This is very timely Sara! Did you see the lovely Fiona Humberstone had her Facebook account hacked (hacker posted inappropriate content) & Meta shut down her Instagram account as a response... 41K following, 8 years of content, and it wasn’t even reviewed by a human, with no opportunity to appeal... Email lists are actually worthy of more of our creative energy & time than IG or elsewhere.
For people saying you’re not sure what to write, send us letters from a friend, just write to one person & send it to many. What do YOU find interesting to read about? Write & send that. Don’t need to be a great writer, I promise. X
I only heard about this yesterday! Need to message her as I might be able to connect her with someone who can help. It's terrifying, either way though!
Yes yes yes to your writing advice! Lately I've been very in my head about "do I write about social media/business or my personal French House stuff??" and I've had to remind myself to just write EVERYTHING and see what I love and see what others love and let it naturally evolve. Like, it's ok not to have all the answers up front!
First of all that is SO sad!!! Gosh how bloody frustrating. Do you know what, if being online has taught me anything (I’m just dipping my toes into freelance writing after years of procrastination!) it’s that you really don’t need to be the best writer at ALL, you just need to be human and enjoy connection. It’s as simple as that. I didn’t put my writing out there for YEARS because it’s not always grammatically correct etc etc and very much tumbles out and is written from the heart but actually, I’ve found people connect with it because of that and not in spite of it xx
AMEN! Just have to have something to say and to say it from the heart. Same goes for any platform - you don't have to be the best photographer/videographer/presenter etc to master IG/YouTube/Podcasts. It's why I always say the single biggest predictor of success if how enthusiastic somebody is about doing the thing!
It really does make you wonder how many of us don’t do that ‘thing’, take up that hobby, share that photo or painting, piece of work etc because they don’t think it’s The Best. That’s a huge problem with the world, we’ve normalised being The Best, being perfect etc when actually in reality what people (including me!!) connect with the most is real people who make mistakes and share the in between and the journey too.
I will read fully and dig into this later, but just to say that I only started my newsletter recently, then moved it to Substack when I heard your podcast about it, and I absolutely love it ❤️ the connection and response has been amazing.
This is really reassuring to read! I’m just in the process of starting on substack after gathering an audience for my descriptive writing on IG and now really struggling with the app! Thank you xxx
What a great read Sara, thank you! I've been lurching around Substack for a few months now and feel very drawn to creating something here, it seems like just what I've been looking for in a social platform, less shouty. My perfectionist tendencies are screaming about not being a writer, but I dove in and discovered there are some photographers doing great stuff on here too. I don't know where to begin, but I guess I just have to - like you suggested in your email.
I'd been thinking of starting a Substack for a while and then your podcast episode gave me the reminder I needed! It's my favourite thing I've done creatively in years and I love finding new Substacks to check out too 💕
I really hope email/Substack can also be like a revival of personal blogs from the 2010s. I get that same feeling of excitement here as I did when I first created a blog back then. :)
Agree! I enjoy writing long-ish posts and connecting with people on the comments. I used to follow quite a few blogs in 2010 that moved to instagram and I lost interest because everything there is fast-paced.
Same! I have such a love-hate relationship with Instagram because it is so fast-paced but also a majority of where people spend their time. Hopefully people from there will gradually make their way here!
Yes! Instagram feels like shouting into a noisy conference room and only 1-2 people can even hear me. Substack is a secluded treehouse with a secret rope ladder with my closest friends. 🌳
I’m still scared of sending an email for some reason 🙈 - I feel like I’m just trying to run away to Substack when maybe I should be pouring more my time there... need to go back to all your tips here and make some notes! Haha 🤓
I think it has a lot to do with it being OUT OF OUR HANDS once it goes into the digital ether. Like, with Instagram, blog posts etc we can always edit it! We can always update clumsy phrasing or remove something that is being received wrong. I actually love Substack for this because it's a live post you can edit as well as an email. With everything else, once it's gone, it's completely out of your hands!
I thought this for ages, just started my newsletter in July, and now I regret not doing it sooner! The responses to my emails mean more than insta comments for sure. Take the plunge and send an email!
Omg, for real?! I just draw a blank and don't know what to write about - for science, do you write your full email there or give a sneak peek and send people to your website/blog?
