Yay thanks Kate! I’ve discovered a few others too that were “big back in the day” . Considering the relatively short life span of social media it’s hilarious how it makes you feel old 😂😅 appreciate your time to read and comment 🙏🏼🥰
Thank YOU Caroline for giving it your time and thought!
It's such an interesting reflection and experience.
It goes to show that there's never a short-cut. You may have experience, but that doesn't mean the work doesn't need to be done.
It would be super interesting to learn more about the difference in going at it yourself vs. through the agencies... is it the big bucks and buying "eye-balls" that makes the difference? As someone who's only been creating for myself I always wondered how the big agencies are thinking around things like community, nurturing relationships etc. or if it's just a one-way-show...
Well it’s been a whole since I was there and the rate and speed at which social changes means I might aswell have been out for 500 years.
Budget helps of course. Specialism. Dedicated resource and teams. Knowledge and experience from other sectors and clients. It also depends on what difference you are trying to make and what you are using the channels for. What your measure of ‘success’ is - branding, sales, leads, conversion, traffic, awareness, campaigning - all that stuff
Oh yes, financial stress does nothing but pulls you further from the money than anything.
To build your own business is definitely not for the weak of heart.
Just read your latest article about your research around courage: to launch yourself into any creative work and to build a business is courageous - and to continue on the journey despite the ups and downs that will inevitably come, is even more courageous. At least that’s been my mantra whenever I’ve felt under too much pressure and questioned whether we should just get “normal jobs”.
Courage is indeed an incredibly interesting topics and one that I think is very linked to resilience. You need courage to put yourself out there or else the life you desire, which in turn will build resilience and make you stronger to continue on your journey.
Hah yes isn’t it interesting - i just logged into Instagram the other day thinking I should maybe make a post (it’s been 6+ months since I did last time) and I could hardly recognise anything in the interface so I found something else to 😆
You bring up a very important point about what the metrics for success are. It’s the same on a solopreneur level too in some way just in a much smaller scale.
I used to think differently about what success meant before having kids. Now all I want is freedom to do what I want, which a big follower count won’t give you (only the converted fans who may buy your stuff).
What are you focusing on most now that you’re building your own thing?
I hear you. I’m a single parent so providing for my son comes first and foremost.
I want to pay the mortgage and I’d love to get myself to the place I was when I left paid employment of if I can. Money worries are bad for mental health.
But honestly, other than that, I want to give as many people, women especially, everything they need to know about living a life centred around being quietly courageous or beautifully brave - because since I’ve followed that journey, I’ve found more happiness and creativity than I ever imagined I would have.
I’m after impact and creating change. When I decided to become Pankhurst it was a very serious commitment to improving the future for women and I’ll always stick to that.
I always said if I could change one woman’s life with my research it would make it all worthwhile, and I know I’ve done more than that so I’m just keeping going and doing what I can.
This is so excellent!! Welcome! And I'm wondering if you have any plans to write about your Pinterest strategy, maybe specifically if you see ways Pinterest can drive Substack traffic? Id definitely be interested in your expertise there. I feel like there's so much potential for Pinterest to work well as a Substack funnel but I'm still working on wrapping my brain around the logistics of that.
I dont know yet to be honest! I’m kind of going with the flow of what I feel urged to write about. Though @katriver was intrigued about it too so we’re currently chatting about organizing a workshop around it.
I definitely think Pinterest can be an amazing tool for those who want to play the long game and who doesn’t feel comfortable to get on video and do YouTube (which otherwise also serve as long term “searchable” content).
Very smart! Very good ideas, and I'll keep my eye on your future workshops and posts! I see what you mean about YouTube and Pinterest being the long game. I feel like conversions from YouTube to email list would be tough though?
We have much higher conversion from YouTube to email than Instagram to email (which is also one of the main reasons why I’ve hardly posted on Instagram for a whole year).
Thank you for this very insightful piece Elin. It’s definitely an eye opener in terms of finding that audience that really cares about your work. I’ll definitely consider that more as I move forward 😊
Wonderful thoughts, Elin. And thank you for sharing my post. I had no idea it was getting suggested anywhere and was very confused haha. Goes back to your point about how you really never know. I'm glad you're here on Substack and that you're enjoying it!
