I love the way you've shared your reflections on your process! Thank you!!
To share a little more personally, as you have - I write when I can and publish when I can (sometimes that's 3 or 4 posts to the web per week!, plus maybe 2 via email) because I know there may be a time in the future when I can't post/write at all. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say life is unpredictable, but it's especially so for caregivers.
So, I'm weaving the priority threads of resources, like tight threads- creating a base. There's been some great feedback. Feedback is my measure of success; Resonance. It gives me hope that what's already there will ripple out through followers ;-) Comments and recommendation ripples are increasing! YAY! ;-)
FYI I go to Dan Blank, Sarah Fay, and Simon K Jones to keep me sane and grounded and to open up my 'field of vision' to what's possible. Kristina God and Karen Cherry keep me up to date with functions and features on the platform!
It's so true that feedback is the real measure, not numbers but feeling. If it FEELS good to be here with you, they will follow. You're doing a great job! Thanks for creating community.
Hi. Thank you so much for this post. I like your idea about organizing my home page by topics using tags. Could you let me know if I am understanding the process correctly? First, I create a global set of tags under my Website settings? Then..do I have to tag each of my newsletters/posts? Or does Substack have an AI to read the newsletters and tag them automatically? I have 108 posts up over 2 years (starting my third) so wondering how to do this efficiently. :) Congrats on your fabulous income earning strategies. I do have payments set up but have offered a free subscription also. Trying to figure out how to get people to upgrade to paid. :) I also love the idea of approaching local media to see if they are interested in my content. :)
So glad it helps and some of the ideas resonate. For tagging, you can create the set first, or you can just go in and tag each article (inventing tags as you go). You do need to individually tag each article regardless unfortunately - no AI for that. I'm so nuts, at first I had way too many tags and started losing my way - I had to make a spreadsheet to sort it out. I'd recommend just trying to shoehorn everything into about 5 or so main topics. It helps the writing too, to learn that you have these areas of most interest. Good luck with approaching local media!
It’s so important to find a sustainable rhythm for the writing. Last year, that was twice a week for me. This year, twice a week with everything else I have going on is feeling like too much, especially now with two newsletters. Some changes are a-coming, because burnout is a big drag on mental health and creativity.
Lovely insights and ideas to implement -- as I befriend the Monkeys of Overwhelm in my head! Mantra: I CAN offer paid subscriptions. I CAN cross-post to other media. I CAN reach out to people in real life and email... etc. One baby step at a time.
Usually when I'm interested in finding groups I resort to sites like reddit, where I found this post. But I hadn't considered using the platform itself to reach out and find something I could call a community. I'm not too familiar to it yet, but I'll be trying to get more used to it from now on. Thanks for the tips!
This was really helpful. As a mum of two under two, my time is limited but it’s what I do with it that counts. I love what you said about being transactional on other social media websites. That’s what I’ve started doing because I really don’t have time to social everywhere. I’ll look for you on LinkedIn as well! Thank you for sharing this on my Notes!
Just want to say thank you for this — it's so thoughtful and comprehensive. I'm still new to Substack (and public writing :)) and found such comfort in what you shared of your early days journey. Thanks Krista!!!
For folks who enjoyed this first post, I did a second recent one for my second anniversary with a second smaller set of best-practices - another great year on this amazing platform and so much always to learn https://sleepyhollowink.substack.com/p/2-years-here
I'm so glad it helps, and yes you will! I love how much everyone adds to this platform. & I love your title "Memento Mori" - I did a take on that once myself with some portraits in the mix of creepy dead girls https://sleepyhollowink.substack.com/p/memento-mori
I love the way you've shared your reflections on your process! Thank you!!
To share a little more personally, as you have - I write when I can and publish when I can (sometimes that's 3 or 4 posts to the web per week!, plus maybe 2 via email) because I know there may be a time in the future when I can't post/write at all. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say life is unpredictable, but it's especially so for caregivers.
