228 Comments

This changes everything for me.

Expand full comment

In a positive or negative way?

Expand full comment

In a good way man.

Expand full comment

Me too!!!

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

Good God, the mentions thing is a smart add to the product.

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

Awesome! You all keep making this platform better and better. THANK YOU. Please keep going. 🔥📸🔥

Expand full comment

My next request: Direct messaging between profiles. Possible?

Expand full comment

Makes it easier for writers to communicate.

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

Sweet. You can email theflare@substack.com and we can chat further.

Expand full comment

Yes I've thought about this. Although I'm wondering whether that would open subscribers up to trolling? Dunno. It's something I'm wary about because I don't want this to turn into a horrible social media platform. It's why I have my comments closed only to payers, so that trust is built between all of us, and I can kick anyone out of my space if there's any shit at all from anyone towards my members.

Expand full comment

Absolutely. I want to connect to other writers in my way. Not being able to contact them is a real shame

Expand full comment

Thanks for these new tools. Substack is the only form of social media I’m on, so tools like this are what’ll enable my writing to reach more readers.

Big thanks to team substack

Expand full comment

Congrats. Both seem like subtle tweaks but I think could be quite profound… the little things that matter a lot to creators.

Expand full comment

I'm thrilled to have finally joined this platform. Rolling out these continual improvements is incredibly encouraging. For the first time ever I think I've truly found an online home.

Expand full comment

I truly resonate with you Aaron!

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

Oooh! I really appreciate the mentions feature. I mention a lot of other Substackers, and I'd love to let them know I'm writing about them (without being weird!)

Expand full comment

I like your choice of header images on your substack

Expand full comment

Thank you! I make the collages all myself!

Expand full comment

Looks great, so consistent rather that just random images

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

Thank you adding these new features. As someone who just started my newsletter Sept. 25 this might really help me grow my audience. One characteristic I love about Substack is that fellow Substackers seem to be eager to help other writers develop a following. I think this platform can do more to change "false narratives" than any social media platform - which is actually the topic of my latest article.

https://billricejr.substack.com/p/how-false-narratives-are-protected

Expand full comment

so reassuring to see Substack’s ongoing efforts to encourage and support writers; especially thoseof us new to this wonderful new world free of restraints...

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

These are some nice features. My only hope is that in your ongoing product development you never implement hashtags for tagging and search. It seems you're replicating a lot of social media like features, and hashtags would be a terrible step backwards. As a programmer, I've been with them since day one, and they instantly devolve content relevancy and search efficiency.

Expand full comment

I agree. On LinkedIn, where you have more posting space than Twitter, I've seen (too many times) posts that are a few lines of text followed by a thousand hash tags in the insane effort to appear in as many places as possible. It just blows up the ability to search because of all the irrelevant noise.

Expand full comment

This could be fixed by restricting the hashtags or tags to three per post or article. Having only three tags per newsletter is very limiting. At least have three tags per "section" in a newsletter. My newsletter has five sections, and they're very distinct, so only three tags for the whole publication is quite limiting. And I would prefer to be able to tag each post or article with a more descriptive or specific category to help readers looking for that type of post in search.

Expand full comment

Awesome! If there are any other mental health advocates interested in cross posting with me, please let me know!

Expand full comment

Yes, Russ! Thank you for sharing your thoughts & soul (& hope) with the world.

Expand full comment

Yes Russ. I am a qualified Counsellor in UK (where did Substack originate from?) although I don’t practice as such any longer. I am a personal development mentor and teacher. I aim to empower and inspire with holistic education about who we truly are!

Expand full comment

My newsletter, "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies" touches on mental health in the "Movie Therapy" section:

https://moviewise.substack.com/s/movie-therapy

Expand full comment

I'm definitely interested in cross posting, assuming we check out each other's content and think it would be a good fit for our subscribers. My "Changing Lives" substack often focuses on mental health issues, from my perspective as one who suffers from depression and anxiety and has learned a lot from reading, therapists, and personal experiences.

Expand full comment

Wendi, I just saw your recent "3 Quotes" post & it is my very first cross-promotion to subscribers. :) Thank you!

Expand full comment

Thank you for sharing it with your subscribers! I hope it helps at least one person feel more hopeful. I think we could all use more hope these days!

Expand full comment

I just joined Substack as a writer and they keep adding awesome features, great timing

Expand full comment

Is Substack becoming Tumblr?

Expand full comment

We take this question as a compliment, if that helps

Expand full comment

Chris Best shipping features and engaging with the community. GOAT

Expand full comment

He's actually the BOAT.

Best of all time.

Expand full comment

Hamish with the sneaky assist! #POAT (punniest of all time)

Expand full comment

I also thought of Tumblr's "reblog" feature, tested cross-post, and found a major difference:

On tumblr (and twitter) your own feed wears the post you re-shared.

On Substack the post you featured gets emailed to your subscribers, but does not appear on your web archive.

Expand full comment

Good point!

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it! great idea!

Expand full comment

Tumblr at one point was the most valuable property on the web. I’d subtack can leverage similar network features and creator economy while balancing content moderation with the autonomy of its creators and audience - then it will thrive. Tumblr failed because it decided to just ban/delete the very thing that made it so viral: creative freedom.

Expand full comment

I think you’re right -- I’d love to see an activity feed so I can see the likes and comments of those I subscribe to.

Expand full comment

Sorry typos. I’m typing w gloves on 🥶

Expand full comment

I immediately thought nitrile gloves. Projecting!

Expand full comment

I liked tumblr back in the day

Expand full comment

Looks like it. Gonna get all cluttered!!

Expand full comment

Rather a «long-form Twitter before Elon does it».

Expand full comment

Hasn't that thing tumblred into oblivion?

Expand full comment

I’m getting notifications of accounts returning everyday.

Expand full comment

OK.

I've never tried - and won't.

The bird, Gab, GETTR, Substack and Telegram are plenty enough for me.

Expand full comment

Same. It’s probably better to cut back on platforms anyway.

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

BRILLIANT feature, team Substack.

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment

My body is ready.

Expand full comment

Substack rocks! 🍻

Expand full comment

down for a cross-promotion anytime - never done it!

Expand full comment