Your thoughts on metrics and numbers also resonated with me. It begs the question, "How many is enough?" That can be pretty arbitrary. What does success even mean? I can't imagine having even close to as many followers as you have on Instagram; the thought kind of terrifies me. But I imagine it to create an insane amount of pressure. "I’m still the same person, nothing changed. But to the outside world I was suddenly someone. It’s a tricky thing to navigate. My only solution has always been: Be yourself. Some will hate you others will love you. And that’s OK." I love that.
I wrote in my Instagram introductory post that I'd rather have a hundred kindred spirits than a thousand followers who don't really care about me. That remains true in my perspective toward subscribers on Substack.
What an uplifting post to read - I'm with you all the way on this, Elon. Substack has done more for me than instagram has ever done. Thank you and looking forward to reading more!
I went viral enough on TikTok (one video garnering 31 million views) that I gained a following of nearly 2 million and ByteDance sent me a check for five grand. I already had a following of roughly 30k on IG at that time, and the TikTok virality shot the IG following up to 50k. (All of this under my professional dancer persona of Lux ATL @lux_atl). This massive TikTok following gained me maybe...two actual clients for my sensual movement business. I blame this on the hit it and quit it nature of TikTok--scroll scroll scroll onto the next. The IG following has been much more useful in building a clientele, because the following over there is much more longterm and dedicated. However, due to the nature of my work (women’s sensuality for and by women), I am suppressed on IG to the point of rage. Not to mention, I hate the business model of IG, and resent working for them while they work against me. All in all, my business has been built on the strength of a few hundred very dedicated clients, and nothing--and I mean NOTHING--has nurtured those relationships like my own newsletter that I’ve been writing for a decade. Long story short: virality was a fun ride for the ego, but what really made a difference in my business (and in building a devoted readership) were the deep relationships I made with a much smaller group of women.
Ones again, thank you so much for sharing your story Lindsey, this is remarkable! And I cannot underline the power of an email list more! It makes the choice of Substack a no brainer for new ventures (and more importantly: long term sustainable ones!).
Had a look at your prologue of your memoir and now I have to go and read the full thing haha. Fascinating story and so much experience to share, good job 👏
Great read - thanks for sharing all this! I just wrote here about why I’m staying on Instagram which feels very controversial haha. It’s just what works for me, for now. Long-term I definitely hope to be off or very minimal on there. Love Substack and still have my own website, so IG is very much just a piece of the puzzle.
The key is to do what works for you 👏 you can always repurpose the shorter texts you create for Instagram for other platforms too - for example depending on the visuals you create you could cross post it to Pinterest (especially if you’re doing reels) and thereby quite effortlessly incorporate a long term social media that works for you too! Just an idea 🤗❣️
Congratulations. Now you can direct your energy to where you can grow, feel appreciated, and find fulfillment. I have, as you have observed also that, conversion rate on Substack is easier than in social media. People subscribe here because of who you are and not your hype. In the next few weeks, I want to experiment how I can convert social media audience to be subscribers. But, I have to be hyperspecific to the kind of audience I need in terms of age , content, and other parameters. Anyone with another idea on how I can do?
You’re absolutely right! Thanks for your feedback Edwin.
I think the best is to go into the shoes of the ones you want to attract think: what would I want to read/see if I was interested in X?
So for you (having a Quick Look at your profile) I imagine you want to attract people who could be potential investors in your startups? (Please correct me if I’m wrong!)
You should check out Jerome Jarre on Instagram. He currently runs a social media campaign over Christmas to attract investors to his startup in Somalia 🇸🇴 and he does a great job. 👏
Thank you for your referral and advice. I mostly write about African problems and possibilities from any angle. I will check on Jerome Jarre. Asante sana (Thank you so much)
Super interesting! Before going viral with my first art business I always thought I’d end up working in the field in Africa (have just worked in rural South Africa previously but thought to go to west Africa as I’ve learnt French)
I’m excited to follow your journey as its topics close to my heart.
May I ask where you’re based (what language is Asante sana)?
Well, thank you for sharing your journey to Substack. I so far have been just reading some of your introspection posts, and only now got some background on your clearly great success (even if was mainly on other platforms so far).
