Have questions about publishing, growing, or going paid on Substack?
The Substack team, and your fellow writers, are here to help!
Today we’re gathering the writer community and members of our Community, Product, and Writer Development teams together in a thread to answer writer questions for an hour.
If fresh ways to grow your subscriber base are on your mind, we’ve got news: Our product team just shipped a new feature that gives writers control over how much of a post for paying subscribers they want to show to free readers. This also enables writers to send that preview to free readers alongside a call to subscribe.
You can see how to insert the flexible paywall using your post editor below, and find a step-by-step guide to using this new tool right here.
Drop your questions in the thread by leaving a comment, and we’ll do our best to share knowledge and tips. Our team will be answering questions and sharing insights with you in the thread today from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m.–2 p.m. EDT.
Just here to share a win. This last week I gained 4 paying subscribers, all upgrades from free. 😁
It's a lesson for me, so I will share with others too - Sometimes you need to zoom out to see the benefits of something you tried. Don't expect instant results!
It would be fun if Substack could create a live homepage... maybe it already does that curates content and images that are clickable to the contributor's homepage and article and other content. A live "Page One" if you will. I"d love to see it!!!!! I'm super new to substack and have really enjoyed the two authors featured in emails this past week-- Polina Pompliano's essay (linked above) was inspiring to me and helpful. The bird guy from AZ touched my heart with his photos and love. Super cool content!!!!!
I've been hoping for something like this, too, but I suspect it's a lot of work, and since Substack is primarily a newsletter site and not a 'magazine' site, it may not be something they would even want to do. Still...
I think that we're all figuring this out as we go! Especially substack. Substack, like any online venture, is in a fight for survival and we all want substack to survive and thrive. So Substack investing in a landing page that features awesome content is a win win for substack and us. People are hungry for great content and this is the most creative approach to offering it that I've seen in a long, long time. We have truly witnessed the collapse of good paid journalism as advertising revenue has shifted online... Substack is incredibly hopeful and optimistic for writers/ content creators to share meaningful content and get paid. Substack is the turning of a time for content creators... I am so thankful it exists and want to participate in brainstorming on ideas that will make it a site people want to go to to discover excellence.
I think this would be a great idea. Something which features small-to-mid-sized newsletters would be definitely be helpful to see what the rest of the Substack community is producing.
“… short posts that showed too much and my long posts that didn't show enough.” Those words contain the basis for a good joke waiting to be written, but maybe this isn’t the right time. Hope you’re doing well, Mark.
The new paywall designation feature is fantastic. I've been requesting that feature for months. And this is even better than anticipated. BRAVO and BRAVA to your team of engineers!
Hello Substack team! Thank you so much for all that you do. I write FIRES, a newsletter about wildland fire, land management, Indigenous rights, and climate change. My biggest hurdle is publishing regularly. I am working on a ten-part series right now, plus I have several amazing interviews I need to get out, but I am just...having a hard time making it happen because of the amount of work it takes and the amount of time I have. There is so much I have to do in my "regular" life and I don't have enough paying subscribers to be able to lessen my workload outside of my newsletter, but I also feel that I am on a precipice of success and if I can only publish consistently for a couple months then I'll be able to reach that goal. My posts require a lot of research, too. Thanks so much for any words of wisdom!
I hear you, Stacy. I don't know that I've got any answers but I struggle too with heavily researched posts that take a long time to put together, and having the rest of my life intruding. One thing is to keep an eye on the length of your articles, and break them into two parts if they are getting too long. It's kinder on you and the reader. The other thing that helps motivate me is just keeping going for my readers.
Rose- that’s super helpful. And transcriptions are a great idea too. Thank you so much! I think I need to work on making shorter punchier posts and then maybe one part comes out once a month because those are more labor intensive.
Thank you for introducing the flexible paywall. It's something we'd been wishing for -- and the way you folks have implemented it is almost exactly what we'd wanted.
We do have one comment about it. In our opinion, the ability to edit the paywall description (especially as it appears in emails) might do wonders. For example, we tend to call our paying subscribers "members" -- which currently isn't reflected in our paywall text. This branding clash might confuse some readers.
Another thing about customizable paywall text is that it would allow us to add a unique CTA in the middle of the article -- something that we don't have to bother our paying members with.
One example: linking our student discount right next to the paywall. We have the option of linking the student discount in the customizable header, but we feel that it's just not as persuasive as having it right next to the paywall. By the time they get there, readers may have gotten distracted and forgotten the discount.
Anyway, thank you all! We've used the flexible paywall a few times so far. It seems like a win so far!
It really has worked for us! Other newsletters beat us to the idea, but it's definitely great if you've got college students in your audience (a good number of our readers are studying animation in school). We've set ours to a steep 40% discount.
I would like to know how you have one or more “hidden” group discounts possible! I have groups I know I would like to have lower special rates without advertising blatantly, like home schoolers, or internationals in certain poorer countries. How can you do thst??
Click the Settings tab in your Dashboard. Within the "Set up paid subscriptions" section, you should see "Special offers (manage)." That's where you can create discounts.
While you're setting up a discount, Substack gives you the option to set up a custom URL for it. Using that, you can make as many "hidden" discounts as you like!
I wonder how many Substackers use their blog rolls to promote other Substack newsletters? I have blogrolls on both of my newsletters. I love promoting other writers whose work I admire, but beyond that, it's an easy way for me to remember to check out their current stuff. I think it's a great feature!
Morning! I write stories from the trail -- some of my own, some interviews -- and apply this outdoor wisdom to day-to-day life. I'm thinking of creating a new "section" for harder news coverage. I don't want to inundate people who are only reading for the stories.
Would love to chat with other writers who use sections about how they work, and what your experiences have been with them!
Hi! Curious if there is a public roadmap for new features coming to Substack. I’d love a more formal way to see what’s coming, provide feedback, and also vote as to what should be prioritized.
Hey Substack team! Still working toward my paid launch and am creating new ways for readers to engage with PopPoetry. I'm thinking about recording "old" posts so folks can listen to an audio version, and I'm also interested in a straight-up podcast dimension for my work, too.
Have y'all considered hosting an audio workshop or info session of some kind? I'd love to get into the details of how to be successful in that area.
That sounds like a great idea, Caitlin! I’d be interested in such a workshop, as well as a complementary one about podcasting. I originally envisioned my blog as a podcast/newsletter, but discovered I was more comfortable writing. But some of my subjects might be better as part of an audio component. Poetry definitely would work in that format.
I'm thinking of adding audio as well and would love to talk about the best way to do it. I don't really want to add all of the bells and whistles that a true podcast has, but I'm not sure if I need to do that?
I think partially it's the mechanics of it. Like, you can put an audio recording of a post in before publication, but once it's published you can't add it later, I think? And then, some basic tips about production are always helpful. I'm less interested in the podcast functionality right now, but I'd file that information away for later if it were included.
Can I admit that I'm enough of a Luddite that I just want to be able to watch someone go through the process, because I kind of understand what you're saying, but I also just really don't?
I would like to hear how others are doing it. Are they producing a full-on podcast type of thing, or just reading their text? Are they adding sound effects, intros/outros, etc? Are they promoting the audio elsewhere?
Basically, I don't have a lot of experience and don't really know who is even doing audio on this platform, so I would love some "pro-tips" as I dip my toes in the water.
That’s awesome! We just started a podcast at work, so I’m familiar with the recording part, but I really don’t want to mess with all the other production. That’s where the real time suck yes. So it’s good to hear that you’re just going with the flow, so to speak!
I love how your developers have started to release updates so much more frequently. Give the members of that team an extra cookie (the kind you eat— not the ones that require GDRP compliance).
My social media knowledge is so laughably limited that I don't even know what a cross promotion shoot out is. IN any event, I am anxious to team up with others to offer whatever help I can and to get assistance in disseminating my materials. I am an attorney and I am situated in New York City.
I basically share your substack in my newsletter in return for you doing the same provided it makes sense (synergies with readership/topics). Almost at 2k subscribers so you may get some new eyeballs at no charge.
Hi David, I invite fellow writers to write about a favorite, meaningful movie, which I post on "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies" with a short bio and picture of the Guest Writer, as well as a large subscription button to their newsletter. Here are some examples:
How precisely do I share your newsletter on my substack acccount or blog. LOGISTICALLY, what precisely should I do. Please look at my site and tell me what I should click on to share your blog.
David GottfriedWrites Mad Dogs and Englishmen ·3 min ago
I am a bit of a Neanderthal with respect to social media and the internet. I need a lot of assistance in disseminating, publicizing and marketing my work product. Questions: 1) Can anyone recommend a social media advisor who can assist in the dissemination of my writings; 2) I write in different genres and I tackle many different topics, everything from essays on politics and sexuality to poetry to autobiographical sketches. How can so many different types of material cohere in one blog or how do I create sub blogs to accommodate the divergent materials. I am a lawyer and I am situated in New York City. My blog goes by the name Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Please check it out.
Hi again...just want to thank the commenters last week, the responses were very helpful. I'm still working my way around everything and will finally post my first story this Monday. I'm not anywhere near offering paid with my free subscriptions but wanted to know if anyone could share how they split their time between writing and promotion (and manage to stay sane). I'm ok marketing other people's work, but not my own. Thank you...hope you're all doing great.