I really don’t know. It somehow to me feels more professional...?! As in, I share silly little things on stories and my writing is quite...informal at times and whilst I know people will join my substack knowing that, it’s like I think it has to be a formal communication. I just need to do it I think and changed perception as it’s really lovely to read about what positive expertises others are having xxx
Ah it's so funny how our brains make these traps, right? I have to keep reminding myself about this too. Substack is just a baby, and we can do anything we want here! In fact, I'm in favour of us all starting a 20-minute "iron chef" post format where we write to a strict timeline and then send, and openly declare to our audience that this is the format so they can expect inperfection. The freedom!
Professional!! yes!! maybe that's it - I always think it can't be a "spur of the moment" thing, that needs to have a plan and be extra "perfect". Yes! we should just go for it :) xxx
Sara, I think we mentioned this is SYS too, but I think you need a new course - Email Letters Retreat! This is absolutely my focus for 2023, it is absolutely where my more recent sales are coming from, where once upon a time it was IG, so few of my followers seem to even see my content anymore. I am using Substack here, which has been so delightful, and I am also still using my own (Flodesk) newsletter, working out what I want both to contain, figuring out the flow. So looking forward to catching up on Chat, but of course, as an android user, we continue to wait...
We DID and it's on my mind all the time now! I think you're 100% right - and despite me prodding people about it for years, I get that for most of us it's a backburner job that is easily pushed back. Finally it seems like the time is right for a lot of people to switch their focus, and how magical would it be to do it as a group - figure out our formats, build lists, come together to write? ❤️
Gah to the Android app. I get the feeling Chat was an urgent push out due to the impending Twitter exodus so hopefully the Android app will come next!
Doooo it. I'm here for it 1000%. What I'm most lacking in this department is consistency, and trying not to feel salsey when I have an offer, though SYS is helping with that. Bring on the longer form writing love
Same question as Penny. I will move to Substack at the end of the year as it also will be cheaper than Flodesk but interested to know why you kept Flodesk as well.
It's a little faffy, and my head is a little muddled, but it's working ok.
The good news: you can technically copy your list and have it on both, as you got email permissions for any platform via your Flodesk sign up. (I haven't done that yet - my list here is *tiny*, but look at all the comments and activity I'm getting anyway! It's wild!)
My plan is to repost the best/most relevant Substack to my blog and add a Substack sign up form there. I do think some of my more 'marketing' emails could live here too, so that duplication might work both ways for now...
It's a little clunky, but things always are when a platform is new. I dont think they even have Zapier integrations yet!
Ah SARAAAA this post is absolute gold and something that I feel like I want to print out and read whenever I doubt myself or my direction!!! (👵🏻) I’m a new freelance writer and the reason I bravely gave it a go is because I grew a really lovely engaging community through Instagram just by sharing my words and photos. Lately though....we’ll we all know how Instagram engagement has gone! I’m almost finished a website for a online ‘cv’ type place so that I *might* get my words published in indie mags etc but I’ve recently joined substack thinking it might be quite useful for me (no word limit and a way to get everyone maybe to actually SEE my words! Imagine!). This post was so useful and helpful and marvellous!! I’m off to share it... THANK YOU xxx
Oh my gosh YES as a writer this is absolutely the place to be! If you haven't already, read up on the founders and their mission - they are all about supporting freelance writers and getting you paid!
No might, no maybe! As someone who's somehow managed to write for all my favourite magazines and even land a column for a couple of years, I can absolutely promise you that it's entirely possible. A thriving substack will only help with that - and a paying substack might mean you don't depend on it nearly as much as you're imagining!
Your email is great inspiration this morning. My mailing list has been languishing while I figure future directions out. I’m inspired to write a chatty hello & see where this takes us.
Really helpful article Sara! I love the space you're creating here. You're such a great writer. I started my mailing list this year and love the privacy of being able to get to know my followers intimately. xx
Juliet ❤️ Yes, the privacy is so magical isn't it? Like a podcast, you have to be genuinely *invested* to subscribe and read a longer form email or post. It nurtures an entirely different kind of connection.
I'm still considering whether to move my followers here. I wonder if you have any insights or tips? I like being able to control everything and do feel a little at the mercy of substack here, but I have a feeling it's about getting used to things? Or should I have both? Feels a bit much! x
I hear you! Honestly in all the important ways it still functions exactly the same as any mailing list provider. You own the list, you can export your contacts at any time, you can schedule your posts, etc. It's just sort of got a 'community' element added in!
