I must’ve missed the memo last year (busy time of year!) but I’m so excited about this change. I’ve been feeling really uninspired by Substack as a platform and wishing I could just have my own site like I did back in the OG blogging days. You’ve made me wonder… well, why can’t I?
All the things I’ve thought might be positives to the platform (ease of publishing and in built community) haven’t really panned out how I imagined. And I personally find social media like Notes/Twitter/Threads type feeds much worse for my mental health and attention span than places like Instagram so I’ve hardly been able to use it. Yet I feel guilty and pressured to at least try because don’t I want a successful newsletter? Bleh.
Even if I did find more success on Substack I can see I’d outgrow the limitations of the platform very quickly anyway. Much to ponder! Looking forward to what’s next for you, and thank you for outlining your thoughts on the whole thing.
I went with Squarespace—not because I think it's significantly better (or, like, more ethical?) but because all of my domains HAD been registered with Google, and SS bought Google Domains last year. And our YellowHouse.Media site has been hosted on SS since the beginning (2019). Plus, I really like the way SS has integrated lots of different options for digital products, courses, and services into its ecommerce features.
I've been a Wordpress gal since 2008... but it's gotten bogged down with old code, too many unnecessary features, and some fresh drama with its founder, and it just wasn't a good choice for me anymore.
Because all my domains were now at SS, and SS lets you connect as many domains as you'd like to one site, the move was much easier than I initially imagined. The URL mapping was tedious, but in the end, less work than it could have been—with better results than I had initially feared!
The only other "software" I used was a couple of Google Sheets to keep track of my URLs and popular content that I wanted to treat differently!
Thanks for sharing that. I've always followed your "platform" decisions and reasonings with interest. I hear you about Wordpress. I'll give SS another look. 🙏
I think this is great for you as a creator, but as a consumer, I'm finding substack annoying and complicated. If I unsubscribe, I lose access to the material you've previously published here (unless I saved the original emails. ) Do I stay "subscribed" to a dead substack with paused charging, to retain access?
I've already learned with others, if I unsub, even though I have saved posts I lose access even though I was subscribed when it was released.
Not your issue to solve, just something I'm chewing on.
Hi Deb! That is a tricky one, for sure. FWIW, everything here on Substack is on the new site. So you should be able to follow any old links or search for any content you’re looking for and find it there. Like you said, this is a larger platform issue that you’ve raised, but I hope I’ve provided an imperfect solution for my own work!
I must’ve missed the memo last year (busy time of year!) but I’m so excited about this change. I’ve been feeling really uninspired by Substack as a platform and wishing I could just have my own site like I did back in the OG blogging days. You’ve made me wonder… well, why can’t I?
All the things I’ve thought might be positives to the platform (ease of publishing and in built community) haven’t really panned out how I imagined. And I personally find social media like Notes/Twitter/Threads type feeds much worse for my mental health and attention span than places like Instagram so I’ve hardly been able to use it. Yet I feel guilty and pressured to at least try because don’t I want a successful newsletter? Bleh.
Even if I did find more success on Substack I can see I’d outgrow the limitations of the platform very quickly anyway. Much to ponder! Looking forward to what’s next for you, and thank you for outlining your thoughts on the whole thing.
First, thanks for the comment and for reading! And second, I think you're really going to like tomorrow's piece!
Best of luck in the new chapter! Can't wait to see where it takes you.
Best of luck, I will be fallowing you!
thanks—I just added your new email to my contacts!
Thank YOU!
Out of interest, what platform did you move to? Which systems/software did you choose to support you with the consolidation?
I went with Squarespace—not because I think it's significantly better (or, like, more ethical?) but because all of my domains HAD been registered with Google, and SS bought Google Domains last year. And our YellowHouse.Media site has been hosted on SS since the beginning (2019). Plus, I really like the way SS has integrated lots of different options for digital products, courses, and services into its ecommerce features.
I've been a Wordpress gal since 2008... but it's gotten bogged down with old code, too many unnecessary features, and some fresh drama with its founder, and it just wasn't a good choice for me anymore.
Because all my domains were now at SS, and SS lets you connect as many domains as you'd like to one site, the move was much easier than I initially imagined. The URL mapping was tedious, but in the end, less work than it could have been—with better results than I had initially feared!
The only other "software" I used was a couple of Google Sheets to keep track of my URLs and popular content that I wanted to treat differently!
Thanks for sharing that. I've always followed your "platform" decisions and reasonings with interest. I hear you about Wordpress. I'll give SS another look. 🙏
Hats off to you for all that hard work! I once migrate a site from WordPress to Shopify and it was a nightmare haha. But so nice to see completed.
I read your "Broken Links" piece (fascinating!) and am here for the xanga callout 😆
I think this is great for you as a creator, but as a consumer, I'm finding substack annoying and complicated. If I unsubscribe, I lose access to the material you've previously published here (unless I saved the original emails. ) Do I stay "subscribed" to a dead substack with paused charging, to retain access?
I've already learned with others, if I unsub, even though I have saved posts I lose access even though I was subscribed when it was released.
Not your issue to solve, just something I'm chewing on.
Hi Deb! That is a tricky one, for sure. FWIW, everything here on Substack is on the new site. So you should be able to follow any old links or search for any content you’re looking for and find it there. Like you said, this is a larger platform issue that you’ve raised, but I hope I’ve provided an imperfect solution for my own work!
This move makes sense for you Tara. I'm already subscribed to the pod and your emails, so I'll see you there.
On a related note, I've been considering moving off the Stack lately too.