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Our team will be answering questions and sharing insights with you in the thread today from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. PST / 1 p.m.–2 p.m. EST. We encourage writers to stick around after the hour and continue the conversation together.
Some updates and reminders from the Substack team:
Taking a break? We know rest is integral to doing your best work. Here are some examples we’re seeing of how writers are sharing their vacation plans: Writer Lenny Rachitsky outlined a PTO policy into his posting schedule. Haley Nahman invited guest curators to her Friday recommendations newsletter when she went on a break. Paul Kingsnorth created a suggested summer reading list. Feel free to share your plans for a break in the comments.
Attention finance writers! We've added a new cashtag feature which allows readers to see realtime changes in stock prices. Type a cashtag, followed by a space, to generate a ticker with daily price change. Example: GOOG 0.00%↑.
Today we are experimenting with polls at Office Hours. We’re eager to hear from you and continue the conversation in the comments.
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No breaks for me because I find it too difficult to get going again after. I'm too new at the "disciplined writing" gig.
I'll be traveling in another week to be a stem cell donor for my brother's transplant, so that will be a little break from normal life and the day job, but I expect to be writing while away, especially since I plan to post (eventually) on my experience as a donor.
Congratulations on your daughter's survival! I know your heart swells every time you think of what a miracle that is!
I registered for Be The Match 15+ years ago. I was sitting with my brother in his doctor's waiting area when I got an email from Be The Match telling me I was a match for a 49-year-old man with AML. We laughed and laughed and laughed because we knew he was that patient! I match 12/12 of the HLA markers for him, and we are excited to get him CURED!
I remind him of this often since he was absolute turd to me when when we were kids. :) Seriously, though, thank you. He's become one of my best friends the last 10 years.
I am interested in medical phenomena, and I salute you and your daughter for your tenacity and survival.
How old was she when she received the liver transplant. What was the condition which necessitated the hepatic failure I presume she sustained with her original liver.
Years ago, transplant patients often suffered because their immune systems would see the new organ as alien and proceed to destroy it. Consequently, they were often or usually given immuno suppessive meds (corticosteroids ?) to suppress immune function and that made them vulnerable to a host of horrible infections. I believe that nowadays there is a drug that quashes the rejection of the new organ without effecting a wholesale degradation of the immune system. I forgot the name of that drug(s).
Do you write about this in your news letter. I will have to take a look at it.
Not a problem, David. It is a fascinating topic, but if you look up the condition, you’ll see where it leads…in terms of yr other questions. If you go to my Substack, I wrote about it once in connection with the death of Bobby Rydell, the 60s rocker. We supported the same transplant support organization…
Wow Holly, I hit the heart button after the first sentence about finding it difficult to get going ahead. Then the second para got me! Wishing you all the luck for the donation and transplant. I’d love to read about it one day.
Thanks! In my personal conversations about the stem cell harvesting and transplant process, I've realized most of us are woefully uneducated! There are far too many people waiting for a donor because there's no known match--especially in non-white ethnicities. I hope to increase awareness and help save more lives!
Good luck and good health to your brother(!). [Coincidence. Just got the reminder to pay our annual fee for our banked umbilical cord blood. It popped up as a new thing when I had my second child. It wasn't expensive, and seemed like a 'why not?'. I'm glad to hear that it's lifesaving for regular people.]
I don't think there was a big push for that when my kids were born. I wish there had been! It seems like such a small decision for a potentially big outcome.
@Holly, Wasn't even a 'big push' (good pun!) thing. It must've been in view because it was in a local university research facility, so it was at our doorstep. No idea how I even ever heard of it.
And unfortunately their is exploitation of people of color for their plasma for old white men like the head of Paypal who hope to be youthful forever at the expense of young urban people of color. I applaud you for your courage and love, Holly! It's inspiring!
This reminds me of a book by EL Doctorow which, if my memory serves me correctly, was entitled "Waterworks."
In the novel, a bunch of rich old guys achieve a sort of demonic immortality by kidnapping young, healthy men and then implanting their minds into the bodies of those young, healthy men.
And let's not forget about China and their medical subjugation (that's too soft a word; let's call it medical murder) of undesirables. I have read accounts to the effect that political prisoners have suffered the extraction of vital organs (the prisoner, sans the organs, cannot live and is thrown into the "garbage") and their vital organs have been sold to very wealthy Europeans.
Hi Holly! I am glad that you have found your way back to writing. You are one of my favorites. I just got back to the discussion after writing my lengthy and self-indulgent post. Reading your thread, I am reminded that the *real* “one-percent, are the ones that make a *real* difference in our lives, not the selfish people, devoted to money, power and attention.
I find that as I become more disciplined I can also plan further ahead, which makes mini breaks possible. Thoughts and prayers for the stem cell transplant process.
Making myself send out something even if it’s not perfect. Obviously I try by best, but saying it has to go out Monday, ready or not, makes me very disciplined
That's what I'm focusing on now--discipline! I know I'm creative. I just suck at the discipline part (in many areas of my life!). Thanks for the vote for discipline. I know I'll see results if I just stick to it.
Right in the middle of one right now! Yesterday I was in a campsite getting heavily rained on, and tomorrow I'll be up a mountain getting painfully sunburnt. Please don't ask me why. I don't quite know why. #LivingTheDream #MaybeNeedBetterHobbies
Best sleep I ever got was in a tent with the rain coming down. The rest of the weekend was crap (read: muddy shoes, wet towels, not enough time outdoors), but that one night was great!
Actually, that does sound like you're living the dream 😂 I'd take that over returning to the classroom in two weeks, even though I am truly excited about what this year holds.
No, Katie, but if I was, I'd take advantage of the scheduling feature! It takes planning, of course, and means you'll have to work double-time, say, for the week before your break (and they can be shorter-than-your-usual article length), but I can't imagine any greater feeling than to crank to put out an issue or 3 for the week or two you're going to be away, and yet you've got pieces dropping at prescribed and scheduled times on Mon, Wed, Sat, etc!
I'm not breaking, but I LOVE getting backed up a bit, and still using the sched feature to "get it on the runway"!! Just dropped a piece yesterday, and I've already got one scheduled to drop tomorrow @ 3!
We’ve found that the scheduling feature isn’t reliable. The last 2 posts we scheduled weren’t sent to our list. We ended up having to recreate the post so it could be sent when published. And yes, this has been reported to Substack. No response yet.
I haven't noticed this either, but it's certainly possible. I know that your entire email list doesn't get sent at the same time. Could this be a factor?
Our list is probably not that big, but when I spot checked in the subscriber list, no one had received it, including the admins, the contributors and the subscribers. Plus we have a 60% open rate and there weren't any email opens. This was Sunday 7/10. On the 11th, I copied the newsletter to a new post and scheduled it for the morning of the 12th. Same thing happened. As I wrote previously, I ended up copying it into a new post a 3rd time and just sending when published on the 13th. That worked, so nothing else to look at other than the scheduling system. A support ticket was submitted on Sunday, no response so far.
Hmmmm....I don't think I've had that problem yet. I'd like to think I'd-a noticed it! But, will watch for it. I have one scheduled to drop tomorrow @3pm (CT)!
Really love this question! It's one thing to build a newsletter, but it's something else to build a sustainable newsletter. Breaks are key. After a recent break, I think I came back with better stories. Plus, I had the energy to launch a second section so I now publish twice per week. Could I have skipped the break? Sure, but sooner or later, I would've crashed. And let's be honest, even if I didn't crash, I don't think I would've had the energy to get the new section off the ground.
Excellent idea. You know, whether we write for love or money, we're all self-employed here. And we're entitled to a little time off to sustain our sanity and well being. You wouldn't take a job with zero paid vacation time...we can give ourselves a break.
Took a break during my holidays (and subsequently catching Covid). Was pleasantly surprised by a couple of people asking when the next issue drops. Made me feel good!
Now, THAT's what I'm talking about, Andrew! Getting ahead, and using sched feature to keep your readers getting content (see my answer below)! Nicely done!😁👍
For sure although I have a concept, moral philosophy in media, that allows me to do that. If you’re a journalist and reporting on events as they happen, it’s harder to do that.
I tried to do this for a time. But if your writing is at all seasonal or topical it gets tricky. Sometimes I would have a super timely idea. Then the whole publishing calendar would get screwed
Thanks, Wayne! I've issued "Encore Presentations" before, too! I try to update when needed, but you're right....back when I had, like, 15 subs, it's likely few, if any, current readers go back that far to check past issues!
In fact, I have one dropping tomorrow @3pm! I've added a couple cool GIFS and vids to my "History of Astros Mascots" piece as an "All-Star Special" for All-Star Weekend! Safe trip!!
Once a month, I feature a guest writer. And since I only post once a week, this pretty much gives me a break. Plus, I love what my guests contribute and I think it adds value to my substack!
I took one a few weeks ago. Just told my readers I'd be away for two weeks and I teased a story from the road. I continued to get new subs via recommendations, then when I came back I had a banger story about an Alaskan cruise. I was worried people might forget about my little humor newsletter, but actually it was the exact opposite. I got email on my posting days from people who missed Situation Normal, and when I came back everyone seemed happy. A huge win, I think!
I try to "batch" several posts together so I do not get panicked in the "next" week if I do not have anything to publish. If I do, then, I hold on to my previous "batch" post and publish those later.
I'm planning on a ten day trip to Ireland in August, but I may have a guest columnist, as I did during the last two weeks that I was down and out with Covid. (The new variant is nasty, folks!) Or I might file I short Substack while I'm there. It's not like a beach holiday. But breaks are important, but my schedule of a post every five to nine days, averaging one a week, should not suffer.
I'm trying not to take breaks because I'm afraid it will screw up my momentum - I publish twice a week so have to keep the ball rolling. However I have a few "low effort" pieces coming up: some content I wrote for a blog in my culinary school days (about 10 years ago) and a few culinary technique posts that are simple but interesting.
Yup, I had a blog on the old Blogger going back to 2002 and which continued for many years despite almost no readers. It’s an excellent source of often first-rate material.
My blog was about studying at Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa and most posts were written the same day as the lesson I describe. Really off-the-cuff but some good material.
I'd like to take a break at some point but since my substack is so plant/garden centric, it feels like maybe I should take a winter break when less things are growing. There's too much happening in my garden these days to take a week off!
That's my approach with seasonal travel writing as well with my newsletter. I follow the rhythms of life on the Amalfi Coast where the holiday time for people working in tourism is usually in January and February.
I could really use some personal coaching on how to hone my concept. I have only lost two free subscribers since launching in February, so maybe I'm not doing anything wrong. But I don't think I fully grasp how wide a lane I can occupy, or whether I really need to simplify the concept.
Two examples:
My newsletter is about leaving academia after nearly 20 years. I got tenure, was promoted to full professor, was at the top of my powers, and walked away. A lot of people are doing that, and a lot of it has to do with an increasingly corporate model for higher ed.
This post went out two weeks ago, and it's at 959 views (I had 156 free subscribers when it went out):
I don't know if I need to write better ledes, something a little more click-baity to get people to engage with it, or if it's really a difference of concept. I don't really want my newsletter to only be a series of angsty things about academia, but that seems to be what plays. Leaving my faculty job has allowed me to do more interesting things, like devote time to genealogical research. I'm writing this from Brno, the Moravian capital of Czechia, and tomorrow I'll go visit one of my ancestral villages, where I have house addresses for where two ancestors were born. That is also what post-academic life can look like: more time for travel, for personal interests, for deepening family ties. But so far the Czech angle doesn't seem to play as well.
I think instead of meta-level conversations I need someone to dig into my actual posts, look at my titles and subtitles, and read a few newsletters, and see if there are obvious ways I could attract more folks.
I read a couple of your posts, and they're thoughtful essays. It depends on who you're targeting your audience to. As the advice on here recommends, experiment with different groups, different places, to see what sticks.
I've been writing for a decade and I am still terrible at headlines, and I can promise you that chasing the high of more and more readers will drive you crazy, because one article pops and gains a lot of attention while others, perhaps better written, flounder. And there's no real rhyme or reason. So write because you enjoy it and have something to say.
Do yourself a favor and get yourself a signature in your email, even personal, and have a little bit at the bottom linking to your substack/website. Learn SEO and apply appropriate key words in your writings, use alt tags to describe the pictures you use in your posts (every time, as tedious as it is, it helps in search results, and describe it with a sentence, not just keywords), and blast it to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or whatever social media you use. Engage directly with the people who read you, because they will feel more of a connection. Build online relationships like you would at networking events in academia. And see if that helps.
I'm with you, Rachael, great feedback! Joshua, you wrote, "Leaving my faculty job has allowed me to do more interesting things..." and maybe that should be a key thing to keep in mind. I know I'm here to focus on pursuing what interests me. It's my big opportunity! The moment I start focusing on giving the readers what they want (which is tempting to be sure) I've just created myself a NEW BOSS.
Right back at you. Also excellent advice. @Joshua, as Anne says, keep the focus of your task on writing from your angle; if chasing readers is your thing, that will be the psychological burden that creates a lot more anxiety and generates further frustration than on focusing quality content and experimenting with what works.
Substack is a lot like sales too. Keep drilling at it, be consistent. As a person who hates sales, it seems to work in small batches.
Rachael, if I may, I hear your "I am still terrible at headlines"! May I invite you to peruse mine? I take great pride in my headline writing, and sometimes can't/don't start a piece until it's got a clever headline. It helps to have a vast vocab (and sense of humor!), 'cause I love word play, and assuming gentle humor and wordplay works with your 'letter, you might also see how I use colons, dashes, and other punctuation to make a headline easier to navigate (along with clever word play)! Enjoy!😁
"I need someone to dig into my actual posts, look at my titles and subtitles, and read a few newsletters, and see if there are obvious ways I could attract more folks."
If I may, instead of trying to enlist people to do some work for you (and transmitting their thoughts to you could be easily misunderstood or weakly presented), you might want to poke around and read other peoples' newsletters to get some inspiration and ideas.
That way, you'll see, first-hand, how others do their titles and subtitles, read a few newsletters, and YOU can determine if there are "obvious ways you could attract more folks."
If you look for others to do that, you'll discover 85 people will reply sounding all excited to do it, and you'll wind up with no one actually doing it! So, good luck in your newsletter research!
Thanks Brad. Yeah, I've done that. Just like with creative writing, there is a point at which you've taken something as far as you know how to take it, and you need a fresh set of eyes. I'll keep grinding away.
I have a thought as a recovered post-academic. Can we make a trade offline? I could do some guest posts on your thingy and work with you on a content strategy and reaching the right audience long-term. I'm a professional marketing consultant and anthropologist. james@socialawarenessinstitute.org
you are lucky you have any following at all. i have 12 subscribers. i recommend and like other peoples substacks but no one has the courtesy of doing it back. also i would like to comment when i read other peoples substacks but rather shortsightedly (in my view) most people only let paying customers comment. im not really finding the community others speak of? weird.
I think, Liam, you'll end up far less frustrated if you only write for the love of writing. I don't know how long you've been doing this, but I'm at about the 11 1/2-month mark. I have a whopping 100 subs, with but a small handful paid.
And, my subject matter is about music, and the exclusive access I had in the biz decades ago (and began dreaming it would be rocketing skyward!), and not an obscure, obtuse subject matter, like "Cindy's Art of Macrame For Residents of the Amazon Basin."
I, long ago, stopped caring about subs, paid subs, or what any other writers on 'Stack are doing, could do, should do, or might do. I just write. Give it a shot!
@LiamMS, I've been in professional publishing my whole life, and agree with @BradK that you need to do it because you love it. And keep sniffing and digging around for like-minded Substackers. It takes a bit of research. (Coincidence: I was just in a Korean strip-mall church this week here on the Canadian West Coast.)
AGREE that restricting COMMENTING to subscribers-only is THE WORST. It's like trying to enter an interesting conversation at a social gathering and being ignored and snubbed. YUK.
I am getting started on substack, and this is valuable. I definitely want to build community. It seems like having very little difference between paid and unpaid is actually the way to go. Maybe just more content, or more frequent emails. But I don't want that to be a turn off--flooding people's inboxes with more content than they want. Can we post to our substack page without emailing it out, and still have people access it when they want/ when they get an occasional reminder email?
@DanJ, Hey, why are you not posting? What are you waiting for? People need to know about the books that made our world! Jump in. Don't wait.
I think all those prompts pop up when I post: does this post go to everyone/paid/free, and so on. When you post, you'll see!
I'm free. Different people do different things when they go paid. A certain series is limited to the paid readers; or the best (paradoxically, yes) post goes to everyone...everyone has their Substack system, opinions, and what works for them.
One week we are jiving! The next week we're dead! It is up and down, up and down, up and down. We just keep writing and posting WHAT WE ARE INTRIGUED BY.....and it builds.
Given your resume, this carries some weight. I find myself in an odd situation, having published in literary venues for much of my career, then transitioned away from academe. I find that people like you are leaving commercial magazines just around the time that I'm trying to figure out how to query them successfully. I do think magazines still serve a purpose for me in support of the Substack project, but I feel a little behind the times. If you'd like to exchange emails separately, I'd enjoy hearing more of your story. I'm at dolezaljosh@gmail.com
It is SLOW growing here, I find. (Also an academic runaway.) I sent emails to all of my ex-students (creative writing)--with a note that I would only be using their emails the one time. (I didn't want one complaining to the institution--that could be a nightmare!) So I gained some followers there, and some--who appreciated my work--went paid, and have been very supportive. So that was a solid source to start with.
I've had to share and post on facebook and twitter, which is a pain as I wish I didn't have to do social media, but it is a necessary evil.
What has surprised me, though, is letting people in my life know about this, even those who are not interested in writing. Because it turns out that either they are (I've had people turn up with completed secret novels! who knew...) OR they know someone who is.
So send out emails TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. Keep the email short. Let them know to pass word along.
My post-academic life is a bit different from yours. I was never tenure-track. I was a miserably treated contract person for 14 years, and our program was rocked by a me-too shitstorm. I walked away three years before I could begin to collect a pension even because it was--literally--going to kill me. (I've since had a colleague who made another decision pass of a heart attack.) There's no travel for me. But there is peace of mind. Still, I would dearly love to have just a couple hundred paid folks for a bit of income I can almost count on. Currently, after one year, I have 88.
I wish you the best. Know you have made the right decision in walking away.
Hi, Alison. I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. You are not alone. Have you discovered the FB group The Professor Is Out? Many heart-rending stories there. I told my own story along with others in a feature in The Chronicle of Higher Education this spring titled "The Big Quit." It's password-protected, but I could share it with you if you email me at dolezaljosh@gmail.com. So many people have chosen wellness over exploitation.
This would be great. I always miss the initial wave of the Office Hours thread due to time zones, and my questions don't get answered. Submitting in advance would be very helpful!
I would appreciate being able to submit questions in advance. I always miss the initial wave of the Office Hours thread due to time zones, and my questions are usually too far down the thread to be seen and answered. Submitting in advance would be very helpful! I've checked all the resources and still have questions.
I wish there was a service where we could get a market assessment of how to price our newsletter. I'm on a rather low monthly and yearly plan now but feel like it could be higher because of the income level of the subscribers AND the sheer volume of time saving content in the newsletters. But don't want to raise the rates until I have more of a clue what I'm doing. Is this a service? Can this be a service? I would 100% pay for this to exist!
I think you could just A-B test some pricing. If one price doesn't get an X amount of subs, then lower the price a bit. The truth is that very few people are making enough money to even get close to replacing an income.
This is only one stream for me. If I reach $500 per month I'd be elated. Just started and so far month 1=$60, month 2=$350 and month 3=$75 but only halfway through this month so far.
Maybe 300 but I've been active in my content space (podcasting) for over 5 years AND in my specific niche (podcast editing) for about two years. I also run a twice a month live YouTube chat with members of this community and participate in a lot of other group events. I'm saying this because getting people to free sub can be time consuming but I think then the content takes over and turns them into paid subs. I think. It's all a theory for now and could all go terribly wrong with a few horrible issues, maybe.
I have to admit I hate when Shoutout subs for Office Hours. And especially today, because I am late to the discussion! Many of my questions are about features that need fixed (still can't use polls at all easily, because the publish bar covers the poll title, eg) and that tech tends to refer here.
When that happens (publish bar covers poll title), if I'm understanding correctly, I just shrink the page size, like from 100% to 70% or 50%, whatever helps me see it. Same with seeing the buttons tab!
What about one-on-one mentors or substack accountability buddies that are each at the same stage?? I find that discord and even this is just so big and so many people - I'm not good at connecting this way. And when I've asked questions or for things in here, I never hear back. I think it's a size thing (not letting myself take it personally!)
