Can I say something about Notes? I've been here since they started. I didn't know what they were about, or how to use them, but I was quick to learn, as you will be. I picked up a lot of subscribers using Notes, without even trying to pick them up. If you are new to Notes and don't know how to start, read the Notes others put up, go to their 'Stacks, subscribe, or follow, and leave them a comment on their 'Stack. They will respond 9 times out of ten. If they don't, it's not because they're dickheads, they're probably just busy. (I hear some of you people have jobs, and a life.) When you leave comments, and people respond, you feel a sense of community. Follow that person and you will see their Notes. If they put a Note up and you read it, leave a like...or, leave a comment. When you leave a comment on a Note, it shows up in the feed. Don't worry about what you say. Don't think about other people reading what you've said. Think of it as a conversation between you and the other person. I came to all of this social media and shit, late in life. I don't know any better. I never did the blogging thing. Was never big on Twitter; just recently went on Instagram and LinkedIn. Only went on Facebook to keep in contact with family members. So I don't know shit about being "social." I leave comments to Notes people write if I agree with what they say. When you feel comfortable, make your own Notes. There's a great discussion about books and publishing up now because of an article Elle Griffin put up the other day. I made a Note in response to it. Sometimes people respond, sometimes they don't. The thing is, you're not writing Notes to get comments, or likes, or go viral, you're simply answering something someone said...and other people are seeing it. If they respond, it's usually in a positive manner. While I'm certain there are dickheads here as much as there are dickheads elsewhere, for the most part people are gentle souls. Like my brother used to say to me in the nightclub when a beautiful girl walked by: Don't let fear and common sense stop you.
This is so so helpful Ben. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. Iβve shared it with a few people in the comments because I think youβre advice is so great!!
Yes. I'd like to think I can weed out the comments on notes and on my posts that are there to get attention, and those that are genuine. I probably can't - but eh... If it makes people feel good (and who knows, maybe some people need to earn a living this way) - I can just let it roll off. When people say, "engage authentically" - we all might interpret that slightly differently, I guess.
Wow Ben this is amazing information and thank you. I am very vulnerable right now and sort of a newbie on Substack (6 months) and I feel that I might end up writing something that will either make others cringe or laugh and being at a sensitive place emotionally, it bothers me.
Your explanation and Mikaβs April Fav Five has truly boosted my confidence.
I'm new to Notes. This is a helpful perspective - thanks. It's how I operated on Twitter and it worked well there (meaning - kept me sane while I started meeting people I like) I don't feel like I have traction yet - haven't found my tribe here. Maybe I'll think about it like - first week in a new school
Thanks Ben. We have a lot in common on the (lack of) interest in the traditional βsocial mediaβ front. Frankly Iβve never understood much of itβ¦ Twitter/X justa colossal waste of time to me. I like your perspective.
Iβll be honest, I havenβt posted on social media for years (until trying with writing recently). Itβs hard for me to see notes as different than social. I canβt disentangle the notion that the ultimate goal of the product (Iβm a product manager after all) is βnotice me so I can get more subscribersβ (and so substack can get more revenue). Thatβs why they built it. Itβs why people use it, but I feel like everyone says it feels connecting instead. We all said that about social media when it first started too.
Despite my feelings, Iβve tried a few times, and I get between 0-1 likes, lol. So that doesnβt help.
I really donβt mean to be pessimistic Iβm just a hypersensitive person to peopleβs base motivations.
If I thought about it, I think I would classify myself as a "hypersensitive person" and an over thinker. Not a great combination. I think that's why I write what I write. I have felt the doubts and questions, like you have. It ultimately has stopped me from doing a lot of things, to be honest. Then everything changed when I approached Substack as a place to experiment. I would fiercely protect my energy, meaning, if I got any of those doubts, I would work through them asap. I turned off paid, because I didn't want that pressure. I went down from twice a week to once a week straight away, when I started feeling the pressure to produce. I stopped writing or reading, when I needed to, when I felt overwhelmed. Everything is in your court. Our job is to release any expectations. I constantly have to return to this, it's something I have to work to do, because I tend to overthink. This can be your safe place if you want it to be. Happy to chat in the DMs because I feel like I've gone though similar things. xx
I have experienced low spirits when Iβve looked back and seen that something that I shared on Notes made no connection. But Iβve also figured that for those of us who tend to overthink a lot (I am firmly in that camp!), it can be about testing the water to begin with, and becoming more comfortable with our voice. Then, this can help grow our confidence.