So, I'm weaving the priority threads of resources, like tight threads- creating a base. There's been some great feedback. Feedback is my measure of success; Resonance. It gives me hope that what's already there will ripple out through followers ;-) Comments and recommendation ripples are increasing! YAY! ;-)
FYI I go to Dan Blank, Sarah Fay, and Simon K Jones to keep me sane and grounded and to open up my 'field of vision' to what's possible. Kristina God and Karen Cherry keep me up to date with functions and features on the platform!
It's so true that feedback is the real measure, not numbers but feeling. If it FEELS good to be here with you, they will follow. You're doing a great job! Thanks for creating community.
Thanks to you Krista! I'll include your post over at mine.
Wonderful, thanks!
I’m saving this to reread. Thank you for sharing! I’m working on setting up my publication and you gave me great insight.
I’m glad! Hope it helps and good luck!!
Wow! This is really helpful! Thank you for sharing. New to Substack and excited to learn and explore!
welcome!! Glad it helps!
Hi. Thank you so much for this post. I like your idea about organizing my home page by topics using tags. Could you let me know if I am understanding the process correctly? First, I create a global set of tags under my Website settings? Then..do I have to tag each of my newsletters/posts? Or does Substack have an AI to read the newsletters and tag them automatically? I have 108 posts up over 2 years (starting my third) so wondering how to do this efficiently. :) Congrats on your fabulous income earning strategies. I do have payments set up but have offered a free subscription also. Trying to figure out how to get people to upgrade to paid. :) I also love the idea of approaching local media to see if they are interested in my content. :)
So glad it helps and some of the ideas resonate. For tagging, you can create the set first, or you can just go in and tag each article (inventing tags as you go). You do need to individually tag each article regardless unfortunately - no AI for that. I'm so nuts, at first I had way too many tags and started losing my way - I had to make a spreadsheet to sort it out. I'd recommend just trying to shoehorn everything into about 5 or so main topics. It helps the writing too, to learn that you have these areas of most interest. Good luck with approaching local media!
It’s so important to find a sustainable rhythm for the writing. Last year, that was twice a week for me. This year, twice a week with everything else I have going on is feeling like too much, especially now with two newsletters. Some changes are a-coming, because burnout is a big drag on mental health and creativity.
Very true, whatever is best for you is definitely best for your readership who wants to see you thriving!
Lovely insights and ideas to implement -- as I befriend the Monkeys of Overwhelm in my head! Mantra: I CAN offer paid subscriptions. I CAN cross-post to other media. I CAN reach out to people in real life and email... etc. One baby step at a time.
🙏🏼 Thank you
no to the Monkeys, yes to your CAN!! good luck!
Thank you so much for this 💜
Usually when I'm interested in finding groups I resort to sites like reddit, where I found this post. But I hadn't considered using the platform itself to reach out and find something I could call a community. I'm not too familiar to it yet, but I'll be trying to get more used to it from now on. Thanks for the tips!
Glad to know the Reddit worked! Great community building here for sure.
This was really helpful. As a mum of two under two, my time is limited but it’s what I do with it that counts. I love what you said about being transactional on other social media websites. That’s what I’ve started doing because I really don’t have time to social everywhere. I’ll look for you on LinkedIn as well! Thank you for sharing this on my Notes!
So glad to have met you. Oh my goodness, yes about the time constraints. It's amazing you can function let alone do all this, good luck!!!
I love the advice about taking a step back. Substack burnout is real!
All great tips. Will try these as I just started my blog on substack
Welcome! Good luck
Just want to say thank you for this — it's so thoughtful and comprehensive. I'm still new to Substack (and public writing :)) and found such comfort in what you shared of your early days journey. Thanks Krista!!!
I’m so glad it helps!
For folks who enjoyed this first post, I did a second recent one for my second anniversary with a second smaller set of best-practices - another great year on this amazing platform and so much always to learn https://sleepyhollowink.substack.com/p/2-years-here
I'm so glad it helps, and yes you will! I love how much everyone adds to this platform. & I love your title "Memento Mori" - I did a take on that once myself with some portraits in the mix of creepy dead girls https://sleepyhollowink.substack.com/p/memento-mori