One thing about joining the Substack grow or go is that it could connect you with those people. But it can also take time to find people with the same level and ability to connect. Another way could be to just start a group of writerly friends yourself. Maybe if you take charge someone will join. I have had hit and miss writing groups through the years. And they don't always last forever, but I appreciate the time that has been given.
Thanks, Caitlin. I've done (am doing) both. I'm sure as I refine my focus more, it'll happen naturally. And I know I should be commenting and reading many other substacks...
@DianeH, Speaking from a life in pro publishing, it's a tall order to find that organically. Anywhere, anytime. Check out unschoolforwriters.substack.com by my friend Alison Acheson and see if maybe it's a fit. Good luck! :-)
If I raise my rates, does that effect the rates of the current monthly and yearly subs immediately? Guessing it does for the monthly subs and the yearly will get charged when they renew but want to give them notice AND let them know what will happen before I raise them. No shocks allowed, lol. thanks
Should you wish to peruse my page thoroughly (you'll have to look in comments as well) you'll get an idea of what, why and who although I have not posted everything.
I ran into a similar issue. I think it's due to Substack using "CNAME" DNS records.
Do have the ability to alter the DNS records of your domain? If so perhaps you can alter the domain similar to what I had to do:
1) Direct the "www" designated domain to your substack
2) Add a wildcard redirect to your "@" and "*" records so that they redirect to the "https://www.yourdomain.com"
It takes a bit for those changes to propagate around the web but that should correct any errors or "unsecure website" warnings that a browser will show you if it tries to load a non SSL version of www.yourdomain.com
I know it's totally confusing but it'll resolve properly if you do it right.
I've never used Google Domains but I assume if they give you access to DNS records you should be able to apply a URL redirect "Https://www.yourdomain.com" to the "@" record.
I did a quick search and here's some info for you that might be helpful:
I have been spending a lot of time researching this topic and asking other Substack writers, and the best I can do is summarize it in no particular order of importance:
-- Write consistently on a schedule and be consistent with your Substack. Don't expect growth until you've shown you can do this. I've seen a lot of writers ask people to subscribe when they haven't even posted anything.
-- Post links to your articles from social media and your website even if you don't have a large following. It creates "trust" in search engines and among users.
-- Show up in Thursday office hours, shout-out threads and ask/answer questions. Be helpful and encouraging.
-- Find your community on Substack, and show up by commenting, writing guest posts, being interviewed on podcasts, etc. Be helpful and encouraging. In 5 months I've met some amazing writers and I'm finally feeling like I'm getting to know them.
-- Find your community outside Substack and do the same. Getting published with a profile that has links back to your Substack does wonders. Again, it build's trust.
-- Read all of the Growth articles that Substack has posted where they interview other authors. SUPER helpful and it will get you thinking.
The first thing I did was narrow down the audience. For me personally that meant speculative fiction writers interested in short stories. My next step was Twitter, but the social media choice is probably related to the community. Twitter just so happens to have a lot of writers. Once there I started looking at a dozen or so hashtags, discovering where people are submitting work, what they post, how they interact with other users, etc. There are a lot of "lift" threads where writers post and ask other writers to post links to work they're doing for exposure. In the process that helped me identify writers I want to follow and half a dozen publications that I'm going to send my work for paid publication consideration. I also did some research on short story fiction writing forums and contests, which yielded maybe one good result -- ultimately I decided writing, posting on my Substack and interacting with other writers here was better than spreading my time across those forums.
why do you have to 'create trust in search engines'. yes i get its a thing but its like credit scores. corporate entities making us 'behave' in a certain way. the anarchist in me says 'f@@@ that' to kow towing to search engines. its like living your life for the benefit of google. im a luddite.
I like your style, Liam! Goodness, it sounds like you'd be at home on the other side of the rope line! If you dare, you're welcome to join us Front Row & Backstage with the other ragin' rockers! And, it's great to have someone who hales from the land of Ludd, you wacky Luddite, you!!😎😀
Haha, I totally understand Liam. When I say trust, I just mean it helps them see that you are a valuable resource of information or entertainment and not spam. It doesn't mean they agree with your platform or subject -- that's a whole different level of trust and censorship that has a different set of rules.
Super helpful comment, Brian. I am finding it a little tricky to find my community on Substack. Having said that, I am early in the process. Anyway, thanks for this comment!
When word of mouth actually works, that's my very best tool. I was recently in a group of people and someone said how much they enjoyed my newsletter. A positive endorsement like that in a group of people actually does really help with free subs. And a huge goal of mine is to be relatable and to get people talking, so it means a lot when folks resonate and bring it up independently!
I just bought a print ad in Remind Magazine (published by TV Guide), a general interest, slick nostalgia mag, covering pop culture, monthly, in the music, TV, movie lanes. Different sized ads = different costs. But, I just bought a "line ad" (150 words max) for $20 (for 9/22 issue). I just wrote, pretty much a similar text on my "About Page."
Now, it'd help, of course, that your 'Stack covered (as mine does) some type of nostalgic pop culture...in my case, music, particularly rock music, '60s thru '90s (and a bit beyond)!
Plus, getting interviewed for a large-audience podcast helps! Last week, I Zoom-recorded an interview (I was the interviewee) with a world-wide respected curator of David Cassidy's legacy. Pub date TBD! I'll be interested in seeing the hopeful bump in subs when it airs!
Will certainly fill future Thursday spaces with what I glean! As for the Remind ad, I may do it, eventually, for my 'Stack features on Stephen Michael Schwartz (singer/songwriter/recording artist who recorded an album on RCA Records in '74 at age 20).
Bailey, you guys might want to see how Flipboard can lead others back to 'Stack, and the pieces Stephen has been providing are perfect for what they offer....clicking on our articles there, of course, sends you back to 'Stack, but here's where his stuff is (I wanted to collate all his stuff on one site so he can share with friends, family & colleagues):
Well, and again, it's perfect for Stephen, 'cause he can now direct biz colleagues, etc to his auto bio, which appears on my 'Stack all scattered amongst my blatherings. Now, on Flipboard, it's like it's his own page! Even looks like he wrote it ("curated by SMS"!), although it comes back to 'Stack, so there's that happy fact.
Once you start digging around at the lay of the FB land, Fiona, you might think about a FB page for your 'Stack's food-related and one for your wine-related pieces!
BTW, I made new biz cards which also mention Stephen's contributions, AND have a QR code for MY 'Stack, AND a QR code for Stephen's Flipboard!! I sent 250 cards to him last month, and I certainly make him feel like he's a part of my endeavor here, because he certainly is, although I guess you'd call him a guest writer/contributor, but he's contributed close to 20 articles!!!
Well I have an established FB page and a group too but feel there's a limit to the number of times you can promote yourself, especially on the group. But they are undoubtedly the people most likely to subscribe.
Bless your corazon, Nikhil!!! That was sweet of you to do, and you know I appreciate not only your loyalty, but your tuneage.....sometimes you scratch where I itch (and sometimes musically!!!😉), and other times, I'm like, huh? But, it's still a worthwhile ride!
Thanks again, Nikhil! You're always welcome to usher in new folks past the rope line, Front Row & Backstage!!
Thanks, Kevin! I love your loyalty, and the smart 'Stacker will dig how we scratch each others' journalistic backs with shout-outs, and all the good stuff Thursdays are all bout! Katie would be proud!! Hi, Katie!!!😊
You are speaking to someone who still has Echo Valley 2-6809 on his playlists and thinks Sound Magazine by the Partridge Family was a pretty solid album. Will definitely check this out!
Thanks, TBD, and thanks for subbing! When Louise releases/publishes our interview, I'll let my subscribers know! I'll also ask her if I'm able to publish the audio from it here on 'Stack. She'll also include the original audio from my '75 interview with David! You can read about that interview here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/in-a-houston-penthouse-with-david
Also, I first "met" Stephen Michael Schwartz in that Cassidy interview (you'll see!). What's NOT in that article is what happened in February after I published the that interview article. I found Stephen's website, and wrote him, saying, "You don't know me, but your name came up twice in the last 45 years: Once in '75 when I interviewed David Cassidy, and the second, just now when I published the story about it!"
Stephen's been incredibly generous in taking us behind the scenes of the '70s-era record biz! He even answered an audition for "a David Cassidy type" and won the job of the teenaged son in a 1978 family sitcom, "Please Stand By"! That article's here, too!
I've been leveraging my Twitter account for the most part, after 14 years you get to know a few people. I've found some relevant subReddits... I girded my loins and went back into Facebook again and the groups I've joined have been quite supportive although I can't quite determine how that has translated into new newsletter subscribers.
TBH, these weekly Office Hours and Shout Out threads have also been quite a boon, I've discovered a number of really great people this way!
My husband spends time on Reddit, I just can't find the time for another social media. I weirdly enjoy Twitter but I started a new "writer" account (keeping my personal account locked) and I just can't get the followers that I need there to gain the traction for self-promotion.
Reddit won't work for a lot of people and it probably shouldn't, so no worry or shame there.
Twitter can also be a tough nut to crack: after 14 years and tens of thousands of Tweets I've learned a few things. If you want to share your handle I can share it, maybe you'll get a few new eyeballs.
Hi Sarah, I also have recently created new "writer accounts" for email, social, and this sub stack which is a pen name. I am hoping this provides more creative freedom. I also wanted to separate this work from my work life, etc.
Twitter's a weird one. I also enjoy it and have connected with some cool people on there, but I've found that I only get decent engagement when I'm constantly on there. Whenever I have breaks, even relatively small ones, my engagement falls off a cliff upon my return.
Agree with Oleg. Some subreddits are pure poison but there are some really good ones. People there are very wary about self-promotion within the subreddit, probably because it's been abused in the past. And a lot of Redditors don't suffer fools easily.
Hi Mark...and Oleg (joking aside) I take your points but in my past I have been a regular on 2 forums and both turned to pure poison (as you say). One started out noxious anyway and the other descended there after the culture wars ripped a previously creative community apart. Now I dont trust having online conversations much and the fact every word is written down and can be over analysed to the n'th degree. I know this is kind of a forum but im sticking mostly to real life where i can get a better sense of what people are about. xx :) peace love and unity
Another substacker suggested that, and I think I'll try it! I actually have a mildly successful FB page for some other local writing, but I kind of like the anonymity here.
Edit: "anonymity" probably isn't the right word since I'm using my real name! I guess I mean that I like that most of the people reading my newsletter don't know me personally.
Limited. You are correct, virtually every sub does have those rules. I think it's a long term strategy and you have to be quite selective. Some of the subs provide excellent information regardless and I'm encountering some smart folks, so it's all good.
The Recommendations feature has been helpful lately for the free list, since it attaches my newsletter to others. And on top of that it's something like a relationship-builder between writers, which is just as crucial.
For me, Substack has been great for generating new readers internally as I spent the majority of my focus reaching out and connecting with others on the platform.
I’m not sure what the next steps would be to grow beyond the platform itself.
I find the Substacks I’m interested in and become a part of that community by leaving (valuable) comments and supporting when and where I can.
What I try to keep in mind is that the goal is to become part of a community—connecting with others to learn from them and support them. Extra subscribers are only an added bonus (no matter what else my inflated ego tries to tell me.)
Thanks for the input, Matt. Based on what you're saying, it sounds like I need to be patient. I am doing some of what you describe, but it does take a little while to become part of a community. I appreciate the insight.
Just thought of another: I've started a series of bi-weekly (now weekly) interviews with other people in Atlantic Canada who do interesting things. We correspond by E-mail via a series of questions that I provide them. I do some finishing finishing touches, including adding photos, and then I post. It's amazing how many different and interesting people are in this region! My most recent interview was with an oyster farmer - learned some new things there! I'm also starting to branch out and interview other Substackers who are not from Atlantic Canada so if you think you've got something interesting to share, hit me up!
How I reconcile this with my other themes (writing, creativity, smart thinking, etc.) is challenging but so far it's fun and people continue to sign up so there you go!
Great idea, Mark - I'd be keen to engage - my 'things' are writing, story structure, and what we can learn from oral storytelling traditions (among other things).
I actually think that's a great question, and it can be a slippery thing to define! I think of word of mouth as when a newsletter subscriber talks about said newsletter to someone who doesn't subscribe. Not infrequently, I'll reference a newsletter I've been reading to my friends who haven't heard of it--it's a jumping off point into a larger conversation, but I end up forwarding the newsletter that spurred the discussion.
I use the "Share" and "leave a comment" buttons a lot in my newsletter. I also cross-promote my work (primarily) on twitter and add some sort of CTA with each tweet.
I'm from a generation that doesn't like to talk up their own work, so it's definitely a work in progress!
Facebook has been far more useful than Twitter or LinkedIn. I am resisting going to Instagram, but I guess that platform could be next. The biggest difference is that I can find FB groups that show how many members they have, and I can promote content with certain themes in places where people are already gathering around that theme. FB also allows me to see how many posts have been sent for particular hashtags. I'm shooting in the dark on Twitter and LinkedIn with hashtags. This is strange, because I have more Twitter followers than FB friends, but FB seems to allow me to reach beyond my friend group with the hashtags.
I've definitely had the same experience with Twitter, but I've had a different experience with LinkedIn, which I'm finding to be a pretty good referrer. Instagram was a good initial boost, but I think it's because that's where I interact with most of my friends. I haven't utilized Facebook groups yet, but that's definitely something I'm going to look into.
Great point on hashtags. I've been surprised with the attention some of my Facebook posts have gotten, including coming back to the newsletter itself. I'm also experimenting with Instagram but not sure my content is best suited for that.
Ah...Facebook groups! I had not thought of this! I've not wanted to share on FB yet because I like that my friends and family aren't reading my newsletter. :) It's a sort of freedom, I think. But if I could join groups and work my newsletter into the conversation...
I also hesitate to plug my Substack newsletter to my Facebook friends unless they're fellow professionals and/or we're chatting IRL about what I'm currently up to then it feels OK to mention it. But maybe that's being excessively British 😉
I've found that FB groups end up being a lot of work for minimal return on engaged followers who are actually interested in what you have to say. I dropped all of the groups I was a part of over a year ago and haven't looked back. I've had way more success here.
Yes. FB groups are full of people looking for readers for their own writing but not looking for new content to read. And the range of topics is far too broad.
I have definitely gotten subs on Instagram, but I find I get fewer every time (like I've reached critical saturation among my followers or something ha!). But a lot of my subscriber base seems to be more active on Instagram than Twitter, so I am trying to focus my energy there.
That's been my experience too, Kate. I had a good initial boost on Instagram, but it's been slowing down. I suspect it's because I've tapped most of my friends!
See, I love IG, but they keep changing algorithyms and I have over 500 followers and many don't see it. I'm working on doing a better job of aiming for quality over quantity.
Well, I originally started a Substack because I write humor novels. So this was just supposed to be an author newsletter, but I find most author newsletters boring, so I figured I'd do some slice of life humor (which is truthie in the sense that's it's true but not quite true enough for nonfiction standards). Anyway, I had a little trouble finding my tribe at first because Substack has so much nonfiction energy. Eventually, I discovered Fictionistas and the Substack Writer's Unite discord. I guess you can say I'm a humor writer who caucuses with the fiction writers. Also, I have a lot of experience writing serial fiction on Wattpad, so I found that I was speaking the same language, more or less, as the Fictionistas community. Wow, that's a long explanation.
It's still early for me, but my biggest referrers so far have been, in this order: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Substack, Medium and Twitter.
In general, I find that Twitter and Medium (Medium, especially) are better at driving internal engagement versus driving traffic elsewhere. Instagram has been effective, but I'm anticipating a steep drop-off since that initial boon was almost exclusively made up of friends, which of course is not sustainable in the long term. LinkedIn still has pretty good organic engagement. I expect this be a viable long-term referrer.
I haven't tried groups on LinkedIn and Facebook yet, but I'm going to give this a look in the coming weeks. I've started to dabble in Quora. I'm getting visibility but not driving traffic yet. From what I understand, though, this has a longer cycle. I'm also engaging with other Substack writers, though I'm not expecting that to be a significant referrer.
Posting a quick list of newsletter issue contents on the socials when it's published
WITH
tags to everyone mentioned in the issue.
Global Podcast Editors newsletter, https://globalpodcasteditors.substack.com/, is a mix of industry resources and my own professional development and both of these buckets come with people and projects that I mention. For example, I do a Twitter thread where the first tweet is this contents list and the newsletter link. then each subtweet mentions different lists of folks.
Not really. Now, I’ve got my own ma and pa Substack so I don’t expect huge crowds, but 10% of my current base is from recommendations in the past month. I’d say that’s pretty good.
Yes. I have received 4 subscribers from those recommending my publication. In return, my recommendations have given 80 subscribers to other publications.
I must be doing something terribly wrong. I have recommended six different newsletter and they have netted at least 80 subs for those publications. In return, I have received 4. Don't get me wrong, I love helping other creators get the word out, but a little love in return would be awfully nice.
I'm Thane ("Devil's Dance"). I've signed up for Office hours today at 1:00 pm, but I don't know how to get there. Can you help me, please?
I need coaching on how to pin an image to the main title of my series, and also to the individual posts. The system is a little clunky, I'm afraid. Can you help me? Many thanks, Thane
It'll help to know that it started (and may still be, largely) as a video game site! Which explains why I don't get it! Just cut'n'paste your latest article, and at the bottom of the page, put the web link to it there! It'll show up on the feed thingy there!
I agree, the Discord community is great. For my first year writing, I was very much alone, but connecting with others through Office Hours and the Discord community made the second year so much better.
thanks for mentioning this. have heaps of groups for my content area (podcast editing) but not for the writing side of things. this will help a lot. appreciate this so much!
It's about how to keep showing up, and how to recognise you're treating yourself with a level of intolerence and disrespect that you would never, ever throw at anyone else. So much of this newslettering lark (at whatever level you're at, including at the top of the pack, I gather) is recognising that you're giving yourself such an unnecessarily hard time that it's stopping you working...
This is a book - and a solid-gold classic of the genre - and short! You'll race through it - about getting moving again.
Yes, I do have this (I wasn't sure if this is the one I had). His take on Resistance as a malevolent, almost material force that holds you back is a useful metaphor.
Sorry to be multiple-messaging you. I'm still trying to figure my way into the Office Hours system. Here is my earlier message to you:
Hi Office Hours Team:
I'm Thane ("Devil's Dance"). I've signed up for Office hours today at 1:00 pm, but I don't know how to get there. Can you help me, please?
I need coaching on how to pin an image to the main title of my series, and also to the individual posts. The system is a little clunky, I'm afraid. Can you help me? Many thanks, Thane
Hi everyone! Here is a little encouragement from one writer to another today: are you calling yourself a writer, out loud and with honor for your creative journey? Because you ARE one! No matter your level of skill, your quantity and frequency of output, your number of followers. If you're writing, you're a writer. You've arrived! Don't let anyone, least of all your self-doubt, derail you from your creative path. Need a little boost? Let us know, and let's lift each other up today. Dig deep, rise up, keep going, DON'T STOP! 🌿
Yes!! I launched in June to a mailing list of 550+, not knowing if anyone was going to open my first email because I worried that none of them knew me as a writer, but as a designer instead. Today was my first day where I told people out loud that I was writing instead of more vaguely "working", and referenced other writers when talking about my work. Thank you for reaffirming the importance of this declaration!! So those in the back can hear me - I'm a writer 🙌🏼
I'm only two months in so... grain of salt. I publish 2-3 long-form articles per month and a daily "Today's Tidbit" that are free and cross posted to Twitter and Facebook. In one section that goes to paid subscribers, I am serializing portions of a book I will publish in the next few months. The paid/ serial postings go to all subscribers and are cross posted using the paid preview option, so the freebies can read some, but not all. Too soon to tell how it is working, but thought I'd share the idea in case it helps someone else.
Nice example, Tim. Thanks. The preview seems like a perfect solution. I have been curious about whether folks run into issues with publishing content they aim to publish with a journal, magazine, or press later. Are you self-publishing your book? Is someone else publishing it that doesn't care that it appeared on Substack first? I also write for literary magazines, hoping to build some craft credibility there (I've published in over twenty by now). But my sense is that they would not accept a piece that I'd published on Substack first.
