42 Comments
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Graham Strong's avatar

I didn't even realize Substack was pushing subscriptions until someone contacted me about it (and their dislike of the pushiness) -- and I don't even have subscriptions turn on! Apparently, if subscriptions is turned off, Substack asks readers to "pledge" (or something) for when subscriptions *is* turned on. I was quite embarrassed by the whole thing. I wish these things weren't turned on by default because I (of course) never go through the sign-up steps anymore. Maybe I should. But I shouldn't have to...

Substack is great for a lot of reasons, but I agree things like that make it hard to stay in love with it.

Good luck on your next steps!

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Factorial Zero's avatar

You can turn “pledges” off in your settings for what it’s worth. Haven’t had any reader comments on this since turning it off

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Graham Strong's avatar

Thanks! Yes, I did that. I don't believe it should have been on by default though - we should have the power to turn it on if we want, not be blindsided and forced to turn it off is we don't...

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Simon K Jones's avatar

Yeah, the pledges thing is relatively new and quite ick. Should never have defaulted to 'on'. The other incentives can be turned on/off with the 'boost' option in settings.

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Graham Strong's avatar

I agree with the ick. How embarrassing that we don't even know what/how our pages are promoting us. It wasn't like this when I signed up, but it seems to be trending that way more and more.

Still, Substack is giving me support and sending subscribers my way. Take the bad with the good I guess.

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Marple's avatar

It is as pushy as any platform. It’s why everyone is so vocal - anti X - bring down the competition - it doesn’t take a genius to work it out.

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Graham Strong's avatar

Perhaps. But it's not the way I like doing business -- and it's not the way Substack was doing business when I signed up. Of course, when you join *any* platform, you have to play by their rules (a trusim I understood from the beginnining). I came into this with my eyes open, but it's still disheartening.

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Mills Baker's avatar

Godspeed! I hope someday we have the right set of features to lure you back, but it’s always the right move to find where you fit and what works for you!

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John Hamilton's avatar

I literally just watched your Substack video last night, which was wonderful. Your on-camera presence was sincere, informed and, by the end, I had decided that yes, I will move from Convert Kit (clunky for my purposes) to Substack. I still plan to go ahead with the move, but I will also certainly continue to follow you.

Not a little ironic, however, that I received, one after the other, a Welcome and a Goodbye in my Inbox. I did get a chuckle out of that.

I wish you all the best in the future!

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Gaye's avatar

Actually, I am very happy to hear that you are leaving Substack and going back to newsletter and blogging specifically! They are both much better options, in my opinion. I look forward to all that you will be posting. Wishing you GREAT success.

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Victoria's avatar

You're the reason I joined substack so I'm sad to see you leave but I understand substack's features don't align with your goals. Goodluck in the future!

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doodlejule's avatar

I find it very helpful and interesting to follow your journey searching for a way to publish online that you're happy with. I think this is an issue that affects many artists today! Thank you for sharing in such great (and sometimes painful, for you, I'm sure) detail what works and what didn't and why you're changing your online presentation and software. This is super helpful for other creators who are only starting out :-)

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Marple's avatar

There isn’t a perfect solution - and we have to take tough decisions when we work for ourselves. I wish you all the best.

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Nicky Jameson Art's avatar

You have hit on one of the key reasons I have delayed getting my substack underway and that is substack's target audience which is writers and podcasters which as an artist makes it unaligned with my vision, and also the lack of control of feature roll out. Also the way substack pushes readers to upgrade and/or "start writing" which is necessary to make the money but which bothers me for my current newsletter subscribers. I still think as you said that Substack is great to get started writing. All the best on your new journey. Hope I can follow you on one or both.

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Claire Venus ✨'s avatar

I have an ART on Substack page I’m slowly curating. It’s on my tabs if you’re on desktop. I think you’re right but things are shifting as we find ways to stay creative here! ✨

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Joyce Wycoff's avatar

Claire ... I'm interested in doing something like your page ... is that just a post that you did not send out as an email?

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Claire Venus ✨'s avatar

No it’s a page! You create it in your setting and you can add to the navigation bar or not. It has its own URL. You could do it as a post you don’t send... technically it would work!

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Joyce Wycoff's avatar

Thanks Claire ... I'll look at pages. Thanks for being such a great role model.

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Claire Venus ✨'s avatar

Oh you’re so welcome! I’ll get round to doing a tutorial in the autumn too! I found it quite easy actually. Xx

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Chelsea Uzomah's avatar

Wishing you the best of luck.

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Adam Ming's avatar

You’ll be missed

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Simon K Jones's avatar

Ah, sorry to see you go, Louise, but best of luck with you next move! Sounds like a solid plan for what you're focusing on.

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Claire Venus ✨'s avatar

Very glad to be on your list! Thankyou for sharing your process with us! 💖

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Hamish McKenzie's avatar

Thanks for publishing here. Good luck with your next moves.

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Stephanie Loomis's avatar

Best of luck. These decisions are hard ones!

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

So understand ...Wish I'd found you sooner ...

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Reena Kapoor's avatar

All the best! It's a great relief to know... and then just do it.

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