Hi Everyone, Just a quick post to ask for your thoughts on a dilemma many writers face. And no, I’m not talking about pancakes.
As you may know I’ve been here on WordPress for about 6 years now. My blog has evolved, as we all do. What started off as a local travel blog, grew and evolved into a space where I still write about my travel experiences, but from a more heartfelt experiential perspective. I also write a lot about joy and our journey towards it. The little moments, the magic of life. I love that!
I get a lot of traffic on my travel posts. Thank you Google! And not a tonne on my other posts. Google visitors don’t stay and rarely crossover to my other content.
Thanks to a writer’s circle that I am now a part of, I’m hearing a lot about Substack and feel compelled to write there. Whether I actually do it, I’m unsure at this stage. I’ve heard many positive things about it and also some not so positive things.
I love writing and I always feel, like all writers, that I HAVE TO write. I write everyday, not necessarily publicly, but every single day I write something. Even if just a fragment of an idea on my Notes app. I am sure you do the same. Writing is life, as are books and reading.
Like any endeavour, my biggest fear is that Substack will be a time suck, both from a reading and writing perspective. And time is always my biggest nemesis.
So in order to save you some time reading here, I’ll put my questions in list form and would love your thoughts, experience, ideas.
- Have you ever been on Substack? Either as a writer or a reader?
- Do you write on Substack in addition to your WordPress site?
- Could you write on a different topic on each and maintain both?
- Is Substack just another social media to manage?
- Give me some advantages and disadvantages of both Substack and WordPress as a comparative examination.
I have been doing a lot of research and it appears that feelings are mixed, but I won’t share that right now so I don’t bias your thoughts. I’d love to hear what YOU think.
Thank you for your time! Hoping you are having a beautiful weekend with pressed pancakes stacked high!
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(I hope this isn’t a duplicate- it looked like my first reply didn’t go through) I love your questions and I’m interested in reading the replies. I have a page on Substack. I started using it instead of constant contact, which became too expensive for what I was (wasn’t) getting in return. I use Substack to draw people to my WordPress page. I will give a hook and start the blog but add “ click here for more.” I primarily use it for my email list that I generated on constant contact.
I do not write different stories on Substack and don’t find it hard to manage because I am trying to get people to my WordPress page.
Thanks for the opportunity to hear what others have to say about this topic. V https://vickierubin.substack.com/
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Thanks for the link Vickie. I just subscribed.
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Thank you, Alegria for subscribing!!!
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My pleasure Vickie!
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Thank you, Alegria and I just subscribe to you!
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Thanks Vickie. For some reason this message was in spam, but I just discovered it. Thanks for subscribing!
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I love your questions and I’m interested in reading the replies. I have a page on Substack. I started using it instead of constant contact, which became too expensive for what I was (wasn’t) getting in return. I use Substack to draw people to my WordPress page. I will give a hook and start the blog but add “ click here for more.” I primarily use it for my email list that I generated on constant contact.
I do not write different stories on Substack and don’t find it hard to manage because I am trying to get people to my WordPress page.
Thanks for the opportunity to hear what others have to say about this topic. V https://vickierubin.substack.com/
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts Vicki. It’s such a mixed bag and based on what I’m hearing, it’s really about personal preference. Thanks again for being here.
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I find that my satisfaction with blogging ebbs and flows. I’m not skilled enough to do the backend programming that might perfect how I’d like the page to work. Secondary pages to the site help some in that regard. I stick with WP because I like it, but also, familiarity.
I have a Substack page, but it doesn’t get much actions. I thought to cross-post some things, and perhaps look at monetization, or sharing books chapters, but, for me, posting seems to be one or the other. Perhaps making this query on Substack as well, to see what writers there think about making the switch, the pro and cons they’re able to identify from that side of the equation.
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Thanks very much for your input Michelle. Much appreciated. And yes, that’s a great suggestion. Perhaps I’ll try that too.
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I have absolutely no experience with stack so on this question, I’m totally useless 🤣.
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That’s okay Jan. Thank you for your honesty and for reading. 💕
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Fair questions, Alegria. I first became aware of Substack when a writer I really admired moved there, several years ago. She has recently moved on. To some extent I think it depends who you write for and why. If you’re looking to expand an audience or to monetise then maybe it’s the right thing. Or to write on serious topics? I don’t pretend to know the answers. I joined and follow a few people but often their content comes into my Inbox and stays there till I delete it unread. I’ve never written specifically for Substack. Maybe it’s just me and I’m too slow for the modern world, but I don’t have time to read everything. I like an outdoor life and maintaining that and other interests means that WordPress, with all its faults, is as much as I can handle. It probably showcases what I’m good at as well as anywhere and I’m too lazy to reach further. If you would enjoy writing for a different audience and have the time, then why not? I’ll follow, for a while.
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Thanks very much for your honest input Jo. I will consider all you say. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions.
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I love your ability to write about “The little moments, the magic of life. ” Such an interesting question. My brother has posted on Substack but I don’t spend a lot of time there. It feels like another space to manage to me — but that’s a feeling and not based on any research!!
Sending you loads of pancake wishes!! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thanks for your input Wynne. I appreciate it. Hope you’ve enjoyed some pancakes this weekend. 😁💕
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Hi Alegria,
I’ve been blogging here on WordPress since late 2019.
I first joined Substack in October 2022, in addition to WordPress. I didn’t see it as an either or. I wanted to reach a different/wider audience. I chose to focus there solely on my writing for humanity. I put it on hold after only 4 months, mainly because I felt I was talking into a void. It seemed very difficult to gain exposure to readers simply from algorithm.