Hi Deborah, a big virtual note of empathy going your way. I have to balance my monthly newsletter with other work and looking after a couple of kids. So I take whatever time is allocated to work, divide it based on that month's demands, and then for the newsletter I have a target pub date of the 21st. I split the month equally between writing and promotion. The writing part is more straightforward (it's what I love to do); the promotion part is annoying / not innate - every month I try something new, networking with other Substackers to learn learn learn from their experience.
Thanks George...same back. I balance work and taking care of a bunch of crazy stray cats. Kids must definitely be a lot of work though. Appreciate you sharing that. I'm going to have to get better at splitting my time. I get overwhelmed by it all but...And I agree. Learning from people here is invaluable. Best with everything you do. Take care.
HI! I definitely do not have a good answer AND this is one of the main issues I wrestle with. I find the creative work to be joyful and the marketing work challenging. This means I often split my time clearly and say "this is my creative time." That means I wear my comfy writing clothes. When I'm doing marketing, I put on something more professional, external, and say "I'm going to work." I also give myself tiny rewards when I do promotion/ marketing work (because it can be so hard for me.) (Like chocolate or star sticker.) I'll also set my writing goals and marketing goals each week and then check off when I do each one. Seeing the visual check offs makes it rewarding for me when I look back on the week. I'm also super used to feeling a lot of anxiety and doing promotion work anyways. This is maybe the best secret I can offer is that the only way through the discomfort is through. It's like when a plane gets bumpy and it's uncomfortable... you fasten your seatbelt and ride it out. Except, most days with me, I can expect turbulence when I post unlike airplane turbulence that's often unexpected. The other thing that has helped me a lot recently is seeing my work as a gift for someone else and if I don't share it then that person can't find it. I think of how many times I've read something that really helped me or engaged me in some new way or lifted my spirits and I think how grateful I am that that person strapped on their seatbelt and weathered the turbulence to deliver their message. When all else fails, I usually take a deep breath, say a prayer and ask for help and then go for it. Failing seems better than being stuck in fear quite honestly. Blessings on your journey.
Hey, thanks so much Kat. I think you're right (and this is a good answer). Just knowing someone goes through the same stuff helps. I definitely struggle with marketing; writing is where I want to be always. But, I am realistic and know promotion can't be avoided. I'm trying to find unique and unusual ways to do that, maybe it will be more fun (haha) that way. Anyway...I really appreciate you taking the time to give me some helpful things to think about.. Putting on my seatbelt. All great things for you.
Hey Deborah, I work full time so my time is very limited. I post twice a week; I do not maintain any social media presence as I just don't have time for it. I do subscribe to many newsletters and I spend time reading and commenting on them. I've made some internet friends by doing this and I've also posted about other newsletters that I've enjoyed and others do the same for my newsletter. I will retire in 2 years and at that time I'll decide if I want to get more serious and branch out to more promotion and other social media sites. For now this is just fun, it may become something more in the future, I just don't know yet nor do I know what that something more might look like.
Hi Gayla...I think your newsletter is great, exactly as it is. There is a real need for the authenticity of what you're doing. Personally, I'm not into social media, I just can't seem to mesh with it. But, I'm 64, it was never part of my reality so maybe that explains why. I'm hoping to find more unique ways of promoting what I do. Thanks for your input. It's so good to find and connect with other writers who are doing what they love. I think that's a very important thing in this life.
Thanks Deborah, I'm glad you like it. I'm 63 and I use FB and IG personally but mostly for bookish related things. I haven't ventured out with SoNovelicious yet on social media. If you find other unique ways of promoting your newsletter, I'd love to hear what those are is as it seems "social media" is the way to go for promoting. Good luck to you on your first weekly newsletter beginning on 10-25 and I can't wait to read your writing.
You're very welcome. I'll definitely let you know about my experiments with new ways to promote. Thank you for the good luck wishes. I really appreciate that. I think my newsletter will be a little bit niche; not for everyone but something I believe in and something that will evolve as it goes on.
One of my subscribers tells me she hasn't received my weekly newsletter in some time. When I look her up on my dashboard and click the Events link, I see "Dropped email" next to several recent editions (as opposed to "Opened email" or "Received email"). What does "Dropped" mean in this context?
I'm a book blogger, and I'm looking for a platform to post my content. I'm new and still deciding if I am going to go through with Substack. Other options are WordPress/Membership plugin or Youtube or Medium. My question is, why is Substack the best? Or is Substack a great compliment to any of the others?
I left Medium for a long, long list of reasons, came to Substack and it is far better. I tried to promote my book and short fiction on YouTube with not much success. One can get completely lost on YouTube and the monetization fluctuates greatly, whereas on Substack if you have a paid yearly subscriber, that money is banked.
I tried dual-posting on medium but I don't know how I feel about doing both. It feels like dividing my attention, and I want my substack to be my utmost priority
I don't see how it hurts to cross-post in both places. The more eyes the better. When I post on Medium I always add an invitation to my Substack pages at the bottom. Can't hurt, either.
Posting an advertising message at the end of a Medium post seems pretty standard. If you want to change the message, link, or something else, you must go to every post and adjust it manually.
Of course. I only post at Medium now and then, and they're almost always cross-posts from Substack. Some of my Medium pieces are on other publications so I don't mess with them.
I am considering a new newsletter, with a different audience and a different theme. I was considering using Medium for that one, to keep them separate. What do all of you think?
I pay for a couple of newsletters that use Memberful/WordPress. The big difference— to me— between those setups and Substack is that if you’re using something other than Substack and something goes wrong, you have to figure it out on your own. Substack has a dedicated tech support team that can look into technical issues for you.
I think the most pleasant surprise, for me, is Substack's support. I've never had that anywhere else. Not at Medium, not at Blogger, not at WordPress. It makes me feel we really are a community here.
Medium provided me with pretty good support when I was setting up my custom domain. I had the same issues here on Substack, who also provided excellent support. I was pleased with both companies. For WordPress, I pay a company called WPMUDEV, and they handle all WordPress support, plus hosting and about ten premium plugins. They are excellent as well.
I've given up on WordPress. If I can't do it myself it's not worth doing. I can't afford to pay someone to take care of what should be simple tasks. I did much better on Blogger--way more simplified--but had to leave there, too, because 10 years worth of comments disappeared, never to be seen again. In fact, I couldn't get the comments to work, ever again.
I only use Medium now and then anymore--sort of a trial separation--but there's no reason why you can't use both. I just cross-posted a piece I wrote on my Substack newsletter, Writer Everlasting, so now it's at both places. I see it as a win-win!
Substack is quite straightforward and clean with its UI and customisation options. I think that's a big plus for it, especially when everything is already standardised into a nice-looking format. There are useful resources from Substack too, but I think playing around with the settings is the best thing.
Very cool!! I am still really new to Substack -- when I send out a post to ONLY paying subscribers, do the non-paying subscribers get a preview email? Or would I send that separately for posts I think maybe warrant a little extra attention?
And can I use this new feature on a post that's already live?
What do people think about substack creating a live homepage with teasers and links and photos and comics? Substack, like any online venture, is in a fight for survival and we all want substack to survive and thrive. So Substack investing in a landing page that features awesome content is a win win for substack and us. People are hungry for great content and this is the most creative approach to offering it that I've seen in a long, long time. We have truly witnessed the collapse of good paid journalism as advertising revenue has shifted online... Substack is incredibly hopeful and optimistic for writers/ content creators to share meaningful content and get paid. Substack is the turning of a time for content creators... I am so thankful it exists and want to participate in brainstorming on ideas that will make it a site people want to go to to discover excellence.
If anyone subscribes to my newsletter for free I'll immediately subscribe to yours back and try my best to read your material. We must look after each other!
Hi Ivan, I too write movie reviews and other kinds of articles about the wisdom found in movies. Would you care to contribute to "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies" as a Guest Writer? Here are some examples: https://moviewise.substack.com/s/-guest-posts
Sure thing! I write about the outdoors, and try to share stories from exciting people who are a bit more reclusive and off social media -- kind of like your writing about your first post! Happy to read more!
Right on thank you! Checking yours out right now. Def. already hit the subscribe button. Maybe we could collab some time? Nor.Cal outdoors changed my life.
Yes! That sounds awesome. Shoot me an email. colenobleclimbs@gmail.com. I actually do an interview show Sunday Mornings, maybe I could have you on over zoom to talk about the outdoors.
Hi all. I write serialized YA fiction, dropping a new chapter every week. I'm experimenting with bonus content (haven't yet gone paid), and had an idea to create a Spotify playlist that's a sort of "soundtrack" to the first eight chapters. Has anyone done this before? If so, any tips?
I write about fifty years of American politics' observations from the POV of a foreigner turned American. However, started Substack with a short story about one of my own backgrounds tribulations just to understand the platform. Hope to be of interest.
Hi! I write a newsletter critiquing my favorite pop culture from about 20-25 years ago. I've been reviewing Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I post my reviews in the Buffy Reddit forum. I tend to get a lot of views, but no sign ups. Any ideas on how to convert people to subscribers?
Hey Nicole! Cool idea. Just took a look at one of your posts. Have you experimented with putting the subscribe CTA higher? And maybe add some personalized language like "Get posts like this delivered right to your inbox by subscribing" (but maybe more clever and buffy-ified.) Good luck!
