Creators take their videos to Notes
Substack’s social feed is coming to life with sound and motion
Last week, we launched the ability to share native videos to Substack Notes, and we’ve been enjoying seeing the feed flooded with creative ways of using the new format.
Today, we are featuring a few native video examples from creators, illustrators, journalists, stylists, and more. Whether it’s the sound of frogs in Porto or birds in Orkney, a late-night piano serenade or an intimate poetry reading, these videos offer new, surprising ways to connect with each other on Substack. We hope they offer some inspiration and entertainment. There’s so much more to come.
Fashion writer
starts an “outfit of the day” series:
Culture and music writer
performs for subscribers on his 1925 Steinway: joins Carlos Greaves, Bill Bishop, in sharing an adorable video of her pet: takes a break:
Writing coach
encourages his subscribers to experiment more: takes subscribers on a walk in the English countryside: offers a live comic:
Professor
shares his view from England’s Lake District:
Co-founder and CTO of Substack
posts mesmerizing landscapes:
While CEO,
, runs a video AMA in Notes:And
takes us into her tulip garden:
What videos have you seen on Notes and loved? Share your favorites in the comments.
How to add a video to a note
Open the Substack home feed on mobile or desktop
Select the video icon
Tap the video from your camera roll, or select files on desktop, or you can open your camera to record a video directly on mobile
Note: There is a five-minute upload limit, and you can upload only one video per note.
Learn more: Add GIFs or video to a Substack note
But whyyyyy try to do aaaalll the things all the other social media sites do rather than simply tending to what Substack does best???
I so agree! I honestly wonder why all the apps want to have all the features and why they can't simply stick to what the site got known for and amplify that. I love this space as it's just words and photos and it felt calming to the mind. I'm not too excited for having videos here as well.
Fully agree!
They really should stop trying to take people away from other platforms by offering all the features others do.
Of course I'm trying to ascertain if this is written tongue-in-cheek, as it makes an...interesting point if so... 🤪
A little from column A, a little from column B. I like to be funny while speaking truthfully or honestly.
👌🏼
…and give us the “stop autoplay” setting.
Annoying to have videos start right up whilst trying to scroll past them.
It was FOMO + Revenge. When Elon took over Twitter and destroyed it and then banned Substack links on Twitter, Substack CEO got grumpy and wanted revenge…so NOTES was born, as a F U Elon Musk, we can do it too…and hoped to get some of the Twitter users on Sub. That’s basically it.
Gosh. It all feels like such a childish game in the end. Instead of seeking revenge, keep the social in media by focusing on being a fabulous site where writers can thrive, can be found through whatever option they use because the algorithm works and fix the glitches when they arise. I get that in this era, you want to stay on track with changes, but I never quite understood the FOMO. Apps/Platforms are born to fill a gap, create bridges, there's no need for FOMO if you stay true to why an app is born is the first place. Maybe I'm oversimplyfing things now, it's bedtime for me and getting this news affected me more than I thought it would. 😅
Well said...
I forgot what I shared yesterday, haha. Thank you for reading. 😊 I do hope that this will just be an option for writers to use and not something you have to use to be seen on this app, like what IG tends to do.
Yes, it's very frustrating that Substack seems to want to be everything that they claimed they were fighting against.
Exactly!!!
And fix the problems:
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
Please for the love of god substack, do not make this into a tiktok-like platform. The videos are honestly too much. I love the simplicity of the blog posts and photos too. I quit all social media and hate that this is becoming one.
It's not becoming social media. That ship has sailed. Substack is social media. They have embraced all the things that they once loudly asserted were wrong with our modern interactions. I love Substack and its core mission, but they are leaving the core behind with every new social media update.
I agree!! I don’t want to see videos of GRWN or OOTD
🤣
Exactly! This is worrisome. What’s next for Substack - disappearing posted? Avatars? Emojis instead of likes?
It’s worrisome because it indicates leadership is possibly panicking about growth - maybe feeling pressure from sources to “monetize” faster. Maybe from investors. Every new feature lately has been about generating traffic using the “metrics” of success that pertain to the dopamine-distraction-complex… rather than focusing on their own mission and vision.