A couple of months ago, a friend encouraged me to try again. (“Substack has changed. There are a lot of creative people there now” she said.) I did some research, and the big thing that changed since 2022 is that the Notes feature was added in April 2023. (I put my Stack on hold March 2023, so just missed the boat on that one!)
https://post.substack.com/p/notes
It appears that this is how it became also a social media. Back in 2022, I did not like that between newsletters (2X per week), I had no way effective way of reaching readers without spamming them with more frequent newsletters. The Notes are a game changer.
I started again seriously April 11th, just a little over a month ago. I already have 132 followers, which means I show up in their feeds. (I have few actual subscribers yet, where my newsletter goes to their inbox, but no one subscribes to everything. Imagine everyone arriving in your inbox!) I still publish two newsletters a week, and on the in between days, I publish Notes.
I find Substack easier than WordPress to get to know other people. I scroll and read Notes early in the morning over coffee. I leave comments, and many people have found me simply through that. (“Who is the person behind Humanity’s Future?”)
I’ve tried Facebook and X, and it felt like pulling teeth on both of those to make any headway. (And I built on my personal friends connections to start the author Facebook page.) I’ve left both of those. I don’t like the policies or mindsets of the people who run them.
I know you’re on Instagram, and I can’t tell you the number of people I have seen post they’ve left that platform to move to Substack. Their reasons were vague, but it seems like Instagram has a negative reputation now. I have never been there, so can’t really comment beyond that.
I don’t think there is a “perfect” platform, Alegria. My advice is not to leave one for the other, but try Substack as a side project, and then decide what to keep and leave (or find a balance to keep them both).
Personally, I won’t give up my WordPress site. It is my primary author site, and I really value the readers who have shown up to read me here.
I will say, I find the vibe on Substack (at least in the area I write in) to be extremely positive.
Hope this helps you to make a decision. ~ Susan
humanitysfuture.substack.com
@susanlhart
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And there is this to consider, but it’s a problem everywhere now: https://willstorr.substack.com/p/scamming-substack
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Just read most of this article and it is a problem everywhere, and a major issue in academia as well. Thank you for sharing Susan. I guess all we can do to combat it is write from the heart.
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Susan, thank you so very much for taking the time to leave such a thorough response. This definitely provides plenty of food for thought and I will take what you say into consideration as I figure things out. Yes, my thought was to write on a different topic. I have several ideas, but just trying to make it all work. Thank you ever so much for your thoughts. Definitely helpful to talk to someone with experience. Much appreciated.
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You are welcome, Alegria. I know you will figure it out. 🙂
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I haven’t used Substack before, but I’ve also heard mixed reviews about it. Some love it; others not so much. I also like to write, but never devoted much time to it until I retired because life was so busy. My blog is about the same age as yours. The best thing I’ve done since I began devoting more time to writing was finding a critique group (sounds like your writer’s circle may serve the same purpose.) We meet nearly every week to provide feedback to each other on whatever we’re working on. No one is obligated to bring a chapter each week because that’s impractical, but we try to attend either way. I’ve learned so much from them, and it’s one of the most valuable writing tools I’ve found. Writing conferences are also great, but they tend to be expensive after you pay for travel, hotel, food, etc.
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Thanks for your insights on writing groups Pete. The writing circle I’ve joined is still very new to me, so I’ll see how it goes. It’s more of a guided writing group, with support and encouragement that allows for creativity and the love of words. There are a lot of writer’s groups, retreats, etc. You’re right, it can get expensive in a hurry. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts Pete!
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I read some substacks but have never written on them, I know they are becoming more popular these days
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Thanks for sharing that Beth. As a reader do you enjoy Substack? And do you have a preference between reading on WordPress vs. Substack?
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I do, either is easy to access and fine for me as a reader –
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You’re asking the questions I’ve been asking myself. I’ve no answer. I have an account on Substack but only use it to comment on blogs there. I’m not thrilled with WP [who is?] but I don’t know if I have it in me to learn another blogging platform. I’ve been on Blogger, Typepad, and WordPress.
My biggest concern about Substack is that it is difficult to comment on posts there, interaction is stilted. I like to start conversations based on what I write, so not sure Substack is the place for that.
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Thank you Ally, you have provided a bit of insight here. I didn’t know that it was hard to comment on posts there. That’s very interesting. I’ll have to look into that further.
As a reader do you enjoy the content? And appreciate longer posts or shorter ones? Curious me. Thank you for your time Ally.
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I follow bloggers who moved to Substack and who haven’t changed their style so some are wordy, some are not. I don’t follow people there who are new to me. I also don’t pay for anything there.
I know that if you pay for a year, then the blogger stops posting before your year is up, you have no recourse about getting a refund. The business model isn’t the best from what I can see.
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That’s an interesting point. Definitely something to consider too from a reader’s perspective. Thank you Ally!
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Gosh, I wish I had insight. Like Brenda I’ve seen the good and the bad – hearing from others – and I’ve been trying to keep up with a few people who write on Substack but it’s a challenge…all of these open channels. I’ll be interested in following your investigation here, dear Alegria…I’m feeling some of the same wonderment as you. 💕
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Yes, I agree, so many places to read, write and connect, that it can sometimes become overwhelming. Therefore I’d love to hear what others think. Thank you for your input Vicki. Let’s see what others say.
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend! 💕
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I’m sorry I don’t have any experience, but like you I’ve seen both positive and negative reviews. Also, I would be concerned that I would be duplicating work, but if its to target a different/wider audience it may be worthwhile. I’m looking forward to see what others thing too. Good luck 🙂 I hope you find the answers you seek.
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Thanks very much for your input Brenda. You’re right about the duplication bit, though I may go in a different direction if I decide to go with it. Thanks very much!
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Xo! 🥰
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