Thank you for taking the time to give such a response! :) I like the idea of βthis is an experimentβ and just pivoting (if not temporarily) when something is too uncomfortable.
I think the sooner we approach Notes as a fun addition, rather than a way for people to subscribe, the sooner our creativity will unleash. If things start feeling icky take a step back. It's ok. I don't publish anything if it feels forced. If that means it's a day or a week later, then so be it. If I'm not in the right frame of mind, I'm not on Notes. It's as simple as that for me. (As someone who tends to do things because I feel I "have to", this is a huge shift for me.)
Yes! βEverything is in your courtβ this is so true! Itβs so funny how easy it is to forget this π€¦π»ββοΈ I too am a highly sensitive person and a perfectionist (also not a great combination π) so I pile on the pressure to read every article, write often, get every little design aspect of my website perfect.. itβs exhausting! Then I stop and realise.. hang on a minute, this is meant to be fun, this is a hobby not a job! So.. this week I have been slowing down, taking the pressure off and only doing what makes me feel good.. and guess what.. nothing bad happened! In fact, quite the opposite.. I feel relaxed, calm and Iβm enjoying SubStack again.. yay! ππβ¨
Eva, I could have written this myself (fellow recovering perfectionist)! Itβs funny when you realise, βhey, Iβm the boss, so I can give myself a breakβ π
Mikaela, I am going to make my own comment above but wanted to agree with you about being a sensitive person. I am very sensitive and have spent most of my life (I am 71), in the background and running to survive. Even though I have the "gift of gab", I also refrain from most social media except Pinterest (which I use for my own enjoyment) and now Substack. Being a curious peson about what others are thinking and doing, I have found the informality of Notes to be an "at ease" place for me, for the vast majority of times. I have found I am getting more free subscribers since I have been on Notes but I also put no pressure on people, as I feel we are all exhausted with being marketed to. I simply pray, ask for Holy Spirit to guide me on my own posts and then enjoy Notes for what the back and forth is. Results may come or no but if I leave feeling I have enjoyed myself and offered a bit of what my life experience has been, I have done my "job". I always offer a bit of encouragement, as that is authentic and genuine and I think we all need that. If Notes feels OK to you, pursue it. If it does not, keep moving. Do not feel pressured. Just write and plant the seeds and water them with your tears and hopes. Blessings!
Wendy, I am also a sensitive person. Thanks for your vulnerability in sharing here. I love your approach and also your prayer before you post. And your last line - write and plant the seeds and water them with your tears and hopes. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this @michaela. Iβm a newbie to Substack and came over here because it felt so different to other social media. Having deleted Facebook eons ago and now Instagram and not missed either of them at all, time, I was almost disappointed when Substack introduced Notes and all the βhow to make money on Substackβ βhow to increase your subscribers on Substackβ posts started flooding in. It would be nice to have a corner of the internet that isnβt all about that. I now know Substack isnβt all about that and that I can stay away from anything that feels like old school social media on here by subscribing to writers who I feel aligned with. Remembering why I started - to find my own voice, to get clarity on some of my ideas - helps me too. Am going to try and use Notes in a better way, and maybe take time to check in with myself beforehand - am I posting this because I genuinely want to share it or am I posting it to try and get more engagement? Those two questions create different feelings within me, and the former is healthier than the latter.
This is why I struggle with Notes. Social Mediaβ’ has moved away from being social spaces and more towards self-promotion. And maybe itβs because Iβm still new to Substack, but Notes isnβt giving me any vibes that make it feel different from the rest of SM. The top comment even says that the main use is to get new subscribers.
Not that thereβs anything wrong with using it that way. But Iβm still coming out from the other end of creative burnout from becoming more content creator than artist. So maybe itβs just not for me in this season of my life.
I appreciate this response. But i think we can take at least part of it a step further. Why do writers want βmore subscribersβ? Iβm passionate about the messages I share with my readers. The more of us connecting around breaking up with toxic productivity messages that tell us we arenβt enough, the better, in my mind! But yes, the monetization of eyeballs is a systemic challenge for sureβ¦
Agree, I liked your point, weβre passionate about what we write, and that is why we care about more subscribers. I still just canβt post without thinking Iβm posting for attention (and then I feel the message is not entirely genuine). I really am looking for help to shift my mentality!