I have a question about this. A friend of mine just started a Substack, and I think he left the settings such that people could choose to subscribe with payment or for free, and they are all getting the same thing. Maybe some people have felt generous to him, because he has been picking up some paid subscribers. I, on the other hand, do not have the option (I don't think) for anyone to subscribe with payment (maybe I'm wrong). I have almost 200 free subscribers and no paid subscriptions. My question is whether some people are able to grow a free list while also allowing subscribers to opt in for payment if they want to contribute financially? Or is it better, as my sense of it is, to keep everything free until you jump off the cliff and launch the paid version? I'm working with an artist on a logo and am planning for a little fanfare when I announce the shift to paid. But I'm a little jealous that my friend is getting some cash while I'm getting nothing. Am I missing out, or is he setting himself up for slower growth and potentially losing some of those paid folks down the road?
Joshua, all of my content is free but folks have the option of a paid subscription if they are feeling generous. I've been this way since I launched last October. Now I have 2,800 subscribers total and 138 are paying—about 5%.
I am happy with this and hope to continue offering everything for free while growing the overall subscriber numbers and keeping the paid % at least 5%.
I don't ever want to put anything behind a paywall because I want my zine to feel like a big zany friendly open community and I think a paywall would ruin the feel.
Interesting viewpoint. Suggests that a small but worthwhile percentage of people will pay just because they think you're worth supporting. Enough to justify the hard work we all have to put in? Not sure yet!
I actually switched to this sort of "opt in" patreon model in April. I have just under 300 subscribers and I've seen a little less than 10% conversion rate. It was important to me when I switched to paid for all the content to remain free, and fortunately, I still saw relatively steady (although slow) growth of my free list. I'm just starting to experiment with offering a little bit of paid subscriber-only content, and haven't seen many conversions yet, but I'm okay with some trial and error to see what works. Regardless, it was validating to me that people wanted to support my work even when they weren't getting anything extra. Best of luck!
This is really interesting. I've actually been wondering that myself. Part of my pitch is that by subscribing to Eat This, Drink That they're helping to keep my website matchingfoodandwine.com free for everyone to access and that seem to resonate with some. So I have been wondering if I'm keeping too many posts behind a paywall
Related-is there any evidence of people just launching a paid substack from the get-go, and growing from there?
For instance -launching with say, 25 paid subscribers out of a very small community of say 100 readers, and then using social media, word of mouth and lots of content production to grow?
I first posted April 16, 2021, and went paid June 1. I could not see the point to waiting for a number. In that June, I made about $800, which was MOST encouraging. Many of those subs were supportive ex-students of mine (I had taught in the creative writing program of a uni). After that, my earnings have averaged out to about $400-500/month. I now have just over 1000 subs altogether, with 88 paid. It is slow. I was hoping for twice that. My goal is 250.
But why wait, if your goal is to go paid? You should know that I posted a LOT of material in those early months, and have continued to do so. I've built up a truly useful index for folks to explore. I've also recently added a section of writing workshops, for (paid only) people to share work and offer feedback... in this case, a group for picturebook writers. (Though open to other needs, too.) But this little group is going particularly well, with people happy to find somewhere to post this rather specialized area. (has to be one of my fave writing forms :)
How did you go about your paid launch, if I may ask? Did you email former students prior, or make phone calls to let people know? Did you lay any "groundwork"?
I set it all up, posted a NUMBER of pieces, and then sent out an email to let them know it was up and running, and what my plans were. All my years of being a supportive instructor--keeping in touch with people (asking them if they've sent out that amazing manuscript yet :) and going to their book launches, celebrating with them, etc., meant something, it turned out).
it took me a long time, though, to actually offer posts that weren't for "paid only" because I simply didn't have enough paid folks. So that was very much an intuitive thing... feeling my way through what paying folks would "put up with," with me sharing all the work and would they feel it was pointless to BE paid? I decided that after one month, I would "archive" free pieces, and they'd be paid only... Months in, I started to post pieces that really were "paid only" from the time of posting. Later, I started to limit--sometimes--commenting to "paid only." A lot of that type of navigating has been by feel.
I've made a point to take questions from "paid" to write posts, and to note such on the post.
In further answer to your initial question, too, I don't think I've "lost" anything by going paid early--quite the opposite.
I moved free 6700 sub's onto SS 10 weeks ago. I have a readership of about 44-56%. I am nervous to intro the paid option. I feel I need to re establish trust with them after the move? Maybe I am just being a little hesitant bc it is going so well rn?
This is has been difficult. The 10% rule hasn't worked and it has been a slow drip, which is good, but getting thousands of loyal readers to go paid has been tough.
I started my substack in March with a paid + free option and have about 10% paying subscribers. I think it's possible as long as you're still offering the paying subscribers something of value. (I host writing & Yoga retreats so I offered a discount to paying subscribers & also write paying-only posts)
I've used the Substack resources for conversion ratios. My plan for going paid is to hit 1,000 free subscribers. I typically have 50% or higher engagement with every newsletter, so I expect that I could aim for somewhere around 8% conversion to paid. 80 paid subscribers would make it worth my time to create extra paid content.
I do have a question here, however. Do you need to necessarily create something new to go paid, like add a podcast or add a Friday thread or book discussion or something? Or can you distribute free content once a week and then, when you're ready to go paid, say that the free subscribers only get the essay once a month? I really have no sense of what my free subscribers would consider worth their money if they were to consider a paid subscription. Some of them might just want to keep getting the essays and not want a podcast or discussion thread, and if that's the case then my main product would still be free, while the supposedly value-added product would have less appeal. That would not make any sense.
You wrote, "I've used the Substack resources for conversion ratios"where are these? Sorry but am super new to the resouces on the platform. I thought I read somewhere early on that 3-5% conversion was good. 8% sounds amazing. Would love to read more. thanks so much.
Hello substack, I had an idea the other day and I am excited to share it for your edification or maybe you can help me improve the idea.
I am committed to low and slow growth. I am not one for constant promotion--and that's OK, every substack has it's niche. But Even some non-profits do fundraising drives. So I was thinking of using September as SUBtember, and using one month to do a hard subscription drive.
My plan is to spend August telling my readers what is coming. And then, come September, I will make all of my paid content open for the month (no paywall, just a "free preview" timed to end 10/1. I will add special weekly promotional content, where I solicit reader archetypes to help out my substack.
-Lurkers, consider subscribing!
-Subscribers, consider (if you can) supporting my work with a paid subscription!
-If you cannot or don't want to get a paid subscription, consider telling one person about my publication?
-Paid subscribers, you are great! But maybe you can tell one person about my publication too?
-Everyone, likes tell me that you are reading and you support my work, please tell me you're here!
-Everyone, comments tell me more explicitly what you think, because you are commenting!
So that's the plan. This SUBtember I am going to do a bit of an aggressive push, but then the other 11 months I will go back to low and slow. What do you think? Does anyone do something similar? What has worked, what does not?
i hope im not coming across spammy because its not my intention and sure these conversations are valid but i see more posts about growing a subscriber base and $$$ and less about the art of being a writer.
i feel like if you just wanna gouge money out of the internet posts pictures of Nicky Minaj or Kim Kardashian or go to a casino. Leave writing to the artists?
Thanks for your comment Liam! The great thing about Office Hours is that it is for writers to talk about some of the administrative "sausage" that is not really fun to make, and that is hard to learn individually. I have learned a lot from the community here about the business of writing and I hope that they take my comment in that spirit.
When Substack does an office hours on the art of writing (which is a good idea, and they should do!) then I look forward to seeing your thoughts there and learning from you!
But why cant we talk about the art of writing now. This idea that you have to stay 'on topic' all the time comes from net culture and i dont like it.
remember when we used to meet in the pub and conversations would range widely. thats how humans work...not to some artificial agenda. unfortunately the lab rats have taken over.
Well you can talk about the art of writing now, too! Office hours are for us to talk about whats on our minds with our publication. I would love to hear your thoughts on the art of writing. The topic is generally prompted by the Substack team but is not limited to what they suggest. My comment is not exactly germane to polls or cashtags, but it is relevant to other writers, hopefully.
Leave a comment spilling your mind about the art of writing, I will keep a lookout! I would love to learn what you have to say!
My newsletter is ALL about the art of writing. (And not the pyramid-scheme-writing thing, nor the Amway approach we see so much of, which is, yes, tiresome, to my mind.)
But I hate feeling like I'm standing at a phone booth without a quarter in my hand. And writing with no one to share with feels too much like that. I think that's what this time is about... finding a quarter to be able to share.
And I could use a quarter about now.
You most certainly do not come across as spammy. If more cared about the art of writing--and the art of READING--we wouldn't have to be talking about how to sell ourselves... oh my.
Wanted to celebrate a win today… a Twitter follower subscribed to my newsletter! It’s my first conversion! 🥳
We talk a lot about what we’ll gain but sometimes being part of the community and not looking for anything helps good fortune find you. I might focus on that for a while.
Is there a way to tell if subscribers are spam or bots? Every now and then I'll get a small influx of new subscribers, but it's hard to tell if they're real people. Just wondering if anyone else has run into this, and whether it's worth removing folks who have never opened an email from my subscriber list? (About 12% currently.)
Some writers also use their Welcome Email to solicit a direct reply from your new subscriber by asking them how they found you, where they're located, or some other information that is useful for you to know about your subscribers. An added perk of this approach: by creating an initial two-way conversation with a subscriber, your emails are less likely to land in spam or the promotions tab.
Some browsers allow users to decline cookies, so I have a reader who comments and likes and engages frequently but has never (according to the stats) opened an email. So give some allowance for technical wizardry!
The same thing is happening in my corner of the world, so yes, don't go removing people from your list until you are certain they aren't reading anything.
I've been able to use the filter feature to view subscribers who have never opened an email, which is nice. I've toyed with the idea of sending them a sort of "Hey, if you're reading let me know! Otherwise I might delete you" message, but that feels kind of aggressive.
I don't know if there's a way, but I also got the same thing when I was collecting newsletter subscribers, at the time with Mailchimp. When I transferred my list of 550+ over to Substack I was worried I was sending out my first newsletter to an audience of bots. But surprisingly 24% have been consistently opening their emails and a bunch returning to view/listen again so that's been encouraging. So in my little experiment, somewhere between 0-75% of those might be bots...but also might just be people that don't open emails.
Over 600 signups through Recommendations so far. Most after a pretty big videogame YouTuber (800k-ish subs) referenced a Substack that recommends me. The writer of said Substack and I spoke briefly about it the day it started, and it seemed like between a quarter and a third of his new signups were also signing up to me off the Recommendations prompt. Whether they'll be as sticky as organic signups remains to be seen (open rates seem a little lower already) but will see how it goes.
Wasn't that impressed with the idea of Recommendations at first but seems I may have been wrong about that, haha.
Hey YouTopian, how are you maximising your efforts with recommendations? I'm currently recommending most of the publications I follow, but not seeing a return on subscription (most probably bc I'm recommending these big publications 😅 and they won't care about teeny little me), are you following a few (hundred) writers and recommending their work? Any tips?
I have a relationship with the writers I am recommending (they are doing the same) although I did get a massive boost from a fan who sent me a lot of people. I simply returned the favor.
I just have to thank everyone from the Office Hours two weeks ago. I received some really good suggestions and have been able to slowly grow my readership. I write a substack that explores non-fiction in relationship to current events and the suggestions have helped me begin to find my tribe. As always, I am looking to connect with other writers who read a lot of non-fiction and want to connect the dots. I think the substack community really rocks!!! I would really love to try the idea of a guest author but don't feel comfortable approaching anyone until my readership numbers get a little higher.
Hi Sharon, my research involves a lot of reading of non-fiction sources. I'd love to explore reciprocal guest authorship ideas. gabthinking (at) gmail (dot) com
Sorry for the delay in following up, Sharon, was catching up on all the missed Office Hours. just subscribed to Brain Food - perhaps we can jump on an introductory call? Ping me on my email and we can set something up.
Today I'm sending an email to all my subscribers directly, because I don't want the content to be published on the web.
When you turn on paid, you can do this easily. Just make a regular post and click the "send to free subscribers only" button. But when your Substack is free, the option isn't there. You have to go into the subscribers tab, select all, then send as an email, and I'm not sure if you can schedule it. (I'm too afraid to click the red "Send Email" button to find out, lol.)
I'd love to see the paid feature available for free Substacks, too. It would make life a little easier for all users.
Is there a way to “sort” or choose which recommendations are visible on one’s publication/home page? It’s not a big deal, but I’ve been wondering about this for a week or two. Thanks! 😄
This isn't a question but just something I wanted to share about being in Substack Grow.
I assumed it would have valuable information -- and it definitley has!
But the most valuable aspect has been the networking I've done with other Substack writers. That was something I knew I should be doing but had been putting because I was too busy.
What a huge mistake! Thanks to grow I've not only made all sorts of new contacts, but have set up four different collabs with other writers.
I know most people aren't doing Grow but that doesn't you can't start networking with other Substack writers. Just reach and do it!
I agree. I've connected with other writers in all sorts of ways, commenting on newsletters, the Discord server, and by directly emailing them. It's been great.
Sorry I didn't get back to you. You might have seen a link in some of the other comments, I know someone definitely posted it. If not... this link will remain valid for about a week.
I think it starts with commenting on other people's articles definitely. But then I think you should reach out directly to them via email, Twitter direct message, whatever, and tell them how much you like their work, share what your interests are in common and go from there.
I would start with similar sized Substacks -- which can be hard to figure out, I know! -- and then see if there are collab opportunities.
But networking takes time and repeated efforts, so you have to be in it for the long haul.
Had some pretty good success joining Facebook groups that are related to my content. it's a bit of a slog because you have to pretend to be a 'normal member' for a few weeks before dropping in an advert for your Substack. Also - I have a Facebook account not in my name which helps with posting my links. I also spend an hour a week linking my Substack as replies to YouTube comments on videos of similar writers or content to mine. It's long-winded stuff, but I also built my business this way - it's no budget, labour intensive, guerilla marketing - but it works.
I once had to promote a gig in a small town. I bought some spray-mount (aerosol adhesive spray) and made a small stencil out of a cornflake box of the band name. I had some lovely late night walks where I put the stencil on the floor - just to the side of the pavement (sidewalk) and sprayed over it in one quick spray. Because of dust and other environmental pollutants, over the next few days the band name seemed to magically appear all over the town. These things don't work alone, and it was part of a bigger brand awareness campaign. But the venue was packed. You might want to check the legality of such things and of course it's purely fictional in my case. But people - you're creative - get creative and get known!
I find that stacking up a pile of drafts with added photographs helps me be more consistent about posting. Being able to choose which one to finish and post depending on my current mood opens up my creativity and makes the process much smoother. I haven't actually scheduled a post yet, but I love it when I am ahead of schedule but able to post at whim, too.
I'd like to share an experiment I did recently with Substack's audio embed feature. It's a great tool for music reviewers - you can add samples of songs to a post to highlight the particular aspect of the music you are discussing. You can look at how I used it here: https://www.ruins.blog/p/little-brother
I'd get business cards. I use VistaPrint online, 'cause they have a way to transpose your "Football(In Detail)" web address into a QR code, which you kids are so into these days! I put the cards on Starbux and Panera bulletin boards, and other places with community bulletin bds.!
See if there are other sports/football writers here you can share writing space with. You either collab, or write something, putting in a link to another's 'Stack, and they do the same in one of theirs. See how I used another writer's newsletter to link after he wrote about something that inspired me: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1981-the-producers
In my experience it helps to build a presence on other social media platforms, follow discussions and build a name for yourself there. Over time you can direct attention back to your newsletter but each platform can have strict rules about how much you can do that (Reddit comes to mind) so research them carefully. Good luck!
I promote my two Substack newsletters on a couple of other blogs I write, and Twitter (mainly). It's a drip-drip kind pf progress. Haven't tried Reddit much, but have heard good reports about it.
Just wanted to share a little finding. I post every Monday morning and was curious whether it made sense to go ahead and continue that schedule when Monday coincided with one of the many Monday holidays or to delay the post until Tuesday. So I did a little experiment.
The result....On Memorial Day weekend, I delayed publication and sent my newsletter on Tuesday instead. It had the same open rate as I usually get: about 66%.
When it came to the Fourth of July, I published on a Monday. The open rate was the worst I've ever experienced....even now 10 days later its still at 58%.
This is just anecdotal of course but going forward I'm going to avoid publishing on a holiday.
I have the same schedule (Mondays), I feel like while the initial stats were low, eventually people came back to it, whenever they got back to email in general. It feels like summer has just had lower stats in general.
I read somewhere that the best time for Instagram reels are on Sunday mornings. maybe b/c folks are lounging in bed and scrolling? Perhaps the same logic can be applied to when to post. I avoid Mondays b/c most folks (depending on your audience) are back in the office and have to focus on work instead of reading for personal enjoyment. I typically post on Fridays so a new post is fresh for leisurely weekend reading.
What's great about these Office Hours is the opportunity to discover new writers. Already subscribed to two people from this thread and super happy to see some familiar faces!
I had a break a couple of months back, the first time we'd been out of the country since the pandemic began. It turned out to be a really good excuse to talk about how travel influences fiction writing: https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/being-inspired-by-place
Any wisdom on growing your free list?? Have been publishing once a week for 3-4 months— is that enough?? Would love to have an actual audience. I write about music & culture :)
Get to know your fellow Substack writers, which can lead to cross-promotion opportunities, word of mouth recommendations (such as in Shout Out threads and real-life recs) and obviously the Substack Recommendations (which has been a surprisingly great source of subscribers for me).
Hi Natalie, I've made connections that way, and also just emailing them to say hello when I've enjoyed a particular issue of their newsletter. And others have reached out to me this way as well. It's always very welcome!
Is it possible to allow for image uploads in the comments?
I run blog where I share content related to the subject Public Administration. I would like to post questions and get the responses from fellow students. Some write on paper and would like to upload the scanned pics of the same. Kindly let me know if there is any work around for this issue.
I'm struggling getting started. I plan to publish weekly and have 4-5 pieces complete. I just am not sure how to start my list. I'm hesitant to start with friends and family, but not sure how to get "strangers" lined up. Any advice?
But also, you are a writer, no matter who reads it. You are showing up and doing the work. It will take time for others to see you as a writer, but you can call yourself a writer and own! Hope you find some supportive family and friends.
Dennis, I imported my list of about 300 followers from Mailchimp over to Substack about two months ago. Slowly, those free subscribers are becoming more aware of what Substack is all about and my conversion rate is improving. Time. Patience.
Thanks, Carol. But I'm really at ground zero. I don't have a list or anything to port to Substack. How can I make that initial foray into the public? I am thinking of just making a few tweets to see who might engage. Any thoughts on how you got that initial list going?
Guerilla marketing. Get a load of pieces written and uploaded, then shill them all over the internet. Leave replies to comments on YouTube videos that are about (or even audiobooks) of similar writers and/or content to yours. In an hour you can cut and paste about 250 links. An hour a week might get you 5 new subs, but they will tell friends, and so the ball begins to roll. I built my business in this way, and I still do it for my Substack, although it's been a while as I've been pretty lucky with subs as I have quite a good social media presence.
I understand, Dennis. So I’ve had a private Facebook group for like-minded creatives (The Footloose Muse) for over a year. In order to join, they had to supply their email address. It took a while, but slowly my list increased. I’ve been teasing out short posts on Instagram stories and on Twitter. I’m throwing a lot of shit up and some of it is sticking. Just start somewhere. I didn’t know all the answers when I started. I didn’t even know what questions to ask, but I just knew, intuitively, that substack was where I needed to be and I’m not turning back.
Sandy, let me know if you’re successful. My guess is that Facebook guards that information with their life. They don’t want their readers leaving Facebook for other places.
Thank you, Chris! You’re #1 literally! I am traveling right now but will jump on this at the beginning of the week when I return. This kind of support and motivation is very refreshing. Thank you again.
I started my blog on Substack in response to questions from queries on 3 Practice Circles asking if I had published any of my ideas on ending racism in my lifetime. Then I was asked to do a talk on BIPOC, of which tribe I am not ethnically, though I am intellectually. Then sent first articles to both groups as well as former work groups and friends I knew to be concerned about racism too.
I still need to create a relevant name for it--suggestions would be most welcome.
Do you all call your work a "newsletter?" I do not. Prefer to refer to it as my "column" or my "blog." Newsletter harkens back to those horrible days of creating marketing newsletters for clients.
I call it my 'Substack'! A year ago no one in the UK knew what it meant, but these days I get people saying things like "Oh, very fancy" and the like. I'm with you, 'Newsletter' is terrible.
Hey...I'm publishing anthropology essays every Monday and Thursday. I managed to crank up my subscribers from 6-12 gouging my email lists on Yahoo. I even had a DJ on Irish national radio give me a shout out and read the URL of my substack but my subscribers didn't shift upwards.