The most interesting point here is also a bit about how all of this (what I think has been laid out very nicely by you) connects to our "identity", or what I like to refer it to: spiritual wellbeing (think of it as an amalgamation of identity, values, beliefs and wishes).
What do you think Elin, how did each platform align (at the time) with what you think "you were" at same time?
Instagram was perfect as a young student who could spend hours everyday chatting, sharing and creating visual content of everything and nothing. It was quick, fun and spontaneous.
Pinterest entered a few years later when we realized that this was a real deal and we had to think long term to not let it slip away.
YouTube joined shortly after Pinterest for the same reason: maturity of mind and spirit in recognizing that the need for constant presence on Instagram wasn’t going to age well.
Substack feels perfectly aligned with who I am today: a full time mother and creative business owner who doesn’t have time for the fun shows and doom scroll anymore but want to go straight to the deep stuff. Cut the fluff, I couldn’t care less about others perfect holiday photos - I want to read about what drives them, and write about what really matters.
Thanks for sharing your fascinating story and being so transparent with it all. The Paris photo is DREAMY!
I'm so so happy here on Substack. I've been writing here since April 2022 and it shifted from a quiet space of self expression to a space holding tool in the Spring/ Summer.
Thanks for having a read Claire! Excited to connect <3 I'd love to join in on the podcast - It's however in the middle of my morning with the kids so not sure how quiet it would be around (the little one is usually sleeping around then, but got a chatty 3.5 year old too)... Maybe if I'd be able to find a way to have headphones and connect through my phone... definitely a task for my husband to help me with lol.
Are we able to connect via messaging in other ways than comments? Yet to figure that one out hehe
Aw fab let’s see where we get to... be so great to have you there. No I usually either email through the Substack email which we all have IF people have it turned on or find their insta for a more direct chat. You can start chats just with your paid or free subs too and Notes is the billboard! ✨🎁♥️
Haha medals or prison I don't know... It sure has impacted the global culture in ways we're yet to see as history progress.
I agree - to see it as entertainment definitely makes it easier to distance yourself. But it also begs the question when creating content for the platform... does everyone else alos see it as entertainment, and if you're a creative: How to make entertaining content... and is it even what you want to do? Just some thoughts that sparked from your comment! Thanks a lot Susan for reading and commenting, I greatly appreciate it.
Yeah I agree. When I actually need/want to go on to promote a book or something there's a weird pressure that I choose to ignore.
I tend to just be myself and that means pretty matter of fact! I suppose its about staying mindful of how and why you are using it. BUT welcome to Substack!
Thanks a lot! I’m thrilled to be here. Took me 2 years to get myself together to “allow myself” to start something new from scratch ... that’s how pressured it is ones you grow big somewhere. Not just others expectations of you but you create so much expectation on yourself too (like you for your book in some way). To be yourself will always win in the end 👏
Love this Elin! I think so many people get caught up in the social metrics side of things (which is really like a high school popularity contest all over again) and don’t realize that having big numbers does always mean success. It can help and can validate you to some big brands or open doors/opportunities - but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a sustainable business. I’m focusing my efforts on Substack now and using social media to just get the word out when I post here. It’s not doing much, but my thought is that there are a handful of people on my other accounts (IG & TikTok) who’ve said they want to know about my work by following me. The least I can do is point them in the right direction since I’m not creating art *for* those spaces anymore.
Thanks a lot for your input Kerani, love it 😍 I’m still navigating what to post on other channels as babies made me take a significant break. The only thing I’ve kept constant is my email list and that’s what has always brought me enormous joy with the most generous souls staying in touch (I didn’t transfer that list over here though as, despite them signing up to learn from my work, they didn’t sign up for reading but for embroidery. But I’ll probably mention my Substack from time to time for those who’d find interest). For my art, as soon as my youngest allows, I will create content again for YouTube for my art because I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that as I just have the YouTube studio on my phone and don’t end up “scrolling” on there as the other platforms make you do..... Oh well, I’m excited for Substack and glad you’ve found similar solace in this platform ❤️ maybe we’ll all just dive into this space instead and ditch the fast paced world altogether hey haha 🥰💯
100% here for just ditching all that fast-paced hustle! 😆 I totally understand, I just had my first baby and being pregnant with him was really when I started to pull back on social media. It was just automatic, after years of worrying about and trying to keep up, I suddenly didn’t care about playing the game anymore.