Hi Nicole- I always begin my newsletters by asking ppl to subscribe (in italics) and then popping in a "subscribe" button. Also, you can go into your settings and create a blurb that will appear on all your posts asking for ppl to subscribe, share, and support. I love your newsletter, love the idea!
Is there a way to put a blurb that will appear on the post if a person goes to my page to read it, but not on emails? After all, if someone is getting the emails they don't need a reminder at the top to subscribe, but it seems like a really good idea to put it on posts that are viewed directly on Substack.
you could also ask your subscribers to forward the email to ppl they think may be interested. One can never have too many subscribe buttons and as a subscriber I never mind them.
Glad to see this feature being introduced as I'm working primarily on free posts for now – https://americauthentic.substack.com – but there will definitely be posts I want to paywall, at least to some degree, further down the line.
Always looking to connect with other writers and maybe do some cross-promotion, so please hit me up if that's of interest to any of you :)
Hi Art, thanks for your reach-out. I write The Strategy Toolkit for all the wild & crazy strategists out there. Am about to publish October's dive into strategy & psychology. Am interested in cross-promotion: ping me at gabthinking (at) gmail (dot) com!
Hey George! Nice to hear from you. My 'stack focuses on travel and authenticity, if you can find anything you're coming up that might have an interesting relationship with those subjects then it'd be great to see if there's something there :)
I actually had a piece in mind about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and how it relates to something I recently read about Hunter S Thompson...so I might take you up on this!
👋 My name is Christian. I write a newsletter about meditation, creativity, and everyday things about life. I'm based out of Chicago, Illinois, USA. You can subscribe here. https://beginnersmind.substack.com/
Howdy! I'm Cole -- sharing thought provoking stories about nature, mountains, the outdoors, and applying them to our daily lives.
I think your take on intentionality is extremely appropriate for this platform, in the meta of getting away from ad based content and endless scrolling, and moving more toward seeking out and choosing the content we consume. Subscribed!
Hello. I am wondering the status of the functionality of sending a "teaser" to all those who are free subscribers that will encourage them to purchase the paid subscription. I saw that it was in the works - but it hasn't launched yet. I really feel this will be a great offering, rather than having to send two separate e-blasts. Thank you in advance.
My weekly newsletter is a newspaper about my Dallas suburb. I send the final edition of each month to everybody on my list (as opposed to just my paid subscribers), and I top those free editions with a bulleted list of several stories I've published since the non-subscribers last heard from me. I then nudge them with the "Subscribe" button.
Great - thank you. this was teased out on the support page and it wasn't ready to go. Seems to be ready now and not a moment too soon/late (depending on your viewpoint).
What's the secret sauce behind getting featured in the "What to read" substack emailers?
I am happy to share that Hello Universe has been going out to readers every week for almost 30 weeks now, and it's really unique content in a really unique space of poetry!
If you know anyone who lives in or near Coppell, Texas, please send them a link to my newsletter. It's about current events in our town, so my potential audience is limited to our population of approximately 40,000. We had an election last year that drew 3,000 voters, so my goal is 3,000 paid subscribers. After 33 consecutive weeks of publication, I'm at 357 paid subscribers.
For something like that, I think traditional marketing techniques might be your best bet. Flyers, business cards, ads in local media, reaching out to the newspaper or any other local publications for a feature, etc. Good luck!
Hi Dan! If you have any favorite Texas-based movies that you would like to write about on "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies," it would be great have you as a Guest Writer! Here are some examples: https://moviewise.substack.com/s/-guest-posts
Hey guys, I write "Diving Deeper" where I make unapproachable topics approachable. specific to millenials who ponder the idea of marriage, friendship, work, spirituality and everything not taught in college. I help them navigate through their 20's and 30's with different ways of thinking .. hoping to shift them out of their own box.
I don't have social media so I am stuck as to how to reach my audience next. Perhaps social media? Anyone have any advice?
I actually have some advice I want to give millennials. I am much older, and I have advise I want to pass on. I wonder if there could be some synergistic relationship between our sites.
Hello everyone, it is great to be here and thank you for all your support. The timing of this tread is brilliant. I've been running a free newsletter with the aim to start a paid one next month where I'll be sharing weekly meditation audios and you tube unlisted video links. My question is when someone subscribes will they be able to access previous newsletters/emails and the relevant content? Thank you so much xx
From what I understand, new subscribers are able to access any old posts from the archives, based on their subscription type (so, paid subscribers would access everything, free subscribers could see all but only access/read the free posts).
Hi Mary, would it be possible to add a feature so that previously published posts can be re-published and sent out again via email so that the newer subscribers can see them since they missed them the first time because they were not yet subscribers?
Thank you so much Mary. What do you mean by achieved posts? Would the emails I send out be able to be achieved so they can be accessed? This will be part of my promotion so when someone subscribes say 6 months down the line they will have access to material that has been shared previously.
All of your newsletters end up on your web-based Substack (like a blog) so anyone new will be able to go back and see what you have already published. Paid subscribers will be able to see everything, and free subscribers will be able to see all of your free posts but only the titles of things you put behind the paywall.
Thank you so much. I found the 'Archive' on my page. I'll add this feature on the description of my paid version. I'll also categorise it accordingly so it can be accessed with ease. It is really exciting.
I've heard some people suggest posting a call to action in the places you regularly share your posts saying that you are at XX subscribers and are trying to get to 100. You might get a few more to get you there. (I've not tried this, so I don't know how well it works. Just advice I've seen elsewhere.)
Curious to hear how you get past this. I've been dealing with something similar. Every few subscribers I get, a couple others leave. On the plus side, the subscribers I have NOW seem far more engaged. I think every once in a while it's just a question of building a stronger community.
Nothing, consistently. It seems like they trickle in at a slow but steady pace, almost irrespective of what I do. The weeks I plug my newsletter the hardest, I plateau. The weeks I'm busy and do nothing, I get a bunch.
From what I understand, most substackers have slow, steady growth, with occasional bursts of activity brought on by a popular post. That's been my experience. So just stick with it and write like you have a million readers!
I write a newsletter called 10+1 Things, where I curate and share 11 interesting stories for the generalists every week.
My question to the team is how do I grow as a curated newsletter writer? I see a lot of focus and attention from Substack to fiction and comic writers. Any plans on supporting creators addressing the curator economy?
Would love to hear from others.
Some info:
In the latest edition of my newsletter, I talk about A Toaster that was made entirely from Scratch, A guide on 'How to Eat Healthily', A Folding Microscope made from Paper and an interesting take on Remote Worship.
One more question: I get quite a few “billing failed” notices for paid subscriptions. Stripe makes three attempts to get the payment to go through; after that, if it’s still unsuccessful, it cancels the subscription. In some cases, I’ve had subscribers whose billing failed re-subscribe for a new paid subscription, but in most cases that doesn’t happen.
Do you know why “billing failed” occurs, and is there anything I should be doing differently? Thanks!
I don't have a direct answer to your question. But one thing I've done is include a comment in my Subscription Expired email that if their subscription cancellation is an error, then they should re-subscribe, and I add the subscribe button. It may be as simple as the card they used has expired. This gives them the opportunity to re-subscribe with updated card info.
I suspect that the cards people have used have expired and they haven't updated the system with a new card. You could reach out to them individually and let them know, I guess.
Hi! I was wondering how to use the feature I recall seeing recently but can't find now. It's where you can reply to someone else's Substack post in a post of your own. Was this feature disabled? Thanks! Dylan
Hi - I'm launching tomorrow and still have a few questions!
How do I remove the photo icon at the top of each newsletter and only use my name?
Also -- my newsletter is FREE to everyone, although I do offer a paid subscription option for anyone who would like to contribute to my considerable ongoing medical expenses. Q: how do I arrange for my free newsletter to require sign-up rather than just click and read in full?
Really like the new paywall preview feature! One question I had was whether there would be a way to embed an audio post behind the paywall? I would like to offer audio versions of my serialized novel for paid subscribers but as I understand it, by doing a podcast post, the audio player will appear at the top of the post.
That would be very appreciated. I too have my novels behind the paywall and that is keeping me from making an audio version of them, which is kind of a shame.
If the novels are already behind the paywall, then I think you can just add the audio to that post (unless you are going to offer extended previews for every chapter). I think I will add the audio tracks to the first several chapters of the free posts and then link to paywalled audio posts for future chapters.
Another idea would be if substack were allowed to send out emails with a variety of content to a big list... Like a dessert sampler. (not really a pot luck because they give me stomach aches). But dessert samplers are fun! People could subscribe to free content emails from substack to check out new contributors. I'd love that! I'd subscribe to that.
I am going to be writing a special issue of my newsletter about Thanksgiving, which will be posted that week. It will have tips for how to navigate difficult relationships on a day that is supposed to be special. I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to promote it.
Are you familiar with HARO (Help a Reporter Out?) It's easy to get swamped by their emails but your topic sounds exactly like something they would be looking for
I'm glad I managed to catch this WOH session. Thanks for the platform, Substack Team. I'm really looking forward to writing on Substack for the long-term; and speaking for the younger writers, there's a lot of great word-of-mouth going around, and alongside thoughtful features and community support, the overall experience really makes Substack recommendable to everyone, because it's very versatile and well-built.