At the moment Im listening to a podcast series called 'Crafting with Ursula Le Guin'. I find chasing fame, money and notoriety through social media a drag and Im now taking my process inwards again and finding out what motivates me to write beyond $$£££.
Sorry to be so inept at all this. I need to know how to access this discussion. I don't understand the meaning of a discussion "thread". I am a digital dummy.
Welcome, Stewart! These comments *are* the discussion. :) You can scroll down and view what others are saying or questions they are answering. Jump right in with an answer or reply to someone's comment if they have an answer that helps you. All the comments can be a bit overwhelming, but you'll get the hang of it! (No digital dummies...only those who haven't learned it yet!)
The meaning of thread is simply that a reply to your message, like this one, goes under your message, instead of being added to the bottom of the entire list of messages. There are a number of discussion sites on the Web where this is not so and every comment simply gets added to the end of a long list, even if it is a reply to a message much higher on the list.
I'd like to be able to hit the share button, and have a thumbnail of the post and the title as a story. For reference, Spotify does a great job of this. If I hit share on Spotify to Instagram, it shows the cover art, and title in Instagram stories.
Starting a publication is a big lift, and you don’t have to do it alone. From the beginning, we recommend developing a support network of readers, writers, and friends.
Think of three friends, peers, supporters, or mentors who have encouraged your writing in the past. Reach out to them today, and tell them that you’re launching a Substack publication. Share your hopes and fears, ask for advice, or simply talk through the questions you’ve begun thinking through.
Next, practice asking for things by reaching out to someone new. Find someone whose work you admire. Write a short – no more than 3-5 sentences – cold email asking them one thoughtful question. Check out these tips for writing a cold email.
What makes a good cold email:
Do research on the person you’re reaching out to
Introduce yourself, including any shared interests or relevant background
Make a specific ask by including a question in the email itself
Keep it brief: a few short paragraphs is good enough
Be gracious: acknowledge that they may not have time to respond
While I love the recommendation feature on Substack, I have noticed a negative side effect.
If you have too many recommendations listed I've gotten comments that it's a bit off putting for a perspective subscriber. They see it as if their inbox is going to get flooded with emails. I'm thinking it might be best to keep the recommendations down to 3-4 out of the 8-10 you'd like to recommend, then also rotate the names on the list every week to give the various newsletter equal time in the recommendations. Think this makes sense?
That is a really interesting idea. I would have to put myself on a schedule to remember to change it. I also like featuring a link to some of my favorite reads from other substackers when it suits my brand. That feels like an even more specific type of recommendation.
I agree. It helps to strengthen the view and trust factor of your own "brand" if you are selective and choose complimentary newsletters. Perhaps eventually readers might even look forward to your weekly recommendations.
You can turn on the option and set payment tiers in Settings. I was always paid but once I got paid subscribers, I sent out an announcement combined with the first edition. So far it’s been fine.
Hi everyone! I’m grateful to have discovered Substack. Thank you so much for this community. I’ve been working on a novel for about a decade now and decided I wanted to publish it as I write it as a way to make myself accountable and to finally begin sharing it with the world. My question is what is the dominant genre or theme on Substack, if any? I seem to find a lot of political writers, bloggers, and such but not so much fiction yet (I’m sure that’s partly because I haven’t looked hard enough). I’m sure engagement is a main way of getting free subscribers, but I’m more concerned about getting the right audience, if possible.
Good day, fellows!! I began my Substack, "The Footloose Muse," about two months ago, and I am loving the platform, its capabilities, and the opportunity to monetize my content. I am a creativity coach, a creative midwife, if you will. As a published author and urbex photographer, I help men and women give birth to their creative ideas. I am looking for ways to convert free subs to paid ones. Thanks so much!!!
I'm struggling to grow my platform and I've been doing mini-marketing via Instagram stories and LinkedIn, but I'm not finding much traction from it. I've got friends and family already subscribed. What else can I do?
I'd love to know if there are any online communities that substack writers recommend joining for growing your platform and finding likeminded writers.
I'm attaching below a message I just sent to Katie. I'm new to Substack and I'm still trying to find out how to access Office Hours. I'm signed up for the 1:00 sessions today, but I don't know how to get there. Thanks for any help. Best, Thane
Hi Office Hours Team:
I'm Thane ("Devil's Dance"). I've signed up for Office hours today at 1:00 pm, but I don't know how to get there. Can you help me, please?
I need coaching on how to pin an image to the main title of my series, and also to the individual posts. The system is a little clunky, I'm afraid. Can you help me? Many thanks, Thane
Looking forward to the polling function -- was in the process of researching perhaps doing it with a Google Form. Integrated would be so much nicer, methinks...
Hi Katie! I'm wondering if you can help me with an issue I'm having with Polls. It looks like in this article that Polls should have a "Show Results" button, but mine doesn't appear to. I'm not sure if I'm reading the results correctly of the poll I posted a couple weeks ago:https://cheerskelley.substack.com/p/cheers-to-coaching
I am new to Substack and have several questions. On average, about how long do people take (weeks, months, etc) building their audience before they go paid? Is there an average price that people tend to charge for subscriptions? Also, is there a word count on posts that people tend to stick with? Thanks!
1. Usually 3 months or so of free content before going paid so that you have an audience. Others, like myself, go paid right from the start. If someone wants to support your endeavor with a few dollars, why wait at all?
2. Charge what you think the value should be. People charge around 5-7 USD/month. I vaguely remember 15 USD for other authors but that's because they do a hell of a lot of research and the value really is that much.
3. I would aim for at least 250 words for a sparse post and up to 2000 words for a long-form post. I post daily, so this isn't realistic, but I will be reducing my posting frequency soon and I'll aim for longer short posts and longer long posts (haha)
I am launching on substack later this month, and want to launch paid, but have free content as well. Do you have free content too, or is everything behind the paywall? If you do have free content, how often do you provide that in relation to your paid material?
Lastly, and this is a substack general question, does everything you publish go to people's inbox, or can you write several posts without inundating people's inboxes?
1. All my content is free. I do song recommendations and occasional long-form essays which I WANT people to read, fall in love it, subscribe for free and then, out of the kindness of their heart, pay me for it. I did do paywalls for a couple of articles, but realized that they turn some people off.
2. My premium perks are that I give paid subscribers a monthly Spotify and Apple Music playlist of all the music I talked about in my newsletter the month before.
3. Starting August, I'll be scaling down frequency to twice a week for free readers. Paid subscribers will also get the 2 emails, the monthly playlist, and any ADDITIONAL emails beyond the usual 2.
4. My understanding is that everything you write hits people's inboxes. But I haven't yet received any unsubscribes *because* of daily publishing, but I do advise my readers to get the Substack app to reduce inbox clutter (although I don't want to say my emails are clutter, lol!!)
5. I leave a link to my Ko-Fi tip jar to encourage readers to leave me a tip if monthly recurring subscription via Substack doesn't work for them for whatever reason.
I'm wondering if there is a way to "break" substack a little by "publishing" once a week, by sending emails to people's inboxes but having more content available than just what is sent--perhaps by having a link to a second substack that has no subscriber list?
Is that weird? Would it work? Is there a way to make something like that work on this platform?
That sounds confusing and I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve there. I would say this: 97% of your readers have no clue what the hell Substack is: they just see an email from Dan which has some nice stuff and that's pretty much it. All this Substack discussion matters to us, the writers. Don't complicate things. Just use the Substack email platform to email your readers. There's a website with an Archive that non-email readers can discover you from the web. The best approach is to consolidate everything you have on a single platform and bring the people to that one spot.
My newsletter has two kinds of post: position papers describing my views on software development (which are quick to write) and long-form, often multi-part, worked examples with lots of code (which take a lot of effort to create). I want to make the second kind of article (mostly) paid, but I'm struggling to pluck up the courage. What have others done to get across that confidence hurdle?
Put yourself in your reader's shoes...are you writing about code to serve a real need? Would you have paid for that information when you were at the stage your readers are?
If you are providing real value, really serving a need, you should go paid.
But know too that the value of what you produce is not necessarily defined by what people pay for it.
You can download them to Excel using the Subscribers tab in the Substack dashboard. Not sure how else you could summarize them but there are a number of columns of information that you could use.
Hey Donna! Is there any specific summary information you'd like to know about your subscribers that isn't currently available in your writer dashboard?
I keep having unintended breaks. For example, today I was going to research and write an article, but I had to deal with an unplanned for issue. As for proper breaks, I tend to read and write on them anyway!
Anyone planning for an upcoming break?
No breaks for me because I find it too difficult to get going again after. I'm too new at the "disciplined writing" gig.
I'll be traveling in another week to be a stem cell donor for my brother's transplant, so that will be a little break from normal life and the day job, but I expect to be writing while away, especially since I plan to post (eventually) on my experience as a donor.
As the father of a daughter who has thrived for 27 years after receiving a life-saving liver transplant, I honor you, Holly!
Congratulations on your daughter's survival! I know your heart swells every time you think of what a miracle that is!
I registered for Be The Match 15+ years ago. I was sitting with my brother in his doctor's waiting area when I got an email from Be The Match telling me I was a match for a 49-year-old man with AML. We laughed and laughed and laughed because we knew he was that patient! I match 12/12 of the HLA markers for him, and we are excited to get him CURED!
Extraordinary. I salute you.
You are wonderful! The world needs more of you, Holly.
Anything wonderful in me is because of Love. That's what the world needs more of!
Your a hero Holly , such a beautiful thing your doing for your brother . I salute you ,and hope your brother will be fine .
I remind him of this often since he was absolute turd to me when when we were kids. :) Seriously, though, thank you. He's become one of my best friends the last 10 years.
I am interested in medical phenomena, and I salute you and your daughter for your tenacity and survival.
How old was she when she received the liver transplant. What was the condition which necessitated the hepatic failure I presume she sustained with her original liver.
Years ago, transplant patients often suffered because their immune systems would see the new organ as alien and proceed to destroy it. Consequently, they were often or usually given immuno suppessive meds (corticosteroids ?) to suppress immune function and that made them vulnerable to a host of horrible infections. I believe that nowadays there is a drug that quashes the rejection of the new organ without effecting a wholesale degradation of the immune system. I forgot the name of that drug(s).
Do you write about this in your news letter. I will have to take a look at it.
Biliary atresia was the condition. She was very young. Any further comment would violate her privacy.
I'm sorry. I won't ask any more questions. You are absolutely right to guard her privacy
Not a problem, David. It is a fascinating topic, but if you look up the condition, you’ll see where it leads…in terms of yr other questions. If you go to my Substack, I wrote about it once in connection with the death of Bobby Rydell, the 60s rocker. We supported the same transplant support organization…
Wow Holly, I hit the heart button after the first sentence about finding it difficult to get going ahead. Then the second para got me! Wishing you all the luck for the donation and transplant. I’d love to read about it one day.
Thanks! In my personal conversations about the stem cell harvesting and transplant process, I've realized most of us are woefully uneducated! There are far too many people waiting for a donor because there's no known match--especially in non-white ethnicities. I hope to increase awareness and help save more lives!
Good luck and good health to your brother(!). [Coincidence. Just got the reminder to pay our annual fee for our banked umbilical cord blood. It popped up as a new thing when I had my second child. It wasn't expensive, and seemed like a 'why not?'. I'm glad to hear that it's lifesaving for regular people.]
I don't think there was a big push for that when my kids were born. I wish there had been! It seems like such a small decision for a potentially big outcome.
@Holly, Wasn't even a 'big push' (good pun!) thing. It must've been in view because it was in a local university research facility, so it was at our doorstep. No idea how I even ever heard of it.
And unfortunately their is exploitation of people of color for their plasma for old white men like the head of Paypal who hope to be youthful forever at the expense of young urban people of color. I applaud you for your courage and love, Holly! It's inspiring!
This reminds me of a book by EL Doctorow which, if my memory serves me correctly, was entitled "Waterworks."
In the novel, a bunch of rich old guys achieve a sort of demonic immortality by kidnapping young, healthy men and then implanting their minds into the bodies of those young, healthy men.
And let's not forget about China and their medical subjugation (that's too soft a word; let's call it medical murder) of undesirables. I have read accounts to the effect that political prisoners have suffered the extraction of vital organs (the prisoner, sans the organs, cannot live and is thrown into the "garbage") and their vital organs have been sold to very wealthy Europeans.
Hi Holly! I am glad that you have found your way back to writing. You are one of my favorites. I just got back to the discussion after writing my lengthy and self-indulgent post. Reading your thread, I am reminded that the *real* “one-percent, are the ones that make a *real* difference in our lives, not the selfish people, devoted to money, power and attention.
I find that as I become more disciplined I can also plan further ahead, which makes mini breaks possible. Thoughts and prayers for the stem cell transplant process.
How did you begin your path to becoming more disciplined. I really need help.
Making myself send out something even if it’s not perfect. Obviously I try by best, but saying it has to go out Monday, ready or not, makes me very disciplined
That's what I'm focusing on now--discipline! I know I'm creative. I just suck at the discipline part (in many areas of my life!). Thanks for the vote for discipline. I know I'll see results if I just stick to it.
(And thanks for the prayers!)
That sounds interesting -- there are a lot of donor recipients in the immunocompromised community which many of my readers are part of
Same. Every time I took a break, I shot myself in the foot. 🤦🏻♀️
Right in the middle of one right now! Yesterday I was in a campsite getting heavily rained on, and tomorrow I'll be up a mountain getting painfully sunburnt. Please don't ask me why. I don't quite know why. #LivingTheDream #MaybeNeedBetterHobbies
Best sleep I ever got was in a tent with the rain coming down. The rest of the weekend was crap (read: muddy shoes, wet towels, not enough time outdoors), but that one night was great!
Hi Mike! I am glad that one of your “hobbies” is writing!
Way too kind. Thank you, Pete. :)
Actually, that does sound like you're living the dream 😂 I'd take that over returning to the classroom in two weeks, even though I am truly excited about what this year holds.
Just cuz'.
That might be it.
No, Katie, but if I was, I'd take advantage of the scheduling feature! It takes planning, of course, and means you'll have to work double-time, say, for the week before your break (and they can be shorter-than-your-usual article length), but I can't imagine any greater feeling than to crank to put out an issue or 3 for the week or two you're going to be away, and yet you've got pieces dropping at prescribed and scheduled times on Mon, Wed, Sat, etc!
I'm not breaking, but I LOVE getting backed up a bit, and still using the sched feature to "get it on the runway"!! Just dropped a piece yesterday, and I've already got one scheduled to drop tomorrow @ 3!
We’ve found that the scheduling feature isn’t reliable. The last 2 posts we scheduled weren’t sent to our list. We ended up having to recreate the post so it could be sent when published. And yes, this has been reported to Substack. No response yet.
I haven't noticed this either, but it's certainly possible. I know that your entire email list doesn't get sent at the same time. Could this be a factor?
Our list is probably not that big, but when I spot checked in the subscriber list, no one had received it, including the admins, the contributors and the subscribers. Plus we have a 60% open rate and there weren't any email opens. This was Sunday 7/10. On the 11th, I copied the newsletter to a new post and scheduled it for the morning of the 12th. Same thing happened. As I wrote previously, I ended up copying it into a new post a 3rd time and just sending when published on the 13th. That worked, so nothing else to look at other than the scheduling system. A support ticket was submitted on Sunday, no response so far.
Just quickly, when I write "not that big" - 244 subscribers (small but growing 😀)
Hmmmm....I don't think I've had that problem yet. I'd like to think I'd-a noticed it! But, will watch for it. I have one scheduled to drop tomorrow @3pm (CT)!
Really love this question! It's one thing to build a newsletter, but it's something else to build a sustainable newsletter. Breaks are key. After a recent break, I think I came back with better stories. Plus, I had the energy to launch a second section so I now publish twice per week. Could I have skipped the break? Sure, but sooner or later, I would've crashed. And let's be honest, even if I didn't crash, I don't think I would've had the energy to get the new section off the ground.
Very good point! Maybe I'll reward myself with a break after I have "x" future posts scheduled.
Well done, Michael!
Thank you!
Excellent idea. You know, whether we write for love or money, we're all self-employed here. And we're entitled to a little time off to sustain our sanity and well being. You wouldn't take a job with zero paid vacation time...we can give ourselves a break.
Took a break during my holidays (and subsequently catching Covid). Was pleasantly surprised by a couple of people asking when the next issue drops. Made me feel good!
I’ve seen a few people saying they’re going to take summer breaks but I have content for weekly posts until the end of the year and beyond.
Now, THAT's what I'm talking about, Andrew! Getting ahead, and using sched feature to keep your readers getting content (see my answer below)! Nicely done!😁👍
For sure although I have a concept, moral philosophy in media, that allows me to do that. If you’re a journalist and reporting on events as they happen, it’s harder to do that.
I tried to do this for a time. But if your writing is at all seasonal or topical it gets tricky. Sometimes I would have a super timely idea. Then the whole publishing calendar would get screwed
I can see where this could be a problem.
Note to self: do not start gardening, mountaineering, or seasonal sports newsletter.
Self: Not a problem. I do not like anything that involves exercise or keeping things alive.
Ah...goals!
I try.
Smart!
Or just obsessive, that’s the other option.
I've subscribed, looking forward to checking out your newsletter!
Thanks for doing that. It’s appreciated. The more people the better.
I always take a winter break, but a summer break is a good idea. 🌴 🤔 🌴
If you do, pre-write a handful of articles, and use the scheduling feature to "line'em up on the runway" for when you're away!!
Fine idea, Brad. May do that too. Or even repost an oldie from early in the archives, when I had many fewer readers.
I’ve seen a few people so this recently. Good way to get some new eyes on your work!
Thanks, Wayne! I've issued "Encore Presentations" before, too! I try to update when needed, but you're right....back when I had, like, 15 subs, it's likely few, if any, current readers go back that far to check past issues!
In fact, I have one dropping tomorrow @3pm! I've added a couple cool GIFS and vids to my "History of Astros Mascots" piece as an "All-Star Special" for All-Star Weekend! Safe trip!!
This is the right answer!
Yay, I'm a wiener! Thanks, Paul........what'd I wien?
A Brand New Car!!!!
HA! And, you know I read that in my best Jay Stewart, dulcet bellowing radio tones!!! COME ON DOWN!!!
Thank you. I have a queue already. I like the idea of burning through it less quickly!
lucky you. My partner hasnt had a holiday in 15 years. #no_money
Sorry, Liam. I hope there's more money and holidays in your partner's future.
#its_never_gonna_change
its been like this for over a decade.
Hey, @Geoffrey. It seems like I just read a couple notifications that mentioned you. :)
Whoa, I hope they were nice!
Once a month, I feature a guest writer. And since I only post once a week, this pretty much gives me a break. Plus, I love what my guests contribute and I think it adds value to my substack!
This reminds me I need to email some folks…
I took one a few weeks ago. Just told my readers I'd be away for two weeks and I teased a story from the road. I continued to get new subs via recommendations, then when I came back I had a banger story about an Alaskan cruise. I was worried people might forget about my little humor newsletter, but actually it was the exact opposite. I got email on my posting days from people who missed Situation Normal, and when I came back everyone seemed happy. A huge win, I think!
I enjoyed the cruise story!
Publishing? No. But expecting to take two weeks off from the day job in late August/early September. Thank you, scheduled posts.
Yes to this! It’s a great feature. Even if you’re not heading out of town, it’s still good for those that “batch” their writing.
I try to "batch" several posts together so I do not get panicked in the "next" week if I do not have anything to publish. If I do, then, I hold on to my previous "batch" post and publish those later.
100% yes to this. For some reason I find having 1-2 posts ready to go "just in case" really freeing.
Nope, just started, but I loved reading these comments! Love the idea I saw about writing content ahead of time as well.
I'm planning on a ten day trip to Ireland in August, but I may have a guest columnist, as I did during the last two weeks that I was down and out with Covid. (The new variant is nasty, folks!) Or I might file I short Substack while I'm there. It's not like a beach holiday. But breaks are important, but my schedule of a post every five to nine days, averaging one a week, should not suffer.
I do the guest columnist routine too. Works great!
And of course, if I take a break, I take a break. I'll be back with fresh material. Since so many are free subscribers anyway, they'll understand.
What's a "break?" lol
People keep talking about it. Weird. 🤷🏾♀️
I'm trying not to take breaks because I'm afraid it will screw up my momentum - I publish twice a week so have to keep the ball rolling. However I have a few "low effort" pieces coming up: some content I wrote for a blog in my culinary school days (about 10 years ago) and a few culinary technique posts that are simple but interesting.