I’m not sure where your based, so there could be different privacy laws, but I bet your email list would be happy to join you on substack also! You could always add everyone here and then send out a message letting them know that you’ve added them to this list as well, but if they just want to hear about embroidery, add a direct link for how to unsubscribe from your substack? I bet most people would come along for the ride!
I think your point about YouTube is so important, that you enjoy making content for it. That’s so important and is definitely the guiding compass I’m following these days now that I have littles. Do it for the process and all that, you know? 🥰
Yes I 100% understand you! Had my first 3.5 years ago and 2nd 10 months ago and it has been a blessing in not caring about a lot of stuff anymore to be honest haha. Now I want to create for the passion and to be a rolemodel for following my passion (and show that you can live from it too).
Those are very good ideas! I’ll definitely think about it... though it’s also quite exciting (but scary) to build something again from scratch as it’s been so many years since I did it on the other platforms. Moreover, I send quite frequent emails to the other list and clearly very frequent here too for this first month 😅 would maybe be overwhelming if someone didn’t actively choose it.... just want to be more mindful and build slowly so that I have time to shape it all exactly how I want it this time as opposed to diving into it with my head first like with my first business.. are tou making other arts than writing? 🤗
I feel the same way! It was crazy, like a switch had been flipped. I've struggled with anxiety and worrying too much about what people think of me for my whole life, but when I got pregnant, I suddenly just stopped caring. It was like my brain was just like "nope, we don't have time for that shit anymore" 😂
Totally understand that it can feel good to start from scratch. I don't have a very big social media presence, but I only started letting the people there know about substack recently even though I've been playing around on this platform for a year. There's just something comforting in anonymity, you know? Also I think it gives you permission to experiment a bit more when you don't already have an audience that's used to getting a certain type of thing from you - no expectations and all that.
Yep, I do fantasy photography and write fiction! Still figuring out how to share more personal, blog-like posts here, but that’s something I want to play with in the new year. Funnily enough, it’s easier for me to just tell made-up stories than to talk about my own life and experiences.
Hahaha I love it “don’t have time for that shit anymore” - so spot on!! And this feeling keeps increasing with each baby too.
Oh yea anonymity is definitely a freedom in disguise! You’re exempt from the pressures of expectation. And you can be whoever you want.
That’s super cool! I don’t think you necessarily have to feel the pressure to share personal things if it doesn’t come natural for you - do what feels best! I’m sure there are loads who prefer to read fiction. And even though it may be imaginary characters I’m imagining their emotions may resemble emotions that people can experience and thus there’s still this resonance and connection 😍just some thoughts 🤗
I can imagine! Time becomes more and more precious after kids so it’s like our creative brains just move past a lot of fluff to get to what really matters 😂
Thanks for the kind input ♥️ it’s more that I’ve really *wanted* to try writing more personal stuff, I just hung up because imposter syndrome sets in whenever I do. I feel a lot more confident with my fiction writing. But I know that if I want to try doing more non-fiction, I just need to practice at it. It’s a skill just like anything else, and skills can be learned!
Loved this, Elin! ✨ from another Instagram presence who has found solace (and conversion!) in the Substack platform, welcome to the party!
Yay thanks Kate! I’ve discovered a few others too that were “big back in the day” . Considering the relatively short life span of social media it’s hilarious how it makes you feel old 😂😅 appreciate your time to read and comment 🙏🏼🥰
Fab read thank you.
When I ventured out on my own after having had a career in marketing at the world’s big ad agencies, I thought I’d be at quite a big advantage.
Turns out no. It’s still a slog. I know more about Canva than I ever imagined I ever would and am still nowhere near where I need to be.
Yet.
Thank YOU Caroline for giving it your time and thought!
It's such an interesting reflection and experience.
It goes to show that there's never a short-cut. You may have experience, but that doesn't mean the work doesn't need to be done.
It would be super interesting to learn more about the difference in going at it yourself vs. through the agencies... is it the big bucks and buying "eye-balls" that makes the difference? As someone who's only been creating for myself I always wondered how the big agencies are thinking around things like community, nurturing relationships etc. or if it's just a one-way-show...
Well it’s been a whole since I was there and the rate and speed at which social changes means I might aswell have been out for 500 years.
