I’ve really had this point driven home several times this past year and now you’re warning about it too. Sooo—my website build is nearing the end. I’ll be driving everyone there. And I’m offering a multi-tier membership as well and using my own page (not Patreon or Ko-fi) to sell it. It’s taken a lot of thinking to figure out how NOT to use the ready made platforms because, as you said, they’re easy. Ready made. Yes, I’ll continue to connect with others and promote myself across a lot of several platforms as a way to drive people to my site. But I’m collecting email addresses like mad and finding ways to make those who visit my client not TikTok’s, Instagram’s, or Facebook’s. Thanks for the kick in the pants. I really needed it.
I have a pitch at the end of all my Medium pieces asking fellow writers to visit my substack newsletter and subscribe. It’s been very effective and I own those contacts. It’s my way of leveraging my Medium following.
I fell into that same trap. Like you (and 1000s of others), it was too easy not too, even though on some level I knew better. Worse, I'd just taken a college class where they'd LITERALLY warned against doing just that. But a low barrier to entry, making friends quickly, and seeing dollar signs is quite the temptation.
(sigh)
I keep hoping one of these weeks we'll get to talk about how Medium has turned a corner, but right now, I'm not seeing it- either for me, the pub I run, or other writers in my circle.
This is so true but it's hard to switch. I'm doing it slowly. BTW, what do you think of the medium change where members can now save articles to "read later" offline?
Feb 18, 2023·edited Feb 18, 2023Liked by Linda Caroll
Some months ago, I told someone who is working to build a following on a Twitter to organize a certain group of people that setting up a parallel email list could server as a backup in case the Twitter following disappeared or something. Since Musk was about to take over Twitter it was easy to make the case that Twitter wasn't stable, but someone else said there was no point in setting up an email list because 'nobody reads emails anymore.' Well, I warned them.
EDIT: Another anecdote, a local tea shop collected customers' email addresses for years (basically, whenever a new customer bought something, they asked for their email address). When the pandemic hit, they had to close their storefront, but they got an online shop up and running fast and sent an email with a coupon to everyone on their list. They said that without the flood of orders they got in response to that email with the coupon code, they would've gone out-of-business.
I've recently started taking steps to remove myself from Medium. It makes no financial sense to throw my money at a corporation that barely knows I exist, doesn't support me and bends over backwards to show my readers someone else's content, instead of showing them more of what they're reading. Me.
Don't even get me started on how much $ I've lost. For nothing.
I've been here on Substack for a year. I like it. It feels good. They do a lot to support writers and readers. Now it's time to get serious about building a community around the topics I, and many others, are passionate about and are going to need a lot more in the very near future.
Medium won't even notice the loss of my $5 a month.
I can see the appeal, because even your own site cam get hacked, etc. But, thinking as the reader here, how many times do I have to give my email address away, and how many emails do I have to ignore or delete every day because it's either someone selling stuff or building his brand so he could sell stuff?
I only subscribe to people I care about their writing and enjoy it.
Plus, the monetization model is tough. if I'm a reader I'd rather pay 5 dollars to read lots of good writers rather than paying 5 dollars to each writer I want to read!
Most people would just pay (if they pay at all, I dont) to subscribe to 1 or 2 writers max.
This is the main reason I bit the bullet to leave Medium. It was painful but necessary nonetheless. If I have to leave my eggs in the nest, I make very sure my nest is sitting on my land.
I'm guilty. I started on Medium like so many others hoping to improve my writing. Along yhr way I started to gather some followers, not many. I know I screwed up but like many things in life you have learn from experience. Thank you Linda your advice is always well received.
Yeah I’m interviewing copy writers/ funnel writers to see how I can improve the opt-in. The best thing about what I do and that I spend hours every day in direct contact with my audience. They dm, email, write comments, and interact on my lives. They share where they’re struggling and what’s not working. I have so much data: the language they use, their biggest pain points, and where they believe they need help. Now just to use it effectively—
Thank you. I see this advice over and over. I signed up for an email list builder, Convertkit, but the cost of $30 a month didn't seem worth it to me right now. I only have a dozen or so email subscribers, so it's hard to justify the monthly rate. I keep saying as my followers grow, I'll get the email list going. I am on Substack but I haven't found the same engagement/followers as I get on Medium.
I’ve really had this point driven home several times this past year and now you’re warning about it too. Sooo—my website build is nearing the end. I’ll be driving everyone there. And I’m offering a multi-tier membership as well and using my own page (not Patreon or Ko-fi) to sell it. It’s taken a lot of thinking to figure out how NOT to use the ready made platforms because, as you said, they’re easy. Ready made. Yes, I’ll continue to connect with others and promote myself across a lot of several platforms as a way to drive people to my site. But I’m collecting email addresses like mad and finding ways to make those who visit my client not TikTok’s, Instagram’s, or Facebook’s. Thanks for the kick in the pants. I really needed it.