β I still just canβt post without thinking Iβm posting for attention (and then I feel the message is not entirely genuine).β Yes! Same here. I tell myself to loosen up , that it doesnβt matter, to post something without too much thoughtβ¦ itβs not easy. It always feels like a sales pitch.
I think Iβm going to post on Notes I need to approach it as if my posts were something I would say out loud to a friend in that moment. And then not expected anything. Hit post and go. Like now :)
What do you think your current readers are thinking when they read your writing? Do you think theyβre thinking βTime to give Mikaela some of my attentionβ?
I know you didn't ask me, but I do think this. I think they are putting that heart there so that I will go check them out and "heart" back. I think I feel that way because of the "community" aspect everyone talks about. Everyone seems to want people in "their" personal community, and I don't know how to understand that - being someone who is NOT a joiner ;) It is a weird space to learn to be in. So - yeah, I question sincerity and it totally sucks and I wish I didn't.
I've been thinking a lot about this comment a lot. I feel the skepticism sometimes, too. I am looking for real connection on here. But sometimes I am looking to be "liked". I think it's human to have a range of motivations running through us at different times. I try to stay focused on the genuine connections I've made here, either just trading comments with another person on someone else's post, or through a discussion on my own. If "Some people aren't sincere" is a thought I choose to believe, then I ALSO have to believe "some people ARE sincere," right?? π€£ So I can show up thinking something like, "I enjoy connecting with the thousands of folks on Substack who are sincere."
But then I start feeling like "sincerity" is a slippery concept. And I'm not sure I can judge who is sincere through a screen (I have a hard enough time in person!). So then I think I'm probably happiest focusing on my own intentions: "I enjoy being sincere in my OWN interactions on Substack and seeing what happens!"
Iβm in the same boat I think. I get zero responses. I take everything in emotionally and Notestack as I call it becomes a chore. I like to write. Notes is like going fishing everyday and not catching anything while everyone else is grilling up their catch and having a good time.
I love the fish analogy. I think the best approach is forget the fishing and enjoy the boat trip. You are in control of the boat, you can go where you want to go, write what you enjoy writing. If you focus on catching fish, you will be disappointed. If you focus on just finding scenic spots (e.g. just put out what comes into your heart without expectation of anything in return), you will enjoy it more. (Also, it may look like everyone is catching fish and having a great time, but if you actually look at peopleβs Notes over time, you will see that there are a lot of Notes that they write that get no bites. π)
Such a great point Mikaela. Iβm skeptical about the platform making me feel any false sense of connection. Iβd rather have a conversation about an essay in the comments than comment on someoneβs garden photo. But I feel like the garden photo or baby photo or whatever always does βbetterβ for the algorithm.
If it feels fake, donβt do it. If your skeptical, just stick with commenting on writers you admire and keep it sacred. Itβs your space, you get to decide how to interact with it.
Mute, block, unfollow, unsubscribe if you donβt want to hear or see from anyone.
We donβt want to be ruled by the algorithm. I know I came here to escape it.
Thank you for this Mika. I have zero experience with notes. Truth br told, I'm intimidated by them. I'm afraid of doing it wrong. You offered some great advice. I'm going to give notes a shot this week. I'll let you know how it goes.
Just go slowly Daria. There is no wrong way, unless we tell ourselves there's wrong way. Cheering you on! I'm so so happy that you might dip your toes in, that was my hope when I wrote it. xx
Daria, I don't think there is a way to do Notes wrong. I think there's just a ramp-up period of zero action to gaining traction. Keep going and it'll come!
Fellow newbie here, Daria! I started posting sporadically on Notes this month without any clear strategy. Iβve gained seven subscribers this week, at least in part from Notes! So, I just wanted to encourage you that you canβt βdo it wrong.β I think the beauty of this platform is how much we value authenticity βΊοΈ
I am so impressed at how consistent you've been with your content Daria! Really great topics! You're latest piece about the importance of balance as we get older is critical to avoid falls that lead to the hospital and worse. π
Yay! I just checked out your Substack and looove your focus area. Iβm studying to be a health coach. We may be able to collaborate on something sometime! Good luck with notes π₯°
No right or wrong on notes, but Mika is right that we just let go of the outcome - some will get seen and engagement and some wonβt, but we donβt have to let it put us off!
