Hi Simon - Thanks for the great videos, I've recommended them on my page since right now, most of my subscribers are direct, non-substackers and are looking for info on the platform.
I'm 3 months into being on Substack (4th website) still navigating & optimising esp. best uses for Notes, Threads and Chat. - like CK Steefel's comment
I've avoided starting a Chat myself because I see it as a moderated discussion that you need to be present for - like a whatsapp group chat with your own invited group (free or paid subscribers - depending on how you've set it up)...I think I read somewhere on the 'support' page that you need to 'be present & responding for at least 30mins to optimise its use' ...not poss for me BUT I have participated in chats. So Reactive vs proactive use.
Thanks for the Thread example that helps - so is it always used as a Q-discussion, I've a few ideas for a thread a day to serialise or link or build on an idea...
Notes is where I've been most active - I like how we can share our comments on an article-post as a note, so the author and responder are 'seen' I'm still figuring out how to optimise its use...
I've just realised how different the desktop and mobile app experiences are. E.g. sections. Everything morphs into one long scroll of posts on the app! Can you share tips on how to ensure 'Sections' are distinct in the mobile app..I thought the 'Section title' would be in the headers.
Could you, in a future video or article, decipher best uses of Notes, Threads, Chats with examples? I can't find a simple table.
For now I'm focused on Notes before experimenting with Threads
Hope you don't mind the long asks and questions! I've done a few laps of the support pages without much clarity.
Hey Simon. Well, I have finally sent out my very first post on SubStack. Any backlash, and I will be holding you and your helpful videos responsible. Just a heads up. Seriously though. Much appreciated. Cheers. G.
For those of us new to Substack as a destination--note the non-use of "platform," to show I actually did read the entire piece--these 'How-to' articles are very helpful. I recently received an email saying someone was following me on Notes; having really no idea what it was, but a vague memory of having written or shared a comment as a Note, as I will do with this since I have a follower, this was very helpful.
Next step: Figure out what to do with this information.
Excellent overview. I'm getting ready to start my "little media empire" with a series of podcasts and your overviews are helping me decode what Substack does.
Yeah, it took me a while to figure that out. I suspect Chat might change quite significantly over the next 6 months.
The way I see it:
A thread is a special type of post which emphasises community discussion. It gets distributed exactly like a normal newsletter/post.
A Chat exists only in the apps (although you can send an email notification). Again discussion-based, but intended for more immediate back-and-forth. It'd make more sense if it worked a bit more like a moderated WhatsApp group, I think?
So a Chat is an evening concert whereas a Thread is Burning Man or Coachella. A one day type offering vs an ongoing conversation. (If you're in the UK, Burning Man and Coachella are three day concerts that my kids love. Those young people.)
I just came across your Substack in a Google search Simon, and this was helpful thank you! Looking forward to reading more.
I still haven’t quite figured out, if some weeks I write 1 post and other weeks I write 3, does a newsletter get sent out 3 times (ie every time I post), or is there an option to choose for it to only send a round up every week?
If you write a post and send it, that's a newsletter. You do have the option of not sending it, and only publishing it on the website, but in that case it'll never be sent.
What you could do, I suppose, is publish to the website as many time as you want without sending a newsletter, and then send a digest/round-up newsletter that links out to them all.
It's useful to hear that you found your way here via Google! Interesting. Thanks for reading. :)
Gosh thanks so much Simon! Really appreciate that, I’ll look into the roundup option! I have lots of words pouring out at the moment and I would love to share them but don’t want to bombard with lots of newsletters 🙃
Thank you Simon. great information. I'm new to the Substack platform. I find I've been spending more time trying to figure out Substack. learning to set-up a clean, clear home page, a lovely, clean look for my newsletter that it's affecting writing time. Can't wait for lesson 3.
Simon these post are really informative! Please continue to demystify. Looking forward to the next.
Hi Simon - Thanks for the great videos, I've recommended them on my page since right now, most of my subscribers are direct, non-substackers and are looking for info on the platform.
