Each time I saw people complaining about Substack's video and podcast features, I was always a little puzzled. I understand the concerns, but I think the platform is trying to respond to the reality that creators are now spread across multiple channels.
I'm definitely a writer first, yet I genuinely appreciate being able to integrate text, audio, and video in the same place rather than sending readers elsewhere.
What I do agree with, however, is that the subscription model could be more flexible. Not every reader wants the same level of access, and I think Substack would benefit from offering more options between free and fully paid subscriptions.
I think they are also trying to attract more big news journalists who use multimedia and whose outlets readers quite willingly pay to subscribe to. (IE Katie Couric)
"treating Substack as just a subscription tollbooth is a mistake. The smartest creators are already adapting by using the platform to launch workshops, consulting, courses, and digital products."
I'm curious if that puts people at risk? Substack's content guidelines says:
"Substack is intended for high quality editorial content, not conventional email marketing. We don’t permit publications whose primary purpose is to advertise external products or services, drive traffic to third party sites, distribute offers and promotions..." (https://substack.com/content)
I suspect it could become an issue decided based on Substack's discretion because they want their cut and they aren't getting 10% on workshops, courses, etc. Curious what you think :)
That's a great question and a really interesting point.
I think it's something they'll eventually have to address. Right now, I don't see any signs that Substack has an issue with people using external links in CTAs or emails. In fact, I attended a workshop just yesterday that I was invited to through Substack, and I regularly come across affiliate-style "link roundup" posts, especially in the fashion niche.
Personally, I think this guideline has become outdated. It made sense in the early days and sounded good in theory, but today it has lost much of its relevance because actual user behavior tells a different story. At some point, they'll need to adapt to how creators and readers are using the platform, otherwise they risk losing a lot of people. But that’s just my opinion :)
Great question! From what I can see in many publications, people are selling external products like courses as well as affiliate links, but I have not seen one where it overshadowed their writing and paid/free promises to their audience.
Now, if someone were solely using Substack for the purpose of external selling... maybe they would be reviewed and suspended? We want to read, not click out of Substack.
Danke für diese tollen Insights und Analysen! Das hilft mir total mich noch mehr auf meinen Substack Versuch einzulassen 🙂 Hallo aus Deutschland übrigens und ich vertraue jetzt einfach Mal auf die Übersetzungsfunktion hier bei Substack 💪
This is very helpful Andi thank you! Just couple of weeks into Substack and there is so much to learn. It’s really good to see Substack in the broader light. 🫶 Lenka
This was such a great read for me. Being new here and no knowledge at all of what substack was/is about this really helps give me a footing to build from 🤗
I agree substack is taking hold in a more rooted way.
The current subscription model does feel clunky and new options will make it more flexible, generative and engaging.
It almost feels like a different community model is slowly taking shape. One where we all get to contribute and be rewarded according to our individual requirements and desires, instead of all needing to be one homogenous blob delivering to feed an algorithm or marketing model.
Making it the perfect place for journalists and creatives especially as the old newspaper / magazine industry disappears.
I imagine they will create a newspaper type sub at some point, which allows one to read many journalistic pieces for one price?
I love the structuring of one place for all that honors the individual and I appreciate how clear your points always are. Thank you.
One more thing I forgot to add! I’ve done well with SEO here, since Google really likes the Substack domain, but I certainly wouldn’t complain about better SEO.
Excellent article, as always. It captures a lot of things that I was just talking to a friend about yesterday. I love where the infrastructure is going as someone who is looking to build a personal brand here. And I’m glad you addressed the elephant in the room - subscriptions in the era of too many subscriptions and a really bad economy. I think they’re going to have to seriously consider ads and a sponsorship marketplace if they want to remain competitive. Competitors are doing it for flat rate monthly fees. I know readers don’t like ads, but the reality is it pays for quality journalism and can keep really big publications who are paying big commissions on the platform, thus keeping it alive.
Coming from an SEO background, where display ads gave me a full salary, and now subscriptions give me a little side hustle, it's just a reality. This is why people are upselling and using affiliate links. Subscriptions are nice, but not sustainable to most, especially for long-form content that costs a lot of time and money to create. And that's what people want here.
I haven’t been active in a while with the new baby, but whenever I’m on, yours is one of the substacks I HAVE TO catch up on. Thank you for all of the quality research and paring down you put into your work Andi!
What I wish to see as substack evolves is a different payment processing tool (other than stripe). Stripe is not supported in some countries and it makes it challenging to start a subscription!