Fantastic post Mika! And not only because it includes a shout out to me ππ
I would have never been a hardcore supporter of notes before having one go viral. In the beginning it was like the abyss. But it seems like all it takes is ONE note to hit and then we get a boost of confidence and JOY!
I've loved how you've leaned in to your humour more! I like the more we lean into "us" the better it goes. I think that you an Mansi do this so well. You just regularly show up with what you feel compelled to write, whether it lands or not. (You're also not fanatical and will take breaks when you need to.)
I honestly don't know how to live without humor. It's my natural state of being and it serves me well. Even when I used to write heavily about grief it undoubtedly had sparkles of humor in there.
And no...I'm not fanatical about anything online. I know my technology limits!
Thanks for this, Mika. I have been experimenting with using Notes in the past couple of months. I've been sharing my Substacks as a Note for a while, without getting responses, which was discouraging but I also tried not to let it bother me. Like, I'm just doing my part to get my work out there. In the past couple of weeks, I've tried just sharing a little vignette to encourage folks, without a link to my work, and I'm seeing actual engagement. Not huge numbers, but I don't feel invisible. It's been lovely. I'm also trying to restack others' work daily because a) their work is worth it! and b) I know what it feels like when others restack my work. Your tips are so helpful but you also frame it with such encouragement and vulnerability, which I love. Keep going!
I did the first thing when I first started, and like you the shift made all the difference. I think what you're doing is perfect, experiment, experiment, experiment. π
Thank you for the great suggestions on what to post on Notes. Many things I havenβt tried. So far, I have only used it to send out my weekly essay. Grateful!
No expectations - perfect ππΌ All the advice here is so good and picks up on pretty much all the feelings Iβve had so far, so I know itβs coming from genuine experience. Thank you!
I just learnt early on that engagement with notes would be low but that if I didnβt persevere regardless then it would never grow, I guess. Itβs still SO hit and Miss but I try to just not put too much thought in, just post what feels right and comes to mind.
I recently had a note pop off and gained over 1,000 subscribers in a week. π€― I wasnβt sure that was possibleβ¦ also still not 100% sure if thatβs a good thing! I want readers, not just subscribers. & I donβt want creepy men following me.π (& I view most men online that I donβt know as creepy) But it did bring me some great high-interaction followers too!
That is insane! Iβve never heard of anything like that before. Iβm sure people subscribed after seeing your publication and saw it was a good fit. π
Thatβs ok Jools. Thatβs the beauty with Notes, we can take a step back. When we feel we have something to say, then return. I loved your Notes. Come back when you feel that energy. Until then, just take care of yourself. π
I just started to use notes myself some get liked some bet lost to the void. But I also don't feel like I worry too much about it. I just like sharing my thoughts. I find notes just like any other "social media" page. Post naked photo of yourself and get 10 likes. Post the weather report get nothing. Lol but I like notes. It's not as formal as writing a newsletter. And I enjoy that you can write about what ever is on your mind. Short and sweet or long amd Info filled.
glad it made you laugh - for someone just starting I would say. write for you. not for likes comments or subscribes but because you feel called to do it.
I dont like notes. Nothing that I post get seen. Not by all those followers I keep getting or my subscrbers. Doesnt matter if it something good and honnest, or art. Nothing. And then I see someoen else post something similar and that one blows upβ¦. I just dont like social media at all. Never worked for me, ever π
Can I say something about Notes? I've been here since they started. I didn't know what they were about, or how to use them, but I was quick to learn, as you will be. I picked up a lot of subscribers using Notes, without even trying to pick them up. If you are new to Notes and don't know how to start, read the Notes others put up, go to their 'Stacks, subscribe, or follow, and leave them a comment on their 'Stack. They will respond 9 times out of ten. If they don't, it's not because they're dickheads, they're probably just busy. (I hear some of you people have jobs, and a life.) When you leave comments, and people respond, you feel a sense of community. Follow that person and you will see their Notes. If they put a Note up and you read it, leave a like...or, leave a comment. When you leave a comment on a Note, it shows up in the feed. Don't worry about what you say. Don't think about other people reading what you've said. Think of it as a conversation between you and the other person. I came to all of this social media and shit, late in life. I don't know any better. I never did the blogging thing. Was never big on Twitter; just recently went on Instagram and LinkedIn. Only went on Facebook to keep in contact with family members. So I don't know shit about being "social." I leave comments to Notes people write if I agree with what they say. When you feel comfortable, make your own Notes. There's a great discussion about books and publishing up now because of an article Elle Griffin put up the other day. I made a Note in response to it. Sometimes people respond, sometimes they don't. The thing is, you're not writing Notes to get comments, or likes, or go viral, you're simply answering something someone said...and other people are seeing it. If they respond, it's usually in a positive manner. While I'm certain there are dickheads here as much as there are dickheads elsewhere, for the most part people are gentle souls. Like my brother used to say to me in the nightclub when a beautiful girl walked by: Don't let fear and common sense stop you.
