I'm happy to say that I don't think I would change much about how I started/how I would start now. It has been a learning curve for sure, but an enjoyable and gentle one. I think one thing is to have posts ready in advance - I failed myself on this one and fell behind. Now I have about 30 drafts always on-the-go, but I definitely lose inspiration quickly too and I won't post something unless it feels 1000% right in that moment and (hopefully) valuable to my audience.
Love this and yes the “in the moment” is so important - I’ve got a draft about my podcast - a kinda how to and I just don’t know if anyone needs it so it’s just there where as this weeks about green websites I moved it forward to publish as folks were asking about it...
"Where did you start and where would you start now you’ve been here a while?"
I think I did it right: I just dove in and started writing immediately. My direction and voice soon became apparent, and I got a whole lot better writing and leveraging this unique platform by consistent daily practice.
"How would you re-curate your space, what would you do differently?"
I have a feeling I'll be making lots of changes at the back end, stuff like "about" and welcome emails. I'm happy with the way they are at the moment, but this is a rapidly moving target, and I'm learning every day. Ask me again in a month!
Thanks Andrew!!! This is so funny because I’ve noticed myself check in with my about and other pages at the start of each month - kind of a little ritual of sweeping the front step. 🤩🍃
It's all so new to me. I blew up pretty fast, way faster than I imagined at first. Now I have to kind of fix things a little sooner than I thought I might have to! Yikes!
A little of everything (but probably: daily consistency more so than brilliance). I think writing every day allows me to publish without fear, and that makes me free to express my thoughts more freely, which incites me to publish the next day, and so on.
Notes are great, though! They are working. They're part of the puzzle for sure.
Wow, that's brilliant, Claire! SUCH a great milestone - congratulations! 🥳
I always look forward to your Friday e-mails - thank you so much for your Substack insights!
And... since you asked... I've had a terrific week on Substack! ♥️ I've just passed a milestone of my own, and although I haven't yet posted a 'Note' in my own right, I DID dip a toe into those waters in the comments of both of the Substack Office Hours Notes threads last night. In terms of my online confidence, that's a pretty big deal for me! 🫣
Thanks so much Rebecca!!! 🎁 yes I saw that and it was so lovely to see you there. I’ve got nothing but positivity for Notes - it’s got to be the most thoughtful thread on the internet... 🤔... I do think it changes things/ has changed things but then I guess life changes all the time. So so glad you’ve had a good week and more lovely things are coming/ have happened! 🙌🏻💕✨
I love your advice today about creating before you consume. I find this so important.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Threads and where you think that fits in as part of a social media strategy. I downloaded it last night, you know, to be nosey and I can't make up my mind about it just yet!
I think it's really interesting that threads won't be available in Europe because of GDPR. It feels like such a relief that it's a space I don't even have the option of thinking about! phew...
That is interesting! I didn't know that was the case. I can feel your relief Tamzin 😅 and to be honest I wish I didn't have the choice. It would make things a lot easier if the choice was made for me...
So just staying true to myself and I’m not bothered with threads because it’s essentially Instagram / Meta isn’t it and I know what they are about...
Yes there’s prob an opportunity for profile raising / new connections but I just think Instagram took me as far as the constrictions it had and now I feel far more in flow - part of that is not visiting noisy online spaces... I suspect it is?
One of my goals this month is to send a couple of pitches out for podcasts and publications and scout about for any awards I’m eligible for as I’ve not won one since 2018... time passes especially when the social media overlords are in charge of our beautiful creativity! 😂 🏰✨🎁💕
So I don’t think threads fits in anywhere... that said I will look at it ahead of my next group mentoring session with content club which is in the Autumn...
Well I've been on for a day and I feel like I'm not going to stick around. It's very noisy and I agree with you that I don't want to visit noisy online spaces. And in truth, I avoid Facebook, twitter and tiktok so why do I feel the need to be on Threads?!
I think it's good to be aware of it to be able to make that conscious decision and as you are holding space for others in your mentoring session being aware of it will help you support others 💫
I love your goals and I like your strictness 😅 it gives me motivation to do the same! ☀️
Ha Lyndsay - honestly I am so tempted - if even just to promote my Substack but in my beautiful walled garden there's no wifi so I can't... not yet anyway... thanks so much for sharing where you're at. The video is ready from Thurs if you fancy jumping into some intention setting for July, Aug, Sept - I sent it round in chat. Cx
Huge congratulations on reaching the 1000 subscribers mark, that's an amazing achievement. And I live your way of thinking about Substack as a peaceful walled garden. I'm fiercely protective of my time here too - it feels like a much needed space away from the outside world.
Thanks so much Louise!! It’s really just so spacious here I really love it. I’m planning some video stuff over summer and then to have a little break... ✨✏️🙌🏻 how about you?
HUGE congrats on reaching your 1000 subscriber milestone, Claire! 🥳 That’s a wonderful achievement.
And thank you for sharing my post, I’m pleased you enjoyed it 🥰
Thanks so much Sophie and you're so so welcome. I love how you express your thoughts on online spaces. xx
I'm happy to say that I don't think I would change much about how I started/how I would start now. It has been a learning curve for sure, but an enjoyable and gentle one. I think one thing is to have posts ready in advance - I failed myself on this one and fell behind. Now I have about 30 drafts always on-the-go, but I definitely lose inspiration quickly too and I won't post something unless it feels 1000% right in that moment and (hopefully) valuable to my audience.
Love this and yes the “in the moment” is so important - I’ve got a draft about my podcast - a kinda how to and I just don’t know if anyone needs it so it’s just there where as this weeks about green websites I moved it forward to publish as folks were asking about it...