Substack happens in the inbox.
Writers know this.
Somehow leadership has become confused about it.
Well said. To me the videos are like a death-rattle for this platform.
I sincerely hope not; I've put a LOT of energy into growing my content and subscribers and revenue on this platform.... oh please....
I hope not too, but in any case, I won't be using Notes much anymore.
Hear, hear! Competing with Big Tech on CDNs and performance/UX is a losing game. Focus on strengths, while leveraging winners like YouTube..
All of these new cool features mean nothing if Substack doesn’t fix rather more important issues. NOTES algorithm is broken. I have hundreds of followers and not even a single follower sees my notes. If you want to become the new Twitter’, then fix the algorithm first. My notes should be pushed to all my followers / subscribers for max engagement. Else Notes is dead.
Agreed 💯
As far as I can tell, we also can't track any stats for our Notes. Some Notes do well, others less so (in terms of engagement). It's hard to tell if that's because of the Note itself or it's just not being put in front of anyone.
Right. But Substack wanted Notes to be the new Twitter. If that’s what they want, then get the algorithm right first. Push the Notes to your followers first for more engagement, that doesn’t happen. It’s not normal that I post 5-10 posts daily and none of them get a single like 😂
I cannot even edit something I have written. Sometimes my mind moves faster than my fingers and I still cannot go back and edit!
I ma blocked from Faving this comment?
Very much so. I keep getting fed Notes by someone who I'm not following despite not really being interested in their stuff. But it's fed to me as if I'm following them.
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
Crap, videos are one of the reasons I left Instagram. Our quiet corner of the internet is now ruined
I agree. But also payments and stats are ruined.
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
I have been on substack for a long time. I have never been on Twitter but I imagine substack now as the new Twitter. I am not interested.
There was a time when writers 'wrote' with words. Now we have podcasts/people saying and doing nothing.
Many times I go to podcasts and and there are NO subtitles. I am deaf and I am really sick of writing about this.
IF substack does not make it a 'law' to aid deaf people I am sure we all millions of us can come up with a lawsuit.
How dare you treat us like 2/3rd class citizens because we are deaf!
👏👏
Hello Jenny! I do everything with subtitles!
Thank you.
There should be subtitles anywhere there is video these days. I hope that it happens - good you're speaking up on it :-).
Thanks.
You are one reason I started to add subtitle in my videos for youtube 😊
But I agree, they dont focus on people with disability. I have dyslexia and reading anything on this site is a pain…
Well thank you so much.
If anyone with dyslexia tried reading the subtitles on MOST podcasts/videos I am quite sure they would only make you worse! In this day and age one would think they had figured out how to do subtitles well!
Substack has too many problems already to jump into this. From what I’m seeing already, it’s losing appeal fast. Junked up with garbage I don’t care to see. A better idea would be having a support and help center manned by an actual person. Currently there is ZERO support at Substack. No way to contact a live person for assistance. Frankly, it’s a ripoff for paying subscribers!
Totally agree. For such a great platform that is all about community I was stunned there wasn’t any live tech support even by text? 🤷🏻♂️
Absolutely. Here are the real problems:
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
Was searching for their support not long ago about the bad reading experiance here…. Did I find any…..
Maybe it is time for substack to create a substack for ONLY writers?
I have NO interest in food/fashion etc.
You have sold your souls substack.
My remaining question is: All the people who came here first and are now 'out-gunned' by new media shit..........how long do you think we will last?
As it is I am getting comments from people offering me all sorts of nonsense: writing lessons for $2,500 a time. THIS is advertising and I do not want to see it.
Yes I can report things but to my mind nothing happens!
You can report to nowhere - to a non existing support which fixes not the real problems: https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
I also have no interest in seeing photos of people's lunches, pictures of pets, or any of the other crap I came here to get away from.
```me too.
I am interested in people who write.
The written word is way more interesting compared to video/podcasts are a way of saying we know nothing! I could do a 'podcast' which would be so simple for me BUT if you try to write what you are saying it becomes difficult because there has been no education in the USA for years.
