If I am honest, I really don't like the Notes feature. I unplugged from social media at 11:59 PM on Dec. 31, 2019 and have never looked back. That said, I was only on Facebook. But I have grown to strongly detest social media. I understand Substack is a form of it, but there is a difference between Substack and Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, and TikTok.
For me, the Notes feature and scroll are one of the reasons why I left social media in the first place. I also understand that the way Substack is now set up, for me to grow my audience, I have to engage with Notes. I do, but nowhere near as much as a lot of people clearly do. I will promote my latest pieces; if somebody restacks my piece with a comment, I will obviously thank them. But I don't like the endless scroll feature of Notes, its potential time suck, and I definitely don't want to get into the trap of commenting on Notes that I find vaguely interesting. I'd much rather read a published piece and leave a comment there.
But then again, maybe that is why I have fewer subscribers than you? I can't imagine the day I have 500, let alone 1000 subscribers. I hope it happens, but I'm nine months in, and my growth to 158 subscribers has definitely been slow. I've lost a few along the way, but that seems par for the course, and I seem to steadily pick new ones up here and there.
I never imagined I would even have 158 people from around the world subscribe to me. I'm grateful for all who read my pieces, but I won't be giving up my day job, that's for sure.
Appreciate every word of this. And it so clearly illuminates the ways social media and its algorithms set our heads against our hearts. They co-opt my desire to been seen and turn the desire to connect into a liability instead. Woof.
Thanks for sharing this with us, Seth. I've had a similar experience. And several months ago I deleted the Notes app on my phone because it was getting too distracting for my real life activities. And what does Substack keep pushing? Notes. Ah yes. That's okay though!
Ha! Thanks Caitlin. I’m reluctant to fault Notes (everyone ELSE does it right…right?). Sometimes it makes me feel like I’m just bad at talking. Which I’m pretty sure isn’t the case, except maybe sometimes. Thanks for the backup!
"Maybe I don’t post enough blimp crashes." I have been enjoying catching up with your posts of late Seth and am fully inspired and entertained. Thanks for sharing and kudos to the teenage artist who capture your very essence in a simple drawing.
I have been here 5 weeks. The rewarding part for me..like minded individuals. Took down my paywalls..I think everyone is hurting, hard to make bux here..even coffee bux.
Just FYI, the easier way to get engagement on Notes is by responding to other people’s notes rather than posting your own. Respond/reply and/or restack with a comment of your own.
Do that for 2-3 months and you will have some friends who will likely respond to what you post. But even then, genuinely engaging with other people’s posts makes the experience more like a conversation and community than a little broadcast station.
Oh for sure, and appreciate that. I was pointing more towards the inner work, the parts that believe I’m somehow not capable of carrying a semi-normal conversation!…
Congrats to you on your anniversary! And thank you for sharing your experience so honestly. It does help to not feel alone. I shared my own half a year ago (https://whenhopewrites.substack.com/p/this-is-not-a-growth-post), in case you need some tips on growth. What has helped me the most have been recommendations and advertising with InboxReads. I have a good friend who is also on Substack who gives tips about book marketing and selling; his name is Jeffrey Yamaguchi. Highly recommend! Ps: Holly is such a sweet heart. Thank goodness for people like her here for sure!
It was lovely to meet you IRL! Talking through shared challenges is validating, plus the algorithm only recommends other feminist moms to me, so I appreciated the opportunity to delve into some new topics with your posts. You have a unique voice and angle, and I always learn something new. Hoping to do another PDX Substack meetup again next year!
I feel sooo similarly about notes. It’s disheartening to post and get zero engagement! I’m not quite sure what I’m doing “wrong” there. But I appreciate and value all your insight on slow growth and selling your book - it’s great to have someone talk about it honestly!
Ah thanks Nikita! Definitely didn’t want to sound complainey, but…it can feel a bit grim. And yes, book definitely ships! Should be a checkout option at the publisher website (though it’s also on Amazon, etc. etc.). Thanks for asking!
Ok cool! Yay - I’ll be buying it when the next month’s pay comes on in :). And no, it didn’t come off as complain-y. I think it was just exactly how a lot of us feel!
If I am honest, I really don't like the Notes feature. I unplugged from social media at 11:59 PM on Dec. 31, 2019 and have never looked back. That said, I was only on Facebook. But I have grown to strongly detest social media. I understand Substack is a form of it, but there is a difference between Substack and Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, and TikTok.