Yay! Congratulations on 1,000 subscribers Claire! 🎉💗 Well done! 🥳
I always look forward to your Friday emails and the information you share 🤗✨
Aww thanks so so much!! 📖✨🎁 hope you’ve had a lovely week!
Fun stuff! And congrats!
"Where did you start and where would you start now you’ve been here a while?"
I think I did it right: I just dove in and started writing immediately. My direction and voice soon became apparent, and I got a whole lot better writing and leveraging this unique platform by consistent daily practice.
"How would you re-curate your space, what would you do differently?"
I have a feeling I'll be making lots of changes at the back end, stuff like "about" and welcome emails. I'm happy with the way they are at the moment, but this is a rapidly moving target, and I'm learning every day. Ask me again in a month!
Thanks Andrew!!! This is so funny because I’ve noticed myself check in with my about and other pages at the start of each month - kind of a little ritual of sweeping the front step. 🤩🍃
That's so good. I need to get into that habit.
It's all so new to me. I blew up pretty fast, way faster than I imagined at first. Now I have to kind of fix things a little sooner than I thought I might have to! Yikes!
I mean, good problem to have, yadda yadda...
Isn’t it! What happened with your growth? Notes or other platforms? Or just brilliance?
A little of everything (but probably: daily consistency more so than brilliance). I think writing every day allows me to publish without fear, and that makes me free to express my thoughts more freely, which incites me to publish the next day, and so on.
Notes are great, though! They are working. They're part of the puzzle for sure.
Yes I love that - you don’t have time to over think it if you post a lot hey?
Yeah, but I still do anyway... can't help myself! It is liberating, though, for sure. Wouldn't have it any other way.
Wow, that's brilliant, Claire! SUCH a great milestone - congratulations! 🥳
I always look forward to your Friday e-mails - thank you so much for your Substack insights!
And... since you asked... I've had a terrific week on Substack! ♥️ I've just passed a milestone of my own, and although I haven't yet posted a 'Note' in my own right, I DID dip a toe into those waters in the comments of both of the Substack Office Hours Notes threads last night. In terms of my online confidence, that's a pretty big deal for me! 🫣
Well done Rebecca! Celebrating ourselves and the steps we take is so important...
Thanks so much, Tamzin!
Thanks so much Rebecca!!! 🎁 yes I saw that and it was so lovely to see you there. I’ve got nothing but positivity for Notes - it’s got to be the most thoughtful thread on the internet... 🤔... I do think it changes things/ has changed things but then I guess life changes all the time. So so glad you’ve had a good week and more lovely things are coming/ have happened! 🙌🏻💕✨
1000 Subscribers 🥳🥳🥳
That's an amazing achievement Claire, congrats!
I love your advice today about creating before you consume. I find this so important.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Threads and where you think that fits in as part of a social media strategy. I downloaded it last night, you know, to be nosey and I can't make up my mind about it just yet!
I think it's really interesting that threads won't be available in Europe because of GDPR. It feels like such a relief that it's a space I don't even have the option of thinking about! phew...
That is interesting! I didn't know that was the case. I can feel your relief Tamzin 😅 and to be honest I wish I didn't have the choice. It would make things a lot easier if the choice was made for me...
I feel sad that that doesn’t mean me and the UK because we are not “in Europe” anymore. 😔
It's so strange right?! We've kind of got used to the UK being so separate by now but it's still bizarre!
It really is. I want to move to Europe!
Ooo yes I mean it’s exciting and shiny and new...
So just staying true to myself and I’m not bothered with threads because it’s essentially Instagram / Meta isn’t it and I know what they are about...
Yes there’s prob an opportunity for profile raising / new connections but I just think Instagram took me as far as the constrictions it had and now I feel far more in flow - part of that is not visiting noisy online spaces... I suspect it is?
One of my goals this month is to send a couple of pitches out for podcasts and publications and scout about for any awards I’m eligible for as I’ve not won one since 2018... time passes especially when the social media overlords are in charge of our beautiful creativity! 😂 🏰✨🎁💕
So I don’t think threads fits in anywhere... that said I will look at it ahead of my next group mentoring session with content club which is in the Autumn...
Quite strict rules there aren’t they?! 😆✨🙌🏻⭕️❤️
Well I've been on for a day and I feel like I'm not going to stick around. It's very noisy and I agree with you that I don't want to visit noisy online spaces. And in truth, I avoid Facebook, twitter and tiktok so why do I feel the need to be on Threads?!
I think it's good to be aware of it to be able to make that conscious decision and as you are holding space for others in your mentoring session being aware of it will help you support others 💫
I love your goals and I like your strictness 😅 it gives me motivation to do the same! ☀️
Ha Lyndsay - honestly I am so tempted - if even just to promote my Substack but in my beautiful walled garden there's no wifi so I can't... not yet anyway... thanks so much for sharing where you're at. The video is ready from Thurs if you fancy jumping into some intention setting for July, Aug, Sept - I sent it round in chat. Cx
Congratulations!
Aw thanks Keris and for inspiring my journey! ✨❤️
Huge congratulations on reaching the 1000 subscribers mark, that's an amazing achievement. And I live your way of thinking about Substack as a peaceful walled garden. I'm fiercely protective of my time here too - it feels like a much needed space away from the outside world.
Thanks so much Louise!! It’s really just so spacious here I really love it. I’m planning some video stuff over summer and then to have a little break... ✨✏️🙌🏻 how about you?
I haven't really planned my summer yet. I think I'm just going to play it by ear really and see what happens
That sounds so nice! ✨