I’ve been off and on this platform for many years now, and there is a reason for that. I consistently see the potential here, but get so frustrated by the lack of development on the team’s part.
That’s the reason I often rank Ghost CMS over Substack, as my top two platforms for creators building websites. I go into my history a bit in the video above, but if you want to dig more into each of my Substack endeavors I talk about them more in the link here. This is a sequel post to: https://polyinnovator.space/my-experience-with-substack/
A lack of communication?
Given that this company has been around for eight years, tons of funding, tons of 10% cuts from creators, etc. There is no reason why the customer service for it is so abysmal. Let alone a complete and utter lack of content from the company themselves. The youtube channel is filled with mostly product showcases, and all comments are turned off.
The social media platforms are barely active, and don’t respond to @ or comments.
I talked more about it in a livestream today. As you can tell I’m quite passionate about this project “The Content Polymath”, and I don’t want to stop using Substack.
In fact I even created a publication for both of my podcasts each, so that in the case I decide to move I can transfer my podcasts over to this hosting platform.
Why can’t I just use what it has?
Look the writing element is great, and besides some quirks here and there I like it. For example the heading for this section. I tried highlighting it, which in ghost would bring up a menu to let me make into a heading. Instead I either have to do ### or go to the top bar and select style.
My point is that writing and content managing is just superior in Ghost. The reason why I am here, and why I would like to stay here more is because of their other features.
Those being the livestreaming (I’m a bit iffy about), the video posting (very useful if it worked), and the podcast hosting (something I might take advantage of no matter what).
How can it improve?
The stability first and foremost on video posts, clipping, and most importantly IMO the substack video post to youtube automation.
The podcast hosting is pretty spot on, but the connections to other platforms i.e. spotify or apple, is a bit tedious. Compared to traditional podcast hosts, where you can just link them, and then get access on their end pretty easy. Here there are more steps. There also just isn’t many ways of embedding or sharing your podcast more either here.
Communication with creators, not just the big ones, is a must! Something a guest said to me on the PolyTools Creator Spotlight is that just because I don’t have a big audience, doesn’t mean that I am not a big creator.
There are a lot of people like me, who know what they are doing, but just haven’t hit a big subscriber number… YET. Substack needs to connecting with those people before they blow up. Else that 10% cost they charge might start looking far too much.
🥡 Takeaways
What to do from here?
Well this last week I had planned on making content every day going forward on here. At least livestreaming, then doing my posts like this 1-3x a week. However it seems like now I need to stop focusing on this platform for a bit.
Partially because my frustration, and partially because I have a lot of content planned for https://polyinnovator.space which in the long run is more important as a personal brand. If Substack reaches out, and we can figure out these user experience issues together. Then I’ll probably focus more on this publication, let alone bring over my other two podcasts as well.
Putting this out there, but probably wont do it: I have been considering bringing back my swimming newsletter to here. To give it a chance to thrive again, and perhaps make it into audio so you can listen while in the water.
Already this platform is a farcry from what it was the last time I put real effort into it. That I can say is amazing, I just wish there was a bit more elbow grease into making it work properly!
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