Post stats in the app, video clipping, and a new masterclass for creators
Substack Bulletin: News, education, and opportunities for publishers
Welcome to another edition of the Substack Bulletin, where publishers get a roundup of the latest news, resources, and community-building opportunities, all in one place.
Please leave any feedback or ideas in the comments—we’re listening and curious to know how we can make these posts as valuable to you as possible.
News
Post stats in the app. Our new update to the Substack app allows you to view the most important statistics for your posts, a more detailed breakdown of where new subscribers are coming from, and a new Discussion tab to house all conversations around your post. Learn more about how the Substack app helps publishers grow
Video clipping. We introduced a new video clipper to help you create and share the best short segments of your videos. You can choose from the auto-generated clips or use the transcript to make your own. Learn more about how Substack’s production tools can save time and help you grow
New arrivals. We welcomed
, political correspondent , comedian and producer , political educator , and founder of Cupcakes and Cashmere to the platform.Substack Creator Studio fellows. We announced the 10 new fellows to Substack Creator Studio, a program for the next wave of video stars.
, , Coco Mocoe, , , , , , , and are all launching new video shows and homes on Substack. Take a look and subscribe to their publications
Resources
A new masterclass: We ran a masterclass for video creators, which you can watch in full here. In it, Substack’s
Sakallah covers all the important parts of starting a Substack, whether you’re a writer, podcaster, video creator, or a combination of the above. This is essential learning for best practices, with special attention to our video tools and marketing your Substack to an off-platform audience.Learn: Substack’s
was featured on the Remarkable podcast hosted by , sharing her tips for best practice and success on the platform.Escape: We shared a roundup of hotly anticipated titles from Substack writers, published this year or in time for summer.
Chatbot question of the week: How do I send a targeted email?
To send a targeted email to a subset of your subscribers on Substack, follow these steps:
1. Navigate to the Subscribers tab on your Substack dashboard.
2. In the All Subscribers section, use the “Filter” option to sort and select the specific subscribers you want to target.
3. Check the box next to the email addresses of those you wish to email.
4. Click on “Email” to start drafting your message.
5. Compose your email as you normally would.
6. Once you’re ready, click “Send email.”
This method allows you to send direct emails without creating a public post on your Substack publication.
Community
Meetups:
held a reading night meetup for Substack writers in Brooklyn; and are hosting a writer meetup in London next week and is hosting in San Francisco in early August. If you’d like to get together with other writers and creators in your city, consider hosting a meetup.
Around town: Hundreds flocked to a 150-year-old Upper West Side church for Substack and
’s first Secrets Reading. “I’m a natural exhibitionist,” Rayne told Interview magazine after the event. Nine writers answered the question “What’s a moment in pop culture you’re convinced only you remember?” at ’s first Hung Up event. Subscribers to ’s The Hyphen gathered for the first live recording of her new, exclusive-to-Substack podcast, Creative Coffee. spoke at TED about the future of episodic publishing. Substack writers listened to Tavi Gevinson in conversation with at the Hotel Chelsea in New York, some of whom were captured by Jason Chatfield of New York Cartoons. Columnist , following in the footsteps of , held a launch party for her new Substack, . celebrated her first U.K. meetup:
In the press: Business Insider published a piece on how creators are using Substack's expanding chat features to build communities and gain paying subscribers. C-SPAN started a new weekly segment, Spotlight on Substack, where a journalist talks about their Substack. Cookbook writer
shared the playlist to go with his new book, Vegetables, on BBC Radio 6 Music with Cerys Matthews. The Washington Post is piloting a new opinion series syndicating pieces by Substackers, including a story by from on the role that sundresses play in shaping contemporary views on sexuality and fashion. Harper’s Bazaar Australia asks, Can Substack replace our doomscrolling? As writer Ella Taverner says, “My brain is thanking me for it. I’ve noticed a considered ‘slowing down’ when it comes to consuming content on my phone... And while I still indulge in the occasional TikTok binge, I feel I’ve broken its magnetic pull and can now actively swap mindless scrolling for more meaningful consumption like Substack.”
Milestones: Substack’s own
was given one of the highest U.K. accolades of a royal honor by being made an MBE. A number of Substack food writers attended and were shortlisted in The Guild of Food Writers Awards in London. looks back on her first months of growth, including her recent video podcast launch and offering scholarships to aspiring writers. The first writers were selected for a new Substack mentorship program in the U.K. as part of New Writing North’s A Writing Chance:
Celebrating a milestone or press feature? Email milestone@substackinc.com or let us know in the comments.
