Thank you! I had no idea this was possible. I have been copying and pasting my posts into word files, but I didn't know I could keep everything through Substack. I love it.
You're welcome! Also, there's nothing wrong with the copy/paste method as a double backup, becuase this Substack method isn't all neat and tidy like a copy/paste would be. So, continue doing that as well.
Thanks for the reminder Kristi! I was able to export everything (59 published posts and 368 drafts (which is how I keep track of ideas for my future "dabbles"). I just had Claude organize them all for me into a beautiful spreadsheet that will help me better plan what I will be writing about when. Thanks again!
Thanks for this great info. Some of us only get our insider info from one source (you!) so it's great you're sharing everything even if you think it's been said before.
I admit I have been off the Stack for too long and hope to return to a routine here. Some of what puts me off is that every time I come on there are so many changes I feel overwhelmed. For example, I see that all of my posts have been converted to AI audio and I did not do anything to authorize that, nor do I want it, so now I have to take the time to figure out how to undo that. Ticks me off🤣 I'm sure there are a lot more things going on that I am unaware of which is why I like being able to pop in here to get help.
NOOOO do not apologize because I feel the exact same frustrations!! Imagine...I'm the one who is supposed to help keep people up to speed and I am not even up to speed. It is becoming a mammoth to maintain.
I have a reminder on my calendar to backup weekly. I usually create my post in Word or Doc and paste into SS, then format. This should be a process for AI. Think I will work on that.
I tried to set up a process in ChatGPT to find the event (reminder) on my Google calendar, then go to my Substack, create and download the backup, then save it in my Dropbox/Export Download. I was able to connect my Google calendar, and connect my Dropbox, but was unable to connect the AI Assistant (ChatGPT) to Substack because my SS publication is not a Bestseller. You also must be an Admin, which I am.
I did automate the reminder, but it’s only a little bit better than the manual reminder I put on my calendar. I’ll use it a little more to see if it’s worth the two automations on either side of the Substack portion.
Claude is another AI you can use, but the requirements to be an Admin and a Bestseller still apply.
It didn’t take too much time to put this together, as long as you understand the logic.
Oh boy, all.of that sounds like so much to know!!! I wish I had the wherewithal to slow down and learn all of this. I feel like I'm getting left behind in the dust 😳 But I suppose of I do, it was meant to be and I'll move on.
Hi Kristi, I've become aware of this recently, have never thought about it before until I heard about poor Lucy Warner, I really feel for her. We should all be backing up our sites regularly, thanks for the reminder and clear instructions. However, I've been reading up about this from people who have done it and apparrently, the export data seems as flawed as the import data you talked about in the video. Seems text is backed up but the formatting is not, links in the text are broken and the images are missing. Perhaps going forward the most effective way of backing up our data is to make copy & paste versions of our posts as we create them and store them in a hard drive as a text document. Not ideal, but then neither is the total back up option, either, if this is true. Although its better than totally losing everything!
I tend to create everything in Word, copy that over to Claude for formatting and structure audit, copy that back to the Word document, then upload to SubStack.
Better than losing everything, yes, but ugh...why can't it be flawless! I suppose since I've never had to reuse what I back up, I never noticed.
That was the same frustration I had with Medium content backups too. It was like one looooooong string of information, no separation of anything. It was terrible.
Never know. But the copy/paste idea would be a fabulous niche for a virtual assistant. Pray on the fears of writers on this platform and specialize ONLY in pasting their content to docs 😂
Thank you! I had no idea this was possible. I have been copying and pasting my posts into word files, but I didn't know I could keep everything through Substack. I love it.
You're welcome! Also, there's nothing wrong with the copy/paste method as a double backup, becuase this Substack method isn't all neat and tidy like a copy/paste would be. So, continue doing that as well.
Thanks for the reminder Kristi! I was able to export everything (59 published posts and 368 drafts (which is how I keep track of ideas for my future "dabbles"). I just had Claude organize them all for me into a beautiful spreadsheet that will help me better plan what I will be writing about when. Thanks again!
Brilliant! You're very welcome!
Thanks so much for this, Kristi 😊🙏🏻
My pleasure!
Thank you for this--I've been exporting my subscriber list, but not the posts. Putting a reminder on my calendar to do this monthly!