This is so so helpful Ben. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. Iβve shared it with a few people in the comments because I think youβre advice is so great!!
Thank you Mika, I appreciate that.
Yes. I'd like to think I can weed out the comments on notes and on my posts that are there to get attention, and those that are genuine. I probably can't - but eh... If it makes people feel good (and who knows, maybe some people need to earn a living this way) - I can just let it roll off. When people say, "engage authentically" - we all might interpret that slightly differently, I guess.
Not my monkey as they say.
Wow Ben this is amazing information and thank you. I am very vulnerable right now and sort of a newbie on Substack (6 months) and I feel that I might end up writing something that will either make others cringe or laugh and being at a sensitive place emotionally, it bothers me.
Your explanation and Mikaβs April Fav Five has truly boosted my confidence.
I'm new to Notes. This is a helpful perspective - thanks. It's how I operated on Twitter and it worked well there (meaning - kept me sane while I started meeting people I like) I don't feel like I have traction yet - haven't found my tribe here. Maybe I'll think about it like - first week in a new school
oh, that metaphor really speaks to me, I'm glad I found it. It takes time to settle in to a new thing!
Thanks Ben. We have a lot in common on the (lack of) interest in the traditional βsocial mediaβ front. Frankly Iβve never understood much of itβ¦ Twitter/X justa colossal waste of time to me. I like your perspective.
Thanks for this encouragement, Ben!
Great advice π
Iβll be honest, I havenβt posted on social media for years (until trying with writing recently). Itβs hard for me to see notes as different than social. I canβt disentangle the notion that the ultimate goal of the product (Iβm a product manager after all) is βnotice me so I can get more subscribersβ (and so substack can get more revenue). Thatβs why they built it. Itβs why people use it, but I feel like everyone says it feels connecting instead. We all said that about social media when it first started too.
Despite my feelings, Iβve tried a few times, and I get between 0-1 likes, lol. So that doesnβt help.
I really donβt mean to be pessimistic Iβm just a hypersensitive person to peopleβs base motivations.
If I thought about it, I think I would classify myself as a "hypersensitive person" and an over thinker. Not a great combination. I think that's why I write what I write. I have felt the doubts and questions, like you have. It ultimately has stopped me from doing a lot of things, to be honest. Then everything changed when I approached Substack as a place to experiment. I would fiercely protect my energy, meaning, if I got any of those doubts, I would work through them asap. I turned off paid, because I didn't want that pressure. I went down from twice a week to once a week straight away, when I started feeling the pressure to produce. I stopped writing or reading, when I needed to, when I felt overwhelmed. Everything is in your court. Our job is to release any expectations. I constantly have to return to this, it's something I have to work to do, because I tend to overthink. This can be your safe place if you want it to be. Happy to chat in the DMs because I feel like I've gone though similar things. xx
I have experienced low spirits when Iβve looked back and seen that something that I shared on Notes made no connection. But Iβve also figured that for those of us who tend to overthink a lot (I am firmly in that camp!), it can be about testing the water to begin with, and becoming more comfortable with our voice. Then, this can help grow our confidence.
Beautifully said Sarah. π
Thank you for taking the time to give such a response! :) I like the idea of βthis is an experimentβ and just pivoting (if not temporarily) when something is too uncomfortable.
I think the sooner we approach Notes as a fun addition, rather than a way for people to subscribe, the sooner our creativity will unleash. If things start feeling icky take a step back. It's ok. I don't publish anything if it feels forced. If that means it's a day or a week later, then so be it. If I'm not in the right frame of mind, I'm not on Notes. It's as simple as that for me. (As someone who tends to do things because I feel I "have to", this is a huge shift for me.)