Budget helps of course. Specialism. Dedicated resource and teams. Knowledge and experience from other sectors and clients. It also depends on what difference you are trying to make and what you are using the channels for. What your measure of ‘success’ is - branding, sales, leads, conversion, traffic, awareness, campaigning - all that stuff
Oh yes, financial stress does nothing but pulls you further from the money than anything.
To build your own business is definitely not for the weak of heart.
Just read your latest article about your research around courage: to launch yourself into any creative work and to build a business is courageous - and to continue on the journey despite the ups and downs that will inevitably come, is even more courageous. At least that’s been my mantra whenever I’ve felt under too much pressure and questioned whether we should just get “normal jobs”.
Courage is indeed an incredibly interesting topics and one that I think is very linked to resilience. You need courage to put yourself out there or else the life you desire, which in turn will build resilience and make you stronger to continue on your journey.
Just some thoughts 🙏🏼 you’ll do amazing 👏👏
Amazing you read it. See. Winning already.
Everything starts with courage.
Creativity. Vulnerability. Growth. If it’s uncertain and contains risk - they are the conditions of courage.
And resilience is absolutely a part of it (it’s the R in the Be Braver programme!)
Lovely to get to know you and looking forward to seeing more
Absolutely, I’m all for it💯
And it shows why your work is so important.... as most people never dare to follow their dreams or go against the stream.
Pleasure to meet you 🙏🏼excited to follow the journey 🎉
Hah yes isn’t it interesting - i just logged into Instagram the other day thinking I should maybe make a post (it’s been 6+ months since I did last time) and I could hardly recognise anything in the interface so I found something else to 😆
You bring up a very important point about what the metrics for success are. It’s the same on a solopreneur level too in some way just in a much smaller scale.
I used to think differently about what success meant before having kids. Now all I want is freedom to do what I want, which a big follower count won’t give you (only the converted fans who may buy your stuff).
What are you focusing on most now that you’re building your own thing?
I hear you. I’m a single parent so providing for my son comes first and foremost.
I want to pay the mortgage and I’d love to get myself to the place I was when I left paid employment of if I can. Money worries are bad for mental health.
But honestly, other than that, I want to give as many people, women especially, everything they need to know about living a life centred around being quietly courageous or beautifully brave - because since I’ve followed that journey, I’ve found more happiness and creativity than I ever imagined I would have.
I’m after impact and creating change. When I decided to become Pankhurst it was a very serious commitment to improving the future for women and I’ll always stick to that.
I always said if I could change one woman’s life with my research it would make it all worthwhile, and I know I’ve done more than that so I’m just keeping going and doing what I can.
This is so excellent!! Welcome! And I'm wondering if you have any plans to write about your Pinterest strategy, maybe specifically if you see ways Pinterest can drive Substack traffic? Id definitely be interested in your expertise there. I feel like there's so much potential for Pinterest to work well as a Substack funnel but I'm still working on wrapping my brain around the logistics of that.
I dont know yet to be honest! I’m kind of going with the flow of what I feel urged to write about. Though @katriver was intrigued about it too so we’re currently chatting about organizing a workshop around it.
I definitely think Pinterest can be an amazing tool for those who want to play the long game and who doesn’t feel comfortable to get on video and do YouTube (which otherwise also serve as long term “searchable” content).
Very smart! Very good ideas, and I'll keep my eye on your future workshops and posts! I see what you mean about YouTube and Pinterest being the long game. I feel like conversions from YouTube to email list would be tough though?
It depends on how you position the video I think!
We have much higher conversion from YouTube to email than Instagram to email (which is also one of the main reasons why I’ve hardly posted on Instagram for a whole year).
Thank you for this very insightful piece Elin. It’s definitely an eye opener in terms of finding that audience that really cares about your work. I’ll definitely consider that more as I move forward 😊
Thanks a lot Joss! I recommend you read Seth Godin's "1000 true fans", it changed the way I look at numbers. Wish you all the success!
Wonderful thoughts, Elin. And thank you for sharing my post. I had no idea it was getting suggested anywhere and was very confused haha. Goes back to your point about how you really never know. I'm glad you're here on Substack and that you're enjoying it!