IF everyone HAD to write we would be a better world.
Most Americans do not know how to write they do podcasts because they are unable to WRITE words.
IF anyone wants to write I will help you.
Writers and Readers ✍🏼📖
How do we prevent Substack from turning into Instagram?
OR Twitter?
We go back to the beginning and people have to learn how to write!
By bringing up a storm to fix the real problems. Then they have work for 2 years!
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
We have to write even better stuff 🙏🏻💛
Getting our voices heard on their favorite platform, notes
Please don’t bring here the video crowds. It’s the start of the enshitification of the internet. Substack is our safe harbor against stupidity, stupid dances, pyramid schemes and all the gunk happening on Instagram
My first reaction was: Oh NOOO!!! WHY??? And I see that many others feel the same. Substack used to be for WRITERS. This trend is somewhat disappointing; there are already enough tools for endless shallow cacophony and self-promotion.
I so completely agree!
Hear hear!
So we're just going to continue to become Twitter?
Or worse…
Hopefully not.
Oh hell yeah
I’ll only communicate via video, podcast, or something else with visual pizzazz
Great new feature. A new way to connect with others and introduce ourselves and our work. It also helps to connect on a deeper level I think.
I experimented with Notes today and will continue to do so over the next few weeks for a YouTube video I'm creating.
I'll be experimenting with videos too!
I disagree Kristina. There are dozens of real problems which need to be fixed first:
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
I first read the headline and thought "ok, this is cool", but then read all these negative comments. I can see where everyone is coming from, but I am going to roll with it and see what comes of it. I think Substack will remain an amazing community with this new feature. We don't have to use it if we don't want to. Can't wait to see how you use this new feature, Kristina! Keeping good energy flowing, even with change.
The trouble is you DO have to use it if you don't want to, that is, if you want to use Notes you have to scroll through videos. There is no feature to stop auto-play. Videos and reading just do not go well together, so those of us that came here to read will have a real struggle now.
Yes!
It will be interesting to see how this plays out... I personally am OK with the videos, but I totally understand why others might not be. I truly hope that Substack is listening to all of these comments. I know they can't make everyone happy, but hopefully can find a middle ground. I also don't want this to turn into a tiktok or instagram. So far I am enjoying what I see. I also see a different type of creator here on Substack - so I hope we can keep the feature in line with the wonderful content I am seeing every day on SS. Cheers ~
Thanks for the mention 💛 loving the opportunity to post videos in Notes! And loving seeing what others share. I’ve been sharing a daily calm video each day, just a few seconds to take a breath and enjoy the beauty of nature 🤩
ohhh that sounds wonderful! Many here aren't happy about the feature, but I love you're doing something beautiful with it.
I understand the trepidation, I thought I would share what I’d like to see 🤩
I like it!!!
😍
As long as we see Joyce Alene’s Chickens😀
Dear Substack,
You have no idea why people are here, do you? We’re trying to escape these kinds of features.
I have no problem leaving this platform and posting my essays on a personal website if this Instagram-ification of Substack continues.
In the words of Taylor Swift: “I love you / It’s ruining my life.”
Sincerely,
Tired of Every Platform Mutating Into TikTok
This is fab! I will explore posting videos on Notes. My next newsletter will feature poems “written by” my dog and videos to match. I’m giggling just thinking about it.
Oh, that sounds exciting 😏🙄
Notes is dope. We are the media now. My first video note showed the NPR newsroom: https://substack.com/@yuribezmenov/note/c-54222464?r=12n5dp&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
But you are aware of the real problems which are not addressed and can hit also you - sooner or later.
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
Will try this out. Hope it is an effusive way to engage with my followers.
No. They don’t get informed. See @raisini. This are the real problems:
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
I hate this. I've been able to unplug from all social media, which has been a dream come true. But Substack has felt healthy and less like an attention algorithm. Substack may be the next to go if it keeps going this direction. Substack, money and numbers aren't everything; stay true to yourselves.
💯💯💯
Substack had a welcome beginning as a home for writers.
A place where creative and informative writing had a niche separate from commercial frivolity.