Yes! βEverything is in your courtβ this is so true! Itβs so funny how easy it is to forget this π€¦π»ββοΈ I too am a highly sensitive person and a perfectionist (also not a great combination π) so I pile on the pressure to read every article, write often, get every little design aspect of my website perfect.. itβs exhausting! Then I stop and realise.. hang on a minute, this is meant to be fun, this is a hobby not a job! So.. this week I have been slowing down, taking the pressure off and only doing what makes me feel good.. and guess what.. nothing bad happened! In fact, quite the opposite.. I feel relaxed, calm and Iβm enjoying SubStack again.. yay! ππβ¨
Eva, I could have written this myself (fellow recovering perfectionist)! Itβs funny when you realise, βhey, Iβm the boss, so I can give myself a breakβ π
Exactly! π€£
Love that you are slowing down, letting go of pressure and choosing what feels good!
Mikaela, I am going to make my own comment above but wanted to agree with you about being a sensitive person. I am very sensitive and have spent most of my life (I am 71), in the background and running to survive. Even though I have the "gift of gab", I also refrain from most social media except Pinterest (which I use for my own enjoyment) and now Substack. Being a curious peson about what others are thinking and doing, I have found the informality of Notes to be an "at ease" place for me, for the vast majority of times. I have found I am getting more free subscribers since I have been on Notes but I also put no pressure on people, as I feel we are all exhausted with being marketed to. I simply pray, ask for Holy Spirit to guide me on my own posts and then enjoy Notes for what the back and forth is. Results may come or no but if I leave feeling I have enjoyed myself and offered a bit of what my life experience has been, I have done my "job". I always offer a bit of encouragement, as that is authentic and genuine and I think we all need that. If Notes feels OK to you, pursue it. If it does not, keep moving. Do not feel pressured. Just write and plant the seeds and water them with your tears and hopes. Blessings!
Beautiful response Wendy π
A very sweet and thoughtful response. Thank you for taking the time! I like the way you frame it for yourself. I may try!
Wendy, I am also a sensitive person. Thanks for your vulnerability in sharing here. I love your approach and also your prayer before you post. And your last line - write and plant the seeds and water them with your tears and hopes. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this @michaela. Iβm a newbie to Substack and came over here because it felt so different to other social media. Having deleted Facebook eons ago and now Instagram and not missed either of them at all, time, I was almost disappointed when Substack introduced Notes and all the βhow to make money on Substackβ βhow to increase your subscribers on Substackβ posts started flooding in. It would be nice to have a corner of the internet that isnβt all about that. I now know Substack isnβt all about that and that I can stay away from anything that feels like old school social media on here by subscribing to writers who I feel aligned with. Remembering why I started - to find my own voice, to get clarity on some of my ideas - helps me too. Am going to try and use Notes in a better way, and maybe take time to check in with myself beforehand - am I posting this because I genuinely want to share it or am I posting it to try and get more engagement? Those two questions create different feelings within me, and the former is healthier than the latter.
This is why I struggle with Notes. Social Mediaβ’ has moved away from being social spaces and more towards self-promotion. And maybe itβs because Iβm still new to Substack, but Notes isnβt giving me any vibes that make it feel different from the rest of SM. The top comment even says that the main use is to get new subscribers.
Not that thereβs anything wrong with using it that way. But Iβm still coming out from the other end of creative burnout from becoming more content creator than artist. So maybe itβs just not for me in this season of my life.
You sound like a honest person to me π
π
I appreciate this response. But i think we can take at least part of it a step further. Why do writers want βmore subscribersβ? Iβm passionate about the messages I share with my readers. The more of us connecting around breaking up with toxic productivity messages that tell us we arenβt enough, the better, in my mind! But yes, the monetization of eyeballs is a systemic challenge for sureβ¦
Agree, I liked your point, weβre passionate about what we write, and that is why we care about more subscribers. I still just canβt post without thinking Iβm posting for attention (and then I feel the message is not entirely genuine). I really am looking for help to shift my mentality!
β I still just canβt post without thinking Iβm posting for attention (and then I feel the message is not entirely genuine).β Yes! Same here. I tell myself to loosen up , that it doesnβt matter, to post something without too much thoughtβ¦ itβs not easy. It always feels like a sales pitch.
I think Iβm going to post on Notes I need to approach it as if my posts were something I would say out loud to a friend in that moment. And then not expected anything. Hit post and go. Like now :)
Love it :)
What do you think your current readers are thinking when they read your writing? Do you think theyβre thinking βTime to give Mikaela some of my attentionβ?