For me, the Notes feature and scroll are one of the reasons why I left social media in the first place. I also understand that the way Substack is now set up, for me to grow my audience, I have to engage with Notes. I do, but nowhere near as much as a lot of people clearly do. I will promote my latest pieces; if somebody restacks my piece with a comment, I will obviously thank them. But I don't like the endless scroll feature of Notes, its potential time suck, and I definitely don't want to get into the trap of commenting on Notes that I find vaguely interesting. I'd much rather read a published piece and leave a comment there.
But then again, maybe that is why I have fewer subscribers than you? I can't imagine the day I have 500, let alone 1000 subscribers. I hope it happens, but I'm nine months in, and my growth to 158 subscribers has definitely been slow. I've lost a few along the way, but that seems par for the course, and I seem to steadily pick new ones up here and there.
I never imagined I would even have 158 people from around the world subscribe to me. I'm grateful for all who read my pieces, but I won't be giving up my day job, that's for sure.
Appreciate every word of this. And it so clearly illuminates the ways social media and its algorithms set our heads against our hearts. They co-opt my desire to been seen and turn the desire to connect into a liability instead. Woof.
Thanks for sharing this with us, Seth. I've had a similar experience. And several months ago I deleted the Notes app on my phone because it was getting too distracting for my real life activities. And what does Substack keep pushing? Notes. Ah yes. That's okay though!
Ha! Thanks Caitlin. I’m reluctant to fault Notes (everyone ELSE does it right…right?). Sometimes it makes me feel like I’m just bad at talking. Which I’m pretty sure isn’t the case, except maybe sometimes. Thanks for the backup!
"Maybe I don’t post enough blimp crashes." I have been enjoying catching up with your posts of late Seth and am fully inspired and entertained. Thanks for sharing and kudos to the teenage artist who capture your very essence in a simple drawing.
I have been here 5 weeks. The rewarding part for me..like minded individuals. Took down my paywalls..I think everyone is hurting, hard to make bux here..even coffee bux.
Feel that (as I sit in a cafe, enjoying my well-earned cup of coffee)….
Just FYI, the easier way to get engagement on Notes is by responding to other people’s notes rather than posting your own. Respond/reply and/or restack with a comment of your own.
Do that for 2-3 months and you will have some friends who will likely respond to what you post. But even then, genuinely engaging with other people’s posts makes the experience more like a conversation and community than a little broadcast station.
Oh for sure, and appreciate that. I was pointing more towards the inner work, the parts that believe I’m somehow not capable of carrying a semi-normal conversation!…
Ah, well, you seem plenty personable to me.
Ha! Thank you, it works out most days!….
Congrats to you on your anniversary! And thank you for sharing your experience so honestly. It does help to not feel alone. I shared my own half a year ago (https://whenhopewrites.substack.com/p/this-is-not-a-growth-post), in case you need some tips on growth. What has helped me the most have been recommendations and advertising with InboxReads. I have a good friend who is also on Substack who gives tips about book marketing and selling; his name is Jeffrey Yamaguchi. Highly recommend! Ps: Holly is such a sweet heart. Thank goodness for people like her here for sure!
Reading yours now...
It was lovely to meet you IRL! Talking through shared challenges is validating, plus the algorithm only recommends other feminist moms to me, so I appreciated the opportunity to delve into some new topics with your posts. You have a unique voice and angle, and I always learn something new. Hoping to do another PDX Substack meetup again next year!
Ah thank you friend; could say the exact same about you! Looking forward to next time....
Just from reading the blurb about who you are, I cannot wait to delve into the backlog of your posts!
Ah that’s kind of you, Ginger! It’s a real gift having company along for the ride, know what I mean?
I feel sooo similarly about notes. It’s disheartening to post and get zero engagement! I’m not quite sure what I’m doing “wrong” there. But I appreciate and value all your insight on slow growth and selling your book - it’s great to have someone talk about it honestly!
Also…does your book ship abroad?
Ah thanks Nikita! Definitely didn’t want to sound complainey, but…it can feel a bit grim. And yes, book definitely ships! Should be a checkout option at the publisher website (though it’s also on Amazon, etc. etc.). Thanks for asking!
Ok cool! Yay - I’ll be buying it when the next month’s pay comes on in :). And no, it didn’t come off as complain-y. I think it was just exactly how a lot of us feel!