Now some half baked idea to turn it into TikTok has poisoned the drinking water. What a shame!
Absolutely. And with every „Update“ the downgrading of the existing technology gets worse. The crew at Substack behaves as 5th graders running a company after they have thrown their teacher under the bus. Therefore these sweeties also have nobody who advises them.
Kindergarten unleashed. Here are the problems: https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
A great idea for those who are skilled with video! I enjoyed several this morning. I do not like being on camera so this is not likely to happen for me...but to all who do this, I salute you!!! Keep going!
Love the platform! 🎩⭐️🙏
It’s so amazing 🤩
Or we don’t focus on video and instead focus on helping writers and readers maintain a more curated platform
And we fix the problems first! https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
A rush to the mediocre level. How about we sit with our almost million on SS and let it percolate. It’s gotta be mankind’s fatal flaw or maybe that’s what original sin is. Thinking you are the sola creator or all great and powerful Oz.
Do not destroy the organic symbiotic space we have here and turn it into a strip mall.
No. Below. Why? https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
Appears to be lots of angst and unhappiness with the new video feature. As artists, writers, musicians, and poets hustling for an audience, one more channel can feel like too damned much. It's why I wrote (and posted) this little ditty...
https://substack.com/@benwakeman/note/c-54420852
I would love to see subscribers be able to post pictures and a short video clip in comments because sometimes more can be said through pictures and videos.
I have an even more exciting recommendation for you.There is a wonderful platform from Mark Fuckerberg, called Instagram, which solves all your problems.
Here we have these problems :
https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
I’m still trying to figure this out! So exciting!
Looking forward to trying out some videos on Notes as I explore ancient Greek sites across southern Italy next month
great
Is there a time limit on videos? Or can they be as long as you want?
Good question, but don‘t expect an answer. There is no support.
And the Substack politburo who has posted this propaganda has no clue about this.
They also can’t answer this: https://substack.com/@duell/note/c-54407143
I’m clicking on the videos in notes and none of them are playing… just a still from the video… glitch?!
Cool I’m going to read some poetry #lovewords
Have been a little too busy to get myself onto Notes this week and still felt a little trepidation about the move to inclusion of video, but sounds like people are embracing it well. Now, if only I could think of something interesting to film ...
Oh, finding something interesting does not seem to be a prerequisite from what I see 🙄
Haha, yes, that was my worry...
I guess my video of the oddest vintage fuck phone didn’t make it in! 🦆📞😂
Oooops! I meant DUCK 🦆! 🫣 (wish I could edit comments!)
😂 I was a bit confused!! I will now go look for vintage duck phone video!!
😅 The one time my keyboard autocorrect gets it wrong! 🫣
One thing’s for sure. If Substack hears the people complaining of the endless march into social media, and if Substack decides to respond, it will probably be the "we take all your comments seriously" type of response, the same response they've given in the past before continuing to ignore those comments. Go look at the badges discussion.
It's not about the users any longer. It's moved into a different phase. Maybe, just maybe, Substack will realize that they've now abandoned their core mission to chase shiny objects. Bugs in the publication and comment pipelines go unfixed in favor of more gratuitous updates that are slowly turning Substack into another cookie cutter.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Substack. Or at least I did. I love their core mission of presenting the written word from a large variety of talent. I love that we have one of the best online editor tools I’ve ever seen at our disposal, and that (for the most part) we get to choose what comes on the screen.
But Substack is changing the dynamic away from longer serious form and toward the unserious by actually encouraging people to post some trivial video of birds chirping, or something.
Now I’m sure they have their reasons and they could be financial. Maybe it’s because short, cute and quaint sell.
Is this what we want? Obviously, I can’t speak for everyone, but the #1 reason I came to Substack about 18 months ago was because they were not social media with its users posting in engagement voice.
Now, with the ramped up emphasis on Notes and followers and direct messages and vids – instead of actual interesting articles – Substack has declared its intention to become another social media site, indistinguishable from others except perhaps for its layout and design.