Your thoughts on metrics and numbers also resonated with me. It begs the question, "How many is enough?" That can be pretty arbitrary. What does success even mean? I can't imagine having even close to as many followers as you have on Instagram; the thought kind of terrifies me. But I imagine it to create an insane amount of pressure. "I’m still the same person, nothing changed. But to the outside world I was suddenly someone. It’s a tricky thing to navigate. My only solution has always been: Be yourself. Some will hate you others will love you. And that’s OK." I love that.
I wrote in my Instagram introductory post that I'd rather have a hundred kindred spirits than a thousand followers who don't really care about me. That remains true in my perspective toward subscribers on Substack.
Thanks Tiffany and I’m glad I could bring the spread to your attention! I think it’s so encouraging and exciting to see the content live longer 👏
And you’re so right - I have the same approach with my email list both for my art business and now for this new Substack venture ❤️
Super validating and helpful!
Glad it resonated and thanks again for the share 🥰
What an uplifting post to read - I'm with you all the way on this, Elon. Substack has done more for me than instagram has ever done. Thank you and looking forward to reading more!
Thank you so much Jo! Thrilled to have you here ❤️
I went viral enough on TikTok (one video garnering 31 million views) that I gained a following of nearly 2 million and ByteDance sent me a check for five grand. I already had a following of roughly 30k on IG at that time, and the TikTok virality shot the IG following up to 50k. (All of this under my professional dancer persona of Lux ATL @lux_atl). This massive TikTok following gained me maybe...two actual clients for my sensual movement business. I blame this on the hit it and quit it nature of TikTok--scroll scroll scroll onto the next. The IG following has been much more useful in building a clientele, because the following over there is much more longterm and dedicated. However, due to the nature of my work (women’s sensuality for and by women), I am suppressed on IG to the point of rage. Not to mention, I hate the business model of IG, and resent working for them while they work against me. All in all, my business has been built on the strength of a few hundred very dedicated clients, and nothing--and I mean NOTHING--has nurtured those relationships like my own newsletter that I’ve been writing for a decade. Long story short: virality was a fun ride for the ego, but what really made a difference in my business (and in building a devoted readership) were the deep relationships I made with a much smaller group of women.
Ones again, thank you so much for sharing your story Lindsey, this is remarkable! And I cannot underline the power of an email list more! It makes the choice of Substack a no brainer for new ventures (and more importantly: long term sustainable ones!).
Had a look at your prologue of your memoir and now I have to go and read the full thing haha. Fascinating story and so much experience to share, good job 👏
Thank you so much for your kind words. Great post, great writing. 🙏💯
Great read - thanks for sharing all this! I just wrote here about why I’m staying on Instagram which feels very controversial haha. It’s just what works for me, for now. Long-term I definitely hope to be off or very minimal on there. Love Substack and still have my own website, so IG is very much just a piece of the puzzle.
The key is to do what works for you 👏 you can always repurpose the shorter texts you create for Instagram for other platforms too - for example depending on the visuals you create you could cross post it to Pinterest (especially if you’re doing reels) and thereby quite effortlessly incorporate a long term social media that works for you too! Just an idea 🤗❣️
Congratulations. Now you can direct your energy to where you can grow, feel appreciated, and find fulfillment. I have, as you have observed also that, conversion rate on Substack is easier than in social media. People subscribe here because of who you are and not your hype. In the next few weeks, I want to experiment how I can convert social media audience to be subscribers. But, I have to be hyperspecific to the kind of audience I need in terms of age , content, and other parameters. Anyone with another idea on how I can do?
You’re absolutely right! Thanks for your feedback Edwin.
I think the best is to go into the shoes of the ones you want to attract think: what would I want to read/see if I was interested in X?
So for you (having a Quick Look at your profile) I imagine you want to attract people who could be potential investors in your startups? (Please correct me if I’m wrong!)
You should check out Jerome Jarre on Instagram. He currently runs a social media campaign over Christmas to attract investors to his startup in Somalia 🇸🇴 and he does a great job. 👏
Thank you for your referral and advice. I mostly write about African problems and possibilities from any angle. I will check on Jerome Jarre. Asante sana (Thank you so much)
Super interesting! Before going viral with my first art business I always thought I’d end up working in the field in Africa (have just worked in rural South Africa previously but thought to go to west Africa as I’ve learnt French)
I’m excited to follow your journey as its topics close to my heart.
