I like this idea. I would like to highlight a potential drawback, however. One significant benefit to the email/newsletter system is that it is inherently distributed. When SlateStarCodex went down, his collective readership had a rich history of emails to piece together the blog. If readers stop receiving our work in their inboxes, we lose out on that failsafe. Now, the overwhelming majority of us may never have a need for it, but some will. I know, it's a niche issue; I just thought I'd share it.
I love that you're continuing to invest in the platform, though. This is a great idea overall and I'm happy to see it.
Until it’s possible for readers to pay for a subscription within the app, I don’t see how this is a positive development. You’re encouraging people to bypass email, which was the whole point in the first place, and in the process are ensuring that many of those people will not become a paid subscriber. Very slick app for readers; incredibly frustrating for us. You should have waited and launched when in-app payments were possible.
One other thought -- it seems that right now, the app doesn't show the email header and footer. A lot of writers use that to include CTAs around sharing the post and subscribing to a paid option without having to clutter up the actual post. It would be great to have some option for including these in the app version of the post as well.
So exciting to see this! Especially thrilled that Substack will be keeping to its philosophy of keeping the app itself in the background. Looking forward to seeing what's next for the app!
Really exciting to see this launch, a great step forward for all Substack creators and readers. In the search screen on app, there's a list of categories. How do we request for new ones to be added? For example, we wouldn't love to see a "Gaming" one be added. Is that possible?
I'm a little unclear on a few things. 1) If someone signs up for my newsletter for free via the app, is their email address loaded into my CVS file? 2) Will app users receive push notifications when a new post is live? 3) The comment about watching legal cases is kinda vague, but it seems like Substack paid subscriptions will eventually have to pay a cut to three middlemen: Substack, Stripe, and whatever fee the apps stores can legally extract for in-app purchases. Am I reading that right?
"2) Yes, if they choose to receive them. The reader is in control of that."
Defaults are a core architectural choice that YOU are making on behalf of both readers and writers. So are readers going to get emails when they sign up through the app by default?
If not, I am concerned. I did not sign up to be a Substack writer so you could own my relationship with readers. You guys will at some point sell your firm to a private equity company, and then they will exploit us.
Thanks for clarifying! I don't know what the future holds for app store fees either, but I have a hard time believing those fees will be zero. Not complaining, but I am concerned that Substack might ultimately put all of the creators who use the platform at the mercy of the app stores.
Would love to see in our stats how many views we’re getting specifically from the app, and how many people are getting post notifications from the app versus email.
Je cherche à diviser mes subscribers en fonction de leurs nationalités pour qu'ils puissent recevoir au choix ma Newsletter en EN ou FR. Y a-t-il une solution svp ? Merci beaucoup !!
I'm working on a standalone post on getting my readers to move into the app (so far they haven't even tried!) and I wondered how you made the stock photo above that I can use for it into clickable link to another site? I would like to make my photos clickable to other stories on the topic but don't know how to do that. I'll report back if I can get my readers to change :)
I like this idea. I would like to highlight a potential drawback, however. One significant benefit to the email/newsletter system is that it is inherently distributed. When SlateStarCodex went down, his collective readership had a rich history of emails to piece together the blog. If readers stop receiving our work in their inboxes, we lose out on that failsafe. Now, the overwhelming majority of us may never have a need for it, but some will. I know, it's a niche issue; I just thought I'd share it.
I love that you're continuing to invest in the platform, though. This is a great idea overall and I'm happy to see it.
At what point is a reader considered inactive in the app?
Won’t this cut back on our ability to “capture” our readers emails?
Thanks for responding!
Tried getting the app but it did not take my email address....cannot open the app even after I was sent an email to open.
This happened to me, also...email sent!
Me too. Email sent
Me too. Email sent.
Until it’s possible for readers to pay for a subscription within the app, I don’t see how this is a positive development. You’re encouraging people to bypass email, which was the whole point in the first place, and in the process are ensuring that many of those people will not become a paid subscriber. Very slick app for readers; incredibly frustrating for us. You should have waited and launched when in-app payments were possible.
One other thought -- it seems that right now, the app doesn't show the email header and footer. A lot of writers use that to include CTAs around sharing the post and subscribing to a paid option without having to clutter up the actual post. It would be great to have some option for including these in the app version of the post as well.
This is great news. Can't wait for the Android version.
So exciting to see this! Especially thrilled that Substack will be keeping to its philosophy of keeping the app itself in the background. Looking forward to seeing what's next for the app!
So exciting!!!
This is so great. I have been waiting for this!
Why does the page freeze every time I click on "publish with buttons?"
Amazing! This app sounds like a great idea!
Really excited to check this out!
Really exciting to see this launch, a great step forward for all Substack creators and readers. In the search screen on app, there's a list of categories. How do we request for new ones to be added? For example, we wouldn't love to see a "Gaming" one be added. Is that possible?
Love the format and content of WR, just subscribed!
Thank you so much for your support!
Hi there! I would love it if ‘Humor’ could also be considered for a category.
Thanks!
Thank you very much for the reply and consideration. Definitely an emerging space
I'm a little unclear on a few things. 1) If someone signs up for my newsletter for free via the app, is their email address loaded into my CVS file? 2) Will app users receive push notifications when a new post is live? 3) The comment about watching legal cases is kinda vague, but it seems like Substack paid subscriptions will eventually have to pay a cut to three middlemen: Substack, Stripe, and whatever fee the apps stores can legally extract for in-app purchases. Am I reading that right?
"2) Yes, if they choose to receive them. The reader is in control of that."
Defaults are a core architectural choice that YOU are making on behalf of both readers and writers. So are readers going to get emails when they sign up through the app by default?
If not, I am concerned. I did not sign up to be a Substack writer so you could own my relationship with readers. You guys will at some point sell your firm to a private equity company, and then they will exploit us.
Thanks for clarifying! I don't know what the future holds for app store fees either, but I have a hard time believing those fees will be zero. Not complaining, but I am concerned that Substack might ultimately put all of the creators who use the platform at the mercy of the app stores.
Would love to see in our stats how many views we’re getting specifically from the app, and how many people are getting post notifications from the app versus email.
Agreed!!
Love it. It’s more out of curiosity than anything else. :)
Bonjour,
Je cherche à diviser mes subscribers en fonction de leurs nationalités pour qu'ils puissent recevoir au choix ma Newsletter en EN ou FR. Y a-t-il une solution svp ? Merci beaucoup !!
I'm working on a standalone post on getting my readers to move into the app (so far they haven't even tried!) and I wondered how you made the stock photo above that I can use for it into clickable link to another site? I would like to make my photos clickable to other stories on the topic but don't know how to do that. I'll report back if I can get my readers to change :)
Mind. Blown. Game changer. Thank you