It’s still possible to focus on a few core things and do them so well that the world notices. But when you try to be everything to everybody in that endless quest to attract another demographic, you wind up showing the world that your faith in the center is weak.
Stay strong Substack, please. You’ve got a good thing going. Don’t ruin it.
After looking at the amazing and wonderful videos people posted, and all of these comments... well, I've decided I am cool with this new feature. I think the amazing people here on Substack will use it in ways that won't feel like Instagram or Tiktok - and will keep it with the Substack vibe.
Please don't!
You would think that's the last people want from a platform dedicated to the WRITTEN word.
Now, the only thing missing is an AI integration that allows everyone to automatically 'create' their text, audio, and video from a short prompt to become the internet's next best SPAM generator. Congratulations!
Looking forward to exploring more ways to take advantage of this ... Thanks ...
The addition of native videos to Substack Notes is a game-changer, bringing dynamic sound and motion to the platform’s social feed. From serene nature clips to creative performances, this feature opens up new ways for creators to connect and inspire their audience with engaging content. For those who love enhancing their creativity and communication, consider trying Wink, a versatile app for unique sharing experiences. Learn more at https://unlockedwinkapk.com/.
The introduction of native video sharing on Substack Notes is an exciting development that enhances the platform's creative potential. The diverse examples showcased, from intimate poetry readings to engaging outfit showcases, illustrate how video can foster deeper connections between creators and their audiences. This feature not only adds a dynamic element to content but also encourages experimentation among creators, making Substack an even more vibrant community. It's inspiring to see how sound and motion can bring stories to life, and I look forward to seeing how more creators will leverage this new format in their work. https://www.sprunki-mod.net
I think they are simply recognizing a seismic shift in reader behavior. Readers read, and they watch videos on their devices. I experience the same nostalgia as many of the commenters, but I understand that they simply must provide a video facility if they are committed to a state-of-the-art system.
I am new here on Substack and the use of video for notes I believe will be beneficial. I’ve never used Tik Tok and even X/Twitter is not an app I use for anything other than sports news occasionally
This really, really, really bums me out. PLEASE. This is the one best FOR writers to just BE writers. Please just STOP with stuff like this.
I agree 💯
I would want it optional. Turn on or turn off videos. Don’t make me participate. I’m starting to mute folks who post videos on notes.
Awesome! Hope that soon you will add voice notes!
Another reason to not look at Notes.
Just an opinion…when I am reading, I like to read…I don’t want to watch a video.
yes
Unless you all figure out a way to stop videos from playing automatically, I will not be using Notes anymore thanks to this feature. It has already become unreadable and clogged with B.S.
Love all this but please don’t try and turn us into entertainers, we are writers and want to spend our time on writing, that’s why we are here 🙏🏻💛
we are glad you are here
My phone is lagging on this page
Markdown support when? Something that actually is good for us.
What a wonderful feature!
Adding video support is a huge step forward for Notes. Do you plan to raise the 5 minute limit any time soon, or will it remain there indefinitely?
I can’t seem to upload mine. Is there a length limit?
Or perhaps I don’t have enough subscribers to access the features properly?
Never mind, I tried to post again immediately after leaving my comments and it worked! Fabulous. I wonder if anyone will see it?
You could have split this in 5 posts. Or you start thinking before posting.
Nothing like unsolicited advice. Maybe take a little of your own medicine. Or couldn’t you find another way to spam your own post into this?
Spam is only your nonsense video. Fits perfectly to Instagram.
You watched my video? Well thank you so much. Every view counts. Cheers!
No, not here. You can forget everything you learned there. Here, we have other problems. For instance, nobody of your followers gets your content delivered to the dilettante timeline; you don't get paid properly, no metric works, and many more.
Now I promise to achieving the goal from the beginning working towards of the best possible outcome make true! Well done this highly successful project and team issued the best one congratulations to all !
All is well that’s ending is wellness in my online class is working standard mostly one of number
I agree totally to do the exact opposite point of posting easy recipes and making sure everyone knows exactly how much nicer than that’s of the best thing or original furniture of beautiful future in here financially possible gaining okay God blessings all’s!
Like this new feature, look forward to it 🙌✨