Linda, I see your point, and to be honest, I am still confused about how to really use Notes. I see the potential to lose a lot of time scrolling through. I also see the potential to connect to other Substack users. Which side of the fence I'm on depends on the day, but I'm committed to learning more. Feel free to offer tips, if you have, about how to contain and monitor time spent on Notes (this is true for other areas I peruse as well). Focus is hard when there are so many fun places to go.
Linda, I love it when you analyze and share what you found. You're right that SS is Twiter's sweeter/nicer sister. I haven't had a lot of time for either, with subbing increasing with the end of school approaching.
I've heard from some activist and social justice writer friends, that they've been harassed in the Notes, but Substack has a strict no-interference policy so they don't care to do any moderating. :( So I haven't checked the notes much (though I'm just a reader, not a writer here on Substack.) It was disheartening too for me to see that interview with one of the Substack CEOs, where he refused to say anything about whether blatant racism is allowed. They were stubbornly adhering to a "free speech", "will not interfere" stance, yikes!
But about Twitter Tweets, yeah, it looks like the Tweets that get most engagement, either ask the reader for their opinions, or make a provocative or interesting (or amusing) statement. Or, some writers state a strong opinion that reflects what many others also feel. So a lot of us click like or even comment to show our solidarity.
Tweets that get very little attention, include things that require more specialized knowledge or experience. One writer I follow who usually gets lots of engagement, asked about Evolutionary Psychology and David Buss's book. I was very passionate about the topic and commented. But nobody else commented and there were very few likes, from what I remember.
So far, I'm really not seeing a use for Notes, or Chat, in my Substack. This might be because I really don't want to use it as a(nother) social platform, but purely as a distribution tool for my serialised stories. Most of my readers aren't Substack "natives", they're folk I've brought to Substack (e.g. from FB) with the promise of a weekly story episode – and not bothering them with anything else. I'm seriously concerned that the increasing bells and whistles will scare these loyal readers away, and replace them with follow-for-follow types (like on Medium) who have little genuine interest in reading my fiction.
I am seeing a little bit of everything. I don't spend a whole lot of time on the Home tab, as it can be a lot. The Subscriber tab is awesome, and the new one that lets you see Notes from people your subscribers read offer a lot of insight.
The posts I see getting the most engagement tend to be ones restacking someone else's work as opposed to promoting one's own.
Linda, I see your point, and to be honest, I am still confused about how to really use Notes. I see the potential to lose a lot of time scrolling through. I also see the potential to connect to other Substack users. Which side of the fence I'm on depends on the day, but I'm committed to learning more. Feel free to offer tips, if you have, about how to contain and monitor time spent on Notes (this is true for other areas I peruse as well). Focus is hard when there are so many fun places to go.
Linda, I love it when you analyze and share what you found. You're right that SS is Twiter's sweeter/nicer sister. I haven't had a lot of time for either, with subbing increasing with the end of school approaching.
Keep analyzing! I learn from you! Thank you!
Hugs,
Linda
I wrote a piece about how I personally experience Notes. None of it will probably surprise you too much: https://open.substack.com/pub/chandrahardy/p/1629-charter-of-freedoms-and-exemptionsantisemit?r=nlxz5&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I've heard from some activist and social justice writer friends, that they've been harassed in the Notes, but Substack has a strict no-interference policy so they don't care to do any moderating. :( So I haven't checked the notes much (though I'm just a reader, not a writer here on Substack.) It was disheartening too for me to see that interview with one of the Substack CEOs, where he refused to say anything about whether blatant racism is allowed. They were stubbornly adhering to a "free speech", "will not interfere" stance, yikes!
But about Twitter Tweets, yeah, it looks like the Tweets that get most engagement, either ask the reader for their opinions, or make a provocative or interesting (or amusing) statement. Or, some writers state a strong opinion that reflects what many others also feel. So a lot of us click like or even comment to show our solidarity.
Tweets that get very little attention, include things that require more specialized knowledge or experience. One writer I follow who usually gets lots of engagement, asked about Evolutionary Psychology and David Buss's book. I was very passionate about the topic and commented. But nobody else commented and there were very few likes, from what I remember.
ooh, notes are another rabbit hole to fall into. It is a lot friendlier so far. I think it's going to be a great networking tool.
So far, I'm really not seeing a use for Notes, or Chat, in my Substack. This might be because I really don't want to use it as a(nother) social platform, but purely as a distribution tool for my serialised stories. Most of my readers aren't Substack "natives", they're folk I've brought to Substack (e.g. from FB) with the promise of a weekly story episode – and not bothering them with anything else. I'm seriously concerned that the increasing bells and whistles will scare these loyal readers away, and replace them with follow-for-follow types (like on Medium) who have little genuine interest in reading my fiction.
Am I missing something important, I wonder?
I am seeing a little bit of everything. I don't spend a whole lot of time on the Home tab, as it can be a lot. The Subscriber tab is awesome, and the new one that lets you see Notes from people your subscribers read offer a lot of insight.
The posts I see getting the most engagement tend to be ones restacking someone else's work as opposed to promoting one's own.
I'm also 100% for the dog pics. lol.