24: Substack vs. Your Website: Where to Publish Your Writing
Substack vs. Your Website: Where to Publish Your Writing
Today, I'm talking about something I get asked about a lot: Substack.
When many business owners start out online, they want to get their writing out there through blogs, newsletters, and social media. This is great! Get out there!
And a common question is, "Where should I put my writing?"
These creative business owners turn to platforms like Substack because that's where people are already hanging out, and it's free and easy to start.
I totally caught the Substack bug, too. A couple of years ago. I jumped in, gave it a solid year, and then made the move back to my own website.
In this episode, I'm diving into my whole experience. I'll share why I initially thought Substack was a great idea, what I loved about it, and why I ultimately decided it wasn't the right long-term fit for me.
Substack is awesome if you're just starting out and haven't built a website yet. It's free, super easy to use, and you can set it up to resemble a website, complete with an about page, a podcast, audio embeds, and even a newsletter. It can save you from needing separate email marketing software initially, which is a huge plus. You can just get writing and publishing. Something I'm all for because getting started often leads to overthinking and landing in the land of inaction and doing nothing. A place that won't grow your business.
💫 6 Key Takeaways:
If you've stopped blogging on your website in favor of Substack, be sure to check your data to see your views and measure your growth.
If you offer services or digital products on your website, your website is also the best place to host your blog.
Substack is a decent free option for new writers or those without a website to start publishing, offering features like blogging, podcasting, and newsletter capabilities.
While Substack gives you a simple way to build an email list and potentially monetize, it lacks advanced email marketing features (like segmentation) that most platforms offer.
Substack may be a great platform for you if you write about topics that are often censored on social media.
Substack is a third-party platform, and I'll always prefer having my writing on a site that I control.
🔗 Links:
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:18 Exploring the Pros and Cons of Substack
02:51 My 1-Year Experience with Substack
05:37 Challenges and Limitations with Substack
09:46 Returning to My Blog
15:30 Invitation to my free masterclass: 5 Ways to Enjoy a Relaxed Summer of Writing
