Hamish, I'm sure this has been addressed elsewhere and also I'm just dense about tech platforms — when a reader is following what I read, does that mean the person can see which individual articles I've looked at and what percentage I scrolled through them...?
When I first joined Substack, there was a column displayed on the right of my inbox page that showed me everything my favorite writers (ones I subscribed to) were reading and liking. I loved that feature! Then Substack inexplicably removed it and replaced it with "featured" recommendations, staff picks, etc. I'm glad Substack sees the value in letting us connect with new writers through writers we already love (albeit with a few extra steps involved this time), but I still wonder why that feature went away in the first place.
I can’t help but feel that this was very poorly announced. And not just because of the double email. The copy itself just seems...off? Like a first draft of something half-hearted. Not to mention the random list of hyperlinked names. I’m not sure yet how useful the new feature will be but for now it carries a palpable lack of enthusiasm.
Jake Tapper has yet to post on Substack. What is this celebrity inflation supposed to mean to us, who have written 150,000 words over the last 27 months? How are you helping the slow but steadily growing rank and file?
And follows should be a big help to the rank and file. Now there's an easy way for people to follow you without feeling like they need to fully commit to a subscribe just yet. Our bet is that this will mean a LOT more people being willing to enter into a relationship with what you're posting, with the option to convert to a deeper relationship over time. And it also increases the surface area for people in your network, people who might discover you, since the commitment to following is lighter weight (less intimidating) than subscribing.
Thanks Hamish. But I found the earlier On Substack about the girl on the way to Barcelona with the six figure income spirit-and-soul crushing after 6 hours of writing the first of a two-part story. And all this talk of community…I know you mean it and believe it, but it’s really about winners and losers, and Substack needs to promote the winners to survive. I understand that, no matter how plentiful the new tools are.
The half empty list of celebrity writers is a bit stupid. Would love Stephen to follow or restack me, but promoting the top layer is not very sub, Substack. Established names will make it harder for new voices to surface. My phone contacts have hardly any overlap with my readers. Readers do not equal friends. This platform is like a new style library. And while it is great to meet up with writers and readers round the big table you call notes, it should not become an all access mainstream café. Loud chatter is not what I’m here for. Substack is a greenhouse for seedlings. The big fruitbaring shrubs and trees can go to Mainstack, drinking and dancing stays outside on the terrace...
Sorry to readers who received this post in their inbox twice today. We published the post again with buttons to update the app and find your friends.
We've all clicked publish too early lol
Yes, yes. And the wonder why it not going.
FYI comments are locked on the third post about this that just went out ;)
I was wondering why nothing worked that first time ;)
:-) I thought this was something that I just did - good to know even the experts are at it x
Sorry, I thought this was Substack. Looks like I wandered into FaceBook, oh wait... META.
I want to opt out.
COMMENT WILL GO HERE - WAITING FOR LINK
But seriously can’t wait to use this feature.
🤫
Stephen King on Substack?!
One of the many great writers who are on Substack as readers... We still have to convince him to set up a publication ;)
Knowing he is a reader on Substack makes me love him even more.
Hamish, I'm sure this has been addressed elsewhere and also I'm just dense about tech platforms — when a reader is following what I read, does that mean the person can see which individual articles I've looked at and what percentage I scrolled through them...?
They can only see which posts you’ve liked.
Thanks for the quick reply!
That got me very excited..... come on Stephen....
🙏🙏
My heart fluttered.
Same 💥
My face also inverted when I saw that 😅
I KNOW?!
Apparently not. Super weird of them to claim that he is.
When I first joined Substack, there was a column displayed on the right of my inbox page that showed me everything my favorite writers (ones I subscribed to) were reading and liking. I loved that feature! Then Substack inexplicably removed it and replaced it with "featured" recommendations, staff picks, etc. I'm glad Substack sees the value in letting us connect with new writers through writers we already love (albeit with a few extra steps involved this time), but I still wonder why that feature went away in the first place.
Yes! I loved that, too! I went there all the time to see what my peeps were reading as a way to discover new writers.
I can’t help but feel that this was very poorly announced. And not just because of the double email. The copy itself just seems...off? Like a first draft of something half-hearted. Not to mention the random list of hyperlinked names. I’m not sure yet how useful the new feature will be but for now it carries a palpable lack of enthusiasm.
Why do we / I really need this. No. I don't. How is this, substack dot org, different from awefil facebook, twitter.
I can make up MY OWN mind about my reading, interacting. Thank you.
Hope this drives discovery!
All these 'personalities' are meaningless. Jake Tapper? Really?
Jake Tapper has yet to post on Substack. What is this celebrity inflation supposed to mean to us, who have written 150,000 words over the last 27 months? How are you helping the slow but steadily growing rank and file?
Whoops, you caught an error, now corrected. Thanks.
And follows should be a big help to the rank and file. Now there's an easy way for people to follow you without feeling like they need to fully commit to a subscribe just yet. Our bet is that this will mean a LOT more people being willing to enter into a relationship with what you're posting, with the option to convert to a deeper relationship over time. And it also increases the surface area for people in your network, people who might discover you, since the commitment to following is lighter weight (less intimidating) than subscribing.
Thanks Hamish. But I found the earlier On Substack about the girl on the way to Barcelona with the six figure income spirit-and-soul crushing after 6 hours of writing the first of a two-part story. And all this talk of community…I know you mean it and believe it, but it’s really about winners and losers, and Substack needs to promote the winners to survive. I understand that, no matter how plentiful the new tools are.
The goal is to create a system that can help create as many winners as possible. Of course, mileages are gonna vary.
I can’t believe you agreed with me about being “rank and file” instead of phrasing it as “rising star”! 😎😂🤩🙀
I would never gainsay you, Wayne! I wouldn’t dream of treating a rising star like that.
Love the new follow feature.
Hamish, there must be spme mistake. I was not on your celebrity list. Please fix this oversight. Thanks. 🤨🧐
Thanks for including me in the list Substack 🙌🏻🚀
The half empty list of celebrity writers is a bit stupid. Would love Stephen to follow or restack me, but promoting the top layer is not very sub, Substack. Established names will make it harder for new voices to surface. My phone contacts have hardly any overlap with my readers. Readers do not equal friends. This platform is like a new style library. And while it is great to meet up with writers and readers round the big table you call notes, it should not become an all access mainstream café. Loud chatter is not what I’m here for. Substack is a greenhouse for seedlings. The big fruitbaring shrubs and trees can go to Mainstack, drinking and dancing stays outside on the terrace...
No. Thank you.
This is just yet another unsavoury way to extract ten percent from people. Shame, Substack.
I guess, it HAD to happen.
No. Why would you make this a thing?
Half of those guys don’t even post on their Substacks. Wyd.