What do you use at the moment? And what do you mostly tend to write about?
There are definitely compromises here in terms of pretty format, GDPR and back end stats etc, but if you're not using those particularly I'd take the leap!
Brilliant post! Thanks for sharing 😃. I just downloaded the Substack app a few weeks ago, and I love it -fnising myself all nostalgic, it’s like reading blogs again. Never going back to IG, and TicToc, please no 🫠
I switched over both my newsletter and Patreon to Substack and it has been a game changer! It feels like old school blogging because there are actually people on the other end! Very excited about the chat feature.
This is great motivation to jump back into my substack. After two posts I fell into the perfectionist trap which results in posting nothing. Thanks for the push to get back to it!
Such a great and in-depth post Sara, thank you. In the past year or two I've been really pleased with how my email list has grown but every time I mention it I still get new subscribers. Part of me thinks that everyone who follows me must have seen it by now but they obviously haven't (or the time wasn't right for them to sign up before). Talking about it loudly and often seems to be the key.
This is very timely Sara! Did you see the lovely Fiona Humberstone had her Facebook account hacked (hacker posted inappropriate content) & Meta shut down her Instagram account as a response... 41K following, 8 years of content, and it wasn’t even reviewed by a human, with no opportunity to appeal... Email lists are actually worthy of more of our creative energy & time than IG or elsewhere.
For people saying you’re not sure what to write, send us letters from a friend, just write to one person & send it to many. What do YOU find interesting to read about? Write & send that. Don’t need to be a great writer, I promise. X
I only heard about this yesterday! Need to message her as I might be able to connect her with someone who can help. It's terrifying, either way though!
Yes yes yes to your writing advice! Lately I've been very in my head about "do I write about social media/business or my personal French House stuff??" and I've had to remind myself to just write EVERYTHING and see what I love and see what others love and let it naturally evolve. Like, it's ok not to have all the answers up front!
Oh I hear you!
First of all that is SO sad!!! Gosh how bloody frustrating. Do you know what, if being online has taught me anything (I’m just dipping my toes into freelance writing after years of procrastination!) it’s that you really don’t need to be the best writer at ALL, you just need to be human and enjoy connection. It’s as simple as that. I didn’t put my writing out there for YEARS because it’s not always grammatically correct etc etc and very much tumbles out and is written from the heart but actually, I’ve found people connect with it because of that and not in spite of it xx
AMEN! Just have to have something to say and to say it from the heart. Same goes for any platform - you don't have to be the best photographer/videographer/presenter etc to master IG/YouTube/Podcasts. It's why I always say the single biggest predictor of success if how enthusiastic somebody is about doing the thing!
Love this Sally
It really does make you wonder how many of us don’t do that ‘thing’, take up that hobby, share that photo or painting, piece of work etc because they don’t think it’s The Best. That’s a huge problem with the world, we’ve normalised being The Best, being perfect etc when actually in reality what people (including me!!) connect with the most is real people who make mistakes and share the in between and the journey too.
I’ve been following that story! It’s wild isn’t it. It sounds like she might get it back...
I just received an email from Fiona about this... bummer
I will read fully and dig into this later, but just to say that I only started my newsletter recently, then moved it to Substack when I heard your podcast about it, and I absolutely love it ❤️ the connection and response has been amazing.
Ah I’m so glad you love it here too! The chat feature launch is phenomenal too! Off to take a nosy at yourself
Thank you! *gets shy about my content 😂
This is really reassuring to read! I’m just in the process of starting on substack after gathering an audience for my descriptive writing on IG and now really struggling with the app! Thank you xxx
Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it quickly 😊 send me any questions if you're struggling!
That’s really kind thank you!!!!xxx
What a great read Sara, thank you! I've been lurching around Substack for a few months now and feel very drawn to creating something here, it seems like just what I've been looking for in a social platform, less shouty. My perfectionist tendencies are screaming about not being a writer, but I dove in and discovered there are some photographers doing great stuff on here too. I don't know where to begin, but I guess I just have to - like you suggested in your email.
Could you share some of the photograph substacks? I'm so interested in seeing something visual here as well
oh yes please!