My question is whether there are any plans to expand the Discover Newsletters section, especially to more than 25 newsletter per category. It'd be great to find more newsletter from the Substack home page, even if it were to involve more effort on the part of one searching for them. Hopefully this might also shine light on less active newsletters, who still produce great pieces, albeit at slower rates.
Otherwise, I'm grateful for the platform and what it has allowed me to express and find out about myself. To anyone interested, I write https://thenostomodernreview.substack.com/ and I write about philosophy and modernism in the 21st Century.
When you click back in to read a previous post (because you're a perfectionist and reread your work to exhaustion) does it mess with your analytics? If so, is there a way to prevent that?
Paid subscription question - If I change (raise) the price of paid subscriptions, is there a way to keep my original subscribers at the price they originally signed up for?
I have a question about double opt-in for email signups. Some publications I’ve subscribed to requires readers to opt-in via a confirmation email before getting the welcome email. I see this option my my settings tab. Would you recommend doing this or not?
I just started so am still small (~220 free list subscribers) with an open rate of 40-45% but I’m wondering if this opt in feature helps make sure the readers actually meant to subscribe?
I'd love to know more about how you have 220 subscribers after just a few weeks. Do you have a social media presence that you were able to convert to newsletter subscribers or something else? Do tell, please.
I've launched it pretty quietly (haven't told friends) and have relied mostly on a new anon Twitter account for traction. High-quality content really does drive the most views/subscriptions.
Hey, folks. Thought this started at 1 PM? But maybe it was an hour ago? I'm confused...
Anyway, I'd love someone to remind me where to find the link for the Grow week specifically on growing your email list. I feel like I'm coming out from underwater after a few slow, distracting weeks and I need to review and get activated again around building my free list, under the assumption that it's the gateway drug to paid, so to speak.
I will say, on the upside, that I got three new email sign-ups last night following a very lively discussion and shout-out for my newsletter on Ask E Jean by Ms. E Jean herself. That was a thrill. I still find that engaging in substantive discussion on other people's newsletters is how I'm getting the most free sign-ups right now. And I'm at 40 paid subscribers, so that's a little over 10% conversion. I'm proud of that.
Twitter is yielding nothing and is against my temperament. Insta is it's own thing and my followers are growing there, but not converting. I've tapped out my Facebook following, which is where most of my 341 total email list folks have come from.
Also, I guess I should say, I write a newsletter on rediscovering the lost art of integrity. It's a mix of personal essays, interviews and resource lists, all aimed at helping people show up and stand up for what they believe in while juggling the complications of a real imperfect, human life. If Substack had a self-help category, it would probably best go there, though I find the genre problematic in certain ways. But if you're a geek for growth and personal evolution, I'm your gal.
There is some scuttlebutt on Facebook that, because Facebook is starting its own newsletter service, Facebook algorithms are downplaying anything from substack. I’m finding that may well be true because I get fewer likes and fewer referrals from Facebook, but it could also be because I’ve now been there posting for quite some time.
Sorry I missed the question. Shadowbans, like most stuff here, comes from algorithms. If this then than…before I was banned from Twitter, I found through an app I had 4 different “shadowbans”…
Code is written to isolate…They place restraints like not showing up in their search, unless types exactly as the targeted voice. “Wig Blog” then when you post it uses, if COVID topic (Hundreds) then limit distribution…on Facebook a picture of a flower may get 50likes…if you add a covid comment, only few receive that post…
Brietbart censors Jefferson’s “Water the Tree of Liberty”…I tested the Algorithm and got banned.
Essentially the algorithm looks for “Water” and if the word “Tree” follows, then “moderator” receives to censor.
I left Facebook years ago and focus on Twitter. Instead of puting a link in a tweet, make a thread and add the link to your article in the other tweets but not the first one. This way you avoid being put in a less promotable category by twitter. The advantage is that you can use the first tweet for something visually eye-catching. That can be a photo (download for free on a site like unsplash) or even better a video. Or combine these techniques by making a video from a photo where you for instance slowly zoom in. On my iphone it takes me a minute to do so with the imovie app. When it moves, people click on more often on your thread. You can add the link to your article in each tweet (except the first) or add one or two tweets in your thread that link directly to your signup page. See for examples @alex_verbeek.
You can probably repair shadowbans on Twitter by reviewing past Tweets and deleting any that are against censorship, vaccines, Trump or are pro freedom…then never use trigger words in tweet, instead just link to Substack with innocuous tease?
Just here to share a win. This last week I gained 4 paying subscribers, all upgrades from free. 😁
It's a lesson for me, so I will share with others too - Sometimes you need to zoom out to see the benefits of something you tried. Don't expect instant results!
Yes, congrats!
Cool!
Congrats!
It would be fun if Substack could create a live homepage... maybe it already does that curates content and images that are clickable to the contributor's homepage and article and other content. A live "Page One" if you will. I"d love to see it!!!!! I'm super new to substack and have really enjoyed the two authors featured in emails this past week-- Polina Pompliano's essay (linked above) was inspiring to me and helpful. The bird guy from AZ touched my heart with his photos and love. Super cool content!!!!!
I've been hoping for something like this, too, but I suspect it's a lot of work, and since Substack is primarily a newsletter site and not a 'magazine' site, it may not be something they would even want to do. Still...
I think that we're all figuring this out as we go! Especially substack. Substack, like any online venture, is in a fight for survival and we all want substack to survive and thrive. So Substack investing in a landing page that features awesome content is a win win for substack and us. People are hungry for great content and this is the most creative approach to offering it that I've seen in a long, long time. We have truly witnessed the collapse of good paid journalism as advertising revenue has shifted online... Substack is incredibly hopeful and optimistic for writers/ content creators to share meaningful content and get paid. Substack is the turning of a time for content creators... I am so thankful it exists and want to participate in brainstorming on ideas that will make it a site people want to go to to discover excellence.
Me too! Every word!
I think this would be a great idea. Something which features small-to-mid-sized newsletters would be definitely be helpful to see what the rest of the Substack community is producing.
exactly and comics :)
(my contribution right now)
I just want to say thank you. This new feature is helpful for my very short posts that showed too much and my long posts that didn't show enough.
“… short posts that showed too much and my long posts that didn't show enough.” Those words contain the basis for a good joke waiting to be written, but maybe this isn’t the right time. Hope you’re doing well, Mark.
Story of my life. 🤣
Hi, John. For an old guy, I can't complain (although, I often do.)
It’s one of the joys left for us old guys. Don’t let anyone take it from you.
Don't look like old guys to me
61 qualifies as old, doesn't it? 🙂
Can't wait to check it out myself.
The new paywall designation feature is fantastic. I've been requesting that feature for months. And this is even better than anticipated. BRAVO and BRAVA to your team of engineers!
What is the 'paywall designation'?
Oh, I see. Thanks.
Hello Substack team! Thank you so much for all that you do. I write FIRES, a newsletter about wildland fire, land management, Indigenous rights, and climate change. My biggest hurdle is publishing regularly. I am working on a ten-part series right now, plus I have several amazing interviews I need to get out, but I am just...having a hard time making it happen because of the amount of work it takes and the amount of time I have. There is so much I have to do in my "regular" life and I don't have enough paying subscribers to be able to lessen my workload outside of my newsletter, but I also feel that I am on a precipice of success and if I can only publish consistently for a couple months then I'll be able to reach that goal. My posts require a lot of research, too. Thanks so much for any words of wisdom!
Keep writing, you can do this. I am about to release my 38th issue, no breaks, even if you write for ten minutes a day, it adds up.
Thank you- it's challenging though because my posts require hours of research, too.
I hear you, Stacy. I don't know that I've got any answers but I struggle too with heavily researched posts that take a long time to put together, and having the rest of my life intruding. One thing is to keep an eye on the length of your articles, and break them into two parts if they are getting too long. It's kinder on you and the reader. The other thing that helps motivate me is just keeping going for my readers.
I should also say that I live with chronic illness, which is also part of this equation.
Stacey, I hear you. I get migraine headaches. YMMV but I try and bank content when I feel up to it and use it when I'm not feeling great.
This is a great idea, Elizabeth, thank you.
Rose- that’s super helpful. And transcriptions are a great idea too. Thank you so much! I think I need to work on making shorter punchier posts and then maybe one part comes out once a month because those are more labor intensive.
And those are good ideas!
Hello again!
Thank you for introducing the flexible paywall. It's something we'd been wishing for -- and the way you folks have implemented it is almost exactly what we'd wanted.
We do have one comment about it. In our opinion, the ability to edit the paywall description (especially as it appears in emails) might do wonders. For example, we tend to call our paying subscribers "members" -- which currently isn't reflected in our paywall text. This branding clash might confuse some readers.
Another thing about customizable paywall text is that it would allow us to add a unique CTA in the middle of the article -- something that we don't have to bother our paying members with.
One example: linking our student discount right next to the paywall. We have the option of linking the student discount in the customizable header, but we feel that it's just not as persuasive as having it right next to the paywall. By the time they get there, readers may have gotten distracted and forgotten the discount.
Anyway, thank you all! We've used the flexible paywall a few times so far. It seems like a win so far!
Agree, I want to term my "paying subscribers" as "insiders". It's part of my brand strategy with the podcast and associated interactions I offer.
So good, Nishant!