You’re welcome, Deborah!
I'm so grateful for these tips you share so generously.
It’s my pleasure, Lori!
Thanks for this great info. Some of us only get our insider info from one source (you!) so it's great you're sharing everything even if you think it's been said before.
Aww thank you Donna! Some days, I don’t even know if anyone is reading anymore lol. So thanks for letting me know!
I admit I have been off the Stack for too long and hope to return to a routine here. Some of what puts me off is that every time I come on there are so many changes I feel overwhelmed. For example, I see that all of my posts have been converted to AI audio and I did not do anything to authorize that, nor do I want it, so now I have to take the time to figure out how to undo that. Ticks me off🤣 I'm sure there are a lot more things going on that I am unaware of which is why I like being able to pop in here to get help.
My huge apologies for venting here on your page.
NOOOO do not apologize because I feel the exact same frustrations!! Imagine...I'm the one who is supposed to help keep people up to speed and I am not even up to speed. It is becoming a mammoth to maintain.
Thanks so much! Will be doing this regularly now!!
Excellent!
Thanks for this Kristi. I didn’t know about backing up. It’s on my to do now👍
You're very welcome!
Thank you, Kristi. I've never done this. Off to get started.
Soooo important thank you Kristi!! We *should* all be backing up all our sites for sure. This is so helpful! ☺️🎯
Did I know? No
Will I use? Yes
Thank you, Kristi *&* shared it with all my peeps, too
Excellent! Yes, share it far and wide because this should never happen to another Substacker!
Thank you!!
I have a reminder on my calendar to backup weekly. I usually create my post in Word or Doc and paste into SS, then format. This should be a process for AI. Think I will work on that.
I tried to set up a process in ChatGPT to find the event (reminder) on my Google calendar, then go to my Substack, create and download the backup, then save it in my Dropbox/Export Download. I was able to connect my Google calendar, and connect my Dropbox, but was unable to connect the AI Assistant (ChatGPT) to Substack because my SS publication is not a Bestseller. You also must be an Admin, which I am.
I did automate the reminder, but it’s only a little bit better than the manual reminder I put on my calendar. I’ll use it a little more to see if it’s worth the two automations on either side of the Substack portion.
Claude is another AI you can use, but the requirements to be an Admin and a Bestseller still apply.
It didn’t take too much time to put this together, as long as you understand the logic.
Let me know if you have questions.
Oh boy, all.of that sounds like so much to know!!! I wish I had the wherewithal to slow down and learn all of this. I feel like I'm getting left behind in the dust 😳 But I suppose of I do, it was meant to be and I'll move on.
I would love to know how you create that process. I admit I'm not very up to speed on AI things.
I am not so up to speed. But this might be a fun little challenge to learn. Will let you know how it
Goes.
Thank you so much Kristi. When you do it month, do you delete the previous download?
You can if you like. My downloads save to a special folder on my desktop and I delete old ones each time.
Oh and titles... I think they disappear, or something, too.
Hi Kristi, I've become aware of this recently, have never thought about it before until I heard about poor Lucy Warner, I really feel for her. We should all be backing up our sites regularly, thanks for the reminder and clear instructions. However, I've been reading up about this from people who have done it and apparrently, the export data seems as flawed as the import data you talked about in the video. Seems text is backed up but the formatting is not, links in the text are broken and the images are missing. Perhaps going forward the most effective way of backing up our data is to make copy & paste versions of our posts as we create them and store them in a hard drive as a text document. Not ideal, but then neither is the total back up option, either, if this is true. Although its better than totally losing everything!
I tend to create everything in Word, copy that over to Claude for formatting and structure audit, copy that back to the Word document, then upload to SubStack.
Great way to keep your own backups for sure.
Better than losing everything, yes, but ugh...why can't it be flawless! I suppose since I've never had to reuse what I back up, I never noticed.
That was the same frustration I had with Medium content backups too. It was like one looooooong string of information, no separation of anything. It was terrible.
That does sound terrible! Maybe its to try and deter us from leaving. Or punish us! 🤣
Never know. But the copy/paste idea would be a fabulous niche for a virtual assistant. Pray on the fears of writers on this platform and specialize ONLY in pasting their content to docs 😂
🤣🤣🤣