I'd been thinking of starting a Substack for a while and then your podcast episode gave me the reminder I needed! It's my favourite thing I've done creatively in years and I love finding new Substacks to check out too 💕
This is SO lovely to read and might be the rocket fuel and extra confidence I needed!! 🚀
Totally agree 😊 I'm new to Substack but loving it so much
it's just so freeing! definitely checking your substack out now too 💕
Ahh Moog I love hearing this! So glad it's proving worth your while too!
I really hope email/Substack can also be like a revival of personal blogs from the 2010s. I get that same feeling of excitement here as I did when I first created a blog back then. :)
Yes, same! The freedom and the luxury of people who actually want to engage with long form content! It's amazing! Plus the COMMENTS!
Exactly that! Love a site that brings people together. :)
Agree! I enjoy writing long-ish posts and connecting with people on the comments. I used to follow quite a few blogs in 2010 that moved to instagram and I lost interest because everything there is fast-paced.
Same! I have such a love-hate relationship with Instagram because it is so fast-paced but also a majority of where people spend their time. Hopefully people from there will gradually make their way here!
Yes! Instagram feels like shouting into a noisy conference room and only 1-2 people can even hear me. Substack is a secluded treehouse with a secret rope ladder with my closest friends. 🌳
Totally agree! Love those metaphors. ✨
I’m still scared of sending an email for some reason 🙈 - I feel like I’m just trying to run away to Substack when maybe I should be pouring more my time there... need to go back to all your tips here and make some notes! Haha 🤓
I think it has a lot to do with it being OUT OF OUR HANDS once it goes into the digital ether. Like, with Instagram, blog posts etc we can always edit it! We can always update clumsy phrasing or remove something that is being received wrong. I actually love Substack for this because it's a live post you can edit as well as an email. With everything else, once it's gone, it's completely out of your hands!
I thought this for ages, just started my newsletter in July, and now I regret not doing it sooner! The responses to my emails mean more than insta comments for sure. Take the plunge and send an email!
Omg, for real?! I just draw a blank and don't know what to write about - for science, do you write your full email there or give a sneak peek and send people to your website/blog?
No I actually don’t use it to direct traffic in that way but you certainly could ☺️
Yes yes yes! it's so much more intimate and such a deep connection
I totally get this! Why do emails feel more scary than an IG post?!?
Because it feels some how oddly personal? you think? i've been thinking about the same!
I really don’t know. It somehow to me feels more professional...?! As in, I share silly little things on stories and my writing is quite...informal at times and whilst I know people will join my substack knowing that, it’s like I think it has to be a formal communication. I just need to do it I think and changed perception as it’s really lovely to read about what positive expertises others are having xxx
Ah it's so funny how our brains make these traps, right? I have to keep reminding myself about this too. Substack is just a baby, and we can do anything we want here! In fact, I'm in favour of us all starting a 20-minute "iron chef" post format where we write to a strict timeline and then send, and openly declare to our audience that this is the format so they can expect inperfection. The freedom!
I definitely don’t think it needs to be more formal!
Professional!! yes!! maybe that's it - I always think it can't be a "spur of the moment" thing, that needs to have a plan and be extra "perfect". Yes! we should just go for it :) xxx
Sara, I think we mentioned this is SYS too, but I think you need a new course - Email Letters Retreat! This is absolutely my focus for 2023, it is absolutely where my more recent sales are coming from, where once upon a time it was IG, so few of my followers seem to even see my content anymore. I am using Substack here, which has been so delightful, and I am also still using my own (Flodesk) newsletter, working out what I want both to contain, figuring out the flow. So looking forward to catching up on Chat, but of course, as an android user, we continue to wait...
:/
We DID and it's on my mind all the time now! I think you're 100% right - and despite me prodding people about it for years, I get that for most of us it's a backburner job that is easily pushed back. Finally it seems like the time is right for a lot of people to switch their focus, and how magical would it be to do it as a group - figure out our formats, build lists, come together to write? ❤️
Gah to the Android app. I get the feeling Chat was an urgent push out due to the impending Twitter exodus so hopefully the Android app will come next!
Doooo it. I'm here for it 1000%. What I'm most lacking in this department is consistency, and trying not to feel salsey when I have an offer, though SYS is helping with that. Bring on the longer form writing love
Same question as Penny. I will move to Substack at the end of the year as it also will be cheaper than Flodesk but interested to know why you kept Flodesk as well.