May I ask where you’re based (what language is Asante sana)?
Sorry for replying late. Asante sana is swahili. It is mostly spoken in East and Central Africa. Welcome to Africa
Well, thank you for sharing your journey to Substack. I so far have been just reading some of your introspection posts, and only now got some background on your clearly great success (even if was mainly on other platforms so far).
The most interesting point here is also a bit about how all of this (what I think has been laid out very nicely by you) connects to our "identity", or what I like to refer it to: spiritual wellbeing (think of it as an amalgamation of identity, values, beliefs and wishes).
What do you think Elin, how did each platform align (at the time) with what you think "you were" at same time?
Instagram was perfect as a young student who could spend hours everyday chatting, sharing and creating visual content of everything and nothing. It was quick, fun and spontaneous.
Pinterest entered a few years later when we realized that this was a real deal and we had to think long term to not let it slip away.
YouTube joined shortly after Pinterest for the same reason: maturity of mind and spirit in recognizing that the need for constant presence on Instagram wasn’t going to age well.
Substack feels perfectly aligned with who I am today: a full time mother and creative business owner who doesn’t have time for the fun shows and doom scroll anymore but want to go straight to the deep stuff. Cut the fluff, I couldn’t care less about others perfect holiday photos - I want to read about what drives them, and write about what really matters.
Really enjoyed this and such a grounded perspective to it all. X
Thanks Lauren! Appreciate your time to read x
Ah Elin - so happy to meet you. ✨
Thanks for sharing your fascinating story and being so transparent with it all. The Paris photo is DREAMY!
I'm so so happy here on Substack. I've been writing here since April 2022 and it shifted from a quiet space of self expression to a space holding tool in the Spring/ Summer.
Let me know if you need anything de-mystified here or need support on anything - I have lots of free resources. Kat and I are podcasting in Jan with an audience 'Social Media Rules Don't Apply' - we would love you to come along... https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/claire-venus-in-conversation-with-kat-river
✨
Thanks for having a read Claire! Excited to connect <3 I'd love to join in on the podcast - It's however in the middle of my morning with the kids so not sure how quiet it would be around (the little one is usually sleeping around then, but got a chatty 3.5 year old too)... Maybe if I'd be able to find a way to have headphones and connect through my phone... definitely a task for my husband to help me with lol.
Are we able to connect via messaging in other ways than comments? Yet to figure that one out hehe
Have a wonderful day, x
Aw fab let’s see where we get to... be so great to have you there. No I usually either email through the Substack email which we all have IF people have it turned on or find their insta for a more direct chat. You can start chats just with your paid or free subs too and Notes is the billboard! ✨🎁♥️
Aah the heady days of Instagram. The app designers deserve medals for making it so addictive. It's easy dopamine I guess, that scroll.
I almost see it as an entertainment platform now, which helps me distance myself when I need to.
Haha medals or prison I don't know... It sure has impacted the global culture in ways we're yet to see as history progress.
I agree - to see it as entertainment definitely makes it easier to distance yourself. But it also begs the question when creating content for the platform... does everyone else alos see it as entertainment, and if you're a creative: How to make entertaining content... and is it even what you want to do? Just some thoughts that sparked from your comment! Thanks a lot Susan for reading and commenting, I greatly appreciate it.
Yeah I agree. When I actually need/want to go on to promote a book or something there's a weird pressure that I choose to ignore.
I tend to just be myself and that means pretty matter of fact! I suppose its about staying mindful of how and why you are using it. BUT welcome to Substack!
Thanks a lot! I’m thrilled to be here. Took me 2 years to get myself together to “allow myself” to start something new from scratch ... that’s how pressured it is ones you grow big somewhere. Not just others expectations of you but you create so much expectation on yourself too (like you for your book in some way). To be yourself will always win in the end 👏
Love this Elin! I think so many people get caught up in the social metrics side of things (which is really like a high school popularity contest all over again) and don’t realize that having big numbers does always mean success. It can help and can validate you to some big brands or open doors/opportunities - but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a sustainable business. I’m focusing my efforts on Substack now and using social media to just get the word out when I post here. It’s not doing much, but my thought is that there are a handful of people on my other accounts (IG & TikTok) who’ve said they want to know about my work by following me. The least I can do is point them in the right direction since I’m not creating art *for* those spaces anymore.