Cool round up! Please let’s get the ability to write, edit and publish posts within the app! 🙏🏾
I am clearly in a minority in a world where everything happens on our phones, which I hate to use for anything serious.
I want improvements in the editor that I use with my dual 32" monitors 😉
Both would benefit users! What would you like changing in the desktop editor?
This is just for starters, I have a much longer list by now
https://zorkthehun.substack.com/p/substack-issues-and-questions
I should update and repost
A very good read. Not all of it applies to me, but that's because I don't do some of the things there. That said, the import stuff and formatting you mentioned did resonate. I do hate that the bullet points are not flush in-line with the paragraph, but I am possibly shouting into a void on that one.
Echoing this request! Would love to see the writer dashboard/post publishing tools come to the app.
I came here to echo this. It's the one thing missing from the app. It would help so much to do these things on the go when you haven't maybe got time to get the laptop out. Most of the time for me it's editing/publishing the most on the go would be helpful.
Exactly this! Sometimes you only have mobile phone time to work on a piece. Otherwise I find the app to be very complete. A lot of the new developments on the app are quite social media leaning and that is fine. I’d like the core proposition to be more mobile ready.
Definitely, like the other the day I started writing and thought, oh I'll finish in my train ride, as only needed to add an image and do some editing. However, no seats and in that moment I'd forgotten about the lack of feature on the app. I mean I hacked it on accessed through mobile browser but it was frustrating.
I bookmarked my home page in my phone browser, but it’s suboptimal when you’re making a more detailed edit, like adding photos, captions, alt text, etc. It's very frustrating…
Thisssssss
Todo un caballero, gracias...
¡Gracias a te!
Great round up. I would love to have a search box within our individual Publications, eg when searching for a particular post or recipe written by a food blogger.
We just added this search feature to the iOS app, and you can always click search on a specific publication!
That's brilliant. Thank you. I updated the app on my phone and there it was, the search option. It works beautifully.
Testing further, it doesn't seem to search the content on pages though. Is that correct? But it's really good as searching text on posts.
These meetups look like so much fun 🤩
They really do!
Search functionality on Substack is another key topic which perhaps some of my more tech-savvy authors might help puzzle out...
Whether searching for People, Publications or topics in the last couple years, I rarely find relevant results. Often, misspelled words are included, and also often, obvious (due to rarity) key words of topics or articles don't seem to appear, even on relatively recent publications.
I don't know whether the algorthm prioritizes big stacks or other conditions in its results returned, but it would seem useful generally for everyone if the search function worked better. If I am missing something incredibly obvious, of course, feel free to enlighten me.
So wonderful! I am organizing the fourth Process Photo Walk and Movie Screening on July 21st, in Amsterdam. The past two had nearly 80 attendees and it's always an incredible time.
Nice news i like this
😨😰
Fix tali’s in drive pot holes in Folsom ca tomorrow or in a week on monistroes dr pave the wholes roads ove Folsom California roads all Folsom ca thankyou caltrains cools day jmcg53@icloud,
◔‿◔
Cool roundup. As far as milestones, I’ve got an important one. Had a short story published July 1st by Corvus Review, in Issue 22, my first for the year. Will be published on Substack tomorrow morning, along with my first ever voiceover. Link to the magazine: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/611fabd3-8220-45e3-bf9d-d2a394260000/downloads/Corvus%20Summer%202024%20Issue%2022.pdf?ver=1719786191009
The TED talk was amazing. I'm posting it for my paid subscribers in my "Build Wealth" Newsletter. Thanks
This was chock-full of goodness! I echo a lot of what folks have already said here.
I will add, I would love to host a substack writers/creators mini meet up in Washington DC in August. Is anyone else going to Podcast Movement?
Who else here really like the video clipping feature?
Great info! Thx for all the links.
When we click on our own post to view the stats or interact with commenters, do these count as views of our post? For writers like me with a small group of readers, my view stats can get really skewed if a lot of them are me! Would love to exclude myself from my stats.
Love everything you all are doing! Please add App writing capability, as well as Live video. I’d love to go live on Substack once a week 🙌 Thank you!!
I am still waiting for a tool, a way to help me organize (or join) a meetup with people in my geographic area.
A place in my profile where I can specify mine that is searchable.
A FB style group feature where I can join or start a group of whatever criteria. Interest, location etc.