Thanks, Alison. That's the pitch I use on my podcast as well. :) My paid posts are called SneakyArt (Insider) Post and SneakyArt (Insider) Podcast.
I like this! Right now I call them VIPs or Premium subscribers but I like insiders better.
Thank you. :)
Love this suggestion!
Animation Obsessive, just wanted to say that you have a beautiful and (based off of what I’ve seen) well-researched newsletter.
Thank you, John! We really appreciate it. A lot of work goes into making each issue as special and as accurate as possible.
LOVE the idea of a student discount!
It really has worked for us! Other newsletters beat us to the idea, but it's definitely great if you've got college students in your audience (a good number of our readers are studying animation in school). We've set ours to a steep 40% discount.
I would like to know how you have one or more “hidden” group discounts possible! I have groups I know I would like to have lower special rates without advertising blatantly, like home schoolers, or internationals in certain poorer countries. How can you do thst??
Click the Settings tab in your Dashboard. Within the "Set up paid subscriptions" section, you should see "Special offers (manage)." That's where you can create discounts.
I have done one-offs there, just not sure how to have multiple special ones.
While you're setting up a discount, Substack gives you the option to set up a custom URL for it. Using that, you can make as many "hidden" discounts as you like!
Thanks! I will try that!
Thank you!
I wonder how many Substackers use their blog rolls to promote other Substack newsletters? I have blogrolls on both of my newsletters. I love promoting other writers whose work I admire, but beyond that, it's an easy way for me to remember to check out their current stuff. I think it's a great feature!
This is a good reminder to set one up!
Totally agree, Ramona. A handful of publishers are doing that, but not enough!
I regularly shout out other Substacks when I read something useful or that I think will be interesting to my subscribers.
It's so nice of you to do this! On behalf of the writers you've listed: Thank you!! I promote other writers through my Guest Posts: https://moviewise.substack.com/s/-guest-posts
It's been a really lovely way to meet other writers, and also be introduced to new movies that I probably would not have found on my own!
Morning! I write stories from the trail -- some of my own, some interviews -- and apply this outdoor wisdom to day-to-day life. I'm thinking of creating a new "section" for harder news coverage. I don't want to inundate people who are only reading for the stories.
Would love to chat with other writers who use sections about how they work, and what your experiences have been with them!
Yeahhhhhhhhh
Hi! Curious if there is a public roadmap for new features coming to Substack. I’d love a more formal way to see what’s coming, provide feedback, and also vote as to what should be prioritized.
Hey Substack team! Still working toward my paid launch and am creating new ways for readers to engage with PopPoetry. I'm thinking about recording "old" posts so folks can listen to an audio version, and I'm also interested in a straight-up podcast dimension for my work, too.
Have y'all considered hosting an audio workshop or info session of some kind? I'd love to get into the details of how to be successful in that area.
I also would love a workshop on the audio possibilities and how they work. Great suggestion!
That sounds like a great idea, Caitlin! I’d be interested in such a workshop, as well as a complementary one about podcasting. I originally envisioned my blog as a podcast/newsletter, but discovered I was more comfortable writing. But some of my subjects might be better as part of an audio component. Poetry definitely would work in that format.
All hail Patty!
I'm thinking of adding audio as well and would love to talk about the best way to do it. I don't really want to add all of the bells and whistles that a true podcast has, but I'm not sure if I need to do that?
Jasmine, you speak truly! It is a genius podcast tool!
Yeah I'm also interested in the technical side of things (Substack's functionality), as well as production tips and ideas for posts.
I think partially it's the mechanics of it. Like, you can put an audio recording of a post in before publication, but once it's published you can't add it later, I think? And then, some basic tips about production are always helpful. I'm less interested in the podcast functionality right now, but I'd file that information away for later if it were included.
Jasmine! Brilliant, brilliant idea! The ability to move an AUDIO INSERT around inside a newsletter.
I am enthralled with the ease of making a podcast! Hats off to the ingenious designers and engineers of Substack!
Can I admit that I'm enough of a Luddite that I just want to be able to watch someone go through the process, because I kind of understand what you're saying, but I also just really don't?
I would like to hear how others are doing it. Are they producing a full-on podcast type of thing, or just reading their text? Are they adding sound effects, intros/outros, etc? Are they promoting the audio elsewhere?
Basically, I don't have a lot of experience and don't really know who is even doing audio on this platform, so I would love some "pro-tips" as I dip my toes in the water.
Jackie, I have zero experience at making a podcast. But it is EXTREMELY simple! You just click NEW EPISODE, and download your tape. Here is one of my first attempts: https://ejeancarroll.substack.com/p/listen-to-kathy-griffin-paying-makes.
I make mistakes, flubs, and goofs all the way through----but what the hell, I just keep jammering!
That’s awesome! We just started a podcast at work, so I’m familiar with the recording part, but I really don’t want to mess with all the other production. That’s where the real time suck yes. So it’s good to hear that you’re just going with the flow, so to speak!
I love how your developers have started to release updates so much more frequently. Give the members of that team an extra cookie (the kind you eat— not the ones that require GDRP compliance).
I’m totally psyched on Substack…
I have some open slots for cross promotion/shout outs, let me know if you are interested, happy to help each other grow.
There might be synergies with my newsletter. I'll email you.
Dope!
I'm in!
My social media knowledge is so laughably limited that I don't even know what a cross promotion shoot out is. IN any event, I am anxious to team up with others to offer whatever help I can and to get assistance in disseminating my materials. I am an attorney and I am situated in New York City.
I basically share your substack in my newsletter in return for you doing the same provided it makes sense (synergies with readership/topics). Almost at 2k subscribers so you may get some new eyeballs at no charge.
I just sent you a message and I was advised that my comment did not go through
Ergo, let me repeat what I said a few minutes ago:
A) That sounds fantastic
B) How do we do this
C) Where in your newsletter would my name, or a link to my site, appear
D) What precisely would you like me to do for you.
E) Can you give me a link to your newsletter
Hi David, I invite fellow writers to write about a favorite, meaningful movie, which I post on "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies" with a short bio and picture of the Guest Writer, as well as a large subscription button to their newsletter. Here are some examples:
https://moviewise.substack.com/s/-guest-posts
Please email: moviewise@icloud.com if you would be interested in contributing to moviewise :)
How precisely do I share your newsletter on my substack acccount or blog. LOGISTICALLY, what precisely should I do. Please look at my site and tell me what I should click on to share your blog.
Since one or two of my messages did not go through, allow me to give you my e mail:
DavidGottf@gmail.com
Interested. Okay to email?
Yes!
What can I do to help you out?
David GottfriedWrites Mad Dogs and Englishmen ·3 min ago
I am a bit of a Neanderthal with respect to social media and the internet. I need a lot of assistance in disseminating, publicizing and marketing my work product. Questions: 1) Can anyone recommend a social media advisor who can assist in the dissemination of my writings; 2) I write in different genres and I tackle many different topics, everything from essays on politics and sexuality to poetry to autobiographical sketches. How can so many different types of material cohere in one blog or how do I create sub blogs to accommodate the divergent materials. I am a lawyer and I am situated in New York City. My blog goes by the name Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Please check it out.
email me at info@shaungold.com and we can talk there.
Of course, this is a long and tough road, we need to help each other out.
Hi again...just want to thank the commenters last week, the responses were very helpful. I'm still working my way around everything and will finally post my first story this Monday. I'm not anywhere near offering paid with my free subscriptions but wanted to know if anyone could share how they split their time between writing and promotion (and manage to stay sane). I'm ok marketing other people's work, but not my own. Thank you...hope you're all doing great.
Hi Deborah, a big virtual note of empathy going your way. I have to balance my monthly newsletter with other work and looking after a couple of kids. So I take whatever time is allocated to work, divide it based on that month's demands, and then for the newsletter I have a target pub date of the 21st. I split the month equally between writing and promotion. The writing part is more straightforward (it's what I love to do); the promotion part is annoying / not innate - every month I try something new, networking with other Substackers to learn learn learn from their experience.
Thanks George...same back. I balance work and taking care of a bunch of crazy stray cats. Kids must definitely be a lot of work though. Appreciate you sharing that. I'm going to have to get better at splitting my time. I get overwhelmed by it all but...And I agree. Learning from people here is invaluable. Best with everything you do. Take care.
HI! I definitely do not have a good answer AND this is one of the main issues I wrestle with. I find the creative work to be joyful and the marketing work challenging. This means I often split my time clearly and say "this is my creative time." That means I wear my comfy writing clothes. When I'm doing marketing, I put on something more professional, external, and say "I'm going to work." I also give myself tiny rewards when I do promotion/ marketing work (because it can be so hard for me.) (Like chocolate or star sticker.) I'll also set my writing goals and marketing goals each week and then check off when I do each one. Seeing the visual check offs makes it rewarding for me when I look back on the week. I'm also super used to feeling a lot of anxiety and doing promotion work anyways. This is maybe the best secret I can offer is that the only way through the discomfort is through. It's like when a plane gets bumpy and it's uncomfortable... you fasten your seatbelt and ride it out. Except, most days with me, I can expect turbulence when I post unlike airplane turbulence that's often unexpected. The other thing that has helped me a lot recently is seeing my work as a gift for someone else and if I don't share it then that person can't find it. I think of how many times I've read something that really helped me or engaged me in some new way or lifted my spirits and I think how grateful I am that that person strapped on their seatbelt and weathered the turbulence to deliver their message. When all else fails, I usually take a deep breath, say a prayer and ask for help and then go for it. Failing seems better than being stuck in fear quite honestly. Blessings on your journey.