May not always be possible to go so hard on each post. Sometimes you need a light piece. A palate cleanser, if you will.
Yup, I had a blog on the old Blogger going back to 2002 and which continued for many years despite almost no readers. It’s an excellent source of often first-rate material.
My blog was about studying at Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa and most posts were written the same day as the lesson I describe. Really off-the-cuff but some good material.
Well, geez, after seeing everyone talking about a break I'm now tempted...lol
I might have to work up to it, though.
I'd like to take a break at some point but since my substack is so plant/garden centric, it feels like maybe I should take a winter break when less things are growing. There's too much happening in my garden these days to take a week off!
That's my approach with seasonal travel writing as well with my newsletter. I follow the rhythms of life on the Amalfi Coast where the holiday time for people working in tourism is usually in January and February.
We host Office Hours and programs like Substack Grow (https://on.substack.com/p/grow-summer-22) to help your better answer your questions about Substack. Plus we have our Support (https://support.substack.com/) and Resource (https://substack.com/resources) Centers.
How might we better help you answer your questions?
I could really use some personal coaching on how to hone my concept. I have only lost two free subscribers since launching in February, so maybe I'm not doing anything wrong. But I don't think I fully grasp how wide a lane I can occupy, or whether I really need to simplify the concept.
Two examples:
My newsletter is about leaving academia after nearly 20 years. I got tenure, was promoted to full professor, was at the top of my powers, and walked away. A lot of people are doing that, and a lot of it has to do with an increasingly corporate model for higher ed.
This post went out two weeks ago, and it's at 959 views (I had 156 free subscribers when it went out):
https://joshuadolezal.substack.com/p/teaching-is-an-art-not-a-science
This post went out just this week, and it's at 282 views (179 subscribers at the time of its writing):
https://joshuadolezal.substack.com/p/why-i-am-searching-for-family-roots
I don't know if I need to write better ledes, something a little more click-baity to get people to engage with it, or if it's really a difference of concept. I don't really want my newsletter to only be a series of angsty things about academia, but that seems to be what plays. Leaving my faculty job has allowed me to do more interesting things, like devote time to genealogical research. I'm writing this from Brno, the Moravian capital of Czechia, and tomorrow I'll go visit one of my ancestral villages, where I have house addresses for where two ancestors were born. That is also what post-academic life can look like: more time for travel, for personal interests, for deepening family ties. But so far the Czech angle doesn't seem to play as well.
I think instead of meta-level conversations I need someone to dig into my actual posts, look at my titles and subtitles, and read a few newsletters, and see if there are obvious ways I could attract more folks.
I read a couple of your posts, and they're thoughtful essays. It depends on who you're targeting your audience to. As the advice on here recommends, experiment with different groups, different places, to see what sticks.
I've been writing for a decade and I am still terrible at headlines, and I can promise you that chasing the high of more and more readers will drive you crazy, because one article pops and gains a lot of attention while others, perhaps better written, flounder. And there's no real rhyme or reason. So write because you enjoy it and have something to say.
Do yourself a favor and get yourself a signature in your email, even personal, and have a little bit at the bottom linking to your substack/website. Learn SEO and apply appropriate key words in your writings, use alt tags to describe the pictures you use in your posts (every time, as tedious as it is, it helps in search results, and describe it with a sentence, not just keywords), and blast it to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or whatever social media you use. Engage directly with the people who read you, because they will feel more of a connection. Build online relationships like you would at networking events in academia. And see if that helps.
I'm with you, Rachael, great feedback! Joshua, you wrote, "Leaving my faculty job has allowed me to do more interesting things..." and maybe that should be a key thing to keep in mind. I know I'm here to focus on pursuing what interests me. It's my big opportunity! The moment I start focusing on giving the readers what they want (which is tempting to be sure) I've just created myself a NEW BOSS.
Yes, good point. Trying to break the habit of extrinsic motivation. But it’s hard to not care about numbers.
I wrote about that very problem: https://joshuadolezal.substack.com/p/against-numbers?r=uw0g&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Looking forward to reading this!
Right back at you. Also excellent advice. @Joshua, as Anne says, keep the focus of your task on writing from your angle; if chasing readers is your thing, that will be the psychological burden that creates a lot more anxiety and generates further frustration than on focusing quality content and experimenting with what works.
Substack is a lot like sales too. Keep drilling at it, be consistent. As a person who hates sales, it seems to work in small batches.
Excellent advice, Anne.
This is really helpful to a lot of us. Thank you, Rachael.
Thanks so much, Rachael! I do the email signature. This is really helpful perspective. Appreciate your taking the time to read.
Rachael, if I may, I hear your "I am still terrible at headlines"! May I invite you to peruse mine? I take great pride in my headline writing, and sometimes can't/don't start a piece until it's got a clever headline. It helps to have a vast vocab (and sense of humor!), 'cause I love word play, and assuming gentle humor and wordplay works with your 'letter, you might also see how I use colons, dashes, and other punctuation to make a headline easier to navigate (along with clever word play)! Enjoy!😁
I did. Seems like you have a system that works for you, and an interesting premise as well!
"I need someone to dig into my actual posts, look at my titles and subtitles, and read a few newsletters, and see if there are obvious ways I could attract more folks."
If I may, instead of trying to enlist people to do some work for you (and transmitting their thoughts to you could be easily misunderstood or weakly presented), you might want to poke around and read other peoples' newsletters to get some inspiration and ideas.
That way, you'll see, first-hand, how others do their titles and subtitles, read a few newsletters, and YOU can determine if there are "obvious ways you could attract more folks."
If you look for others to do that, you'll discover 85 people will reply sounding all excited to do it, and you'll wind up with no one actually doing it! So, good luck in your newsletter research!
Thanks Brad. Yeah, I've done that. Just like with creative writing, there is a point at which you've taken something as far as you know how to take it, and you need a fresh set of eyes. I'll keep grinding away.
I have a thought as a recovered post-academic. Can we make a trade offline? I could do some guest posts on your thingy and work with you on a content strategy and reaching the right audience long-term. I'm a professional marketing consultant and anthropologist. james@socialawarenessinstitute.org
you are lucky you have any following at all. i have 12 subscribers. i recommend and like other peoples substacks but no one has the courtesy of doing it back. also i would like to comment when i read other peoples substacks but rather shortsightedly (in my view) most people only let paying customers comment. im not really finding the community others speak of? weird.
I think, Liam, you'll end up far less frustrated if you only write for the love of writing. I don't know how long you've been doing this, but I'm at about the 11 1/2-month mark. I have a whopping 100 subs, with but a small handful paid.
And, my subject matter is about music, and the exclusive access I had in the biz decades ago (and began dreaming it would be rocketing skyward!), and not an obscure, obtuse subject matter, like "Cindy's Art of Macrame For Residents of the Amazon Basin."
I, long ago, stopped caring about subs, paid subs, or what any other writers on 'Stack are doing, could do, should do, or might do. I just write. Give it a shot!
I appreciate this comment and find it encouraging. I have always written for the love of it, and have no idea who reads it!
word up!
restricting to comments to paid folks may reduce 'spamming' sure but it fights against the writers boosting writers thing. I agree.
@LiamMS, I've been in professional publishing my whole life, and agree with @BradK that you need to do it because you love it. And keep sniffing and digging around for like-minded Substackers. It takes a bit of research. (Coincidence: I was just in a Korean strip-mall church this week here on the Canadian West Coast.)
AGREE that restricting COMMENTING to subscribers-only is THE WORST. It's like trying to enter an interesting conversation at a social gathering and being ignored and snubbed. YUK.
I am getting started on substack, and this is valuable. I definitely want to build community. It seems like having very little difference between paid and unpaid is actually the way to go. Maybe just more content, or more frequent emails. But I don't want that to be a turn off--flooding people's inboxes with more content than they want. Can we post to our substack page without emailing it out, and still have people access it when they want/ when they get an occasional reminder email?
@DanJ, Hey, why are you not posting? What are you waiting for? People need to know about the books that made our world! Jump in. Don't wait.
I think all those prompts pop up when I post: does this post go to everyone/paid/free, and so on. When you post, you'll see!
I'm free. Different people do different things when they go paid. A certain series is limited to the paid readers; or the best (paradoxically, yes) post goes to everyone...everyone has their Substack system, opinions, and what works for them.
Hi Zelda,
I took the plunge. 1st post is up (on both my substacks--one paid but mostly free, the other totally free!)
Thanks for the encouragement. Here goes...
It is a MYSTERY, Joshua!
One week we are jiving! The next week we're dead! It is up and down, up and down, up and down. We just keep writing and posting WHAT WE ARE INTRIGUED BY.....and it builds.
Given your resume, this carries some weight. I find myself in an odd situation, having published in literary venues for much of my career, then transitioned away from academe. I find that people like you are leaving commercial magazines just around the time that I'm trying to figure out how to query them successfully. I do think magazines still serve a purpose for me in support of the Substack project, but I feel a little behind the times. If you'd like to exchange emails separately, I'd enjoy hearing more of your story. I'm at dolezaljosh@gmail.com
This is do hit or miss its hard to plan for. A few things that are really helpful:
Workshop your "about" section with other writers. They'll have an easier time breaking down your value proposition.
And when writing titles, put yourself in the shoes of your ideal reader. Would they click it?
Do you mean two PAID subs since Feb., or free?
It is SLOW growing here, I find. (Also an academic runaway.) I sent emails to all of my ex-students (creative writing)--with a note that I would only be using their emails the one time. (I didn't want one complaining to the institution--that could be a nightmare!) So I gained some followers there, and some--who appreciated my work--went paid, and have been very supportive. So that was a solid source to start with.
I've had to share and post on facebook and twitter, which is a pain as I wish I didn't have to do social media, but it is a necessary evil.
What has surprised me, though, is letting people in my life know about this, even those who are not interested in writing. Because it turns out that either they are (I've had people turn up with completed secret novels! who knew...) OR they know someone who is.
So send out emails TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. Keep the email short. Let them know to pass word along.
My post-academic life is a bit different from yours. I was never tenure-track. I was a miserably treated contract person for 14 years, and our program was rocked by a me-too shitstorm. I walked away three years before I could begin to collect a pension even because it was--literally--going to kill me. (I've since had a colleague who made another decision pass of a heart attack.) There's no travel for me. But there is peace of mind. Still, I would dearly love to have just a couple hundred paid folks for a bit of income I can almost count on. Currently, after one year, I have 88.
I wish you the best. Know you have made the right decision in walking away.
Hi, Alison. I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. You are not alone. Have you discovered the FB group The Professor Is Out? Many heart-rending stories there. I told my own story along with others in a feature in The Chronicle of Higher Education this spring titled "The Big Quit." It's password-protected, but I could share it with you if you email me at dolezaljosh@gmail.com. So many people have chosen wellness over exploitation.
Just wrote to you...thank you, Joshua!
Maybe a Q&A session where Substack publishers could submit questions in advance? If you've already done that, my miss! Also, hi Katie!
This would be great. I always miss the initial wave of the Office Hours thread due to time zones, and my questions don't get answered. Submitting in advance would be very helpful!
I would appreciate being able to submit questions in advance. I always miss the initial wave of the Office Hours thread due to time zones, and my questions are usually too far down the thread to be seen and answered. Submitting in advance would be very helpful! I've checked all the resources and still have questions.
I wish there was a service where we could get a market assessment of how to price our newsletter. I'm on a rather low monthly and yearly plan now but feel like it could be higher because of the income level of the subscribers AND the sheer volume of time saving content in the newsletters. But don't want to raise the rates until I have more of a clue what I'm doing. Is this a service? Can this be a service? I would 100% pay for this to exist!
I think you could just A-B test some pricing. If one price doesn't get an X amount of subs, then lower the price a bit. The truth is that very few people are making enough money to even get close to replacing an income.
This is only one stream for me. If I reach $500 per month I'd be elated. Just started and so far month 1=$60, month 2=$350 and month 3=$75 but only halfway through this month so far.
Maybe 300 but I've been active in my content space (podcasting) for over 5 years AND in my specific niche (podcast editing) for about two years. I also run a twice a month live YouTube chat with members of this community and participate in a lot of other group events. I'm saying this because getting people to free sub can be time consuming but I think then the content takes over and turns them into paid subs. I think. It's all a theory for now and could all go terribly wrong with a few horrible issues, maybe.
Have you perused similar successful publications and seen what they charge? That's what Michael Fritzell recommended - https://on.substack.com/p/grow-series-11-michael-fritzell
Something truly conversational and interactive. This is like asking a question on a help forum and never getting an answer.
I have to admit I hate when Shoutout subs for Office Hours. And especially today, because I am late to the discussion! Many of my questions are about features that need fixed (still can't use polls at all easily, because the publish bar covers the poll title, eg) and that tech tends to refer here.
When that happens (publish bar covers poll title), if I'm understanding correctly, I just shrink the page size, like from 100% to 70% or 50%, whatever helps me see it. Same with seeing the buttons tab!
Thanks, Brad! Sounds like a good workaround.
Ben, correct! Same problem on laptop and phone (Moto G5 power 2021)
What about one-on-one mentors or substack accountability buddies that are each at the same stage?? I find that discord and even this is just so big and so many people - I'm not good at connecting this way. And when I've asked questions or for things in here, I never hear back. I think it's a size thing (not letting myself take it personally!)
One thing about joining the Substack grow or go is that it could connect you with those people. But it can also take time to find people with the same level and ability to connect. Another way could be to just start a group of writerly friends yourself. Maybe if you take charge someone will join. I have had hit and miss writing groups through the years. And they don't always last forever, but I appreciate the time that has been given.
Thanks, Caitlin. I've done (am doing) both. I'm sure as I refine my focus more, it'll happen naturally. And I know I should be commenting and reading many other substacks...
@DianeH, Speaking from a life in pro publishing, it's a tall order to find that organically. Anywhere, anytime. Check out unschoolforwriters.substack.com by my friend Alison Acheson and see if maybe it's a fit. Good luck! :-)
Will do. Thanks!
You're welcome! Hope you find what works for you, wherever it is :-)
If I raise my rates, does that effect the rates of the current monthly and yearly subs immediately? Guessing it does for the monthly subs and the yearly will get charged when they renew but want to give them notice AND let them know what will happen before I raise them. No shocks allowed, lol. thanks
I am still waiting to hear back from substack support on my request regarding completion of my issues around sexual harassment.
@LilyChili, Sorry, ever-curious ex-journalist here. You experienced this on Substack...?
Should you wish to peruse my page thoroughly (you'll have to look in comments as well) you'll get an idea of what, why and who although I have not posted everything.
Will do. (I found the 'block' feature and blocked a few URLs I disliked. Not saying that's your issue.)
Wait, what? Specifics are none of my business, but this occurred here?
I ran into a similar issue. I think it's due to Substack using "CNAME" DNS records.
Do have the ability to alter the DNS records of your domain? If so perhaps you can alter the domain similar to what I had to do:
1) Direct the "www" designated domain to your substack
2) Add a wildcard redirect to your "@" and "*" records so that they redirect to the "https://www.yourdomain.com"
It takes a bit for those changes to propagate around the web but that should correct any errors or "unsecure website" warnings that a browser will show you if it tries to load a non SSL version of www.yourdomain.com
I know it's totally confusing but it'll resolve properly if you do it right.
I've never used Google Domains but I assume if they give you access to DNS records you should be able to apply a URL redirect "Https://www.yourdomain.com" to the "@" record.
I did a quick search and here's some info for you that might be helpful:
https://support.google.com/domains/answer/4522141?hl=en
What resources have been most valuable to you as you think about growing your free list?
I have been spending a lot of time researching this topic and asking other Substack writers, and the best I can do is summarize it in no particular order of importance:
-- Write consistently on a schedule and be consistent with your Substack. Don't expect growth until you've shown you can do this. I've seen a lot of writers ask people to subscribe when they haven't even posted anything.
-- Post links to your articles from social media and your website even if you don't have a large following. It creates "trust" in search engines and among users.
-- Show up in Thursday office hours, shout-out threads and ask/answer questions. Be helpful and encouraging.
-- Find your community on Substack, and show up by commenting, writing guest posts, being interviewed on podcasts, etc. Be helpful and encouraging. In 5 months I've met some amazing writers and I'm finally feeling like I'm getting to know them.
-- Find your community outside Substack and do the same. Getting published with a profile that has links back to your Substack does wonders. Again, it build's trust.
-- Read all of the Growth articles that Substack has posted where they interview other authors. SUPER helpful and it will get you thinking.
-- I wrote an article for Fictionistas, which covers some other topics important to creating a solid Fiction Substack, but it has some helpful tips as well for any Substack: https://fictionistas.substack.com/p/finding-success-with-a-fiction-substack
I hope you find success! Substack is an amazing platform, and thanks to the team for leading these discussions.
This is awesome! I love the insight of finding your community on and off Substack. Hoq sis you go about finding community off Substack?
The first thing I did was narrow down the audience. For me personally that meant speculative fiction writers interested in short stories. My next step was Twitter, but the social media choice is probably related to the community. Twitter just so happens to have a lot of writers. Once there I started looking at a dozen or so hashtags, discovering where people are submitting work, what they post, how they interact with other users, etc. There are a lot of "lift" threads where writers post and ask other writers to post links to work they're doing for exposure. In the process that helped me identify writers I want to follow and half a dozen publications that I'm going to send my work for paid publication consideration. I also did some research on short story fiction writing forums and contests, which yielded maybe one good result -- ultimately I decided writing, posting on my Substack and interacting with other writers here was better than spreading my time across those forums.
why do you have to 'create trust in search engines'. yes i get its a thing but its like credit scores. corporate entities making us 'behave' in a certain way. the anarchist in me says 'f@@@ that' to kow towing to search engines. its like living your life for the benefit of google. im a luddite.
I like your style, Liam! Goodness, it sounds like you'd be at home on the other side of the rope line! If you dare, you're welcome to join us Front Row & Backstage with the other ragin' rockers! And, it's great to have someone who hales from the land of Ludd, you wacky Luddite, you!!😎😀
Haha, I totally understand Liam. When I say trust, I just mean it helps them see that you are a valuable resource of information or entertainment and not spam. It doesn't mean they agree with your platform or subject -- that's a whole different level of trust and censorship that has a different set of rules.
As a new writer, who is also new to Substack, this list was incredibly helpful and succinct. I’ll be referring back to it often. Thank you!
Excellent summary, Brian - thanks,
Super helpful comment, Brian. I am finding it a little tricky to find my community on Substack. Having said that, I am early in the process. Anyway, thanks for this comment!
Excellent comment!
Good list of tips, Brian. Thanks for sharing them!
Great tips, Brian! Thanks!
These are solid pieces of advice, thanks!
Very helpful summary, Brian. Thanks!
When word of mouth actually works, that's my very best tool. I was recently in a group of people and someone said how much they enjoyed my newsletter. A positive endorsement like that in a group of people actually does really help with free subs. And a huge goal of mine is to be relatable and to get people talking, so it means a lot when folks resonate and bring it up independently!
Definitely agree. I wonder how to be proactive about promoting word of mouth, though.
I just bought a print ad in Remind Magazine (published by TV Guide), a general interest, slick nostalgia mag, covering pop culture, monthly, in the music, TV, movie lanes. Different sized ads = different costs. But, I just bought a "line ad" (150 words max) for $20 (for 9/22 issue). I just wrote, pretty much a similar text on my "About Page."
Now, it'd help, of course, that your 'Stack covered (as mine does) some type of nostalgic pop culture...in my case, music, particularly rock music, '60s thru '90s (and a bit beyond)!
Plus, getting interviewed for a large-audience podcast helps! Last week, I Zoom-recorded an interview (I was the interviewee) with a world-wide respected curator of David Cassidy's legacy. Pub date TBD! I'll be interested in seeing the hopeful bump in subs when it airs!
So curious about how this will go!
Will certainly fill future Thursday spaces with what I glean! As for the Remind ad, I may do it, eventually, for my 'Stack features on Stephen Michael Schwartz (singer/songwriter/recording artist who recorded an album on RCA Records in '74 at age 20).
Bailey, you guys might want to see how Flipboard can lead others back to 'Stack, and the pieces Stephen has been providing are perfect for what they offer....clicking on our articles there, of course, sends you back to 'Stack, but here's where his stuff is (I wanted to collate all his stuff on one site so he can share with friends, family & colleagues):
https://flipboard.com/@schwartzstories/front-row-backstage-with-stephen-michael-schwartz-fcjpqreoy
So many resources I wasn't aware of! Never heard of Flipboard. Looks cool!
