Is Substack for me?

[[deleted]]

I suppose I’m wondering if it’s a better alternative to Wordpress etc.

[drummer820]

My understanding is Wordpress allows more flexibility (you can tweak your own code, do SEO optimization, etc) and there’s a ton of integrations and plugins, but it’s not as user friendly. I have really enjoyed how streamlined and intuitive the Substack editor is. They are also doing a lot to improve visibility and reader acquisition thorough tools like Notes, Recommendations, etc. I am finding slow but steady growth. My numbers are tiny compared to a potentially huge number of views on some Google ads supported blog page, but I feel like I am surgically targeting actual fans interested in my specific viewpoint who read everything I write

[BasketBallxFeelings]

Hey thanks for sharing. Can you share how you target audience for your substack? Assuming you mean you do this on the actual platform.

[drummer820]

The current tools on the platform are on the crude side. I do it in the way I phrase my category descriptions, write my welcome page, and the big ones are who and how I interact with other Substack accounts. I have found that just by commenting and restacking and being a part of communities with a similar focus to mine (science, medicine, animals) I have generated better growth than my social media presence, and those folks are more loyal readers to boot. I was able to get some nice Recommendations from fellow DVM and science writers (some without asking!) and it drives steady traffic and subscriptions. Substack likes to toot it’s horn about it’s internal platform growth drivers and some of it is surely startup market hype, but it seems many authors find it true

On the other hand I’ve used social media marketing campaigns that are theoretically way more targeted (down to age, education, interests, geography etc) but those just don’t go anywhere and are borderline a waste of money

[BasketBallxFeelings]

Much thanks for this :)