Thanks a lot for your input Kerani, love it 😍 I’m still navigating what to post on other channels as babies made me take a significant break. The only thing I’ve kept constant is my email list and that’s what has always brought me enormous joy with the most generous souls staying in touch (I didn’t transfer that list over here though as, despite them signing up to learn from my work, they didn’t sign up for reading but for embroidery. But I’ll probably mention my Substack from time to time for those who’d find interest). For my art, as soon as my youngest allows, I will create content again for YouTube for my art because I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that as I just have the YouTube studio on my phone and don’t end up “scrolling” on there as the other platforms make you do..... Oh well, I’m excited for Substack and glad you’ve found similar solace in this platform ❤️ maybe we’ll all just dive into this space instead and ditch the fast paced world altogether hey haha 🥰💯
100% here for just ditching all that fast-paced hustle! 😆 I totally understand, I just had my first baby and being pregnant with him was really when I started to pull back on social media. It was just automatic, after years of worrying about and trying to keep up, I suddenly didn’t care about playing the game anymore.
I’m not sure where your based, so there could be different privacy laws, but I bet your email list would be happy to join you on substack also! You could always add everyone here and then send out a message letting them know that you’ve added them to this list as well, but if they just want to hear about embroidery, add a direct link for how to unsubscribe from your substack? I bet most people would come along for the ride!
I think your point about YouTube is so important, that you enjoy making content for it. That’s so important and is definitely the guiding compass I’m following these days now that I have littles. Do it for the process and all that, you know? 🥰
Yes I 100% understand you! Had my first 3.5 years ago and 2nd 10 months ago and it has been a blessing in not caring about a lot of stuff anymore to be honest haha. Now I want to create for the passion and to be a rolemodel for following my passion (and show that you can live from it too).
Those are very good ideas! I’ll definitely think about it... though it’s also quite exciting (but scary) to build something again from scratch as it’s been so many years since I did it on the other platforms. Moreover, I send quite frequent emails to the other list and clearly very frequent here too for this first month 😅 would maybe be overwhelming if someone didn’t actively choose it.... just want to be more mindful and build slowly so that I have time to shape it all exactly how I want it this time as opposed to diving into it with my head first like with my first business.. are tou making other arts than writing? 🤗
I feel the same way! It was crazy, like a switch had been flipped. I've struggled with anxiety and worrying too much about what people think of me for my whole life, but when I got pregnant, I suddenly just stopped caring. It was like my brain was just like "nope, we don't have time for that shit anymore" 😂
Totally understand that it can feel good to start from scratch. I don't have a very big social media presence, but I only started letting the people there know about substack recently even though I've been playing around on this platform for a year. There's just something comforting in anonymity, you know? Also I think it gives you permission to experiment a bit more when you don't already have an audience that's used to getting a certain type of thing from you - no expectations and all that.
Yep, I do fantasy photography and write fiction! Still figuring out how to share more personal, blog-like posts here, but that’s something I want to play with in the new year. Funnily enough, it’s easier for me to just tell made-up stories than to talk about my own life and experiences.
Hahaha I love it “don’t have time for that shit anymore” - so spot on!! And this feeling keeps increasing with each baby too.
Oh yea anonymity is definitely a freedom in disguise! You’re exempt from the pressures of expectation. And you can be whoever you want.
That’s super cool! I don’t think you necessarily have to feel the pressure to share personal things if it doesn’t come natural for you - do what feels best! I’m sure there are loads who prefer to read fiction. And even though it may be imaginary characters I’m imagining their emotions may resemble emotions that people can experience and thus there’s still this resonance and connection 😍just some thoughts 🤗
I can imagine! Time becomes more and more precious after kids so it’s like our creative brains just move past a lot of fluff to get to what really matters 😂
Thanks for the kind input ♥️ it’s more that I’ve really *wanted* to try writing more personal stuff, I just hung up because imposter syndrome sets in whenever I do. I feel a lot more confident with my fiction writing. But I know that if I want to try doing more non-fiction, I just need to practice at it. It’s a skill just like anything else, and skills can be learned!
Just finished! Such a great read. Thank you mama x
So glad you enjoyed it ❤️