Come to think of it, I am still waiting for a place where requests like this can be made and discussed in not so ephemeral way as this, commenting on a post.
This is a great resource. Thanks!
Great round up! It’s been an absolute pleasure writing on Substack since I launched mine in June. Have already started to build a great little community and have met some really amazing writers.
Meetups are a great idea. Any thoughts on virtual meetups to introduce creators to one another and potentially generate collaboration opportunities?
MAIRANCJENTSCH
♥️ Like ↪️ Reply
I’d love to join the London meet up soon, though I won’t be able to join the one taking place next week, sadly. How do we know when the following ones will be?
Re video-clipping > beware of turning Substack into a knock-off Youtube ...
I still haven’t seen this stats in the app option actually become available for me. When does it go into effect?
Andrew, have you updated the app on your phone?
I’ve looked and the app is at the most up to date version. So either the update hasn’t been made available or something is wrong.
Using the app on your phone, can you see the three dots on the top right corner of one of your posts? Click that and a menu appears. The 'View Stats' option is at the bottom of the menu. I wish we could post images.
That doesn’t appear on my app. I tried that wondering if that was the issue. But no, it’s just view publication and share the post.
How fun! Great update post !
How can I publish my book here
It's great to see meet-ups happening! Currently, we are travelling but I will try to make it to the next London event and bring my camera to document the event 📸
I felt very good after reading the complete information. I really liked it.
Thank you for this roundup! Exciting times at Substack!
Hello thanks for being here. With my first posting done I am eager to learn more. One question is how do I create separate posts according to the content? For example I want to create a separate page for my new reviews of old movies, I want to make a separate page for irreverent rants on events and another one for a more straight shooting of the facts ma’am just the facts. My tech know how isn’t beyond remedial level but I am eager to improve. Thanks
Love the updates!
I would love to be able to delete posts that I’m not interested in reading from my inbox (and/or from my archive.)
So long as there’s not too many rules here, this all sounds good to me; I’m sick to death of mainstream social media and all the censorship going on these days.
petition for anew arrivals section for the people notable for being very smart and correct on substack and nothing else
When will we have stats for notes? Or not at all?
Great updates! Is Substack working on allowing writers to format images (left, right, centre/wrap text) as well as allowing more fonts? I know many of us would appreciate these options :)
Substack…how can you justify closing down a subscriber’s site without an explanation?
Not too good with writing. Still learning Substack and don't want too waste much time on it except to listen to a few others.
Please acknowledge that the substack in my name was cancelled yesterday July 4, and do not send me any more of these substack postings. Thanks, Chris Anderson, BC.
The newsworthy news media like CNN, MSNBC and other news outlets keep stating we need to protect our democracy, which is wrong. As of 07/01/24, we lost our democracy, what they should be saying is to recover our democracy! The 6 republicans Justices on the court has ended the democracy as we once knew it. President Biden should have these 6 justices removed immediately and charged with Treason along with violating their oath to the constitution, as an Official Act! As well having Judge Cannon, removed immediately for violating her oath to the constitution, as an Official Act. I have been a republican since 1985. After what I witnessed on 01/06/21, I changed parties to an Independent.
I had already unsubscribed. There is'nt now a 'unsubscribe' button anymore and it should exist. Please take note 1. this absence is uncorrect and 2. do take note that I have unsubscribed. João E. S. J. Silva
It is good to stay informed. It is a shame republican have no learning curve.
I wish CNN & MSNBC with other newsworthy media to save our democracy. Because as of 07/01/24, after waking up I learned we no longer have a democracy in the United States. The news should state we need to recover our democracy. President Binden should have the 6 republicans Justices locked up for treason against the Constitution and United States!
I wish I could turn emails off on mobile without downloading the app (my phone isnt new enough to get it)
Substack video format is too short for our uses, which include event video and long-form interviews. The TikTok approach to video is nearly useless.
So looking forward to reading all your thoughts
Thank you for adding the Post stats in the phone app. It's really helpful for me to see what's happening with my Substack columns. I never want to write or post something through the app, but to get information from the app is pretty grefat.
I knew the Substack community is doing cool things, but it’s nice to see it all laid out. ICYMI, the comedy Museletter launched NaSoCoShMo (pronounced Nay-Sew-Co-Shmoe), inspired by NaNoWriMo. It stands for Ntl Solo Comedy Show Month and challenges anyone interested to write a solo 30-60 minute solo show before Aug 3, using a calendar with assignments scheduled for each day and support from Museletter which come with a paid subscription. JessicaDelfino.substack.com
Been ready to Launch & get lnto Orbit, sign me Up.
