Thanks for this - just finished listening on the dog walk, only a week later! 😩 I was interested in your membership thoughts... I have had two memberships for over 10 years now so if you'd find it of any use at all to have a podcast chat I'd be more than happy to share what I've learnt along the way... and what I'm still learning!
Oh, I knew there was something else bubbling up for me. When I merged my Substacks and recategorized them I realized the type of writing I intended to do here - long form - had fallen by the wayside during periods of overwhelm and focus on Instagram launches. Looking back I've written around 6 long form pieces over the course of the year. The others were a mixture of studio updates, podcasts, and videos.
Writing long form takes time - hours for me - but I love it and miss it and want to carve out time to write in that format more often moving forward. I'm not sure if that's once a month, every other week, or 3 weeks a month, but it's something I want to prioritize over summer when I don't have any big launches planned.
I still haven't listened to audio yet, but realized this was a hybrid post so I read the text bit over tea. ☕️
I feel the same about chat. I have stopped using it and might experiment with hosting discussions as a main "post". (I've seen a few people doing that including Marlee Grace.)
Notes is feeling less noisy now that I've muted a few things. It seems some of my readers have different interests and values and I just can't see some of those posts. Maybe it's curate-able, but always a risk factor when new people subscribe and Substack "connects" you within their notes algorithm.
I also noticed this week that you can "syndicate" your podcast (send it out to Apple Podcasts etc). I haven't set that up yet, but I think I might for Neurodivergent Space Time. 💫🎧✨
I agree with everything you’ve said about Chat. It could be so much better with the suggestions you’ve made!
I’m going to listen to the podcast over the weekend. Thank you for sharing my post, I can’t believe the response it’s had and how many people relate to it! 🥰
I would like to revitalize my substack but I’m currently not sure what to write about. It overall centers around motherhood interacting with all other parts of me: work, creativity, and mental health. Part of me wants to try podcasting again but having conversations with others not doing it solo. Another part of me knows my life doesn’t allow time or quiet for that.
Thanks for breaking this down Claire! I find I’m mostly using notes for restacks. I think of it like my own personal archive to save quotes/posts that I enjoy as well as spread the word when I find a piece I like. They’re a recommendation to other people, whereas I think of comments as a conversation with the author about the piece.
There's so much to love in this post Claire. It's really challenged me to think about how I'm using the different elements of substack. I agree that Chat is my least favourite function - I don't share anything much there - I think they have potential for building a private community inside substacks with larger engaged audiences, but when they're just used to broadcast a post being published, they don't really work. I like that they allow you to share images, which I wish was possible in post comments.
I love Notes, but do find myself getting lost in them sometimes - I can follow a Notes thread to another and another and a post and comments and others and get completely lost in all the lovely stuff there is here!!
I love restacks too - mainly because there are so much I find and love, I want to share it so others can love it too.
I think the podcast element is pretty inspired- Its not my jam to make them, but great for collaborating and the ability to have a conversation in the comments of a podcast substack is just marvelous - so it becomes more community and less broadcast.
I have video as well as I applied when it was offered as a beta option and have used a few times and I can see it having a similar community feel to the podcast option.
I think everything you're sharing here, your tips and being open about how you use Substack, is so generous and I love seeing you show up everywhere :)
Claire, you touched upon so many points I've been pondering myself, the big one being the Chat option. In fact, I did wonder whether to take it off my page too as I can't seem to wrap my head around it. Like you, I am frustrated with how it works and how it disappears so easily. So, for now, I'd rather not put my energy there. Yet, it holds so many beautiful possibilities to connect even deeper with our communities. But so far my experience has been that it doesn't quite do that.
As for other social media, I have very recently returned to IG but with the intention of it being more of a noticeboard than a main focus. There is only so much energy I will put into it. I have no interest in sitting on it hours on end like I used to with my wellness business back in the day. I've realised that my time and energy is better spent elsewhere, creating long-form content, doing research, talking to people one-on-one. In other words, it is a lighthouse to the people I may not be able to connect with elsewhere. So the intention is to direct them here. And also nurture and nourish certain connections that are on there and maybe not here.
Yet to listen to the audio but will definitely do so as I am toying with some ideas about memberships/circles etc.
Super helpful for a beginner. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed by all the options and felt that posts and occasional use of notes might be the best option for me at the moment. This has confirmed that! Podcast will come later!
That was a wild moment with the comment/note situation?! We won't be pressing that red button again! 😆🙈 Also weird that sometimes when people have restacked a post it appears on noted with all the likes and comments, as though the post has been transplanted to Notes rather than linked. Somewhat unnerving when the comments are a slightly more private space I think. Will screenshot if I see it happen again! Looking forward to the podcast episode Claire - adding it to my weekend playlist. 🙌🏻✨
I like what you said (obviously 😂) especially about the membership existing outside of Substack, and the Substack is just the medium through which it travels.
Thanks so much for the shout out! Sending you big sunny vibes from glorious South Wales 😎🫶
Thanks for this - just finished listening on the dog walk, only a week later! 😩 I was interested in your membership thoughts... I have had two memberships for over 10 years now so if you'd find it of any use at all to have a podcast chat I'd be more than happy to share what I've learnt along the way... and what I'm still learning!
