![]() ![]() Maybe you’ve got a hypothesis for a newsletter you think would kick ass, but you’re not sure it’d work. Lastly, I’d recommend it for serious entrepreneurs who are looking to rapidly deploy an MVP for a paid newsletter. ![]() I still hope you’ll read the rest of this article, though, because there are very real tradeoffs you’re making with this approach. But if all you want is to write and get paid, and you don’t have the time or temperament to piece together various tools, go with Substack. I don’t mind a bit of extra complexity if it results in a better business for me, or a richer experience for my fans. Personally, I enjoy getting into the weeds and finding the perfect tech for the job. I’d also recommend it for creators who value simplicity and ease above all else. Just beware, if your intentions shift towards building a business, you’re going have to deal with all of the limitations below. Plus, you can always turn on subscriptions if you want to generate a bit of side income. It’s free, simple, and so, so easy to maintain. If you’re looking for a place to write, unencumbered by expensive marketing and website tools with features you’ll never need, go for Substack. Though it’s a poor fit for serious creators, there are people who will get amazing value from Substack.įor starters, it’s the obvious choice for hobbyists. Who do I recommend Substack for?īefore we get into the critique, I have to stress that Substack is not a bad piece of software. Though it’s incredibly popular right now, I believe it’s important for ambitious creators to understand the downside before staking their claim on Substack. As a creator and entrepreneur, I’m perplexed and concerned by Substack’s seemingly endless list of shortcomings. However, most of that praise comes from a consumer perspective. I doubt we’d have seen the explosion in quality writing this year had it not been dead simple to get started. It’s the only tool I know where you can set up a paid newsletter in the next 20 minutes, even if you’re technologically illiterate. Substack also deserves credit for how simple and frictionless their platform is. It’s refreshing, and it gives me a glimmer of hope for the future of indie media. In a media ecosystem increasingly dominated by the loudest, most outrage-driven voices, Substack’s carved out a space where thoughtfulness reigns, and individual creators are rewarded for the depth of their contribution. They’ve properly aligned the incentives between creators and consumers, unshackled some of the world’s best writing talent, and singlehandedly made the idea of paid newsletters cool again. But first, a few acknowledgments, because Substack’s founders have indeed done something extraordinary. The critique that’s coming is going to be brutal. The cost is too high, in more ways than one. However, as someone who’s looking to build a long-term business around my own writing, you couldn’t pay me to use the platform. ![]() It’s home to some of the most electrifying writing online, and I happily pay for a few newsletters myself. I’ll admit, I have a major soft spot for Substack. ![]()
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