Great article! Yes, the subscription fatigue is real. It seems so obvious that it would become saturated. Someone on the SUBTSACK team needs to think out of the box. There are so many more creative ways we could support each other and the platform. I do not want it to become all ads. It is nice to have things in one place, but if they go all in on ads and become like META, I am out of here.
Such a helpful overview, Andi- thank you! I so appreciate your recent audit of my account and would highly recommend others do so as well. I think I will do one with you a couple times a year to stay current🧡
"nobody subscribes to a template" is the line this whole piece builds toward and I think most people will read past it without realising it just described exactly why their Substack isn't growing 😭
the split u named between Notes-as-social-layer and newsletter-as-email-delivery is the most honest framing I've seen of what's actually happening on this platform right now. bc they really are two different products sharing a dashboard. and most people are using one while wondering why the other isn't working.... but this is shifiting slowly gradually as people r getting aware from posts like this 😄
the paid subscription fatigue section is the one that needed to be SAID OUT LOUD. the rotating subscriptions behaviour is real and it's not disloyalty.... it's just budget math. and building a business on a $5/month button alone was always going to hit a ceiling. the creators treating the subscription as one layer instead of the whole game are the ones quietly winning while everyone else is chasing the vanity metric.....just like how Sinem described it in her latest YouTube Video 🤍
"the infrastructure is ready. the readers are looking for substance." is where I am on Day 83 of my 100 Day Conversation Experiment. documenting exactly this.... that the platform rewards real interaction not algorithmic performance. and the data from 82 days agrees with everything u wrote here 😄
p.s. Andi.... I already slid into ur DMs abt a guest post collab on The SKY Doctrine. the angle is what posts can do that comments can't, and what comments can do that posts can't. u bring the content and growth perspective, I bring the conversations side. this will get you a different niche to talk abt, and reach to wider audience for me.
one honest piece, two voices.
would love to make it happen 🤍 check ur DMs when u get a chance!!
Each time I saw people complaining about Substack's video and podcast features, I was always a little puzzled. I understand the concerns, but I think the platform is trying to respond to the reality that creators are now spread across multiple channels.
I'm definitely a writer first, yet I genuinely appreciate being able to integrate text, audio, and video in the same place rather than sending readers elsewhere.
What I do agree with, however, is that the subscription model could be more flexible. Not every reader wants the same level of access, and I think Substack would benefit from offering more options between free and fully paid subscriptions.
I think they are also trying to attract more big news journalists who use multimedia and whose outlets readers quite willingly pay to subscribe to. (IE Katie Couric)
A very helpful analysis of where substack is headed. I started here last month and have been really enjoying this platform
"treating Substack as just a subscription tollbooth is a mistake. The smartest creators are already adapting by using the platform to launch workshops, consulting, courses, and digital products."
I'm curious if that puts people at risk? Substack's content guidelines says:
"Substack is intended for high quality editorial content, not conventional email marketing. We don’t permit publications whose primary purpose is to advertise external products or services, drive traffic to third party sites, distribute offers and promotions..." (https://substack.com/content)
I suspect it could become an issue decided based on Substack's discretion because they want their cut and they aren't getting 10% on workshops, courses, etc. Curious what you think :)
That's a great question and a really interesting point.
I think it's something they'll eventually have to address. Right now, I don't see any signs that Substack has an issue with people using external links in CTAs or emails. In fact, I attended a workshop just yesterday that I was invited to through Substack, and I regularly come across affiliate-style "link roundup" posts, especially in the fashion niche.
Personally, I think this guideline has become outdated. It made sense in the early days and sounded good in theory, but today it has lost much of its relevance because actual user behavior tells a different story. At some point, they'll need to adapt to how creators and readers are using the platform, otherwise they risk losing a lot of people. But that’s just my opinion :)
Great question! From what I can see in many publications, people are selling external products like courses as well as affiliate links, but I have not seen one where it overshadowed their writing and paid/free promises to their audience.
Now, if someone were solely using Substack for the purpose of external selling... maybe they would be reviewed and suspended? We want to read, not click out of Substack.