Well, and again, it's perfect for Stephen, 'cause he can now direct biz colleagues, etc to his auto bio, which appears on my 'Stack all scattered amongst my blatherings. Now, on Flipboard, it's like it's his own page! Even looks like he wrote it ("curated by SMS"!), although it comes back to 'Stack, so there's that happy fact.
Once you start digging around at the lay of the FB land, Fiona, you might think about a FB page for your 'Stack's food-related and one for your wine-related pieces!
BTW, I made new biz cards which also mention Stephen's contributions, AND have a QR code for MY 'Stack, AND a QR code for Stephen's Flipboard!! I sent 250 cards to him last month, and I certainly make him feel like he's a part of my endeavor here, because he certainly is, although I guess you'd call him a guest writer/contributor, but he's contributed close to 20 articles!!!
And, yes, a book has been suggested!!! Good luck!
Well I have an established FB page and a group too but feel there's a limit to the number of times you can promote yourself, especially on the group. But they are undoubtedly the people most likely to subscribe.
I admire your persistence and ingenuity 😉
Anyone reading this should check out Brad's work. I have to admire his passion for long-form content.
Bless your corazon, Nikhil!!! That was sweet of you to do, and you know I appreciate not only your loyalty, but your tuneage.....sometimes you scratch where I itch (and sometimes musically!!!😉), and other times, I'm like, huh? But, it's still a worthwhile ride!
Thanks again, Nikhil! You're always welcome to usher in new folks past the rope line, Front Row & Backstage!!
I’ll second that!
Thanks, Kevin! I love your loyalty, and the smart 'Stacker will dig how we scratch each others' journalistic backs with shout-outs, and all the good stuff Thursdays are all bout! Katie would be proud!! Hi, Katie!!!😊
You are speaking to someone who still has Echo Valley 2-6809 on his playlists and thinks Sound Magazine by the Partridge Family was a pretty solid album. Will definitely check this out!
Thanks, TBD, and thanks for subbing! When Louise releases/publishes our interview, I'll let my subscribers know! I'll also ask her if I'm able to publish the audio from it here on 'Stack. She'll also include the original audio from my '75 interview with David! You can read about that interview here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/in-a-houston-penthouse-with-david
Also, I first "met" Stephen Michael Schwartz in that Cassidy interview (you'll see!). What's NOT in that article is what happened in February after I published the that interview article. I found Stephen's website, and wrote him, saying, "You don't know me, but your name came up twice in the last 45 years: Once in '75 when I interviewed David Cassidy, and the second, just now when I published the story about it!"
Stephen's been incredibly generous in taking us behind the scenes of the '70s-era record biz! He even answered an audition for "a David Cassidy type" and won the job of the teenaged son in a 1978 family sitcom, "Please Stand By"! That article's here, too!
I've collected all of Stephen's Substack articles on my Front Row & Backstage page here, on Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@schwartzstories/front-row-backstage-with-stephen-michael-schwartz-fcjpqreoy
I've been leveraging my Twitter account for the most part, after 14 years you get to know a few people. I've found some relevant subReddits... I girded my loins and went back into Facebook again and the groups I've joined have been quite supportive although I can't quite determine how that has translated into new newsletter subscribers.
TBH, these weekly Office Hours and Shout Out threads have also been quite a boon, I've discovered a number of really great people this way!
Always looking for more ideas!
I always suggest people join Office Hours. It’s great.
My husband spends time on Reddit, I just can't find the time for another social media. I weirdly enjoy Twitter but I started a new "writer" account (keeping my personal account locked) and I just can't get the followers that I need there to gain the traction for self-promotion.
Reddit won't work for a lot of people and it probably shouldn't, so no worry or shame there.
Twitter can also be a tough nut to crack: after 14 years and tens of thousands of Tweets I've learned a few things. If you want to share your handle I can share it, maybe you'll get a few new eyeballs.
Hi Mark, thanks for that. I'm not going anywhere on Twitter, try as I might! @CiaoEva12
Would love to see if a share would help 😊 thanks.
Shared your Twitter account, hope it helps!
Thank you Mark. 😊
@sstyfwrites
I'm working on figuring it out and what I want my voice to be there.
Hi Sarah, I also have recently created new "writer accounts" for email, social, and this sub stack which is a pen name. I am hoping this provides more creative freedom. I also wanted to separate this work from my work life, etc.
I also primarily use twitter for promotion and would love to chat
What's your user ID?
Twitter's a weird one. I also enjoy it and have connected with some cool people on there, but I've found that I only get decent engagement when I'm constantly on there. Whenever I have breaks, even relatively small ones, my engagement falls off a cliff upon my return.
isnt reddit full of trolls & Qanon supporters?
depends on the subreddit, some are pretty wholesome
Agree with Oleg. Some subreddits are pure poison but there are some really good ones. People there are very wary about self-promotion within the subreddit, probably because it's been abused in the past. And a lot of Redditors don't suffer fools easily.
Hi Mark...and Oleg (joking aside) I take your points but in my past I have been a regular on 2 forums and both turned to pure poison (as you say). One started out noxious anyway and the other descended there after the culture wars ripped a previously creative community apart. Now I dont trust having online conversations much and the fact every word is written down and can be over analysed to the n'th degree. I know this is kind of a forum but im sticking mostly to real life where i can get a better sense of what people are about. xx :) peace love and unity
Gotta do what's best for you!
somehow i doubt it but if you say so :)
i remember the early 90s when people would actually meet :)
🤣🤣
LOL at "girded my loins"! Facebook--can't live with it, but it seems we can't live without it either.
A number of weeks ago I wrote a post about taking my birthday out of Facebook as a part of my "retreat" from that platform... now I'm going back in. Oh well. https://howaboutthis.substack.com/p/hiding-your-birthday-from-facebook
Yes! I did that years ago, and this year I culled my friends list extensively as part of my Digital Detox:
https://hollyrabalais.substack.com/p/digital-detox
(which you read and commented on: thanks!)
I just have to learn how to use FB to work for me without letting it suck my soul from my body.
Indeed. Some people have the same opinion about the toxicity of Twitter... it's really a factor of who you follow (and who follows you!)
Facebook is rough, but I still get okay-ish engagement on there. Have you tried Facebook groups? That's something I'm starting to look into.
Another substacker suggested that, and I think I'll try it! I actually have a mildly successful FB page for some other local writing, but I kind of like the anonymity here.
Edit: "anonymity" probably isn't the right word since I'm using my real name! I guess I mean that I like that most of the people reading my newsletter don't know me personally.
Did you have any luck with Reddit? AFAIK most subs have written or unwritten rules about self-promotion.
Limited. You are correct, virtually every sub does have those rules. I think it's a long term strategy and you have to be quite selective. Some of the subs provide excellent information regardless and I'm encountering some smart folks, so it's all good.
The Recommendations feature has been helpful lately for the free list, since it attaches my newsletter to others. And on top of that it's something like a relationship-builder between writers, which is just as crucial.
Sam Atis posted some tips about how he grew his subscriber list - I think there's something for everyone here, well worth checking out. https://www.samstack.io/p/a-brief-guide-to-substack
Super helpful. Thanks for sharing, William!
For me, Substack has been great for generating new readers internally as I spent the majority of my focus reaching out and connecting with others on the platform.
I’m not sure what the next steps would be to grow beyond the platform itself.
Where did you start with connecting with other writers?
Chuck P’s Plot Spoiler has a great community of writers.
https://chuckpalahniuk.substack.com
Interesting. Thanks for sharing, Matt.
How do you go about doing that, Matt? That's something I've struggled with initially.
Consistency.
I find the Substacks I’m interested in and become a part of that community by leaving (valuable) comments and supporting when and where I can.
What I try to keep in mind is that the goal is to become part of a community—connecting with others to learn from them and support them. Extra subscribers are only an added bonus (no matter what else my inflated ego tries to tell me.)
Thanks for the input, Matt. Based on what you're saying, it sounds like I need to be patient. I am doing some of what you describe, but it does take a little while to become part of a community. I appreciate the insight.
Really? Then, look for my tips a little bit below here!👇
+1 Brad had great ideas https://on.substack.com/p/office-hours-46/comment/7737068
Just thought of another: I've started a series of bi-weekly (now weekly) interviews with other people in Atlantic Canada who do interesting things. We correspond by E-mail via a series of questions that I provide them. I do some finishing finishing touches, including adding photos, and then I post. It's amazing how many different and interesting people are in this region! My most recent interview was with an oyster farmer - learned some new things there! I'm also starting to branch out and interview other Substackers who are not from Atlantic Canada so if you think you've got something interesting to share, hit me up!
How I reconcile this with my other themes (writing, creativity, smart thinking, etc.) is challenging but so far it's fun and people continue to sign up so there you go!
My interviews to date are on this post if you'd like to see them: https://howaboutthis.substack.com/p/the-atlantic-canada-mondays-interviews
Great idea, Mark - I'd be keen to engage - my 'things' are writing, story structure, and what we can learn from oral storytelling traditions (among other things).
https://leonconrad.substack.com/
leonconrad.com
Sounds like a good plan. Will check it out!
This is a fantastic idea, Mark. Good luck with the expansion! I'm in Ontario, though, so I'll have to wait for a long while :)
I'm open to doing interviews for other days of the week!
Do check my Substack and my writing. If you think it might be a good fit, I'm open to doing an interview!
A 1kg* bag of Lavazza Espresso coffee beans.
*Former weight.
I’ve found word of mouth and recommendations both really go a long way.
Silly question but how do you define word of mouth?
I actually think that's a great question, and it can be a slippery thing to define! I think of word of mouth as when a newsletter subscriber talks about said newsletter to someone who doesn't subscribe. Not infrequently, I'll reference a newsletter I've been reading to my friends who haven't heard of it--it's a jumping off point into a larger conversation, but I end up forwarding the newsletter that spurred the discussion.
Not a silly question! In my case, it's been:
-Writers linking my newsletter to their own posts (separate from the recommendations feature).
-People sharing/mentioning on Twitter
-Readers forwarding the newsletter via email
How do you promote word of mouth, apart from writing good stuff?
I use the "Share" and "leave a comment" buttons a lot in my newsletter. I also cross-promote my work (primarily) on twitter and add some sort of CTA with each tweet.
I'm from a generation that doesn't like to talk up their own work, so it's definitely a work in progress!
Thanks for responding, Kevin!
Getting on lists that share your work: the Sample does a great job with this: (https://thesample.ai/?ref=b66a),
And recommendations as well
Thanks, Caitlin! I'll give this a shot.
Oh interesting. Didn't know about this. Thanks for sharing, Caitlin!
@CaitlinHM, This 'Sample' thing looks interesting. Thank you! How on earth did you come across it? :-)
Through another Substacker! Can't even remember who at the moment.
Didn't know about that. Thanks!
Facebook has been far more useful than Twitter or LinkedIn. I am resisting going to Instagram, but I guess that platform could be next. The biggest difference is that I can find FB groups that show how many members they have, and I can promote content with certain themes in places where people are already gathering around that theme. FB also allows me to see how many posts have been sent for particular hashtags. I'm shooting in the dark on Twitter and LinkedIn with hashtags. This is strange, because I have more Twitter followers than FB friends, but FB seems to allow me to reach beyond my friend group with the hashtags.
I've definitely had the same experience with Twitter, but I've had a different experience with LinkedIn, which I'm finding to be a pretty good referrer. Instagram was a good initial boost, but I think it's because that's where I interact with most of my friends. I haven't utilized Facebook groups yet, but that's definitely something I'm going to look into.
Great point on hashtags. I've been surprised with the attention some of my Facebook posts have gotten, including coming back to the newsletter itself. I'm also experimenting with Instagram but not sure my content is best suited for that.
That's true. I always forget about hashtags on Facebook.
Ah...Facebook groups! I had not thought of this! I've not wanted to share on FB yet because I like that my friends and family aren't reading my newsletter. :) It's a sort of freedom, I think. But if I could join groups and work my newsletter into the conversation...
I also hesitate to plug my Substack newsletter to my Facebook friends unless they're fellow professionals and/or we're chatting IRL about what I'm currently up to then it feels OK to mention it. But maybe that's being excessively British 😉
I've found that FB groups end up being a lot of work for minimal return on engaged followers who are actually interested in what you have to say. I dropped all of the groups I was a part of over a year ago and haven't looked back. I've had way more success here.
Oh interesting. When you say you've had more success "here," do you mean interacting with other writers on Substack?
Yes. FB groups are full of people looking for readers for their own writing but not looking for new content to read. And the range of topics is far too broad.
Thanks for the insight, Sarah.
Thanks for that input!
For instance, I joined a group that has 23K+ members. That's a big audience.
I have definitely gotten subs on Instagram, but I find I get fewer every time (like I've reached critical saturation among my followers or something ha!). But a lot of my subscriber base seems to be more active on Instagram than Twitter, so I am trying to focus my energy there.
That's been my experience too, Kate. I had a good initial boost on Instagram, but it's been slowing down. I suspect it's because I've tapped most of my friends!
See, I love IG, but they keep changing algorithyms and I have over 500 followers and many don't see it. I'm working on doing a better job of aiming for quality over quantity.
I'm not one for photos or visuals so it's tough but I'm trying a few experiments.
The fictionistas Substack has been huge for me!
https://fictionistas.substack.com/
Curious why....as your newsletter is 100% truthie!
Well, I originally started a Substack because I write humor novels. So this was just supposed to be an author newsletter, but I find most author newsletters boring, so I figured I'd do some slice of life humor (which is truthie in the sense that's it's true but not quite true enough for nonfiction standards). Anyway, I had a little trouble finding my tribe at first because Substack has so much nonfiction energy. Eventually, I discovered Fictionistas and the Substack Writer's Unite discord. I guess you can say I'm a humor writer who caucuses with the fiction writers. Also, I have a lot of experience writing serial fiction on Wattpad, so I found that I was speaking the same language, more or less, as the Fictionistas community. Wow, that's a long explanation.
It's still early for me, but my biggest referrers so far have been, in this order: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Substack, Medium and Twitter.
In general, I find that Twitter and Medium (Medium, especially) are better at driving internal engagement versus driving traffic elsewhere. Instagram has been effective, but I'm anticipating a steep drop-off since that initial boon was almost exclusively made up of friends, which of course is not sustainable in the long term. LinkedIn still has pretty good organic engagement. I expect this be a viable long-term referrer.
I haven't tried groups on LinkedIn and Facebook yet, but I'm going to give this a look in the coming weeks. I've started to dabble in Quora. I'm getting visibility but not driving traffic yet. From what I understand, though, this has a longer cycle. I'm also engaging with other Substack writers, though I'm not expecting that to be a significant referrer.
Posting a quick list of newsletter issue contents on the socials when it's published
WITH
tags to everyone mentioned in the issue.
Global Podcast Editors newsletter, https://globalpodcasteditors.substack.com/, is a mix of industry resources and my own professional development and both of these buckets come with people and projects that I mention. For example, I do a Twitter thread where the first tweet is this contents list and the newsletter link. then each subtweet mentions different lists of folks.
Here's an example: https://twitter.com/stephfuccio/status/1542947954641731586
Nice idea!
thanks. every thing I do is something I saw someone else do...with slight tweaks.
Recommending people to read on my Substack has been helpful because the people that sub to the Authors I recommend, eventually sub to me.
Recommendations have really helped me as well. I’ve been able to get steady subscribes. But I also got one from Twitter so there’s that too.
Really? Huh, interesting. Did that take a while to materialize?
Not really. Now, I’ve got my own ma and pa Substack so I don’t expect huge crowds, but 10% of my current base is from recommendations in the past month. I’d say that’s pretty good.
Yeah, not bad. Thanks for sharing, Chevanne.
To clarify, you're getting subs by recommending other Substacks?
Yeah.
Super.
Yes. I have received 4 subscribers from those recommending my publication. In return, my recommendations have given 80 subscribers to other publications.
I must be doing something terribly wrong. I have recommended six different newsletter and they have netted at least 80 subs for those publications. In return, I have received 4. Don't get me wrong, I love helping other creators get the word out, but a little love in return would be awfully nice.
Thank you all for joining us at Office Hours today. Our team is signing off and will be back next week.
See you then,
Katie, Bailey, Jasmine, Aaron, Reid, Tain, Lucas, Kirthi, and Lucas
Hi Office Hours Team:
I'm Thane ("Devil's Dance"). I've signed up for Office hours today at 1:00 pm, but I don't know how to get there. Can you help me, please?
I need coaching on how to pin an image to the main title of my series, and also to the individual posts. The system is a little clunky, I'm afraid. Can you help me? Many thanks, Thane
(My e-mail address is gustaft@georgetown.edu)
What resources have been most valuable to you in getting started on Substack?
The Substack Writers Unite discord channel started by Elle Griffin has been most helpful. A very supportive community there.
Hi Mark, is this an open community to join? I'd love to meet more writers and read their work!
I second what Mark said. The community is great! And it's an open community, Natalie, so feel free to drop in.
https://discord.com/invite/q9S4feaDVz
Thanks so much Geoffrey! I've just joined it 🥸 I'm excited to check out everyone's work.
Hello! Just joined. I'm not familiar with Discord and scrolling through I was confused! Could you explain how it works? Thank you so much!
It'll help to know that it started (and may still be, largely) as a video game site! Which explains why I don't get it! Just cut'n'paste your latest article, and at the bottom of the page, put the web link to it there! It'll show up on the feed thingy there!
Oh! Thanks!
Thanks, Geoffrey!
Just joined--thanks for the link! Reminds me of an IRC channel.
I agree, the Discord community is great. For my first year writing, I was very much alone, but connecting with others through Office Hours and the Discord community made the second year so much better.
100%
Thanks so much for sharing, Mark. This is great.
thanks for mentioning this. have heaps of groups for my content area (podcast editing) but not for the writing side of things. this will help a lot. appreciate this so much!
I'd recommend this book to anyone starting a newsletter:
https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026
It's about how to keep showing up, and how to recognise you're treating yourself with a level of intolerence and disrespect that you would never, ever throw at anyone else. So much of this newslettering lark (at whatever level you're at, including at the top of the pack, I gather) is recognising that you're giving yourself such an unnecessarily hard time that it's stopping you working...
This is a book - and a solid-gold classic of the genre - and short! You'll race through it - about getting moving again.
Need to read this!
I now have 27 tabs open from all the links I want to check out--thanks!
right?
Me too!
Same!
Thanks for sharing this, Mike. Looks great!
Hi Laura! :) Good to see you here.
Thanks Mike! Loving discovering so much about this community on Substack. Grow has been super helpful too!
Looks super interesting. Thanks for sharing, Mike.
Great rec. Will check it out!
Will check it out.
Yes, I do have this (I wasn't sure if this is the one I had). His take on Resistance as a malevolent, almost material force that holds you back is a useful metaphor.
Hi Katie--
Sorry to be multiple-messaging you. I'm still trying to figure my way into the Office Hours system. Here is my earlier message to you:
Hi Office Hours Team:
I'm Thane ("Devil's Dance"). I've signed up for Office hours today at 1:00 pm, but I don't know how to get there. Can you help me, please?
I need coaching on how to pin an image to the main title of my series, and also to the individual posts. The system is a little clunky, I'm afraid. Can you help me? Many thanks, Thane
(My e-mail address is gustaft@georgetown.edu)
Hi everyone! Here is a little encouragement from one writer to another today: are you calling yourself a writer, out loud and with honor for your creative journey? Because you ARE one! No matter your level of skill, your quantity and frequency of output, your number of followers. If you're writing, you're a writer. You've arrived! Don't let anyone, least of all your self-doubt, derail you from your creative path. Need a little boost? Let us know, and let's lift each other up today. Dig deep, rise up, keep going, DON'T STOP! 🌿
I’m new and needed this! Thank you! ❤️
Yes!! I launched in June to a mailing list of 550+, not knowing if anyone was going to open my first email because I worried that none of them knew me as a writer, but as a designer instead. Today was my first day where I told people out loud that I was writing instead of more vaguely "working", and referenced other writers when talking about my work. Thank you for reaffirming the importance of this declaration!! So those in the back can hear me - I'm a writer 🙌🏼
What guidance has been most helpful in converting free readers to paid subscribers?