Your usual "on the money" advice is outstanding, and valuable. Just because you have offered it up for free does not mean it should be ignored.
I have a pitch at the end of all my Medium pieces asking fellow writers to visit my substack newsletter and subscribe. It’s been very effective and I own those contacts. It’s my way of leveraging my Medium following.
I fell into that same trap. Like you (and 1000s of others), it was too easy not too, even though on some level I knew better. Worse, I'd just taken a college class where they'd LITERALLY warned against doing just that. But a low barrier to entry, making friends quickly, and seeing dollar signs is quite the temptation.
(sigh)
I keep hoping one of these weeks we'll get to talk about how Medium has turned a corner, but right now, I'm not seeing it- either for me, the pub I run, or other writers in my circle.
This is so true but it's hard to switch. I'm doing it slowly. BTW, what do you think of the medium change where members can now save articles to "read later" offline?
Can't see how the reads can be tracked.
Xo
Some months ago, I told someone who is working to build a following on a Twitter to organize a certain group of people that setting up a parallel email list could server as a backup in case the Twitter following disappeared or something. Since Musk was about to take over Twitter it was easy to make the case that Twitter wasn't stable, but someone else said there was no point in setting up an email list because 'nobody reads emails anymore.' Well, I warned them.
EDIT: Another anecdote, a local tea shop collected customers' email addresses for years (basically, whenever a new customer bought something, they asked for their email address). When the pandemic hit, they had to close their storefront, but they got an online shop up and running fast and sent an email with a coupon to everyone on their list. They said that without the flood of orders they got in response to that email with the coupon code, they would've gone out-of-business.
"Don’t build your house on someone else’s land"
What a perfect way to say it.
I've recently started taking steps to remove myself from Medium. It makes no financial sense to throw my money at a corporation that barely knows I exist, doesn't support me and bends over backwards to show my readers someone else's content, instead of showing them more of what they're reading. Me.
Don't even get me started on how much $ I've lost. For nothing.
I've been here on Substack for a year. I like it. It feels good. They do a lot to support writers and readers. Now it's time to get serious about building a community around the topics I, and many others, are passionate about and are going to need a lot more in the very near future.
Medium won't even notice the loss of my $5 a month.
I can see the appeal, because even your own site cam get hacked, etc. But, thinking as the reader here, how many times do I have to give my email address away, and how many emails do I have to ignore or delete every day because it's either someone selling stuff or building his brand so he could sell stuff?
I only subscribe to people I care about their writing and enjoy it.
Plus, the monetization model is tough. if I'm a reader I'd rather pay 5 dollars to read lots of good writers rather than paying 5 dollars to each writer I want to read!
Most people would just pay (if they pay at all, I dont) to subscribe to 1 or 2 writers max.
Thanks as always Linda. I'm stuck on the title for Substack. I'm working on being a better Substack student these days. ;)
This is the main reason I bit the bullet to leave Medium. It was painful but necessary nonetheless. If I have to leave my eggs in the nest, I make very sure my nest is sitting on my land.
I'm guilty. I started on Medium like so many others hoping to improve my writing. Along yhr way I started to gather some followers, not many. I know I screwed up but like many things in life you have learn from experience. Thank you Linda your advice is always well received.
I just can't get past" we did get him featured o Oprah."
'Im interested, Linda.
More food for thought, thank you, Linda. Mulling what my niche would be via Substack...It changes more often than I change shoes!
Yeah I’m interviewing copy writers/ funnel writers to see how I can improve the opt-in. The best thing about what I do and that I spend hours every day in direct contact with my audience. They dm, email, write comments, and interact on my lives. They share where they’re struggling and what’s not working. I have so much data: the language they use, their biggest pain points, and where they believe they need help. Now just to use it effectively—
1. Buy the 'land'. (domain name)
2. Build your 'house' (website) on that land.
3. Fill your house with your stuff (your writing etc.)
4. Insure your house and stuff. (back up/download)
5. Start selling (advertising/marketing) your stuff
6. When in doubt, ask the neighbour (Linda)
:)
Thank you. I see this advice over and over. I signed up for an email list builder, Convertkit, but the cost of $30 a month didn't seem worth it to me right now. I only have a dozen or so email subscribers, so it's hard to justify the monthly rate. I keep saying as my followers grow, I'll get the email list going. I am on Substack but I haven't found the same engagement/followers as I get on Medium.