Oh, I knew there was something else bubbling up for me. When I merged my Substacks and recategorized them I realized the type of writing I intended to do here - long form - had fallen by the wayside during periods of overwhelm and focus on Instagram launches. Looking back I've written around 6 long form pieces over the course of the year. The others were a mixture of studio updates, podcasts, and videos.
Writing long form takes time - hours for me - but I love it and miss it and want to carve out time to write in that format more often moving forward. I'm not sure if that's once a month, every other week, or 3 weeks a month, but it's something I want to prioritize over summer when I don't have any big launches planned.
I still haven't listened to audio yet, but realized this was a hybrid post so I read the text bit over tea. ☕️
I feel the same about chat. I have stopped using it and might experiment with hosting discussions as a main "post". (I've seen a few people doing that including Marlee Grace.)
Notes is feeling less noisy now that I've muted a few things. It seems some of my readers have different interests and values and I just can't see some of those posts. Maybe it's curate-able, but always a risk factor when new people subscribe and Substack "connects" you within their notes algorithm.
I also noticed this week that you can "syndicate" your podcast (send it out to Apple Podcasts etc). I haven't set that up yet, but I think I might for Neurodivergent Space Time. 💫🎧✨
I agree with everything you’ve said about Chat. It could be so much better with the suggestions you’ve made!
I’m going to listen to the podcast over the weekend. Thank you for sharing my post, I can’t believe the response it’s had and how many people relate to it! 🥰
Thanks so much for the shout out Claire - unexpected and very much appreciated. 🦊 xx
I would like to revitalize my substack but I’m currently not sure what to write about. It overall centers around motherhood interacting with all other parts of me: work, creativity, and mental health. Part of me wants to try podcasting again but having conversations with others not doing it solo. Another part of me knows my life doesn’t allow time or quiet for that.
Pal, this is a marvellous post and one I’ll come back to when I’m thinking more strategically about my stack!
So informative Claire! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and tips with us 😘
Thanks for breaking this down Claire! I find I’m mostly using notes for restacks. I think of it like my own personal archive to save quotes/posts that I enjoy as well as spread the word when I find a piece I like. They’re a recommendation to other people, whereas I think of comments as a conversation with the author about the piece.
There's so much to love in this post Claire. It's really challenged me to think about how I'm using the different elements of substack. I agree that Chat is my least favourite function - I don't share anything much there - I think they have potential for building a private community inside substacks with larger engaged audiences, but when they're just used to broadcast a post being published, they don't really work. I like that they allow you to share images, which I wish was possible in post comments.
I love Notes, but do find myself getting lost in them sometimes - I can follow a Notes thread to another and another and a post and comments and others and get completely lost in all the lovely stuff there is here!!
I love restacks too - mainly because there are so much I find and love, I want to share it so others can love it too.
I think the podcast element is pretty inspired- Its not my jam to make them, but great for collaborating and the ability to have a conversation in the comments of a podcast substack is just marvelous - so it becomes more community and less broadcast.
I have video as well as I applied when it was offered as a beta option and have used a few times and I can see it having a similar community feel to the podcast option.
Thank you so much, Claire, for the shout out!
I think everything you're sharing here, your tips and being open about how you use Substack, is so generous and I love seeing you show up everywhere :)
Claire, you touched upon so many points I've been pondering myself, the big one being the Chat option. In fact, I did wonder whether to take it off my page too as I can't seem to wrap my head around it. Like you, I am frustrated with how it works and how it disappears so easily. So, for now, I'd rather not put my energy there. Yet, it holds so many beautiful possibilities to connect even deeper with our communities. But so far my experience has been that it doesn't quite do that.
As for other social media, I have very recently returned to IG but with the intention of it being more of a noticeboard than a main focus. There is only so much energy I will put into it. I have no interest in sitting on it hours on end like I used to with my wellness business back in the day. I've realised that my time and energy is better spent elsewhere, creating long-form content, doing research, talking to people one-on-one. In other words, it is a lighthouse to the people I may not be able to connect with elsewhere. So the intention is to direct them here. And also nurture and nourish certain connections that are on there and maybe not here.
Yet to listen to the audio but will definitely do so as I am toying with some ideas about memberships/circles etc.
Yet again, thank you for your thoughts.
Super helpful for a beginner. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed by all the options and felt that posts and occasional use of notes might be the best option for me at the moment. This has confirmed that! Podcast will come later!
That was a wild moment with the comment/note situation?! We won't be pressing that red button again! 😆🙈 Also weird that sometimes when people have restacked a post it appears on noted with all the likes and comments, as though the post has been transplanted to Notes rather than linked. Somewhat unnerving when the comments are a slightly more private space I think. Will screenshot if I see it happen again! Looking forward to the podcast episode Claire - adding it to my weekend playlist. 🙌🏻✨
I like what you said (obviously 😂) especially about the membership existing outside of Substack, and the Substack is just the medium through which it travels.