Time for a bit of research, if you’ll indulge me. Today I have a couple of simple polls!
I write and publish this newsletter using a service called Substack. So, first question:
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The reason I ask is that I sometimes post about Substack features which are useful for writers, but it occurs to me that I may well have readers who haven’t heard of Substack or know that I use it.
Following on from that, I’m curious about how most of you encounter and read this newsletter:
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If I’ve missed any relevant options or if you’d like to provide some extra context, do head down to the comments.
I read in my email then click and continue on desktop. I rarely use the app. If I wouldn’t be a writer on Substack myself, I’d probably just read the email version.
That's an interesting insight -- I thought the majority of people read Substack newsletters directly on the website. Looks like it's only me! I suspect that this has an impact on things like likelihood to comment. It makes sense that overall engagement will likely be lower if there is more separating people from the site such as reading in an email and (perhaps to a lesser extent) reading in the app. So, it's more like broadcasting in that way than community building. Not that there's anything wrong with that necessarily -- just good to know!
Hope you find the data you're looking for -- it's already helped me, so thanks for that!
Yeah, I go mostly through the web, and occasionally via the Substack app. I did wonder if that was normal, hence asking the questions! I enjoy writing about 'how to write on Substack', and it occurred to me that I might be making assumptions about my subscribers and their interests - or even their awareness of Substack itself being the tech behind my newsletter.
I tend to read in my email, but, of course, have to click through to the Substack app/website (and my phone seems to open one or the other at random - the comment I just left about Spidey, my email opened in the Substack app while this is the mobile browser page) to leave the inevitable comment.
Like others, I actually read in a variety of places! It depends on what I am doing and where, including time of day and, as Suw Charman-Anderson already said, exactly where I am on the day's procrastination journey... I'll use all of the above options at different times.
(I should also add here that, although I read in my inbox, this doesn't always show up in stats, due to trackers being disabled. Which is probably rather annoying, I know! Sorry! But I do read!)
To be honest, I am a mixed bag. I feel like I usually read newsletters from the Susbtack mobile app, but I'm also currently commenting from my computer. Typically if I see something in my email from anything I subscribe to, I go to Substack itself rather than reading posts from my inbox. Not sure why I do that.
I read in my email then click and continue on desktop. I rarely use the app. If I wouldn’t be a writer on Substack myself, I’d probably just read the email version.
App only for me. For most of the stuff. I wish the app would support creation, too.
I use both the Inbox and the mobile app, depending on time of day and how hard I'm procrastinating.
I tend to read initially via email but I’ll then often click across to read the whole thing via the app.
I have the email sent to Inoreader and read it there.
That's an interesting insight -- I thought the majority of people read Substack newsletters directly on the website. Looks like it's only me! I suspect that this has an impact on things like likelihood to comment. It makes sense that overall engagement will likely be lower if there is more separating people from the site such as reading in an email and (perhaps to a lesser extent) reading in the app. So, it's more like broadcasting in that way than community building. Not that there's anything wrong with that necessarily -- just good to know!
Hope you find the data you're looking for -- it's already helped me, so thanks for that!
Yeah, I go mostly through the web, and occasionally via the Substack app. I did wonder if that was normal, hence asking the questions! I enjoy writing about 'how to write on Substack', and it occurred to me that I might be making assumptions about my subscribers and their interests - or even their awareness of Substack itself being the tech behind my newsletter.
Lots to ponder!
I tend to read in my email, but, of course, have to click through to the Substack app/website (and my phone seems to open one or the other at random - the comment I just left about Spidey, my email opened in the Substack app while this is the mobile browser page) to leave the inevitable comment.
Like others, I actually read in a variety of places! It depends on what I am doing and where, including time of day and, as Suw Charman-Anderson already said, exactly where I am on the day's procrastination journey... I'll use all of the above options at different times.
(I should also add here that, although I read in my inbox, this doesn't always show up in stats, due to trackers being disabled. Which is probably rather annoying, I know! Sorry! But I do read!)
As I try to get my arms around Substack as a venue, your insights have been very hlpful and much appreciated. Thanks!
To be honest, I am a mixed bag. I feel like I usually read newsletters from the Susbtack mobile app, but I'm also currently commenting from my computer. Typically if I see something in my email from anything I subscribe to, I go to Substack itself rather than reading posts from my inbox. Not sure why I do that.
Either the app or when I’m already on the desktop version for posting to my own and need a reading break. But it wouldn’t let me click both. 😜