Ps...I just subscribed. Your illustrations are adorable and I kinda need that little ray of sunshine right now.
Hey, thanks so much Kat. I think you're right (and this is a good answer). Just knowing someone goes through the same stuff helps. I definitely struggle with marketing; writing is where I want to be always. But, I am realistic and know promotion can't be avoided. I'm trying to find unique and unusual ways to do that, maybe it will be more fun (haha) that way. Anyway...I really appreciate you taking the time to give me some helpful things to think about.. Putting on my seatbelt. All great things for you.
Thank you!
What's more important than the seatbelt is to remember you were born with wings. Fly!
Hey Deborah, I work full time so my time is very limited. I post twice a week; I do not maintain any social media presence as I just don't have time for it. I do subscribe to many newsletters and I spend time reading and commenting on them. I've made some internet friends by doing this and I've also posted about other newsletters that I've enjoyed and others do the same for my newsletter. I will retire in 2 years and at that time I'll decide if I want to get more serious and branch out to more promotion and other social media sites. For now this is just fun, it may become something more in the future, I just don't know yet nor do I know what that something more might look like.
Hi Gayla...I think your newsletter is great, exactly as it is. There is a real need for the authenticity of what you're doing. Personally, I'm not into social media, I just can't seem to mesh with it. But, I'm 64, it was never part of my reality so maybe that explains why. I'm hoping to find more unique ways of promoting what I do. Thanks for your input. It's so good to find and connect with other writers who are doing what they love. I think that's a very important thing in this life.
Thanks Deborah, I'm glad you like it. I'm 63 and I use FB and IG personally but mostly for bookish related things. I haven't ventured out with SoNovelicious yet on social media. If you find other unique ways of promoting your newsletter, I'd love to hear what those are is as it seems "social media" is the way to go for promoting. Good luck to you on your first weekly newsletter beginning on 10-25 and I can't wait to read your writing.
You're very welcome. I'll definitely let you know about my experiments with new ways to promote. Thank you for the good luck wishes. I really appreciate that. I think my newsletter will be a little bit niche; not for everyone but something I believe in and something that will evolve as it goes on.
Hi everyone. Great to be here and many thanks to the Substack team as always. Just one question.
Is it possible to optimize the newsletters so that anybody searching for a similar topic can find it on the internet?
This might tie in with my question, above...
One of my subscribers tells me she hasn't received my weekly newsletter in some time. When I look her up on my dashboard and click the Events link, I see "Dropped email" next to several recent editions (as opposed to "Opened email" or "Received email"). What does "Dropped" mean in this context?
Mary, is there anything you recommend that I tell this subscriber that might solve the problem?
I'm a book blogger, and I'm looking for a platform to post my content. I'm new and still deciding if I am going to go through with Substack. Other options are WordPress/Membership plugin or Youtube or Medium. My question is, why is Substack the best? Or is Substack a great compliment to any of the others?
I left Medium for a long, long list of reasons, came to Substack and it is far better. I tried to promote my book and short fiction on YouTube with not much success. One can get completely lost on YouTube and the monetization fluctuates greatly, whereas on Substack if you have a paid yearly subscriber, that money is banked.
I tried dual-posting on medium but I don't know how I feel about doing both. It feels like dividing my attention, and I want my substack to be my utmost priority
I don't see how it hurts to cross-post in both places. The more eyes the better. When I post on Medium I always add an invitation to my Substack pages at the bottom. Can't hurt, either.
Posting an advertising message at the end of a Medium post seems pretty standard. If you want to change the message, link, or something else, you must go to every post and adjust it manually.
Of course. I only post at Medium now and then, and they're almost always cross-posts from Substack. Some of my Medium pieces are on other publications so I don't mess with them.
This is something I was considering, along with triple posting to my blog. Right now, I have all three.
I am considering a new newsletter, with a different audience and a different theme. I was considering using Medium for that one, to keep them separate. What do all of you think?
I pay for a couple of newsletters that use Memberful/WordPress. The big difference— to me— between those setups and Substack is that if you’re using something other than Substack and something goes wrong, you have to figure it out on your own. Substack has a dedicated tech support team that can look into technical issues for you.
I think the most pleasant surprise, for me, is Substack's support. I've never had that anywhere else. Not at Medium, not at Blogger, not at WordPress. It makes me feel we really are a community here.
Medium provided me with pretty good support when I was setting up my custom domain. I had the same issues here on Substack, who also provided excellent support. I was pleased with both companies. For WordPress, I pay a company called WPMUDEV, and they handle all WordPress support, plus hosting and about ten premium plugins. They are excellent as well.
I've given up on WordPress. If I can't do it myself it's not worth doing. I can't afford to pay someone to take care of what should be simple tasks. I did much better on Blogger--way more simplified--but had to leave there, too, because 10 years worth of comments disappeared, never to be seen again. In fact, I couldn't get the comments to work, ever again.
I only use Medium now and then anymore--sort of a trial separation--but there's no reason why you can't use both. I just cross-posted a piece I wrote on my Substack newsletter, Writer Everlasting, so now it's at both places. I see it as a win-win!
Medium has done nothing for me, maybe some SEO, but nothing.
Fellow book blogger here. Substack has worked really well for me. Happy to talk more if you'd like.
Yes I would love to know how you set everything up. I'm so confused bouncing from one platform to the next.
Substack is quite straightforward and clean with its UI and customisation options. I think that's a big plus for it, especially when everything is already standardised into a nice-looking format. There are useful resources from Substack too, but I think playing around with the settings is the best thing.
you can email me. I'm at whattoreadif@substack.com
Very cool!! I am still really new to Substack -- when I send out a post to ONLY paying subscribers, do the non-paying subscribers get a preview email? Or would I send that separately for posts I think maybe warrant a little extra attention?
And can I use this new feature on a post that's already live?
Thanks so much!
What do people think about substack creating a live homepage with teasers and links and photos and comics? Substack, like any online venture, is in a fight for survival and we all want substack to survive and thrive. So Substack investing in a landing page that features awesome content is a win win for substack and us. People are hungry for great content and this is the most creative approach to offering it that I've seen in a long, long time. We have truly witnessed the collapse of good paid journalism as advertising revenue has shifted online... Substack is incredibly hopeful and optimistic for writers/ content creators to share meaningful content and get paid. Substack is the turning of a time for content creators... I am so thankful it exists and want to participate in brainstorming on ideas that will make it a site people want to go to to discover excellence.
Yes!
Wait, doesn’t substack already feature a handful of publications each week?
Substack channels of Live streaming Podcasts…
If anyone subscribes to my newsletter for free I'll immediately subscribe to yours back and try my best to read your material. We must look after each other!
I just subscribed. I am totally on board with joint aid
I just subscribed to yours. I write movie reviews. Thanks.
Hi Ivan, I too write movie reviews and other kinds of articles about the wisdom found in movies. Would you care to contribute to "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies" as a Guest Writer? Here are some examples: https://moviewise.substack.com/s/-guest-posts
Would love to. Thanks so much for the invitation. I'm thinking over movies to write about right now. When do you need it?
Thank you so much Ivan! Anytime is fine, whenever you are ready. And any length is fine also 🤗.
Great! I'll get back to you when I've nailed it. Thanks again.
Thank you!! Just email: moviewise@icloud.com
Just did, Kelly, thanks - love the mutual support!
Done! Congrats on getting started!
Done! I appreciate your thought to "write because you love it." Yes, to that.
Just subscribed to yours.
Done!
Sure thing! I write about the outdoors, and try to share stories from exciting people who are a bit more reclusive and off social media -- kind of like your writing about your first post! Happy to read more!
Right on thank you! Checking yours out right now. Def. already hit the subscribe button. Maybe we could collab some time? Nor.Cal outdoors changed my life.
Yes! That sounds awesome. Shoot me an email. colenobleclimbs@gmail.com. I actually do an interview show Sunday Mornings, maybe I could have you on over zoom to talk about the outdoors.
Just subscribed :)
Subscribed.
Awesome thanks! Right back at you.
Hi all. I write serialized YA fiction, dropping a new chapter every week. I'm experimenting with bonus content (haven't yet gone paid), and had an idea to create a Spotify playlist that's a sort of "soundtrack" to the first eight chapters. Has anyone done this before? If so, any tips?
There are a lot of romance writers who have done this. Rosie Danan and Jen DeLuca come to mind immediately.
Thank you! I'm going to look them up.
Great, thank you!
Just popping in to say hi, hope everybody is doing well :)
Hi Rose!
I write about fifty years of American politics' observations from the POV of a foreigner turned American. However, started Substack with a short story about one of my own backgrounds tribulations just to understand the platform. Hope to be of interest.
Hi! I write a newsletter critiquing my favorite pop culture from about 20-25 years ago. I've been reviewing Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I post my reviews in the Buffy Reddit forum. I tend to get a lot of views, but no sign ups. Any ideas on how to convert people to subscribers?
