Here’s Why You Should Stop Writing On Substack
If you’re (thinking about) writing on Substack, you really need to reconsider.
I’ve been using Substack for a while now.
And at first, I really enjoyed it.
I even considered quitting Medium.
My goal was to focus exclusively on Substack.
And grow my audience here.
But I actually ended up hating it.
And I have a few reasons for this.
Substack doesn’t have an algorithm.
The Notes feature on Substack does, but that’s just a small part of the platform.
Algorithms are great because they decide who sees your content.
But your Substack newsletter goes straight to your subscribers’ inboxes.
So you can be sure they’ll actually see it.
You don’t have to wait for the algorithm to push it out.
Sounds awful, right?
I’ve noticed that Substack users are into building genuine connections.
The people that sign up for your newsletter are genuinely interested in what you have to say.
Which is way more valuable than having random followers.
Most followers just follow for follows.
So, who needs genuine subscribers anyway?
I’ve also noticed that the Substack community is woke.
They’re intelligent and ambitious.
Thus far I’ve only seen thoughtful discussions and valuable feedback.
No more endless scrolling through shallow posts and comments.
I know, it’s terrible!
The articles you read on Substack prioritize quality over quantity.
It’s not a place for clickbait.
Or endless self-promotion.
As a writer you can actually focus on creating valuable content.
Without all the noise.
Who would even want that?!
You can chat directly with your subscribers.
Not only through comments or emails.
But also through direct messages and private groups.
This helps you build stronger relationships.
And you get to understand what your subscribers truly need.
Very unpleasant.
Substack also lets you own your email list.
This means you have direct access to your audience.
No more worrying about platform changes or algorithm updates.
Your audience is yours to keep.
That’s so disappointing.
And you know what, Substack is ad-free.
So you and your readers can focus entirely on your content.
No more getting distracted by those annoying ads or sponsored posts.
It’s really unacceptable.
Also, Substack gives you the flexibility to choose what works best for you in terms of earnings.
You can choose to offer a paid subscription.
You can accept pledges.
Or you can just keep your newsletter completely free for everyone.
This is just unbelievable. I mean, how dare they?
And if you already have a blog or newsletter, there’s no need to start over.
On Substack you can import all of your existing content with one single click.
And you can even import your subscribers.
You won’t have to start from scratch.
*pukes*
Honestly?
Substack has been a breath of fresh air for me.
Substack is for you if:
you’re looking for a platform that values you.
you’re longing for a more genuine concection with your readers.
you’re sick and tired of being dependent on algorithms, boosts and suspensions.
Give Substack a try.
I’m actually pretty sure you’ll love it.
In my first three weeks on Substack I got 70 subscribers and even 1 paid subscriber.
And because I’m so excited about it, I shared all my strategies in the following post:
Clever title, you got me😂 but honestly yes, what a refreshing platform Substack is. I actually feel like my brain is growing on here whereas it’s slowly dying on other social media apps. Thanks for writing this piece Lea!😄
And don't forget that people restack you sometimes and share your work with a wider audience who'd never know who you are without the kindness and compassion of these fellow writers. BARF-O-RAMA!