This is exciting! I can tell that you've had to dig deep to let the real you, at this stage of your life, come out! Rooting for you Elin! (And thanks for taking us on this journey xx)
I’m going through a similar thing at the moment and it’s been so interesting reading your thoughts. I’ve had an online membership separate to what I offer on Substack successfully for years but also fell into a Substack hole of sorts that changed my relationship to marketing generally (and made it all seem very hard!). I’m also reconfiguring and letting go of the best seller badge!
So do you use another email provider and shift your Substack subscriptions there? I use Kit for my other business but just musing on what fits best.
I also use Kit for my main art biz! So I’ve definitely been toying with using them first this work as well… though I may potentially try something else as it’s an opportunity to do so. Currently leaning towards the Squarespace built in email as they’ve expanded lots in recent years and I host my site with them.
It’s nice to know that others are walking the same road! Sounds like we have very similar/overlapping experiences !
It’s a joy to read the behind the scenes of what I know to be such a tough journey. It’s hard for so many of us, right?!
We arrive here, and the cultural vibe of Substack can be temptingly seductive. It feels maybe safer, more possible, and in many spaces exceptionally thoughtful. And that ownership piece compels. Except, it’s basic in design (for organisational reasons) and as you say control over what gets sent is not necessarily in publication owners hands (hello random emails from substack) and so on.
It’s easy to forget the fees when the tantalising best seller ticks and Substack in-crowd energy is high.
What you describe is radical kindness to yourself (in my eyes) and commercial gold.
Bravo you. Sending you the biggest hugs as you make these crucial moves 🎉🎉
Thank you so much as always for being such a cheerleader and for supporting through this! It’s definitely a big move and I don’t know the ramifications yet, but something had to shift 🙏🏼
Really resonate with this! Part of me wonders if Substack is a mouse trap, attracting us with cheese into a situation that doesn’t fully serve us in the long run. Your website is gorgeous by the way!
That is such a brilliant analogy! And I think you may be spot on. I also wonder if it works because the majority haven’t necessarily tried to sell elsewhere and here we’re pushed to immediately ”go paid”. How do you use Substack currently?
I’m currently using it to host a group membership program (not sure if that will be long-term. I don’t like how Substack sets low expectations as far as price:value ratio) and invite people to join my ConvertKit email list where I send more direct invitations to work w me 1:1. Very curious to continue following your journey and seeing how it evolves!
This is exciting! I can tell that you've had to dig deep to let the real you, at this stage of your life, come out! Rooting for you Elin! (And thanks for taking us on this journey xx)
Thank you so much Mika! Love having you along 💕 it is definitely exciting ✨🙏🏼
I’m going through a similar thing at the moment and it’s been so interesting reading your thoughts. I’ve had an online membership separate to what I offer on Substack successfully for years but also fell into a Substack hole of sorts that changed my relationship to marketing generally (and made it all seem very hard!). I’m also reconfiguring and letting go of the best seller badge!
So do you use another email provider and shift your Substack subscriptions there? I use Kit for my other business but just musing on what fits best.
Thank you so much xx
I also use Kit for my main art biz! So I’ve definitely been toying with using them first this work as well… though I may potentially try something else as it’s an opportunity to do so. Currently leaning towards the Squarespace built in email as they’ve expanded lots in recent years and I host my site with them.
It’s nice to know that others are walking the same road! Sounds like we have very similar/overlapping experiences !
I’m also going to do a “shop around”. I use Circle for the community element, which I love, but a bit limited also email wise.
Squarespace sounds like it would keep everything cohesive for you.
Thank you for sharing xx
Congratulations!! I also use my bathroom to take product photos 😀
Hahaha why is the light the best in the bathroom?! 😅🫣✨
It’s a joy to read the behind the scenes of what I know to be such a tough journey. It’s hard for so many of us, right?!
We arrive here, and the cultural vibe of Substack can be temptingly seductive. It feels maybe safer, more possible, and in many spaces exceptionally thoughtful. And that ownership piece compels. Except, it’s basic in design (for organisational reasons) and as you say control over what gets sent is not necessarily in publication owners hands (hello random emails from substack) and so on.
It’s easy to forget the fees when the tantalising best seller ticks and Substack in-crowd energy is high.
What you describe is radical kindness to yourself (in my eyes) and commercial gold.
Bravo you. Sending you the biggest hugs as you make these crucial moves 🎉🎉
Thank you so much as always for being such a cheerleader and for supporting through this! It’s definitely a big move and I don’t know the ramifications yet, but something had to shift 🙏🏼
Loads of hugs xx
Really resonate with this! Part of me wonders if Substack is a mouse trap, attracting us with cheese into a situation that doesn’t fully serve us in the long run. Your website is gorgeous by the way!
And thank you so much btw 🥰
That is such a brilliant analogy! And I think you may be spot on. I also wonder if it works because the majority haven’t necessarily tried to sell elsewhere and here we’re pushed to immediately ”go paid”. How do you use Substack currently?
I’m currently using it to host a group membership program (not sure if that will be long-term. I don’t like how Substack sets low expectations as far as price:value ratio) and invite people to join my ConvertKit email list where I send more direct invitations to work w me 1:1. Very curious to continue following your journey and seeing how it evolves!