I know you didn't ask me, but I do think this. I think they are putting that heart there so that I will go check them out and "heart" back. I think I feel that way because of the "community" aspect everyone talks about. Everyone seems to want people in "their" personal community, and I don't know how to understand that - being someone who is NOT a joiner ;) It is a weird space to learn to be in. So - yeah, I question sincerity and it totally sucks and I wish I didn't.
I've been thinking a lot about this comment a lot. I feel the skepticism sometimes, too. I am looking for real connection on here. But sometimes I am looking to be "liked". I think it's human to have a range of motivations running through us at different times. I try to stay focused on the genuine connections I've made here, either just trading comments with another person on someone else's post, or through a discussion on my own. If "Some people aren't sincere" is a thought I choose to believe, then I ALSO have to believe "some people ARE sincere," right?? π€£ So I can show up thinking something like, "I enjoy connecting with the thousands of folks on Substack who are sincere."
But then I start feeling like "sincerity" is a slippery concept. And I'm not sure I can judge who is sincere through a screen (I have a hard enough time in person!). So then I think I'm probably happiest focusing on my own intentions: "I enjoy being sincere in my OWN interactions on Substack and seeing what happens!"
"I enjoy being sincere in my OWN interactions on Substack and seeing what happens!" - love this Marika!
Haha, I suppose I worry they do. Best case no, theyβre not thinking about it.
My guess is theyβre getting something else out of itβ¦? π
Iβm in the same boat I think. I get zero responses. I take everything in emotionally and Notestack as I call it becomes a chore. I like to write. Notes is like going fishing everyday and not catching anything while everyone else is grilling up their catch and having a good time.
I love the fish analogy. I think the best approach is forget the fishing and enjoy the boat trip. You are in control of the boat, you can go where you want to go, write what you enjoy writing. If you focus on catching fish, you will be disappointed. If you focus on just finding scenic spots (e.g. just put out what comes into your heart without expectation of anything in return), you will enjoy it more. (Also, it may look like everyone is catching fish and having a great time, but if you actually look at peopleβs Notes over time, you will see that there are a lot of Notes that they write that get no bites. π)
Such a great point Mikaela. Iβm skeptical about the platform making me feel any false sense of connection. Iβd rather have a conversation about an essay in the comments than comment on someoneβs garden photo. But I feel like the garden photo or baby photo or whatever always does βbetterβ for the algorithm.
If it feels fake, donβt do it. If your skeptical, just stick with commenting on writers you admire and keep it sacred. Itβs your space, you get to decide how to interact with it.
Mute, block, unfollow, unsubscribe if you donβt want to hear or see from anyone.
We donβt want to be ruled by the algorithm. I know I came here to escape it.
Let me know how you get on.
Thank you for this Mika. I have zero experience with notes. Truth br told, I'm intimidated by them. I'm afraid of doing it wrong. You offered some great advice. I'm going to give notes a shot this week. I'll let you know how it goes.
Just go slowly Daria. There is no wrong way, unless we tell ourselves there's wrong way. Cheering you on! I'm so so happy that you might dip your toes in, that was my hope when I wrote it. xx
Daria, I don't think there is a way to do Notes wrong. I think there's just a ramp-up period of zero action to gaining traction. Keep going and it'll come!
Always the cheerleader! Thank you Kristi!!
Fellow newbie here, Daria! I started posting sporadically on Notes this month without any clear strategy. Iβve gained seven subscribers this week, at least in part from Notes! So, I just wanted to encourage you that you canβt βdo it wrong.β I think the beauty of this platform is how much we value authenticity βΊοΈ
Warms my heart see this kind of encouragement π₯Ή. Thank you Alyssa!
Thanks. This is a wonderful platform. I'm going to take the plunge.
I am so impressed at how consistent you've been with your content Daria! Really great topics! You're latest piece about the importance of balance as we get older is critical to avoid falls that lead to the hospital and worse. π
Thanks, Mika!
Yay! I just checked out your Substack and looove your focus area. Iβm studying to be a health coach. We may be able to collaborate on something sometime! Good luck with notes π₯°
I'd love that Alyssa!
No right or wrong on notes, but Mika is right that we just let go of the outcome - some will get seen and engagement and some wonβt, but we donβt have to let it put us off!
