between your gentle lines that 100 probably isn't enough, understandably. But it's great to know how this feature works and I can unleash it when the time is ready!
While all these new features are cool, the executive team should prioritize its resources on existing issues and bugs, most importantly the algorithm of NOTES. My own followers never see my Notes, it beats the purpose of engagement as NOTES was launched exactly for that purpose, for discovery and engagement.
As a crowd funded platform with limited resources, the focus must be on user experience and not on new features every week. We have seen it time and time again startups fail because the direction is focused on things that don’t matter. Hope this is taken as positive feedback.
Yup, I feel the same way with my Notes. If there is any engagement, it’s from the people that engage the most and rarely any outside people. I want to believe it’s working but I’m still not convinced
Look at the hypocrisy of Substack. They continue to hide their failures by Liking the positive comments so the truth gets hidden 😂. Keep liking this comment to get it on Top.
They are desperate to bring in investors as their funding is getting low. So they have to show they can bring in new features. That’s how fundraising works.
All my post are free. They always will be. Paywalling a chat is just too pernicious, I don't think it's useful. Charging people money so they can comment, is like a back door for censorship, blocking potentially useful conversation. Not everyone is going to be interested in getting a "Stripe" account either. I will NEVER use Online Banking or Digital currency. My opinion may run counter to many here; it seems the majority of people who do come to Substack are doing so to escape the crap they experienced on other "Platforms."
Where can I go to see how well Substack, itself is performing? Are there annual reports. I’m a big fan, but Substack needs to hear some honest criticism- perhaps a paywalled user’s forum.
Ideas are at the center of anything meaningful and worth living for. Money often spawns conformity, dependence on the system. Money is not bad, just not my focus, community knowledge base, open discussion that's important.
This sounds terrific, but how do we secure paid subscribers when the open rates for emails are going down? How do we secure paid subscribers when the app doesn’t allow you to upgrade your subscription? This is all well and good, but these other aspects need to be fixed first.
This is one of the best thing to happen, an improvement on CHAT. My chat is to serve as my private “Telegram group” on substack and it is the major bonus to my payed subscribers.
@substack I would love to add that if it’s possible to have an analytics built for the chats and threads…it would be interesting to track most read, conversation etc my newsletter focuses on well researched opportunities and value investing of cryptocurrency https://cryptofada.substack.com/
I've used chat intermittently, with some uncertainty of how it fits into my larger Substack ecosystem. These new settings are helpful in returning to the creative drawing board of how to use this feature, thanks team!
Thank you for these new features! Being able to create chats for paid subscribers/founding members will def make me feel inclined to use the chat feature more. Had some weird replies when I first used it and never went back.
I really like that pic and the name. It reminds me of a pharmaceutical advertisement. Don’t take that with I’ll will either because I have none
Going to give paid chat a whirl, awesome new feature!
Great! TMT Breakout (https://www.tmtbreakout.com/) is one example of a writer using paid chat already.
Since Chat is the subject of this post, I'm prioritizing responding to comments asking questions about Chat (including negative feedback, such as noisy chats where people want the option to leave).
The Substack team is working on a lot of other features right now too—including the notes algorithm, search/discoverability, and more. But we'll share more about those updates in other posts.
Reminder of the rules here in the comment section of our company blog: you are free to criticize us, but please keep it civil.
I haven't used this feature, but as I hit 100 subscribers I wonder if I have enough 'mass' now to make this worthwhile. Does anyone have any tips on starting out and welcoming your subscribers with a first thread on the Chat feature?
Hi! Here's the doc on how to launch a chat: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/10409888763668-How-do-I-enable-Chat-on-my-Substack
If you have a smaller list, Chat will require a bit more proactive investment from your end to let your subscribers know about the feature, and make it a core part of participating. There's a "Join my chat" button you can add to posts, and I might recommend creating a ritual like a weekly AMA.
But I also think it's fine to wait to build your core newsletter list and introduce a community feature later, too. We'll keep sharing more tips & resources on Chat in the coming days.
Thanks! I'll read between your gentle lines that 100 probably isn't enough, understandably. But it's great to know how this feature works and I can unleash it when the time is ready!