I'm only two months in so... grain of salt. I publish 2-3 long-form articles per month and a daily "Today's Tidbit" that are free and cross posted to Twitter and Facebook. In one section that goes to paid subscribers, I am serializing portions of a book I will publish in the next few months. The paid/ serial postings go to all subscribers and are cross posted using the paid preview option, so the freebies can read some, but not all. Too soon to tell how it is working, but thought I'd share the idea in case it helps someone else.
Nice example, Tim. Thanks. The preview seems like a perfect solution. I have been curious about whether folks run into issues with publishing content they aim to publish with a journal, magazine, or press later. Are you self-publishing your book? Is someone else publishing it that doesn't care that it appeared on Substack first? I also write for literary magazines, hoping to build some craft credibility there (I've published in over twenty by now). But my sense is that they would not accept a piece that I'd published on Substack first.
I've self-published two books via Amazon and plan to do the same with #3.
I have a question about this. A friend of mine just started a Substack, and I think he left the settings such that people could choose to subscribe with payment or for free, and they are all getting the same thing. Maybe some people have felt generous to him, because he has been picking up some paid subscribers. I, on the other hand, do not have the option (I don't think) for anyone to subscribe with payment (maybe I'm wrong). I have almost 200 free subscribers and no paid subscriptions. My question is whether some people are able to grow a free list while also allowing subscribers to opt in for payment if they want to contribute financially? Or is it better, as my sense of it is, to keep everything free until you jump off the cliff and launch the paid version? I'm working with an artist on a logo and am planning for a little fanfare when I announce the shift to paid. But I'm a little jealous that my friend is getting some cash while I'm getting nothing. Am I missing out, or is he setting himself up for slower growth and potentially losing some of those paid folks down the road?
Joshua, all of my content is free but folks have the option of a paid subscription if they are feeling generous. I've been this way since I launched last October. Now I have 2,800 subscribers total and 138 are paying—about 5%.
I am happy with this and hope to continue offering everything for free while growing the overall subscriber numbers and keeping the paid % at least 5%.
I don't ever want to put anything behind a paywall because I want my zine to feel like a big zany friendly open community and I think a paywall would ruin the feel.
Interesting viewpoint. Suggests that a small but worthwhile percentage of people will pay just because they think you're worth supporting. Enough to justify the hard work we all have to put in? Not sure yet!
I actually switched to this sort of "opt in" patreon model in April. I have just under 300 subscribers and I've seen a little less than 10% conversion rate. It was important to me when I switched to paid for all the content to remain free, and fortunately, I still saw relatively steady (although slow) growth of my free list. I'm just starting to experiment with offering a little bit of paid subscriber-only content, and haven't seen many conversions yet, but I'm okay with some trial and error to see what works. Regardless, it was validating to me that people wanted to support my work even when they weren't getting anything extra. Best of luck!
This is really interesting. I've actually been wondering that myself. Part of my pitch is that by subscribing to Eat This, Drink That they're helping to keep my website matchingfoodandwine.com free for everyone to access and that seem to resonate with some. So I have been wondering if I'm keeping too many posts behind a paywall
Thanks for sharing your experience. I may consider this approach after I've built up some consistent posts.
Related-is there any evidence of people just launching a paid substack from the get-go, and growing from there?
For instance -launching with say, 25 paid subscribers out of a very small community of say 100 readers, and then using social media, word of mouth and lots of content production to grow?
I first posted April 16, 2021, and went paid June 1. I could not see the point to waiting for a number. In that June, I made about $800, which was MOST encouraging. Many of those subs were supportive ex-students of mine (I had taught in the creative writing program of a uni). After that, my earnings have averaged out to about $400-500/month. I now have just over 1000 subs altogether, with 88 paid. It is slow. I was hoping for twice that. My goal is 250.
But why wait, if your goal is to go paid? You should know that I posted a LOT of material in those early months, and have continued to do so. I've built up a truly useful index for folks to explore. I've also recently added a section of writing workshops, for (paid only) people to share work and offer feedback... in this case, a group for picturebook writers. (Though open to other needs, too.) But this little group is going particularly well, with people happy to find somewhere to post this rather specialized area. (has to be one of my fave writing forms :)
Thanks, Alison for your response.
How did you go about your paid launch, if I may ask? Did you email former students prior, or make phone calls to let people know? Did you lay any "groundwork"?
I set it all up, posted a NUMBER of pieces, and then sent out an email to let them know it was up and running, and what my plans were. All my years of being a supportive instructor--keeping in touch with people (asking them if they've sent out that amazing manuscript yet :) and going to their book launches, celebrating with them, etc., meant something, it turned out).
it took me a long time, though, to actually offer posts that weren't for "paid only" because I simply didn't have enough paid folks. So that was very much an intuitive thing... feeling my way through what paying folks would "put up with," with me sharing all the work and would they feel it was pointless to BE paid? I decided that after one month, I would "archive" free pieces, and they'd be paid only... Months in, I started to post pieces that really were "paid only" from the time of posting. Later, I started to limit--sometimes--commenting to "paid only." A lot of that type of navigating has been by feel.
I've made a point to take questions from "paid" to write posts, and to note such on the post.
In further answer to your initial question, too, I don't think I've "lost" anything by going paid early--quite the opposite.
I've been wondering this too!
I moved free 6700 sub's onto SS 10 weeks ago. I have a readership of about 44-56%. I am nervous to intro the paid option. I feel I need to re establish trust with them after the move? Maybe I am just being a little hesitant bc it is going so well rn?
This is has been difficult. The 10% rule hasn't worked and it has been a slow drip, which is good, but getting thousands of loyal readers to go paid has been tough.
I started my substack in March with a paid + free option and have about 10% paying subscribers. I think it's possible as long as you're still offering the paying subscribers something of value. (I host writing & Yoga retreats so I offered a discount to paying subscribers & also write paying-only posts)
What resources have you turned to for launching paid subscriptions?
I've used the Substack resources for conversion ratios. My plan for going paid is to hit 1,000 free subscribers. I typically have 50% or higher engagement with every newsletter, so I expect that I could aim for somewhere around 8% conversion to paid. 80 paid subscribers would make it worth my time to create extra paid content.
I do have a question here, however. Do you need to necessarily create something new to go paid, like add a podcast or add a Friday thread or book discussion or something? Or can you distribute free content once a week and then, when you're ready to go paid, say that the free subscribers only get the essay once a month? I really have no sense of what my free subscribers would consider worth their money if they were to consider a paid subscription. Some of them might just want to keep getting the essays and not want a podcast or discussion thread, and if that's the case then my main product would still be free, while the supposedly value-added product would have less appeal. That would not make any sense.
You wrote, "I've used the Substack resources for conversion ratios"where are these? Sorry but am super new to the resouces on the platform. I thought I read somewhere early on that 3-5% conversion was good. 8% sounds amazing. Would love to read more. thanks so much.
Welcome to Substack Stephanie! Here you can find all our resources: https://substack.com/resources
On conversion in particular, this is the best resource: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-5
awesome. thanks Katie!
Hello substack, I had an idea the other day and I am excited to share it for your edification or maybe you can help me improve the idea.
I am committed to low and slow growth. I am not one for constant promotion--and that's OK, every substack has it's niche. But Even some non-profits do fundraising drives. So I was thinking of using September as SUBtember, and using one month to do a hard subscription drive.
My plan is to spend August telling my readers what is coming. And then, come September, I will make all of my paid content open for the month (no paywall, just a "free preview" timed to end 10/1. I will add special weekly promotional content, where I solicit reader archetypes to help out my substack.
-Lurkers, consider subscribing!
-Subscribers, consider (if you can) supporting my work with a paid subscription!
-If you cannot or don't want to get a paid subscription, consider telling one person about my publication?
-Paid subscribers, you are great! But maybe you can tell one person about my publication too?
-Everyone, likes tell me that you are reading and you support my work, please tell me you're here!
-Everyone, comments tell me more explicitly what you think, because you are commenting!
So that's the plan. This SUBtember I am going to do a bit of an aggressive push, but then the other 11 months I will go back to low and slow. What do you think? Does anyone do something similar? What has worked, what does not?
Please report back at Office Hours if you do this! Cool idea
I feel like I need to insert a meme about stealing your idea. Great stuff.
i hope im not coming across spammy because its not my intention and sure these conversations are valid but i see more posts about growing a subscriber base and $$$ and less about the art of being a writer.
i feel like if you just wanna gouge money out of the internet posts pictures of Nicky Minaj or Kim Kardashian or go to a casino. Leave writing to the artists?
Thanks for your comment Liam! The great thing about Office Hours is that it is for writers to talk about some of the administrative "sausage" that is not really fun to make, and that is hard to learn individually. I have learned a lot from the community here about the business of writing and I hope that they take my comment in that spirit.
When Substack does an office hours on the art of writing (which is a good idea, and they should do!) then I look forward to seeing your thoughts there and learning from you!
God bless you!
Hi Scoot... hey there... good to see you...
But why cant we talk about the art of writing now. This idea that you have to stay 'on topic' all the time comes from net culture and i dont like it.
remember when we used to meet in the pub and conversations would range widely. thats how humans work...not to some artificial agenda. unfortunately the lab rats have taken over.
xxx ;) peace love and unity
Well you can talk about the art of writing now, too! Office hours are for us to talk about whats on our minds with our publication. I would love to hear your thoughts on the art of writing. The topic is generally prompted by the Substack team but is not limited to what they suggest. My comment is not exactly germane to polls or cashtags, but it is relevant to other writers, hopefully.
Leave a comment spilling your mind about the art of writing, I will keep a lookout! I would love to learn what you have to say!
lol ;)
My newsletter is ALL about the art of writing. (And not the pyramid-scheme-writing thing, nor the Amway approach we see so much of, which is, yes, tiresome, to my mind.)
But I hate feeling like I'm standing at a phone booth without a quarter in my hand. And writing with no one to share with feels too much like that. I think that's what this time is about... finding a quarter to be able to share.
And I could use a quarter about now.
You most certainly do not come across as spammy. If more cared about the art of writing--and the art of READING--we wouldn't have to be talking about how to sell ourselves... oh my.
This sounds like a great idea. Good luck with it.
That's a nifty idea! Best of success to you!
Wanted to celebrate a win today… a Twitter follower subscribed to my newsletter! It’s my first conversion! 🥳
We talk a lot about what we’ll gain but sometimes being part of the community and not looking for anything helps good fortune find you. I might focus on that for a while.
Congrats!
Thanks!
Hell yea! Go Chevanne!
Chevanne, totally cool. Congrats!
Did that just happen automatically? Or is there some button we all need to check, or...?
I have my newsletter link in my profile and they must have signed up from there.
Congratulations! I’ve had similar experiences. Converted Heygo followers.
Never heard of Heygo. What is that?
What factors contribute to each subscriber's starred "activity" rating besides email opens?
You can learn more here: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/6461334789652-What-are-the-stars-on-my-Subscribers-dashboard-
It includes views, shares, clicks, and other kinds of activity.
That’s a good question.
+1!
I also want to know this.
Is there a way to tell if subscribers are spam or bots? Every now and then I'll get a small influx of new subscribers, but it's hard to tell if they're real people. Just wondering if anyone else has run into this, and whether it's worth removing folks who have never opened an email from my subscriber list? (About 12% currently.)
Some writers also use their Welcome Email to solicit a direct reply from your new subscriber by asking them how they found you, where they're located, or some other information that is useful for you to know about your subscribers. An added perk of this approach: by creating an initial two-way conversation with a subscriber, your emails are less likely to land in spam or the promotions tab.
Thanks! I have something like this in my welcome letter. I don't get a ton of replies, but when I do, they're always super interesting and fun!
Great tip! I think that would work really well with my audience.
That hadn't occurred to me. Thanks, Katie!
Great idea... I will make a change in my email tomorrow to include this strategy. Many thanks for the tip Katie
I've been told that if you enable double-opt in for signups, it will weed out the bots going forward.
I just checked and I didn't have that enabled! I'll give a try. Thanks!
Ahhh, good tip.
Some browsers allow users to decline cookies, so I have a reader who comments and likes and engages frequently but has never (according to the stats) opened an email. So give some allowance for technical wizardry!
Oh, good point! I figure it only hurts my open rate, which only hurts my vanity. :)
😂
The same thing is happening in my corner of the world, so yes, don't go removing people from your list until you are certain they aren't reading anything.
Our team is aware of the desire for "pruning" lists and is working on some tools to help writers with this!
Thanks Bailey! Looking forward to seeing what the team comes up with.
I've been able to use the filter feature to view subscribers who have never opened an email, which is nice. I've toyed with the idea of sending them a sort of "Hey, if you're reading let me know! Otherwise I might delete you" message, but that feels kind of aggressive.
I don't know if there's a way, but I also got the same thing when I was collecting newsletter subscribers, at the time with Mailchimp. When I transferred my list of 550+ over to Substack I was worried I was sending out my first newsletter to an audience of bots. But surprisingly 24% have been consistently opening their emails and a bunch returning to view/listen again so that's been encouraging. So in my little experiment, somewhere between 0-75% of those might be bots...but also might just be people that don't open emails.
This happens a lot to me, it sucks.
I have the same issue. I will have an uptick in subscribers that don't even open the next newsletter.
Good question. Have you tried writing to those questionable subscribers directly? Maybe they're accessing the material through the website...
Over 600 signups through Recommendations so far. Most after a pretty big videogame YouTuber (800k-ish subs) referenced a Substack that recommends me. The writer of said Substack and I spoke briefly about it the day it started, and it seemed like between a quarter and a third of his new signups were also signing up to me off the Recommendations prompt. Whether they'll be as sticky as organic signups remains to be seen (open rates seem a little lower already) but will see how it goes.
Wasn't that impressed with the idea of Recommendations at first but seems I may have been wrong about that, haha.
Nice was the Youtuber reference on Substack or YouTube?
On YouTube!
Almost 1k sign ups through recommendations here, it is by far the best feature to date.
I'm seeing this a lot. Does this happen mainly through developing relationships with other Substackers by engaging with them and their content?
Both. In fact, many came here from office hours!
Good to know!
Hey YouTopian, how are you maximising your efforts with recommendations? I'm currently recommending most of the publications I follow, but not seeing a return on subscription (most probably bc I'm recommending these big publications 😅 and they won't care about teeny little me), are you following a few (hundred) writers and recommending their work? Any tips?
I have a relationship with the writers I am recommending (they are doing the same) although I did get a massive boost from a fan who sent me a lot of people. I simply returned the favor.
I was wondering the same, Natalie.
Have you found a proactive way to encourage other Substackers to recommend your Substack (other than writing good stuff, of course)?
I just have to thank everyone from the Office Hours two weeks ago. I received some really good suggestions and have been able to slowly grow my readership. I write a substack that explores non-fiction in relationship to current events and the suggestions have helped me begin to find my tribe. As always, I am looking to connect with other writers who read a lot of non-fiction and want to connect the dots. I think the substack community really rocks!!! I would really love to try the idea of a guest author but don't feel comfortable approaching anyone until my readership numbers get a little higher.
Hi Sharon, my research involves a lot of reading of non-fiction sources. I'd love to explore reciprocal guest authorship ideas. gabthinking (at) gmail (dot) com
Best,
George
that would be great, just subscribed to your newsletter.
Sorry for the delay in following up, Sharon, was catching up on all the missed Office Hours. just subscribed to Brain Food - perhaps we can jump on an introductory call? Ping me on my email and we can set something up.
Look forward to it,
George
I think I missed getting your email address. Mine is sharoncortelyou@gmail.com. I am more than willing to have an introductory call.
Thanks, Sharon, will follow up via email from gabthinking (at) gmail (dot ) com.
Happy connect here and offline as I’m a nonfiction geek building an audience here as well... james@socialawarenessinstitute.org
That would be great. I just subscribed to your work to get a sense for our common threads.
Today I'm sending an email to all my subscribers directly, because I don't want the content to be published on the web.
When you turn on paid, you can do this easily. Just make a regular post and click the "send to free subscribers only" button. But when your Substack is free, the option isn't there. You have to go into the subscribers tab, select all, then send as an email, and I'm not sure if you can schedule it. (I'm too afraid to click the red "Send Email" button to find out, lol.)
I'd love to see the paid feature available for free Substacks, too. It would make life a little easier for all users.
Is there a way to “sort” or choose which recommendations are visible on one’s publication/home page? It’s not a big deal, but I’ve been wondering about this for a week or two. Thanks! 😄
Just shared this ask with the team working on recommendations. Makes sense to me!
Awesome! Thank you so much for doing that, Bailey!
Oh, interesting. Good question, Justin. That hadn't occurred to me.
i've been begging for this feature for ages. or i'd love if they would shuffle automatically!
Ahh, gotcha! I wasn’t sure if I was missing something. Yes, that would work nicely, too!
This isn't a question but just something I wanted to share about being in Substack Grow.
I assumed it would have valuable information -- and it definitley has!
But the most valuable aspect has been the networking I've done with other Substack writers. That was something I knew I should be doing but had been putting because I was too busy.
What a huge mistake! Thanks to grow I've not only made all sorts of new contacts, but have set up four different collabs with other writers.
I know most people aren't doing Grow but that doesn't you can't start networking with other Substack writers. Just reach and do it!
Don't make the mistake I made!
Woah 4 collabs! That's rad
I agree. I've connected with other writers in all sorts of ways, commenting on newsletters, the Discord server, and by directly emailing them. It's been great.
there's a discord server?
Sorry I didn't get back to you. You might have seen a link in some of the other comments, I know someone definitely posted it. If not... this link will remain valid for about a week.
https://discord.gg/hJabFrPa
Thanks very much, Melanie
How does one do that, apart from turning up to these sessions? I comment on other people's articles, but networking is different I think.
I think it starts with commenting on other people's articles definitely. But then I think you should reach out directly to them via email, Twitter direct message, whatever, and tell them how much you like their work, share what your interests are in common and go from there.
I would start with similar sized Substacks -- which can be hard to figure out, I know! -- and then see if there are collab opportunities.
But networking takes time and repeated efforts, so you have to be in it for the long haul.
Thanks, Michael. I've done some of that, but not explicitly said how much I like their work. Good point. Thanks very much!
Had some pretty good success joining Facebook groups that are related to my content. it's a bit of a slog because you have to pretend to be a 'normal member' for a few weeks before dropping in an advert for your Substack. Also - I have a Facebook account not in my name which helps with posting my links. I also spend an hour a week linking my Substack as replies to YouTube comments on videos of similar writers or content to mine. It's long-winded stuff, but I also built my business this way - it's no budget, labour intensive, guerilla marketing - but it works.
I once had to promote a gig in a small town. I bought some spray-mount (aerosol adhesive spray) and made a small stencil out of a cornflake box of the band name. I had some lovely late night walks where I put the stencil on the floor - just to the side of the pavement (sidewalk) and sprayed over it in one quick spray. Because of dust and other environmental pollutants, over the next few days the band name seemed to magically appear all over the town. These things don't work alone, and it was part of a bigger brand awareness campaign. But the venue was packed. You might want to check the legality of such things and of course it's purely fictional in my case. But people - you're creative - get creative and get known!
I use the scheduling post feature so if I am traveling, my newsletter always goes out. I also have a f ew posts nearly ready... just in case!
I find that stacking up a pile of drafts with added photographs helps me be more consistent about posting. Being able to choose which one to finish and post depending on my current mood opens up my creativity and makes the process much smoother. I haven't actually scheduled a post yet, but I love it when I am ahead of schedule but able to post at whim, too.
You ever schedule a wildly unfinished draft just to keep the pressure on? 🙃
Haha no, but that sounds like a great plan! 😀
It’s the beeeeest. Love scheduling everything.
I'd like to share an experiment I did recently with Substack's audio embed feature. It's a great tool for music reviewers - you can add samples of songs to a post to highlight the particular aspect of the music you are discussing. You can look at how I used it here: https://www.ruins.blog/p/little-brother
How do I branch out and get people interested in my newsletter?
I'd get business cards. I use VistaPrint online, 'cause they have a way to transpose your "Football(In Detail)" web address into a QR code, which you kids are so into these days! I put the cards on Starbux and Panera bulletin boards, and other places with community bulletin bds.!
See if there are other sports/football writers here you can share writing space with. You either collab, or write something, putting in a link to another's 'Stack, and they do the same in one of theirs. See how I used another writer's newsletter to link after he wrote about something that inspired me: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1981-the-producers
Good luck!
I have a QR code too! It’s so handy!
That's a great idea!
In my experience it helps to build a presence on other social media platforms, follow discussions and build a name for yourself there. Over time you can direct attention back to your newsletter but each platform can have strict rules about how much you can do that (Reddit comes to mind) so research them carefully. Good luck!