Hey Nicole! Cool idea. Just took a look at one of your posts. Have you experimented with putting the subscribe CTA higher? And maybe add some personalized language like "Get posts like this delivered right to your inbox by subscribing" (but maybe more clever and buffy-ified.) Good luck!
Thanks! Those are good ideas.
Hi Nicole- I always begin my newsletters by asking ppl to subscribe (in italics) and then popping in a "subscribe" button. Also, you can go into your settings and create a blurb that will appear on all your posts asking for ppl to subscribe, share, and support. I love your newsletter, love the idea!
Is there a way to put a blurb that will appear on the post if a person goes to my page to read it, but not on emails? After all, if someone is getting the emails they don't need a reminder at the top to subscribe, but it seems like a really good idea to put it on posts that are viewed directly on Substack.
you could also ask your subscribers to forward the email to ppl they think may be interested. One can never have too many subscribe buttons and as a subscriber I never mind them.
Thanks!
Glad to see this feature being introduced as I'm working primarily on free posts for now – https://americauthentic.substack.com – but there will definitely be posts I want to paywall, at least to some degree, further down the line.
Always looking to connect with other writers and maybe do some cross-promotion, so please hit me up if that's of interest to any of you :)
Hi Art, thanks for your reach-out. I write The Strategy Toolkit for all the wild & crazy strategists out there. Am about to publish October's dive into strategy & psychology. Am interested in cross-promotion: ping me at gabthinking (at) gmail (dot) com!
- George
Hey George! Nice to hear from you. My 'stack focuses on travel and authenticity, if you can find anything you're coming up that might have an interesting relationship with those subjects then it'd be great to see if there's something there :)
If you have a favorite, meaningful movie that you'd like to write about, please consider a Guest Post on "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies" 🤗:
https://moviewise.substack.com/s/-guest-posts
I actually had a piece in mind about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and how it relates to something I recently read about Hunter S Thompson...so I might take you up on this!
That sounds wonderful! Thank you so much! Just email: moviewise@icloud.com whenever you'd like.
👋 My name is Christian. I write a newsletter about meditation, creativity, and everyday things about life. I'm based out of Chicago, Illinois, USA. You can subscribe here. https://beginnersmind.substack.com/
I look forward to connecting with other writers.
Howdy! I'm Cole -- sharing thought provoking stories about nature, mountains, the outdoors, and applying them to our daily lives.
I think your take on intentionality is extremely appropriate for this platform, in the meta of getting away from ad based content and endless scrolling, and moving more toward seeking out and choosing the content we consume. Subscribed!
I'm trying my best to think of a question, but all seems clear to me. Good job Substack team 🙌
Hello. I am wondering the status of the functionality of sending a "teaser" to all those who are free subscribers that will encourage them to purchase the paid subscription. I saw that it was in the works - but it hasn't launched yet. I really feel this will be a great offering, rather than having to send two separate e-blasts. Thank you in advance.
My weekly newsletter is a newspaper about my Dallas suburb. I send the final edition of each month to everybody on my list (as opposed to just my paid subscribers), and I top those free editions with a bulleted list of several stories I've published since the non-subscribers last heard from me. I then nudge them with the "Subscribe" button.
Great - thank you. this was teased out on the support page and it wasn't ready to go. Seems to be ready now and not a moment too soon/late (depending on your viewpoint).
Hey guys! Hello, I'm Punit and I write at https://hellouniverse.substack.com/
What's the secret sauce behind getting featured in the "What to read" substack emailers?
I am happy to share that Hello Universe has been going out to readers every week for almost 30 weeks now, and it's really unique content in a really unique space of poetry!
I'd love to submit it for the team to review.
Thank you :)
I'd like to know, too. How do we get noticed by Substack?
I have the same question. Thanks in advance.
Haha hope they get back!
x3
Bailey, is it tacky to submit ourselves through that Google form if we feel like we're meeting the criteria?
I've done this recently, and not heard back... but couldn't find any other form :)
There's a Shoutout Thread on the first Thursday of every month. That's also a good time to do some promotions.
Thank you so much, Bailey, for getting back. This is really helpful! ☺️
If you know anyone who lives in or near Coppell, Texas, please send them a link to my newsletter. It's about current events in our town, so my potential audience is limited to our population of approximately 40,000. We had an election last year that drew 3,000 voters, so my goal is 3,000 paid subscribers. After 33 consecutive weeks of publication, I'm at 357 paid subscribers.
For something like that, I think traditional marketing techniques might be your best bet. Flyers, business cards, ads in local media, reaching out to the newspaper or any other local publications for a feature, etc. Good luck!
Hi Dan! If you have any favorite Texas-based movies that you would like to write about on "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies," it would be great have you as a Guest Writer! Here are some examples: https://moviewise.substack.com/s/-guest-posts
Thanks!
Hey guys, I write "Diving Deeper" where I make unapproachable topics approachable. specific to millenials who ponder the idea of marriage, friendship, work, spirituality and everything not taught in college. I help them navigate through their 20's and 30's with different ways of thinking .. hoping to shift them out of their own box.
I don't have social media so I am stuck as to how to reach my audience next. Perhaps social media? Anyone have any advice?
I actually have some advice I want to give millennials. I am much older, and I have advise I want to pass on. I wonder if there could be some synergistic relationship between our sites.
There might be some synergies with my newsletter.
Hello everyone, it is great to be here and thank you for all your support. The timing of this tread is brilliant. I've been running a free newsletter with the aim to start a paid one next month where I'll be sharing weekly meditation audios and you tube unlisted video links. My question is when someone subscribes will they be able to access previous newsletters/emails and the relevant content? Thank you so much xx
I am also wondering this
From what I understand, new subscribers are able to access any old posts from the archives, based on their subscription type (so, paid subscribers would access everything, free subscribers could see all but only access/read the free posts).
Hi Mary, would it be possible to add a feature so that previously published posts can be re-published and sent out again via email so that the newer subscribers can see them since they missed them the first time because they were not yet subscribers?
Thank you so much Mary. What do you mean by achieved posts? Would the emails I send out be able to be achieved so they can be accessed? This will be part of my promotion so when someone subscribes say 6 months down the line they will have access to material that has been shared previously.
All of your newsletters end up on your web-based Substack (like a blog) so anyone new will be able to go back and see what you have already published. Paid subscribers will be able to see everything, and free subscribers will be able to see all of your free posts but only the titles of things you put behind the paywall.
Thank you so much, this is so helpful.
Thank you so much. I found the 'Archive' on my page. I'll add this feature on the description of my paid version. I'll also categorise it accordingly so it can be accessed with ease. It is really exciting.
Thank you so much, wish you the best xxx
I've stagnated growth at just under 100 subs. Any advice for getting over this hump?
(So far, I've by posting in reddit/FB groups/twitter.)
Keep writing and promoting, it is a long slog.
I've heard some people suggest posting a call to action in the places you regularly share your posts saying that you are at XX subscribers and are trying to get to 100. You might get a few more to get you there. (I've not tried this, so I don't know how well it works. Just advice I've seen elsewhere.)
Curious to hear how you get past this. I've been dealing with something similar. Every few subscribers I get, a couple others leave. On the plus side, the subscribers I have NOW seem far more engaged. I think every once in a while it's just a question of building a stronger community.
What has worked for you to get subscribers?
Nothing, consistently. It seems like they trickle in at a slow but steady pace, almost irrespective of what I do. The weeks I plug my newsletter the hardest, I plateau. The weeks I'm busy and do nothing, I get a bunch.
Interesting to hear this--it does all feel to be cumulative... definitely a tortoise's game, I suspect... but the tortoise does all right in the end!
Thanks for this link...
Thank you, Rose!
From what I understand, most substackers have slow, steady growth, with occasional bursts of activity brought on by a popular post. That's been my experience. So just stick with it and write like you have a million readers!
Hey Substack Team!
I write a newsletter called 10+1 Things, where I curate and share 11 interesting stories for the generalists every week.
My question to the team is how do I grow as a curated newsletter writer? I see a lot of focus and attention from Substack to fiction and comic writers. Any plans on supporting creators addressing the curator economy?
Would love to hear from others.
Some info:
In the latest edition of my newsletter, I talk about A Toaster that was made entirely from Scratch, A guide on 'How to Eat Healthily', A Folding Microscope made from Paper and an interesting take on Remote Worship.
Read More:
https://rishikesh.substack.com/p/toaster-scratch-how-to-eat
Hi guys! Is it on your roadmap to allow readers to post things besides text in comments and threads — images, GIFs, photos, etc.?
One more question: I get quite a few “billing failed” notices for paid subscriptions. Stripe makes three attempts to get the payment to go through; after that, if it’s still unsuccessful, it cancels the subscription. In some cases, I’ve had subscribers whose billing failed re-subscribe for a new paid subscription, but in most cases that doesn’t happen.
Do you know why “billing failed” occurs, and is there anything I should be doing differently? Thanks!
I don't have a direct answer to your question. But one thing I've done is include a comment in my Subscription Expired email that if their subscription cancellation is an error, then they should re-subscribe, and I add the subscribe button. It may be as simple as the card they used has expired. This gives them the opportunity to re-subscribe with updated card info.
Thanks for the suggestion! That's a great idea. I'll try it.
I suspect that the cards people have used have expired and they haven't updated the system with a new card. You could reach out to them individually and let them know, I guess.