Start by initiating a joke without a punchline, after that order some Chinese take out and then get an Uber to the museum
Dishing out the secret recipe for success I see!
Well this is exciting!
While all these new features are cool, the executive team should prioritize its resources on existing issues and bugs, most importantly the algorithm of NOTES. My own followers never see my Notes, it beats the purpose of engagement as NOTES was launched exactly for that purpose, for discovery and engagement.
As a crowd funded platform with limited resources, the focus must be on user experience and not on new features every week. We have seen it time and time again startups fail because the direction is focused on things that don’t matter. Hope this is taken as positive feedback.
Yup, I feel the same way with my Notes. If there is any engagement, it’s from the people that engage the most and rarely any outside people. I want to believe it’s working but I’m still not convinced
And Substack founders / team never acknowledge or respond to such criticism but instead Like only the positive comments.
Want to see the real comments - skip the ones at the top “liked” by Substack.
Look at the hypocrisy of Substack. They continue to hide their failures by Liking the positive comments so the truth gets hidden 😂. Keep liking this comment to get it on Top.
When you expose the issues with NOTES and Substack features, the founder goes and posts this Note:
https://substack.com/@hamish/note/c-55277077?r=aegif&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
It's all about money and how many subscribers you have. Personally I don't give a fuck.
I am NOT here to make money/I just want the truth to get out.
I have been contacted on substack by writers offering me a course in writing for 2,500$
Fuck off.
💯
Agree.
Once upon a time substack was a place which was easy to use.
I am an older person and I am SUPPOSED to know what I am doing.
All I am hearing from substack is a non-stop 'chitter/chat/chitter/chat. One sentence and you are supposed to know what these morons are saying.
They are desperate to bring in investors as their funding is getting low. So they have to show they can bring in new features. That’s how fundraising works.
Most excellent. Just enabled my chat paywall. Many thanks!
All my post are free. They always will be. Paywalling a chat is just too pernicious, I don't think it's useful. Charging people money so they can comment, is like a back door for censorship, blocking potentially useful conversation. Not everyone is going to be interested in getting a "Stripe" account either. I will NEVER use Online Banking or Digital currency. My opinion may run counter to many here; it seems the majority of people who do come to Substack are doing so to escape the crap they experienced on other "Platforms."
Sorry if I seem a bit negative here.
Where can I go to see how well Substack, itself is performing? Are there annual reports. I’m a big fan, but Substack needs to hear some honest criticism- perhaps a paywalled user’s forum.
NOT negative at all. I feel the same.
IF you want your ideas 'out there' forget about money!
Either you are fighting to help or you are the usual US person who wants to make money?
Ideas are at the center of anything meaningful and worth living for. Money often spawns conformity, dependence on the system. Money is not bad, just not my focus, community knowledge base, open discussion that's important.
Yes.
You're not. The majority of ss writers feel the same. Adding chat is ridiculous and not why I signed up
Yes, it seems to make things more complicated. I like having decent conversations with people who share similar concerns and have good ideas.
The more simple things are the easier it is.
Pound on the back door the front only rattles a bit
😆 🤣
The Chat Search feature is going to be really helpful! Thanks for this!
This sounds terrific, but how do we secure paid subscribers when the open rates for emails are going down? How do we secure paid subscribers when the app doesn’t allow you to upgrade your subscription? This is all well and good, but these other aspects need to be fixed first.
The possibility of having a discussion forum could be a good idea.
With us yes. Lol
So the "comments" section isn't enough? I write. I don't "chat".
Great feature. Thx Substack! Chat is the one place I’m timid fearing crickets if I open a convo. This gave me courage to try.
This is one of the best thing to happen, an improvement on CHAT. My chat is to serve as my private “Telegram group” on substack and it is the major bonus to my payed subscribers.
@substack I would love to add that if it’s possible to have an analytics built for the chats and threads…it would be interesting to track most read, conversation etc my newsletter focuses on well researched opportunities and value investing of cryptocurrency https://cryptofada.substack.com/
I've used chat intermittently, with some uncertainty of how it fits into my larger Substack ecosystem. These new settings are helpful in returning to the creative drawing board of how to use this feature, thanks team!
Nice. When can we have better oEmbed support for podcast players? :)
Pointy headed intellectuals wannabes