Absolutely. I think the thing they show most of all is that you don't have to have 10K Subscribers to get good engagement on here, you just need to connect with people and talk about things they can relate to! It's a wonderful thing and it gives us all a bit of hope... 😎
Kristi, fellow blunt person here and I agree with your take that we are all essentially exhausted with being marketed to! As much as we all want to grow our reader base and have at least SOME paid subscribers, one cannot plead or put pressure on people. For me, living on the financial edge for many years, ( but at least not in debt!), it is not easy to simply plant seeds and water them with both hope and tears. I will say that Notes has become very dear to me in the several months I have been on it. It is informal and low-key and almost always encouraging.
Even though I have the "gift of gab" in short bursts, I am more introverted by core temperament. Short hops of positive comments and humble encouragement can truly make a difference in someone's day and nudge them on one more step . Here's to us all, today! Keep writing, keep planting, keep the faith. You are most certainly NOT alone.
You are so right. I'd almost given up on sharing my work before I came here - I hadn't posted anything online for many years. But this place has been so supportive, it's really renewed my enthusiasm and I've fallen back in love with writing again. Positive comments and seeing people enjoying what you're doing, really does make a huge difference and it all helps drive you on. Good luck to you with your writing... 😎
I love this advice and I see it work for people. There’s something within me that blocks this for some reason. I have several disparate publications and I think it’s giving me an identity crisis haha.
My two pubs have nothing to do with each other and if/when I start my 3rd one it'll be about dogs 😁 I'll soon be in the disparity boat with you. Maybe that can be pur niche together 🤣
I almost called one of my publications Nicheless Nick haha. The funny thing is, I have SO much writing out there on various platforms and personal notes that I could 100% put into Substack Notes. Like, I don’t even have to start from scratch. And yet, I can’t seem to stick with it. Good on those who can :)
Well I just followed you and subscribed from seeing you on Notes, so… Great advice, I struggle with putting myself out there like that so I default to posting links to my stuff; gotta do better.
Thanks Mikey, and I get it. I have down times too, where I have no idea what to say in public. Sometimes even posting a fun meme works better than making something up!
Yes, getting people aware you have work 'out there' is by far the hardest part. But Notes can definitely be a great place to get more involved in the community and let people see you're here! 😎
Hi Kristi, I've seen many of your notes and you do have a knack for it - I can always relate! I believe I am part of your growth is past month because of Notes. One question though - I was told that putting links in Notes was how Followers would find my posts. Do I understand that you would disagree with that? Thanks for your help!!
No I don't disagree with that at all!!! Of course we should share our stuff! It's just that sometimes I'll scroll through someone's notes feed and see nothing but links, links, links. I don't think that opens the door for conversation.
And as I mentioned in this post, my super viral Notes didn't have links but 480 people subscribed to my newsletter because of those notes so they'll automatically see my posts because they're on my email list now!
Well, one thing I can definitely say from my own experience is that if you post Links to your own work, they won't show it to many people. Your Followers will see it, but it's much less likely it will get out to the wider community. The best thing to do is post very occasional Links to stories, but post fun and relatable things that don't link to your own work the rest of the time and just let people discover what you're doing for themselves. You are far more likely to be successful that way. Good luck... 😎
Thank you for your insights, I have enjoyed and implemented several of them, and seeing results. However, this is the one that does not seem to be working for me. I have been doing notes for a while with no traction.
I had exactly the same issue. Notes was doing nothing for me until I added it as a Tab on my Publication. That at least helped my Subscribers and Followers find my Notes more easily, and got the ball rolling a little. Then I started adding Tips and Discussions that we could talk about together and commented on other Notes as much as I could, Restacking the ones I liked the most and adding fun comments on those, too. Eventually, I had a few successes and some great conversations grew out of it. It's a very slow process, but if you persevere, you will get there. Good luck... 😎
Solid advice! I looked at my states 3 weeks ago and noticed that most of my subs come from Notes! Forget about recommendations and other social media, the majority was from Notes. I talked to my community on Substack to see what their take was on our weekly office hour meetings and Notes is where it's at. Reading this was further confirmation. Only that you've taken this a step further to explain how we should Note! Thank you!
Would love to have you over and share the knowledge if you want on our Thursday SPAWN community. If you're free and want to hang out with us. This knowledge would benefit us all. Thank you again!
I don’t want to spam your comments section so I did the inevitable… I wrote a note and added a link… basically hangout is same time as official office hours from the past on my page. A new post every week with everyone’s questions and the comments.
I really needed to hear this, thank you. I often love your Notes. It's probably how I found your Substack and subscribed (though who can remember!)... and yet I have so much to learn in how to use Notes myself. This is such a helpful reminder. 🙏
Your example posts are brilliant
Thanks! They're mostly just brain dumps...thoughts that I feel like posting.
Absolutely. I think the thing they show most of all is that you don't have to have 10K Subscribers to get good engagement on here, you just need to connect with people and talk about things they can relate to! It's a wonderful thing and it gives us all a bit of hope... 😎
"Go be a relatable human"🤣 Always solid advice over here!
Congrats on your very well deserved growth!
Hahahaha I am nothing if not blunt 😁😁😁
Kristi, fellow blunt person here and I agree with your take that we are all essentially exhausted with being marketed to! As much as we all want to grow our reader base and have at least SOME paid subscribers, one cannot plead or put pressure on people. For me, living on the financial edge for many years, ( but at least not in debt!), it is not easy to simply plant seeds and water them with both hope and tears. I will say that Notes has become very dear to me in the several months I have been on it. It is informal and low-key and almost always encouraging.