I'm 3 months into being on Substack (4th website) still navigating & optimising esp. best uses for Notes, Threads and Chat. - like CK Steefel's comment
I've avoided starting a Chat myself because I see it as a moderated discussion that you need to be present for - like a whatsapp group chat with your own invited group (free or paid subscribers - depending on how you've set it up)...I think I read somewhere on the 'support' page that you need to 'be present & responding for at least 30mins to optimise its use' ...not poss for me BUT I have participated in chats. So Reactive vs proactive use.
Thanks for the Thread example that helps - so is it always used as a Q-discussion, I've a few ideas for a thread a day to serialise or link or build on an idea...
Notes is where I've been most active - I like how we can share our comments on an article-post as a note, so the author and responder are 'seen' I'm still figuring out how to optimise its use...
I've just realised how different the desktop and mobile app experiences are. E.g. sections. Everything morphs into one long scroll of posts on the app! Can you share tips on how to ensure 'Sections' are distinct in the mobile app..I thought the 'Section title' would be in the headers.
Could you, in a future video or article, decipher best uses of Notes, Threads, Chats with examples? I can't find a simple table.
For now I'm focused on Notes before experimenting with Threads
Hope you don't mind the long asks and questions! I've done a few laps of the support pages without much clarity.
Hey Simon. Well, I have finally sent out my very first post on SubStack. Any backlash, and I will be holding you and your helpful videos responsible. Just a heads up. Seriously though. Much appreciated. Cheers. G.
https://open.substack.com/pub/gregbennett/p/gollum-and-one-internet-to-rule-them?r=2a357b&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Hope it goes well!!
Very informative videos for a newcomer. Many thanks.
Thank you Simon! It was super useful 🌱
For those of us new to Substack as a destination--note the non-use of "platform," to show I actually did read the entire piece--these 'How-to' articles are very helpful. I recently received an email saying someone was following me on Notes; having really no idea what it was, but a vague memory of having written or shared a comment as a Note, as I will do with this since I have a follower, this was very helpful.
Next step: Figure out what to do with this information.
Many thanks Simon - as a Substack newbie, these intro are very helpful
Hi Ashley! Happy to help.
Excellent overview. I'm getting ready to start my "little media empire" with a series of podcasts and your overviews are helping me decode what Substack does.
Glad to help! Enjoy the spoils of your empire. :)
So helpful! Thank you! However, I still don't quite understand the difference between Thread and Chat except there's an APP in between. Hmmm.
Yeah, it took me a while to figure that out. I suspect Chat might change quite significantly over the next 6 months.
The way I see it:
A thread is a special type of post which emphasises community discussion. It gets distributed exactly like a normal newsletter/post.
A Chat exists only in the apps (although you can send an email notification). Again discussion-based, but intended for more immediate back-and-forth. It'd make more sense if it worked a bit more like a moderated WhatsApp group, I think?
So a Chat is an evening concert whereas a Thread is Burning Man or Coachella. A one day type offering vs an ongoing conversation. (If you're in the UK, Burning Man and Coachella are three day concerts that my kids love. Those young people.)
SO helpful! I now get it!
Thank you Simon! Much appreciated! 😁
I'm hungry for the "how to write good post" video! My students will be making their first official Substack post soon.
You're doing a great job of explaining the Substack Intricacies. Thanks.
I just came across your Substack in a Google search Simon, and this was helpful thank you! Looking forward to reading more.
I still haven’t quite figured out, if some weeks I write 1 post and other weeks I write 3, does a newsletter get sent out 3 times (ie every time I post), or is there an option to choose for it to only send a round up every week?
Thanks so much 🙏🏼
If you write a post and send it, that's a newsletter. You do have the option of not sending it, and only publishing it on the website, but in that case it'll never be sent.
What you could do, I suppose, is publish to the website as many time as you want without sending a newsletter, and then send a digest/round-up newsletter that links out to them all.
It's useful to hear that you found your way here via Google! Interesting. Thanks for reading. :)
Gosh thanks so much Simon! Really appreciate that, I’ll look into the roundup option! I have lots of words pouring out at the moment and I would love to share them but don’t want to bombard with lots of newsletters 🙃
Thank you Simon. great information. I'm new to the Substack platform. I find I've been spending more time trying to figure out Substack. learning to set-up a clean, clear home page, a lovely, clean look for my newsletter that it's affecting writing time. Can't wait for lesson 3.