Super helpful article … thanks so much 🐝
Danke für diese tollen Insights und Analysen! Das hilft mir total mich noch mehr auf meinen Substack Versuch einzulassen 🙂 Hallo aus Deutschland übrigens und ich vertraue jetzt einfach Mal auf die Übersetzungsfunktion hier bei Substack 💪
This is very helpful Andi thank you! Just couple of weeks into Substack and there is so much to learn. It’s really good to see Substack in the broader light. 🫶 Lenka
This was such a great read for me. Being new here and no knowledge at all of what substack was/is about this really helps give me a footing to build from 🤗
A rich thoughtful article, as always.
I agree substack is taking hold in a more rooted way.
The current subscription model does feel clunky and new options will make it more flexible, generative and engaging.
It almost feels like a different community model is slowly taking shape. One where we all get to contribute and be rewarded according to our individual requirements and desires, instead of all needing to be one homogenous blob delivering to feed an algorithm or marketing model.
Making it the perfect place for journalists and creatives especially as the old newspaper / magazine industry disappears.
I imagine they will create a newspaper type sub at some point, which allows one to read many journalistic pieces for one price?
I love the structuring of one place for all that honors the individual and I appreciate how clear your points always are. Thank you.
One more thing I forgot to add! I’ve done well with SEO here, since Google really likes the Substack domain, but I certainly wouldn’t complain about better SEO.
Excellent article, as always. It captures a lot of things that I was just talking to a friend about yesterday. I love where the infrastructure is going as someone who is looking to build a personal brand here. And I’m glad you addressed the elephant in the room - subscriptions in the era of too many subscriptions and a really bad economy. I think they’re going to have to seriously consider ads and a sponsorship marketplace if they want to remain competitive. Competitors are doing it for flat rate monthly fees. I know readers don’t like ads, but the reality is it pays for quality journalism and can keep really big publications who are paying big commissions on the platform, thus keeping it alive.
You’re right! I agree with you.
Coming from an SEO background, where display ads gave me a full salary, and now subscriptions give me a little side hustle, it's just a reality. This is why people are upselling and using affiliate links. Subscriptions are nice, but not sustainable to most, especially for long-form content that costs a lot of time and money to create. And that's what people want here.
This is super useful as someone who has been planning to start a Substack soon (and kind of procrastinating). Thank you!
I haven’t been active in a while with the new baby, but whenever I’m on, yours is one of the substacks I HAVE TO catch up on. Thank you for all of the quality research and paring down you put into your work Andi!
Enjoy this season of life! And thank you, it means so much! 😊
This is rich! Thank you for sharing.
What I wish to see as substack evolves is a different payment processing tool (other than stripe). Stripe is not supported in some countries and it makes it challenging to start a subscription!
Yes! That's a real problem, too.
Great article! Yes, the subscription fatigue is real. It seems so obvious that it would become saturated. Someone on the SUBTSACK team needs to think out of the box. There are so many more creative ways we could support each other and the platform. I do not want it to become all ads. It is nice to have things in one place, but if they go all in on ads and become like META, I am out of here.
Such a helpful overview, Andi- thank you! I so appreciate your recent audit of my account and would highly recommend others do so as well. I think I will do one with you a couple times a year to stay current🧡
"nobody subscribes to a template" is the line this whole piece builds toward and I think most people will read past it without realising it just described exactly why their Substack isn't growing 😭
the split u named between Notes-as-social-layer and newsletter-as-email-delivery is the most honest framing I've seen of what's actually happening on this platform right now. bc they really are two different products sharing a dashboard. and most people are using one while wondering why the other isn't working.... but this is shifiting slowly gradually as people r getting aware from posts like this 😄
the paid subscription fatigue section is the one that needed to be SAID OUT LOUD. the rotating subscriptions behaviour is real and it's not disloyalty.... it's just budget math. and building a business on a $5/month button alone was always going to hit a ceiling. the creators treating the subscription as one layer instead of the whole game are the ones quietly winning while everyone else is chasing the vanity metric.....just like how Sinem described it in her latest YouTube Video 🤍
"the infrastructure is ready. the readers are looking for substance." is where I am on Day 83 of my 100 Day Conversation Experiment. documenting exactly this.... that the platform rewards real interaction not algorithmic performance. and the data from 82 days agrees with everything u wrote here 😄
p.s. Andi.... I already slid into ur DMs abt a guest post collab on The SKY Doctrine. the angle is what posts can do that comments can't, and what comments can do that posts can't. u bring the content and growth perspective, I bring the conversations side. this will get you a different niche to talk abt, and reach to wider audience for me.
one honest piece, two voices.
would love to make it happen 🤍 check ur DMs when u get a chance!!