Hi! I was wondering how to use the feature I recall seeing recently but can't find now. It's where you can reply to someone else's Substack post in a post of your own. Was this feature disabled? Thanks! Dylan
https://vanderdos.substack.com/
Hi - I'm launching tomorrow and still have a few questions!
How do I remove the photo icon at the top of each newsletter and only use my name?
Also -- my newsletter is FREE to everyone, although I do offer a paid subscription option for anyone who would like to contribute to my considerable ongoing medical expenses. Q: how do I arrange for my free newsletter to require sign-up rather than just click and read in full?
Thank you!
What is process for dropping a video into the platform? Quick time move; mp4; .MOV
I've been doing youtube embeds, not sure if there IS another way around this?
thx
Really like the new paywall preview feature! One question I had was whether there would be a way to embed an audio post behind the paywall? I would like to offer audio versions of my serialized novel for paid subscribers but as I understand it, by doing a podcast post, the audio player will appear at the top of the post.
That would be very appreciated. I too have my novels behind the paywall and that is keeping me from making an audio version of them, which is kind of a shame.
If the novels are already behind the paywall, then I think you can just add the audio to that post (unless you are going to offer extended previews for every chapter). I think I will add the audio tracks to the first several chapters of the free posts and then link to paywalled audio posts for future chapters.
Oh that's useful! Thanks!
Excellent, Bailey!
Thank you!
Another idea would be if substack were allowed to send out emails with a variety of content to a big list... Like a dessert sampler. (not really a pot luck because they give me stomach aches). But dessert samplers are fun! People could subscribe to free content emails from substack to check out new contributors. I'd love that! I'd subscribe to that.
I am going to be writing a special issue of my newsletter about Thanksgiving, which will be posted that week. It will have tips for how to navigate difficult relationships on a day that is supposed to be special. I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to promote it.
Are you familiar with HARO (Help a Reporter Out?) It's easy to get swamped by their emails but your topic sounds exactly like something they would be looking for
Good call! There will be lots of reporters looking for sources on this topic. (especially in this political atmosphere.)
This is such a timely topic. I always call Thanksgiving a pressure cooker holiday. Your stuck inside all day with no distractions.
For promotion, could you maybe email it others in your field saying you developed a resource they might find helpful?
I'm glad I managed to catch this WOH session. Thanks for the platform, Substack Team. I'm really looking forward to writing on Substack for the long-term; and speaking for the younger writers, there's a lot of great word-of-mouth going around, and alongside thoughtful features and community support, the overall experience really makes Substack recommendable to everyone, because it's very versatile and well-built.
My question is whether there are any plans to expand the Discover Newsletters section, especially to more than 25 newsletter per category. It'd be great to find more newsletter from the Substack home page, even if it were to involve more effort on the part of one searching for them. Hopefully this might also shine light on less active newsletters, who still produce great pieces, albeit at slower rates.
Otherwise, I'm grateful for the platform and what it has allowed me to express and find out about myself. To anyone interested, I write https://thenostomodernreview.substack.com/ and I write about philosophy and modernism in the 21st Century.
When you click back in to read a previous post (because you're a perfectionist and reread your work to exhaustion) does it mess with your analytics? If so, is there a way to prevent that?
Love to know the answer to this, too.
It adds one tick to the total views each time you do this. There isn't a way to turn that off.
Oh darn...
Paid subscription question - If I change (raise) the price of paid subscriptions, is there a way to keep my original subscribers at the price they originally signed up for?
Gene's on point here. Your subscribers will grandfather into whatever price they subscribe at, whether higher or lower.
Awesome!
Thanks!
Hi Substack team and fellow writers!
I have a question about double opt-in for email signups. Some publications I’ve subscribed to requires readers to opt-in via a confirmation email before getting the welcome email. I see this option my my settings tab. Would you recommend doing this or not?
I just started so am still small (~220 free list subscribers) with an open rate of 40-45% but I’m wondering if this opt in feature helps make sure the readers actually meant to subscribe?
Fellow writers please chime in!
I am told that a double opt in feature improves how you're rated by google.
Oh interesting - why is that do you think?
I'd love to know more about how you have 220 subscribers after just a few weeks. Do you have a social media presence that you were able to convert to newsletter subscribers or something else? Do tell, please.
I've launched it pretty quietly (haven't told friends) and have relied mostly on a new anon Twitter account for traction. High-quality content really does drive the most views/subscriptions.
A month old post, so subscriber count is double now, but same process still applies. https://healthandwealth.substack.com/p/100subscribers
Hope that helps!
I am jealous of your open rate, rock on!
Hey, folks. Thought this started at 1 PM? But maybe it was an hour ago? I'm confused...
Anyway, I'd love someone to remind me where to find the link for the Grow week specifically on growing your email list. I feel like I'm coming out from underwater after a few slow, distracting weeks and I need to review and get activated again around building my free list, under the assumption that it's the gateway drug to paid, so to speak.
I will say, on the upside, that I got three new email sign-ups last night following a very lively discussion and shout-out for my newsletter on Ask E Jean by Ms. E Jean herself. That was a thrill. I still find that engaging in substantive discussion on other people's newsletters is how I'm getting the most free sign-ups right now. And I'm at 40 paid subscribers, so that's a little over 10% conversion. I'm proud of that.
Twitter is yielding nothing and is against my temperament. Insta is it's own thing and my followers are growing there, but not converting. I've tapped out my Facebook following, which is where most of my 341 total email list folks have come from.
Congrats on the E. Jean shoutout! That's big
Also, I guess I should say, I write a newsletter on rediscovering the lost art of integrity. It's a mix of personal essays, interviews and resource lists, all aimed at helping people show up and stand up for what they believe in while juggling the complications of a real imperfect, human life. If Substack had a self-help category, it would probably best go there, though I find the genre problematic in certain ways. But if you're a geek for growth and personal evolution, I'm your gal.
Thank you!!
I am on LinkedIn, but I find it a bizarre interface. I've never felt terribly comfortable there.
There is some scuttlebutt on Facebook that, because Facebook is starting its own newsletter service, Facebook algorithms are downplaying anything from substack. I’m finding that may well be true because I get fewer likes and fewer referrals from Facebook, but it could also be because I’ve now been there posting for quite some time.
Yeah, the stuff I post on Facebook gets almost no interaction which makes me think they are hiding the content from my feed.
I've been playing with putting the link in the comments but I don't think that works either.
I’m almost totally shadowbanned on Facebook…
If you have a moment, please define shadowbanned. How do they do this
Sorry I missed the question. Shadowbans, like most stuff here, comes from algorithms. If this then than…before I was banned from Twitter, I found through an app I had 4 different “shadowbans”…
Code is written to isolate…They place restraints like not showing up in their search, unless types exactly as the targeted voice. “Wig Blog” then when you post it uses, if COVID topic (Hundreds) then limit distribution…on Facebook a picture of a flower may get 50likes…if you add a covid comment, only few receive that post…
Brietbart censors Jefferson’s “Water the Tree of Liberty”…I tested the Algorithm and got banned.
Essentially the algorithm looks for “Water” and if the word “Tree” follows, then “moderator” receives to censor.
Changing W a t e r or W*ter bypasses algorithm
You seem exceedingly well informed. I appreciate the information. Do you work with substack or are you on here simply as a writer.
Just a writer, although I am very enthusiastic and the state of the World has me researching lots of stuff!
I'd like to know this, too. I don't get much traffic from Twitter, either.
I left Facebook years ago and focus on Twitter. Instead of puting a link in a tweet, make a thread and add the link to your article in the other tweets but not the first one. This way you avoid being put in a less promotable category by twitter. The advantage is that you can use the first tweet for something visually eye-catching. That can be a photo (download for free on a site like unsplash) or even better a video. Or combine these techniques by making a video from a photo where you for instance slowly zoom in. On my iphone it takes me a minute to do so with the imovie app. When it moves, people click on more often on your thread. You can add the link to your article in each tweet (except the first) or add one or two tweets in your thread that link directly to your signup page. See for examples @alex_verbeek.
Excellent recommendation…and avoid known trigger words in tweet, only Substack link
This is helpful. Thank you Alex. Just saw the dog in spider costume on your twitter page. That's awful!!!! And I'm laughing.
Thanks, Alex. I'll try that. I hope I can do it without being awkward!
You can probably repair shadowbans on Twitter by reviewing past Tweets and deleting any that are against censorship, vaccines, Trump or are pro freedom…then never use trigger words in tweet, instead just link to Substack with innocuous tease?
Thank you, Ben! Good to know!
I'm going to try that! Thanks, Ben.
helpful, thank you Jasmine.
I always have at least one image. I almost never use videos in my posts. Thanks.
I write Mending Fractured Relationships, a newsletter about ideas that you can use to talk to someone when you have been having difficulty.
Ready to get started after MAJOR PROCRASTINATION. Help.
I have the same problem mixed with imposter syndrome. After a while, I just open a file and go. I try not to think or plan. Just go.
Thank you! I WILL! TODAY!
Leap. Start. Learn while running. Just begin, and you'll get the kinks worked out as you go.
Thank you! I WILL! TODAY!
Substack we need a referral tool (like viralloops) so we can help grow our lists.
That would be cool! I think it's important to balance this out, so that we don't wind up with endless scrolling