Julia, I'm one of the people who would really like to hear your thinking about moving. I understand that SS is changing. And I feel that change already. I'd love to know more about your motivation.
I like what I wrote above as a succinct-ish way to describe my motivations, so I'll share it here, but please let me know if you have questions!
The short version is that:
*They have received venture capital funding but aren't showing healthy profits, which means the onus of profitability will likely fall on/is already falling on the shoulders of readers and creators. I expect more of this in the future.
*Having my email list outside of my own control means, well, I don't control it, and all the work I do to create newsletter issues and to build connections with my audience is serving someone else rather than a way for me to foster the kind of long-term connections I want, and bring people into my own ecosystem of writing, classes, etc.
*They platform voices that are actively violent and discriminatory against folks like me and my friends.
As far as what I'd switch to, hosting on my own site is ideal because then I have control over my email list and pricing, etc. but does come with the responsibility to set up and maintain my own site, etc. I'm already doing this so it's not a big deal, but would be something to consider if you weren't.
Buttondown, Beehiv, and Ghost are the three main competitors for Substack, each with different features and pricing (I believe Buttondown is cheapest). The pros include having a made-for-you space specifically for newsletters. The downside being, like here, someone else is managing your list.
This is extremely interesting, thank you. I’ll follow your site wherever you choose, but am curious about what’s going on with Substack. My family has an organic farm just north of Minneapolis. Right now, Substack is our best source of news, a lot of it routed via Canada. Local news didn’t report that 20k+ people were peacefully collected yesterday in one park near the killing in Minneapolis last Wednesday, but Substack, (and people we know there), had that information. Substack, however, is getting flooded with crap. Let’s say someone wants to read your writing - goes to Roots - but can only find literally dozens of very long pieces supposedly commented to you or reposted by you, and cannot find the genuine bits you’ve written. How is that happening? Are bots flooding the pro-democracy sites and Substack has lost control? Or are people just piggy-backing on sites that are widely read en masse? Either way, it feels as if Substack isn’t handing the load well.
I'm glad you'll follow me wherever we end up (thank you!!) but yes I'm not sure what's going on with the platform either. I agree it sometimes is a really valuable source of info, but also have found the same thing you have as far as it being hard to navigate and the quality of information being all over the map (which didn't used to be the case). I'm not sure what is going on as far as those two things specifically, but the platform's usability has definitely factored into my decision, too!
*They have received venture capital funding but aren't showing healthy profits, which means the onus of profitability will likely fall on/is already falling on the shoulders of readers and creators. I expect more of this in the future.
*Having my email list outside of my own control means, well, I don't control it, and all the work I do to create newsletter issues and to build connections with my audience is serving someone else rather than a way for me to foster the kind of long-term connections I want, and bring people into my own ecosystem of writing, classes, etc.
*They platform voices that are actively violent and discriminatory against folks like me and my friends.
As far as what I'd switch to, hosting on my own site is ideal because then I have control over my email list and pricing, etc. but does come with the responsibility to set up and maintain my own site, etc. I'm already doing this so it's not a big deal, but would be something to consider if you weren't.
Buttondown, Beehiv, and Ghost are the three main competitors for Substack, each with different features and pricing (I believe Buttondown is cheapest). The pros include having a made-for-you space specifically for newsletters. The downside being, like here, someone else is managing your list.
Very illuminating, Julia. Thank you for explaining all that. I had no idea they platformed actively violent voices. I like your reasoning for hosting more authentic connections. Good luck with what you choose. Sounds like you're heading for your own site!
Yes, they've been called out on it before by folks who are far more in the know than me, but as far as I'm aware haven't taken steps to address the far right presence on the site. And thank you! I'm planning on my own site but, since this is a space for me and readers, we'll see what the poll says before I make my final decision!
Julia, I'm one of the people who would really like to hear your thinking about moving. I understand that SS is changing. And I feel that change already. I'd love to know more about your motivation.
I like what I wrote above as a succinct-ish way to describe my motivations, so I'll share it here, but please let me know if you have questions!
The short version is that:
*They have received venture capital funding but aren't showing healthy profits, which means the onus of profitability will likely fall on/is already falling on the shoulders of readers and creators. I expect more of this in the future.
*Having my email list outside of my own control means, well, I don't control it, and all the work I do to create newsletter issues and to build connections with my audience is serving someone else rather than a way for me to foster the kind of long-term connections I want, and bring people into my own ecosystem of writing, classes, etc.
*They platform voices that are actively violent and discriminatory against folks like me and my friends.
As far as what I'd switch to, hosting on my own site is ideal because then I have control over my email list and pricing, etc. but does come with the responsibility to set up and maintain my own site, etc. I'm already doing this so it's not a big deal, but would be something to consider if you weren't.
Buttondown, Beehiv, and Ghost are the three main competitors for Substack, each with different features and pricing (I believe Buttondown is cheapest). The pros include having a made-for-you space specifically for newsletters. The downside being, like here, someone else is managing your list.
Thank you, Julia. Lots to think about.
This is extremely interesting, thank you. I’ll follow your site wherever you choose, but am curious about what’s going on with Substack. My family has an organic farm just north of Minneapolis. Right now, Substack is our best source of news, a lot of it routed via Canada. Local news didn’t report that 20k+ people were peacefully collected yesterday in one park near the killing in Minneapolis last Wednesday, but Substack, (and people we know there), had that information. Substack, however, is getting flooded with crap. Let’s say someone wants to read your writing - goes to Roots - but can only find literally dozens of very long pieces supposedly commented to you or reposted by you, and cannot find the genuine bits you’ve written. How is that happening? Are bots flooding the pro-democracy sites and Substack has lost control? Or are people just piggy-backing on sites that are widely read en masse? Either way, it feels as if Substack isn’t handing the load well.
I'm glad you'll follow me wherever we end up (thank you!!) but yes I'm not sure what's going on with the platform either. I agree it sometimes is a really valuable source of info, but also have found the same thing you have as far as it being hard to navigate and the quality of information being all over the map (which didn't used to be the case). I'm not sure what is going on as far as those two things specifically, but the platform's usability has definitely factored into my decision, too!
No preference.
No preference
I would be very curious to know about the reasons you'd be switching. I've been hesitant to start writing here, but can't pinpoint the reasons.
The short version is that:
*They have received venture capital funding but aren't showing healthy profits, which means the onus of profitability will likely fall on/is already falling on the shoulders of readers and creators. I expect more of this in the future.
*Having my email list outside of my own control means, well, I don't control it, and all the work I do to create newsletter issues and to build connections with my audience is serving someone else rather than a way for me to foster the kind of long-term connections I want, and bring people into my own ecosystem of writing, classes, etc.
*They platform voices that are actively violent and discriminatory against folks like me and my friends.
As far as what I'd switch to, hosting on my own site is ideal because then I have control over my email list and pricing, etc. but does come with the responsibility to set up and maintain my own site, etc. I'm already doing this so it's not a big deal, but would be something to consider if you weren't.
Buttondown, Beehiv, and Ghost are the three main competitors for Substack, each with different features and pricing (I believe Buttondown is cheapest). The pros include having a made-for-you space specifically for newsletters. The downside being, like here, someone else is managing your list.
Very illuminating, Julia. Thank you for explaining all that. I had no idea they platformed actively violent voices. I like your reasoning for hosting more authentic connections. Good luck with what you choose. Sounds like you're heading for your own site!
Yes, they've been called out on it before by folks who are far more in the know than me, but as far as I'm aware haven't taken steps to address the far right presence on the site. And thank you! I'm planning on my own site but, since this is a space for me and readers, we'll see what the poll says before I make my final decision!