👏😭😭🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿Em português please
In your sign-off maxim “Going independent doesn’t have to mean going alone,” shouldn’t the correct phraseology be: “Going independent doesn’t have to mean going it alone”?
“Going alone” to me implies going wherever sans a traveling companion.
“Going it alone,” on the other hand, to me means having to do all of something, like work or a task or chore, for example, sans the help of others.
Apparently, this is for women only.
Because # tags are in use, Please add a reminder message or similar when No # were used.
We all can then Add tags before Saving.
To Make searches more effective suggest help from tools like @Substack
Happy Fourth of July we live in the greatest nation in the world. God bless America.
I can explore under water and found more outer space
I don't even understand what you're talkin' about.
I'm looking forward to getting into this new place to talk.
Buenisimo que a la espera agradecido. Bendicionés
Thanks for the update!
Is there a way to know what resonates in the Notes tab when posting?
I have noticed significant horizontal sizing problems on my iPhone 13 mini when reading posts or other screens in the Substack app. Text and images are partly cut off, and I cannot resize.
Why doesn’t Liz Chaney become a democrat and run against Trump?
Can we PLEASE be able to comment with GIFS on any of the platforms? And be able to put them into our newsletters! That and I would love to be able to mass organize my app inbox
I have yet to get adequate help signing up for posting, paying & collecting $'s
So far it has refused all my CC's, and gives me no options to correct it.
CCC
Unlike others, I have nothing of consequence to post. So the Spam on that and unsubscribed stacks is bothersome. Nowadays every one has an urgent message to share. But no one listens urgently. That probably ties in with Peter Turchen's structural-demographic models in Ages of Discord, etc al., but not sure how.
Meetups look fun. Looking forward to one in Orlando FL. Also looking forward to be able to write and edit through the android phone app.
When will Substack start caring about RTL support? Languages following the RTL script are poorly displayed everywhere in Substack. Sometimes, they are not even displayed correctly at all (e.g. the social share card is broken with Arabic: https://i.imgur.com/b85HWm5.png).
We have been on Substack for a period of time and looking forward to see more RTL-based language speakers get on it too, but this won't happen without your efforts!
How ever did this shit start coming? and how do I get rid of it?
Any interest in a Houston based collective?
Awesome update!!
Thank you 🌸
Love the new stats in the app feature, and especially the discussion tab, where all comments to the latest post can be found in lne place and easily replied to... well done, Substack team, it really works well!
And if we're doing a round-up of this week's events, I just signed a contract for my debut non-fiction book to be published in March 2026... deets are on my Substack, H A G! 💕
All great news for Substack and the writers and creators that have made our homes here.
The app now includes a feature that allows users to view detailed post statistics. This includes metrics such as views, likes, shares, and comments. https://honistas.com/honista-ios/ Users can analyze the performance of their posts over time, which helps in understanding audience engagement and optimizing content strategy.
I think it would be useful to have an AI Chatbot, trained at the specific content of a creator, so that you can ask questions about all posts a creator made. That searches more convenient. How can we adress ideas to a roadmap? Thank you and keep up the good work.
I am using the Android app without any way to Post.
This is a required feature most might say.
What say @Substack folks?
There is no Dark mode for Android app.
Why?
I have a Public Newsletter.
I see a lot of value to have anyone be able to at least read Drafts before i post them Publicly. This allows timely feedback.
It is also a workaround to not being able to Post.
I see reading Drafts as a valuable feature for all Newsletters or other baskets no matter if Free or Not.
Of course, setting if any particular Draft is
I am trying to do some open source software development stuff in some ways online here, X, Github.
forGL is it.
Haxe programming language sources.
Transpiles to Python, C++, Java, Javascript,
Dictionary approach to computer programming. Can look like words or symbols or any mix.
Can express Word Problems with direct definitions of words in a Dictionary.
In any Human language that is in UTF8 form (most all).
2019 Haxe Conference in Seattle showed German Faktorial example.
How do i find the list of languages supported on Substack?
Is there any suggestions for posting in multiple languages ?
Thanks @Substack folks !
:)
Hi guys, I love everything you are creating with the platform, honestly.
But can you add people that write in Spanish and other languages to this roundups?
I would like to get Substack notifications on how other creators in different languages are building their communities.
I know the majority of people speak English but, it would be a nice thing to see (and have) ✨🫶
Besides that, I think this platform is awesome 👏