Notes is definitely the secret sauce for growth but the whole follower / subscriber thing is tricky. Part of me wonders if some people don’t know the difference. If you subscribe you automatically follow but if you follow you don’t automatically subscribe. And secondly there has to be some cohesion between notes and articles. For example, If notes are always personal musings that have very little do with your long form content, then that’s a different version of your “brand” that not everyone wants in their inbox. The way I see it is - what notes bring in subscribers and what notes bring in followers and how can you appeal to both? I’ve started creating sections for my Substack - then those who really enjoy my life musings can hopefully just subscribe to my more life musings section. That’s my plan anyway but I haven’t quite put that into the wild as yet. By the way Mack since finding out you are from Alabama, I am dying for you to do voice overs for your articles!
Hi Sam! I have wondered the same thing about followers vs subs, I almost wonder if some people are treating Substack like another Twitter and just following and reading Notes like they would their Twitter feed. Then I also get a sub and see they are subbed to 935 other publications. Totally agree with you on maintaining branding on Notes, although I do think you can be a bit more flexible on Notes with the personal side. As for voice overs, why thank ya, darlin’! 🌹. I have thought about adding more audio to my posts and likely will some in the future, especially now that you requested it. I am all about reader feedback 😉
Yes you totally can be more flexible with notes – I certainly am! I have a good whinge about parenting a toddler, which doesn’t find its way into my articles (but maybe it should!)
I honestly think we often overthink what we should or should not include in our newsletters. It seems like the ‘less professional’ stuff we include is often the most engaging.
Thanks for sharing your experience and expertise, Mack. It's so illuminating and reassuring. Keep going but also have an exit strategy - my recipe for lots of challenges in work and life!
Happy Anniversary, MC! So glad you decided to share your results instead of celebrate. Or are you doing both? I always get good guidance from your posts and this one was no exception. I've been collecting Notes strategies for a few weeks and trying to decide which is best for me. Definitely not the the scheduling of pre-written Notes! Can't wait to see what you do next. And please, don't leave too soon❣️
Thank you. I am likely going to adopt a hybrid approach to Notes, I will do some scheduling, because I want their to be some intentionality about how I use Notes. But I also want to give myself the freedom to just post something that pops into my mind that I want to share. Thank you for reading, I appreciate your support!
Building an audience is a slow cooked stew, not an instant ramen situation hahahaha. I love your honesty about the process, and I feel oddly proud to have been part of the early cast.
Has it been a year? Dang! Time flies when you're having fun! Glad to have you here, Mack. Your posts are some of the platform's most insightful, informative, and educational.
So interesting! I’m coming up to my one year anniversary too. Grateful for this space and the amazing people I’ve met here ✨🙏
Hege you are doing great with IG and YT as well. It will be interesting to see how your activity there amplifies your success here!
Thank you Mack! ✨
Notes is definitely the secret sauce for growth but the whole follower / subscriber thing is tricky. Part of me wonders if some people don’t know the difference. If you subscribe you automatically follow but if you follow you don’t automatically subscribe. And secondly there has to be some cohesion between notes and articles. For example, If notes are always personal musings that have very little do with your long form content, then that’s a different version of your “brand” that not everyone wants in their inbox. The way I see it is - what notes bring in subscribers and what notes bring in followers and how can you appeal to both? I’ve started creating sections for my Substack - then those who really enjoy my life musings can hopefully just subscribe to my more life musings section. That’s my plan anyway but I haven’t quite put that into the wild as yet. By the way Mack since finding out you are from Alabama, I am dying for you to do voice overs for your articles!
Hi Sam! I have wondered the same thing about followers vs subs, I almost wonder if some people are treating Substack like another Twitter and just following and reading Notes like they would their Twitter feed. Then I also get a sub and see they are subbed to 935 other publications. Totally agree with you on maintaining branding on Notes, although I do think you can be a bit more flexible on Notes with the personal side. As for voice overs, why thank ya, darlin’! 🌹. I have thought about adding more audio to my posts and likely will some in the future, especially now that you requested it. I am all about reader feedback 😉
That just made my day! 🤣 🌹
Yes you totally can be more flexible with notes – I certainly am! I have a good whinge about parenting a toddler, which doesn’t find its way into my articles (but maybe it should!)
I honestly think we often overthink what we should or should not include in our newsletters. It seems like the ‘less professional’ stuff we include is often the most engaging.
Yes! People really want to know about “us”. And I know those who do this well get a lot of my attention.
Thanks for sharing your experience and expertise, Mack. It's so illuminating and reassuring. Keep going but also have an exit strategy - my recipe for lots of challenges in work and life!
Hi Lisa, you’re right, that’s a good motto for most anything in life, keep going, but have a good exit strategy in place!
Happy Substackaversary Mack! Here's to another year of growth :)
Happy Anniversary, MC! So glad you decided to share your results instead of celebrate. Or are you doing both? I always get good guidance from your posts and this one was no exception. I've been collecting Notes strategies for a few weeks and trying to decide which is best for me. Definitely not the the scheduling of pre-written Notes! Can't wait to see what you do next. And please, don't leave too soon❣️
Thank you. I am likely going to adopt a hybrid approach to Notes, I will do some scheduling, because I want their to be some intentionality about how I use Notes. But I also want to give myself the freedom to just post something that pops into my mind that I want to share. Thank you for reading, I appreciate your support!
Building an audience is a slow cooked stew, not an instant ramen situation hahahaha. I love your honesty about the process, and I feel oddly proud to have been part of the early cast.
Excited to see what Season 2 brings bro!
Happy anniversary :)
Me too, you play a role in all the success I have. Thank you for investing in me, sis!
Has it been a year? Dang! Time flies when you're having fun! Glad to have you here, Mack. Your posts are some of the platform's most insightful, informative, and educational.
Thank you Paul, I feel the same way about yours. Thanks for encouraging me to join Substack!
My pleasure. I know a winner when I see one and felt you and Substack would be a winning combination.