24 Comments

So many good insights here.

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Thanks TIm

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Thank you for the complete explanation about your move.

Some very relevant points for me:

1. The opacity of the LinkedIn newsletter. I was thinking about starting one. Now if I do, it will be to move people to another platform (Substack?)

2. A reminder that my followers on Social Media are rented.

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I'm considering moving my writing over to Substack and really appreciate you sharing your own reasons for doing so. Thank you!

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Thank you for peeling the curtain back here! And, congratulations on amassing such a great following prior to making the leap over here. Put simply: the support network here is unparalleled, at least compared to anything else I've seen, and the dialogue is intelligent.

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I learned so much from your insight. Happy that you're on the way to success with Substack which I'm in turn following step by step, since I'm also new here.

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Thanks Pedro

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Welcome to the party! 🤠

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Substack is lucky to have you. 👏

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Thanks for this article! It found me at the perfect time as I’ve been exploring platforms for one of my projects.

I’ve experimented on/off with Substack over the last couple of years, but I didn’t have clarity on what I wanted to do with it. I came back again for the reasons you mentioned - platform built for writers (not marketers), improved engagement with readers, revenue based pricing model, & better reader experience.

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Hope it's helpful Bud.

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I have been considering doing some writing and after reading this article, I asked AI for the benefits of publishing articles and content on the substack platform and got fairly detailed answer. Sharing it below.

Publishing articles and content on Substack offers numerous benefits for creators, particularly those who want to monetize their writing or build a direct connection with their audience. Here are the key advantages:

1. Direct-to-Audience Connection

Substack allows creators to build and maintain a direct relationship with their audience via email newsletters. This direct line fosters engagement and loyalty, as subscribers receive content straight to their inboxes.

2. Monetization Opportunities

Creators can easily monetize their work by offering subscription plans. Substack supports free and paid tiers, enabling writers to charge for premium content while still offering some content for free.

3. Creative Control

Substack gives creators full editorial control. There’s no need to cater to external advertisers or algorithms, so you can focus on producing the content you care about without restrictions.

4. No Need for Technical Expertise

The platform is user-friendly and requires minimal technical setup. You don’t need web development skills to publish articles, manage subscriptions, or run your newsletter.

5. Low Overhead Costs

Substack is free to use for creators who aren’t monetizing their work. For those who choose to charge subscriptions, Substack takes a 10% cut, which is relatively straightforward and transparent.

6. Built-In Subscription Management

Substack handles subscriber management, payment processing, and email delivery, making it easy for creators to focus on their content.

7. Community Building

The platform encourages community-building features like comment sections, enabling creators to engage with their audience and foster a sense of belonging among readers.

8. Discoverability

Substack’s platform allows users to discover and subscribe to newsletters based on their interests. This can help new creators gain visibility and grow their audience organically.

9. Ownership of Your Audience

Substack allows creators to export their subscriber lists. This means you retain ownership of your audience, unlike some other platforms where the audience data remains with the platform.

10. Diverse Content Possibilities

While primarily used for written content, Substack also supports multimedia like podcasts and video, giving creators flexibility in how they deliver their content.

11. Credibility and Authority

Publishing consistently on Substack helps establish you as a thought leader in your niche. The platform’s focus on high-quality content can lend credibility to your work.

12. Subscription-Based Revenue Model

The subscription model incentivizes creators to produce regular, high-value content for a loyal audience, leading to predictable revenue streams.

13. Flexibility to Scale

Substack supports creators at every level, whether you’re writing as a hobby or aiming to build a full-fledged content business. As your audience grows, so can your revenue and influence.

14. Customizable Pricing

You can experiment with pricing strategies, offering different tiers or bundling subscriptions to meet the needs of various audience segments.

15. Analytics and Insights

Substack provides tools to track performance, including subscriber growth, open rates, and engagement metrics, helping you refine your strategy over time.

By leveraging these benefits, Substack can serve as a powerful platform for creators looking to build a sustainable and scalable content business or simply share their expertise with an engaged audience.

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This is very detailed and helpful. Thank you for sharing your insights. You have confirmed my decision to join!

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Wonderful!

Look forward to to reading your articles.

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Such great information!

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Welcome!

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I've been on your email list for a long time and I've pondered decisions between a LinkedIn, Substack, and personally hosted. Thanks for sharing a peek at this really interesting model. Any comment about using Substack Notes?

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Thanks Jen, notes seems to work well, but is still pretty new and not sure how many people use it each day.

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Welcome to Substack.

You will find a kind and engaged audience here.

You are totally right in what you say about Substack and owning your own list. The recent trials of Twitter clearly show the benefits of that.

I wish you all the best and look forward to your posts.

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Thanks Martin, not sure how many times I needed to learn the same lesson that my audience on other platforms is not really my own.

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Nice move and great post. We recently moved our blog to Substack and have picked up a nice number of new followers and customers.

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Great to hear Kemper!

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