Even though I have the "gift of gab" in short bursts, I am more introverted by core temperament. Short hops of positive comments and humble encouragement can truly make a difference in someone's day and nudge them on one more step . Here's to us all, today! Keep writing, keep planting, keep the faith. You are most certainly NOT alone.
Wendy, this is an awesome take on things. Love it. I hear you on all points!
You are so right. I'd almost given up on sharing my work before I came here - I hadn't posted anything online for many years. But this place has been so supportive, it's really renewed my enthusiasm and I've fallen back in love with writing again. Positive comments and seeing people enjoying what you're doing, really does make a huge difference and it all helps drive you on. Good luck to you with your writing... 😎
Excellent point!
Very great advice! Being relatable and a normal person who isn’t trying to hard is so simple. Thanks Kristi!
I'd like to think we're all normal. We just sometimes need tips on how to use our normal properly 😁
I love this advice and I see it work for people. There’s something within me that blocks this for some reason. I have several disparate publications and I think it’s giving me an identity crisis haha.
My two pubs have nothing to do with each other and if/when I start my 3rd one it'll be about dogs 😁 I'll soon be in the disparity boat with you. Maybe that can be pur niche together 🤣
I almost called one of my publications Nicheless Nick haha. The funny thing is, I have SO much writing out there on various platforms and personal notes that I could 100% put into Substack Notes. Like, I don’t even have to start from scratch. And yet, I can’t seem to stick with it. Good on those who can :)
I post on Notes what I would post on Facebook or Twitter. Just mini brain dumps to see what happens.
Well I just followed you and subscribed from seeing you on Notes, so… Great advice, I struggle with putting myself out there like that so I default to posting links to my stuff; gotta do better.
Thanks Mikey, and I get it. I have down times too, where I have no idea what to say in public. Sometimes even posting a fun meme works better than making something up!
Good going. Congrats.
“Dying from being linked to death” ugh YES!! I keep begging clients to stop with the links and go with their great ideas. Pulling. Teeth. 😬
I just love what you’re doing. ☺️🦋
It's just a LOT sometimes. I mean, of course we should share our stuff, YES! But in much more moderation.
And thank you Karen, that means a lot to me!
You inspired me to share my most recent note.
Yaaay! That's awesome! I'll go check it out!
Love your work. I'm a 72 y.o. author and find all the media work and marketing soooo tiresome. You make me smile. Rosa
Awww Rosa, thank you for saying that!! You made me smile!!
Yes, getting people aware you have work 'out there' is by far the hardest part. But Notes can definitely be a great place to get more involved in the community and let people see you're here! 😎
Congrats Kristi! Your coaches are doing a great job 👏!
That's great to hear!
Hi Kristi, I've seen many of your notes and you do have a knack for it - I can always relate! I believe I am part of your growth is past month because of Notes. One question though - I was told that putting links in Notes was how Followers would find my posts. Do I understand that you would disagree with that? Thanks for your help!!
No I don't disagree with that at all!!! Of course we should share our stuff! It's just that sometimes I'll scroll through someone's notes feed and see nothing but links, links, links. I don't think that opens the door for conversation.
And as I mentioned in this post, my super viral Notes didn't have links but 480 people subscribed to my newsletter because of those notes so they'll automatically see my posts because they're on my email list now!
Ok, that makes sense. Thank you so much!
Well, one thing I can definitely say from my own experience is that if you post Links to your own work, they won't show it to many people. Your Followers will see it, but it's much less likely it will get out to the wider community. The best thing to do is post very occasional Links to stories, but post fun and relatable things that don't link to your own work the rest of the time and just let people discover what you're doing for themselves. You are far more likely to be successful that way. Good luck... 😎
Thanks, Chris! I appreciate you sharing your experience. We'll see how it goes!
Thank you for your insights, I have enjoyed and implemented several of them, and seeing results. However, this is the one that does not seem to be working for me. I have been doing notes for a while with no traction.
Robert, it was that way for me 7 months ago as well. I came to Substack with zero.
Are you interacting with other people's notes too?
And you can follow people on notes without subscribing to their newsletter. Sometimes that helps.
I had exactly the same issue. Notes was doing nothing for me until I added it as a Tab on my Publication. That at least helped my Subscribers and Followers find my Notes more easily, and got the ball rolling a little. Then I started adding Tips and Discussions that we could talk about together and commented on other Notes as much as I could, Restacking the ones I liked the most and adding fun comments on those, too. Eventually, I had a few successes and some great conversations grew out of it. It's a very slow process, but if you persevere, you will get there. Good luck... 😎
oh interesting, thanks for the tip!
Very well. I shall try. [Stares at notes intensely.]
Solid advice! I looked at my states 3 weeks ago and noticed that most of my subs come from Notes! Forget about recommendations and other social media, the majority was from Notes. I talked to my community on Substack to see what their take was on our weekly office hour meetings and Notes is where it's at. Reading this was further confirmation. Only that you've taken this a step further to explain how we should Note! Thank you!
Haha I like that: "How to note." 😁
I mean, it has worked for me so I don't see why it can't work for everyone!
Great, thank you!
Would love to have you over and share the knowledge if you want on our Thursday SPAWN community. If you're free and want to hang out with us. This knowledge would benefit us all. Thank you again!
Where can I see this Thursday Spawn and learn more about it?
I don’t want to spam your comments section so I did the inevitable… I wrote a note and added a link… basically hangout is same time as official office hours from the past on my page. A new post every week with everyone’s questions and the comments.
I really needed to hear this, thank you. I often love your Notes. It's probably how I found your Substack and subscribed (though who can remember!)... and yet I have so much to learn in how to use Notes myself. This is such a helpful reminder. 🙏
Rob, I'm happy to hear you're taking the time to like my notes and learn from my posts. I really do wish so much success to everyone here!