I promote my two Substack newsletters on a couple of other blogs I write, and Twitter (mainly). It's a drip-drip kind pf progress. Haven't tried Reddit much, but have heard good reports about it.
You can join communities. There’s Discord, Twitter, and Facebook. Reddit can work if you’re in the right space.
https://discord.gg/EMvQpwbv —>I’m on this Discord which has helped me build relationships with other writers.
Just wanted to share a little finding. I post every Monday morning and was curious whether it made sense to go ahead and continue that schedule when Monday coincided with one of the many Monday holidays or to delay the post until Tuesday. So I did a little experiment.
The result....On Memorial Day weekend, I delayed publication and sent my newsletter on Tuesday instead. It had the same open rate as I usually get: about 66%.
When it came to the Fourth of July, I published on a Monday. The open rate was the worst I've ever experienced....even now 10 days later its still at 58%.
This is just anecdotal of course but going forward I'm going to avoid publishing on a holiday.
I have the same schedule (Mondays), I feel like while the initial stats were low, eventually people came back to it, whenever they got back to email in general. It feels like summer has just had lower stats in general.
Yes I've seen other writers mentioning they saw the same phenomenon last summer.
I read somewhere that the best time for Instagram reels are on Sunday mornings. maybe b/c folks are lounging in bed and scrolling? Perhaps the same logic can be applied to when to post. I avoid Mondays b/c most folks (depending on your audience) are back in the office and have to focus on work instead of reading for personal enjoyment. I typically post on Fridays so a new post is fresh for leisurely weekend reading.
What's great about these Office Hours is the opportunity to discover new writers. Already subscribed to two people from this thread and super happy to see some familiar faces!
I had a break a couple of months back, the first time we'd been out of the country since the pandemic began. It turned out to be a really good excuse to talk about how travel influences fiction writing: https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/being-inspired-by-place
Malta - what a good place to get inspired!
Loving this reflection Simon!
Any wisdom on growing your free list?? Have been publishing once a week for 3-4 months— is that enough?? Would love to have an actual audience. I write about music & culture :)
Get you newsletter on The Sample : (https://thesample.ai/?ref=b66a) They distribute to a wider audience for you.
Also just share in your socials. Create a voice that people want to listen to.
I've done that and have had good results .
Brian had some great advice today https://on.substack.com/p/office-hours-46/comment/7737378
Also check out our Grow resources: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-4
In short: I think you have to go to the audience so they will know to come to you.
Get to know your fellow Substack writers, which can lead to cross-promotion opportunities, word of mouth recommendations (such as in Shout Out threads and real-life recs) and obviously the Substack Recommendations (which has been a surprisingly great source of subscribers for me).
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for the advice - sounds silly, but...how do you get to know your fellow substack writers? Do you just show up in their comments?
You can join our Discord. https://discord.gg/EMvQpwbv
Showing up in the comments is how I found it, though. 🙂
Hi Natalie, I've made connections that way, and also just emailing them to say hello when I've enjoyed a particular issue of their newsletter. And others have reached out to me this way as well. It's always very welcome!
Super, thanks Anne. I'll look to do that going forward!
Natalie, you basically asked the questions I had before I asked them!
Promote, promote, promote!
Is it possible to allow for image uploads in the comments?
I run blog where I share content related to the subject Public Administration. I would like to post questions and get the responses from fellow students. Some write on paper and would like to upload the scanned pics of the same. Kindly let me know if there is any work around for this issue.
We have heard this request! I will pass it along to our product teams.
I'm looking for cross collaboration opportunities with another Substack author.
If you do comics or illustrations can you turn this article into a comic on your Substack?
https://mindvoyage.substack.com/p/level-up-your-mental-health-
If this sounds cool, reach out let's do it.
Check me out, this could be a great collaboration.
I read your article. Annus Mirabilis
I did plan to make 2022 a miracle year. Seems like we have similar goals.
I subscribed to your newsletter, email me.
Let's do it!
Awesome. Email me info@shaungold.com and we can go from there!
Replied
How do opens on the Substack app translate to the open rates I'm seeing reflected on my dashboard?
When a reader opens your post in the app, it will count the same way that an email open counts in your stats.
I'm struggling getting started. I plan to publish weekly and have 4-5 pieces complete. I just am not sure how to start my list. I'm hesitant to start with friends and family, but not sure how to get "strangers" lined up. Any advice?
Put your stuff in The Sample: it disperses your work to a broader audience. (https://thesample.ai/?ref=b66a)
But also, you are a writer, no matter who reads it. You are showing up and doing the work. It will take time for others to see you as a writer, but you can call yourself a writer and own! Hope you find some supportive family and friends.
Thank you, Caitlin. I'll give this a look.
Dennis, I imported my list of about 300 followers from Mailchimp over to Substack about two months ago. Slowly, those free subscribers are becoming more aware of what Substack is all about and my conversion rate is improving. Time. Patience.
Thanks, Carol. But I'm really at ground zero. I don't have a list or anything to port to Substack. How can I make that initial foray into the public? I am thinking of just making a few tweets to see who might engage. Any thoughts on how you got that initial list going?
Guerilla marketing. Get a load of pieces written and uploaded, then shill them all over the internet. Leave replies to comments on YouTube videos that are about (or even audiobooks) of similar writers and/or content to yours. In an hour you can cut and paste about 250 links. An hour a week might get you 5 new subs, but they will tell friends, and so the ball begins to roll. I built my business in this way, and I still do it for my Substack, although it's been a while as I've been pretty lucky with subs as I have quite a good social media presence.
I understand, Dennis. So I’ve had a private Facebook group for like-minded creatives (The Footloose Muse) for over a year. In order to join, they had to supply their email address. It took a while, but slowly my list increased. I’ve been teasing out short posts on Instagram stories and on Twitter. I’m throwing a lot of shit up and some of it is sticking. Just start somewhere. I didn’t know all the answers when I started. I didn’t even know what questions to ask, but I just knew, intuitively, that substack was where I needed to be and I’m not turning back.
Thanks much, Carol!
I wonder if it is possible to get my follower list from FB to import to Substack?
Sandy, let me know if you’re successful. My guess is that Facebook guards that information with their life. They don’t want their readers leaving Facebook for other places.
Dennis, I've just subscribed! - so now you have to give me something to read ;-)
Thank you, Chris! You’re #1 literally! I am traveling right now but will jump on this at the beginning of the week when I return. This kind of support and motivation is very refreshing. Thank you again.
Chris, Travel Tales has launched. If you're still interested, give it a look. Thanks again for your encouragement.
Travel Tales by Den Bianucci: https://bit.ly/3PwH8FO
I started my blog on Substack in response to questions from queries on 3 Practice Circles asking if I had published any of my ideas on ending racism in my lifetime. Then I was asked to do a talk on BIPOC, of which tribe I am not ethnically, though I am intellectually. Then sent first articles to both groups as well as former work groups and friends I knew to be concerned about racism too.
I still need to create a relevant name for it--suggestions would be most welcome.
This is a good guide! https://on.substack.com/p/getting-your-first-100-signups
Do you all call your work a "newsletter?" I do not. Prefer to refer to it as my "column" or my "blog." Newsletter harkens back to those horrible days of creating marketing newsletters for clients.
I've started calling mine a "zine." Because I think it actually is a zine!
I call them my Substacks, even though people don't always know what that is. :)
Me too - last year they didn't know what it was, these days they do.
Oh, I like that!!! 🤣😊😃
I agree. I have mine modeled mostly after my blog that I had for ten years or so. I don't want to call it a blog, either. So I don't call it anything!
I think you can decide, but I like column.
I also dislike newsletter, as I don't intend to give news so much as insights. Brainstorming here:
Column-fitting but seems a piece of a larger paper
'Zine-probably accurate for some substacks--but to me it conjures something glossy, and for multiple writers. But that could just be me.
Substack-accurate but many don't know it yet...unfortunately.
Periodical- old fashioned maybe but it is indeed what they are.
Any other ideas?
Any others?
I call it my 'Substack'! A year ago no one in the UK knew what it meant, but these days I get people saying things like "Oh, very fancy" and the like. I'm with you, 'Newsletter' is terrible.
Can Substack release data on what % of writers have 1,000 or more subscribers (free and paid)?
I also would like to see this.
Hey...I'm publishing anthropology essays every Monday and Thursday. I managed to crank up my subscribers from 6-12 gouging my email lists on Yahoo. I even had a DJ on Irish national radio give me a shout out and read the URL of my substack but my subscribers didn't shift upwards.
At the moment Im listening to a podcast series called 'Crafting with Ursula Le Guin'. I find chasing fame, money and notoriety through social media a drag and Im now taking my process inwards again and finding out what motivates me to write beyond $$£££.
Liam xx - Peace and Love
The Ursula Le Guin podcast sounds interesting! I've read her "Steering the Craft" book and it's a very good resource for writers.
Hi Oleg yeh its 'mega'... i cant remember the exact podcast name but if you on the official Le Guin website youll find mention of it.
Do you want other people to read it or not? Because that's the decision you're contemplating.
Sorry to be so inept at all this. I need to know how to access this discussion. I don't understand the meaning of a discussion "thread". I am a digital dummy.
Welcome, Stewart! These comments *are* the discussion. :) You can scroll down and view what others are saying or questions they are answering. Jump right in with an answer or reply to someone's comment if they have an answer that helps you. All the comments can be a bit overwhelming, but you'll get the hang of it! (No digital dummies...only those who haven't learned it yet!)
The meaning of thread is simply that a reply to your message, like this one, goes under your message, instead of being added to the bottom of the entire list of messages. There are a number of discussion sites on the Web where this is not so and every comment simply gets added to the end of a long list, even if it is a reply to a message much higher on the list.
Thanks for that: I didn't even know how to ask the question but I had had the problem!
Hey Substack Team,
Few quick questions but first THANK YOU for building out this platform daily, adding features and listening to your writers.
1. I recently posted a video from my phone and it turned out very light. There was little contrast. I’m not sure if this has effected others.
2. Is there any plans to allow us to post to Instagram Stories?
3. Random question, should I start with a photo, or write some information then go to a photo?
Thank you again,
Aaron Pete
I'd like to be able to hit the share button, and have a thumbnail of the post and the title as a story. For reference, Spotify does a great job of this. If I hit share on Spotify to Instagram, it shows the cover art, and title in Instagram stories.
I am interested in having other writers articles featured on my free substack newsletter. Does anyone have advice on recruiting contributors?
We have a little piece of writing on this - https://on.substack.com/i/39924671/build-your-support-network
Starting a publication is a big lift, and you don’t have to do it alone. From the beginning, we recommend developing a support network of readers, writers, and friends.
Think of three friends, peers, supporters, or mentors who have encouraged your writing in the past. Reach out to them today, and tell them that you’re launching a Substack publication. Share your hopes and fears, ask for advice, or simply talk through the questions you’ve begun thinking through.
Next, practice asking for things by reaching out to someone new. Find someone whose work you admire. Write a short – no more than 3-5 sentences – cold email asking them one thoughtful question. Check out these tips for writing a cold email.
What makes a good cold email:
Do research on the person you’re reaching out to
Introduce yourself, including any shared interests or relevant background
Make a specific ask by including a question in the email itself
Keep it brief: a few short paragraphs is good enough
Be gracious: acknowledge that they may not have time to respond
I also encourage you to check out what Elizabeth Held did to kickstart her publication: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-series-6?utm_source=url
I'd start with fellow food writers, more specifically (at least now), wine writers, or fine foodies.
Sounds like a great plan Reid
Don't foresee any breaks on my end, but I do wish my fellow writers the best in this summer, break or not!
While I love the recommendation feature on Substack, I have noticed a negative side effect.
If you have too many recommendations listed I've gotten comments that it's a bit off putting for a perspective subscriber. They see it as if their inbox is going to get flooded with emails. I'm thinking it might be best to keep the recommendations down to 3-4 out of the 8-10 you'd like to recommend, then also rotate the names on the list every week to give the various newsletter equal time in the recommendations. Think this makes sense?
Great feedback! Passing along to our product team
That is a really interesting idea. I would have to put myself on a schedule to remember to change it. I also like featuring a link to some of my favorite reads from other substackers when it suits my brand. That feels like an even more specific type of recommendation.
I agree. It helps to strengthen the view and trust factor of your own "brand" if you are selective and choose complimentary newsletters. Perhaps eventually readers might even look forward to your weekly recommendations.
So how do I start charging? What new connections or whatever? Just make the announcement and some algorithm will take over?
You can turn on the option and set payment tiers in Settings. I was always paid but once I got paid subscribers, I sent out an announcement combined with the first edition. So far it’s been fine.
Thanks
Hi everyone! I’m grateful to have discovered Substack. Thank you so much for this community. I’ve been working on a novel for about a decade now and decided I wanted to publish it as I write it as a way to make myself accountable and to finally begin sharing it with the world. My question is what is the dominant genre or theme on Substack, if any? I seem to find a lot of political writers, bloggers, and such but not so much fiction yet (I’m sure that’s partly because I haven’t looked hard enough). I’m sure engagement is a main way of getting free subscribers, but I’m more concerned about getting the right audience, if possible.
https://fictionistas.substack.com/ might be a good place for you to start if you are looking at fiction.
You can find people writing about everything under the sun on here. It is a long form way for people to share their thoughts, their writing, etc.
Thanks for the Fictionistas shout out!
Subscribed! Thank you Caitlin!
Fiction writer here! Caitlin has already replied with a great group to discover lot of folks doing short and long form.
You can join a writing Discord to help as well.
https://discord.gg/EMvQpwbv
Currently downloading discord to my iPad, thanks for the tip Chevanne!
See you there!
Hi Kerry! You can find more examples of fiction writers through the 'Discover' tab: https://substack.com/discover/category/fiction/all.
Good day, fellows!! I began my Substack, "The Footloose Muse," about two months ago, and I am loving the platform, its capabilities, and the opportunity to monetize my content. I am a creativity coach, a creative midwife, if you will. As a published author and urbex photographer, I help men and women give birth to their creative ideas. I am looking for ways to convert free subs to paid ones. Thanks so much!!!
Yooooooo Substack
YOOOOOO
This is a great way to record my thoughts and perhaps gauge the sentiments of the readers on my writing.
I'm struggling to grow my platform and I've been doing mini-marketing via Instagram stories and LinkedIn, but I'm not finding much traction from it. I've got friends and family already subscribed. What else can I do?
I'd love to know if there are any online communities that substack writers recommend joining for growing your platform and finding likeminded writers.
We have some great resources on this that I'd encourage you to explore! It's the top writer question.
https://on.substack.com/p/grow-4
https://on.substack.com/p/how-to-engage-readers-substack
https://substack.com/resources
Hi Bailey:
I'm attaching below a message I just sent to Katie. I'm new to Substack and I'm still trying to find out how to access Office Hours. I'm signed up for the 1:00 sessions today, but I don't know how to get there. Thanks for any help. Best, Thane
Hi Office Hours Team:
I'm Thane ("Devil's Dance"). I've signed up for Office hours today at 1:00 pm, but I don't know how to get there. Can you help me, please?
I need coaching on how to pin an image to the main title of my series, and also to the individual posts. The system is a little clunky, I'm afraid. Can you help me? Many thanks, Thane
(My e-mail address is gustaft@georgetown.edu)
Discord!
https://discord.gg/EMvQpwbv
Same here! Would love to hear about others' experiences using social media to promote issues.
Looking forward to the polling function -- was in the process of researching perhaps doing it with a Google Form. Integrated would be so much nicer, methinks...
~Graham
Give it a whirl! https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/7584884241684-How-do-I-add-a-poll-to-a-Substack-post-
Hi Katie! I'm wondering if you can help me with an issue I'm having with Polls. It looks like in this article that Polls should have a "Show Results" button, but mine doesn't appear to. I'm not sure if I'm reading the results correctly of the poll I posted a couple weeks ago:https://cheerskelley.substack.com/p/cheers-to-coaching
Thanks Katie -- I will!
~Graham
I am new to Substack and have several questions. On average, about how long do people take (weeks, months, etc) building their audience before they go paid? Is there an average price that people tend to charge for subscriptions? Also, is there a word count on posts that people tend to stick with? Thanks!
1. Usually 3 months or so of free content before going paid so that you have an audience. Others, like myself, go paid right from the start. If someone wants to support your endeavor with a few dollars, why wait at all?
2. Charge what you think the value should be. People charge around 5-7 USD/month. I vaguely remember 15 USD for other authors but that's because they do a hell of a lot of research and the value really is that much.
3. I would aim for at least 250 words for a sparse post and up to 2000 words for a long-form post. I post daily, so this isn't realistic, but I will be reducing my posting frequency soon and I'll aim for longer short posts and longer long posts (haha)
Hi Nikhil,
I am launching on substack later this month, and want to launch paid, but have free content as well. Do you have free content too, or is everything behind the paywall? If you do have free content, how often do you provide that in relation to your paid material?
Lastly, and this is a substack general question, does everything you publish go to people's inbox, or can you write several posts without inundating people's inboxes?
Hi Dan!
Let's tackle this one at a time :)
1. All my content is free. I do song recommendations and occasional long-form essays which I WANT people to read, fall in love it, subscribe for free and then, out of the kindness of their heart, pay me for it. I did do paywalls for a couple of articles, but realized that they turn some people off.
2. My premium perks are that I give paid subscribers a monthly Spotify and Apple Music playlist of all the music I talked about in my newsletter the month before.
3. Starting August, I'll be scaling down frequency to twice a week for free readers. Paid subscribers will also get the 2 emails, the monthly playlist, and any ADDITIONAL emails beyond the usual 2.
4. My understanding is that everything you write hits people's inboxes. But I haven't yet received any unsubscribes *because* of daily publishing, but I do advise my readers to get the Substack app to reduce inbox clutter (although I don't want to say my emails are clutter, lol!!)
5. I leave a link to my Ko-Fi tip jar to encourage readers to leave me a tip if monthly recurring subscription via Substack doesn't work for them for whatever reason.
Hope that helps, Dan.
Amazingly helpful. Thanks for being so thorough!
I'm wondering if there is a way to "break" substack a little by "publishing" once a week, by sending emails to people's inboxes but having more content available than just what is sent--perhaps by having a link to a second substack that has no subscriber list?
Is that weird? Would it work? Is there a way to make something like that work on this platform?
Trying to think a bit outside the box:)
That sounds confusing and I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve there. I would say this: 97% of your readers have no clue what the hell Substack is: they just see an email from Dan which has some nice stuff and that's pretty much it. All this Substack discussion matters to us, the writers. Don't complicate things. Just use the Substack email platform to email your readers. There's a website with an Archive that non-email readers can discover you from the web. The best approach is to consolidate everything you have on a single platform and bring the people to that one spot.
Thanks Nikhil. Yeah, I'm probably overthinking it.
I think what I am trying to achive might already be present in the archive function.
I'd like to see an answer to Dan's questions as well. Newbie here, wanting to make my content both desirable and accessible.
I went paid straight away, mainly because I thought I might as well not leave money on the table. I don't have many paid subscribers yet though.
My newsletter has two kinds of post: position papers describing my views on software development (which are quick to write) and long-form, often multi-part, worked examples with lots of code (which take a lot of effort to create). I want to make the second kind of article (mostly) paid, but I'm struggling to pluck up the courage. What have others done to get across that confidence hurdle?
Put yourself in your reader's shoes...are you writing about code to serve a real need? Would you have paid for that information when you were at the stage your readers are?
If you are providing real value, really serving a need, you should go paid.
But know too that the value of what you produce is not necessarily defined by what people pay for it.
That's extremely helpful Dan, thanks!
How can I find a summary of all my subscribers?
You can learn about your subscribers in your dashboard. Here is how to use that: https://on.substack.com/p/subscriber-dashboard-guide#:~:text=To%20access%20your%20subscriber%20dashboard,Subscribers%E2%80%9D%20tab%20at%20the%20top.
You can download them to Excel using the Subscribers tab in the Substack dashboard. Not sure how else you could summarize them but there are a number of columns of information that you could use.
Hey Donna! Is there any specific summary information you'd like to know about your subscribers that isn't currently available in your writer dashboard?
I keep having unintended breaks. For example, today I was going to research and write an article, but I had to deal with an unplanned for issue. As for proper breaks, I tend to read and write on them anyway!
Can a substack article have text and video?
I signed up for substack several years ago..forgot my password. How can I recover it?
Can a substack have both video and text? Also I forgot my password, how can I recover it?
I'm still in my early stage of this Newsletter thing and I know I definitely can't afford a break.