How is it going using both? I have Flodesk and I really don’t want to have two platforms but also love substack 😆
It's a little faffy, and my head is a little muddled, but it's working ok.
The good news: you can technically copy your list and have it on both, as you got email permissions for any platform via your Flodesk sign up. (I haven't done that yet - my list here is *tiny*, but look at all the comments and activity I'm getting anyway! It's wild!)
My plan is to repost the best/most relevant Substack to my blog and add a Substack sign up form there. I do think some of my more 'marketing' emails could live here too, so that duplication might work both ways for now...
It's a little clunky, but things always are when a platform is new. I dont think they even have Zapier integrations yet!
Ah SARAAAA this post is absolute gold and something that I feel like I want to print out and read whenever I doubt myself or my direction!!! (👵🏻) I’m a new freelance writer and the reason I bravely gave it a go is because I grew a really lovely engaging community through Instagram just by sharing my words and photos. Lately though....we’ll we all know how Instagram engagement has gone! I’m almost finished a website for a online ‘cv’ type place so that I *might* get my words published in indie mags etc but I’ve recently joined substack thinking it might be quite useful for me (no word limit and a way to get everyone maybe to actually SEE my words! Imagine!). This post was so useful and helpful and marvellous!! I’m off to share it... THANK YOU xxx
Oh my gosh YES as a writer this is absolutely the place to be! If you haven't already, read up on the founders and their mission - they are all about supporting freelance writers and getting you paid!
No might, no maybe! As someone who's somehow managed to write for all my favourite magazines and even land a column for a couple of years, I can absolutely promise you that it's entirely possible. A thriving substack will only help with that - and a paying substack might mean you don't depend on it nearly as much as you're imagining!
Your email is great inspiration this morning. My mailing list has been languishing while I figure future directions out. I’m inspired to write a chatty hello & see where this takes us.
Yes! Who doesn't love a chatty hello??
Really helpful article Sara! I love the space you're creating here. You're such a great writer. I started my mailing list this year and love the privacy of being able to get to know my followers intimately. xx
Juliet ❤️ Yes, the privacy is so magical isn't it? Like a podcast, you have to be genuinely *invested* to subscribe and read a longer form email or post. It nurtures an entirely different kind of connection.
Saraaa! xx It is! thanks for your insights. i also love the audio element on substack. ooo so tempting! :)
I'm still considering whether to move my followers here. I wonder if you have any insights or tips? I like being able to control everything and do feel a little at the mercy of substack here, but I have a feeling it's about getting used to things? Or should I have both? Feels a bit much! x
I hear you! Honestly in all the important ways it still functions exactly the same as any mailing list provider. You own the list, you can export your contacts at any time, you can schedule your posts, etc. It's just sort of got a 'community' element added in!
What do you use at the moment? And what do you mostly tend to write about?
There are definitely compromises here in terms of pretty format, GDPR and back end stats etc, but if you're not using those particularly I'd take the leap!
I moved my newsletter here and don’t regret it. You get used to it very quickly
Thank you Tamzin. Do you get the list of your email subscribers, say should you decide to move away from substack in future? :)
Yes you can download it anytime
I really need to move my email list to substack! It's rather neglected at the moment.
So worth it I think. I always hated mailchimp and didn’t think I had enough subscribers to move over to flo desk
Oh, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been turning all my focus to Substack now and it feels like the best thing to do already.
It’s a special feeling to know you’re in the right place at the right time, isn’t it?
Yes! For sure! And I’ve been telling everyone I know to come here. Now it’s the time, like you said in your post.
Brilliant post! Thanks for sharing 😃. I just downloaded the Substack app a few weeks ago, and I love it -fnising myself all nostalgic, it’s like reading blogs again. Never going back to IG, and TicToc, please no 🫠
I switched over both my newsletter and Patreon to Substack and it has been a game changer! It feels like old school blogging because there are actually people on the other end! Very excited about the chat feature.
This is great motivation to jump back into my substack. After two posts I fell into the perfectionist trap which results in posting nothing. Thanks for the push to get back to it!
Such a great and in-depth post Sara, thank you. In the past year or two I've been really pleased with how my email list has grown but every time I mention it I still get new subscribers. Part of me thinks that everyone who follows me must have seen it by now but they obviously haven't (or the time wasn't right for them to sign up before). Talking about it loudly and often seems to be the key.