I've just been enjoying the experience. I need to embrace it further. The next step is notes. Thank you for the encouragement, Kate.
Fantastic post Mika! And not only because it includes a shout out to me ππ
I would have never been a hardcore supporter of notes before having one go viral. In the beginning it was like the abyss. But it seems like all it takes is ONE note to hit and then we get a boost of confidence and JOY!
I've loved how you've leaned in to your humour more! I like the more we lean into "us" the better it goes. I think that you an Mansi do this so well. You just regularly show up with what you feel compelled to write, whether it lands or not. (You're also not fanatical and will take breaks when you need to.)
I honestly don't know how to live without humor. It's my natural state of being and it serves me well. Even when I used to write heavily about grief it undoubtedly had sparkles of humor in there.
And no...I'm not fanatical about anything online. I know my technology limits!
Thanks for this, Mika. I have been experimenting with using Notes in the past couple of months. I've been sharing my Substacks as a Note for a while, without getting responses, which was discouraging but I also tried not to let it bother me. Like, I'm just doing my part to get my work out there. In the past couple of weeks, I've tried just sharing a little vignette to encourage folks, without a link to my work, and I'm seeing actual engagement. Not huge numbers, but I don't feel invisible. It's been lovely. I'm also trying to restack others' work daily because a) their work is worth it! and b) I know what it feels like when others restack my work. Your tips are so helpful but you also frame it with such encouragement and vulnerability, which I love. Keep going!
I did the first thing when I first started, and like you the shift made all the difference. I think what you're doing is perfect, experiment, experiment, experiment. π
Thanks Mika! I appreciate you.
Thank you for the great suggestions on what to post on Notes. Many things I havenβt tried. So far, I have only used it to send out my weekly essay. Grateful!
Even if you start by interacting with other writer's Notes, just to get a feel for what people are writing and to get ideas. π
No expectations - perfect ππΌ All the advice here is so good and picks up on pretty much all the feelings Iβve had so far, so I know itβs coming from genuine experience. Thank you!
What do you think has helped with Notes? Has it been smooth sailing from the start or have you had to lean into having no expectations?
I just learnt early on that engagement with notes would be low but that if I didnβt persevere regardless then it would never grow, I guess. Itβs still SO hit and Miss but I try to just not put too much thought in, just post what feels right and comes to mind.
I recently had a note pop off and gained over 1,000 subscribers in a week. π€― I wasnβt sure that was possibleβ¦ also still not 100% sure if thatβs a good thing! I want readers, not just subscribers. & I donβt want creepy men following me.π (& I view most men online that I donβt know as creepy) But it did bring me some great high-interaction followers too!
That is insane! Iβve never heard of anything like that before. Iβm sure people subscribed after seeing your publication and saw it was a good fit. π
Are you sure you are awake and not dreaming π those numbers is a dream come true. π₯³
Awesome Olivia!
A masterclass in using Notes!
Thank you Mika :)
Hello my friend! π
Thanks so much for sharing and always being such a great cheerleader. Means a lot.
Iβm having one of those days where Iβm feeling disillusioned with notes and Substack in general.
Thatβs ok Jools. Thatβs the beauty with Notes, we can take a step back. When we feel we have something to say, then return. I loved your Notes. Come back when you feel that energy. Until then, just take care of yourself. π
Substack newbie over here:
I love notes and have found a teeny bit of traction there too which has been encouraging and very unexpected!
I expected to be having conversations with myself for quite some time. But again, the Substack community is just so lovely and engaging.
And most of all, I enjoy interacting with everyone elseβs notes! π₯°
Thank you for such a great piece full of tangible points too, especially for us beginners! π«ΆπΌ
oooo I'm glad to you're getting some traction and you're having fun. That makes me so happy. π
Mika! That venn diagram at the end! I think need to print it and put it on my wall.
I like a good visual. π
I'm glad it was helpful!
I just started to use notes myself some get liked some bet lost to the void. But I also don't feel like I worry too much about it. I just like sharing my thoughts. I find notes just like any other "social media" page. Post naked photo of yourself and get 10 likes. Post the weather report get nothing. Lol but I like notes. It's not as formal as writing a newsletter. And I enjoy that you can write about what ever is on your mind. Short and sweet or long amd Info filled.
Your approach to Notes is so so good! Your comment about naked photo vs weather cracked me up! hahaha
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
glad it made you laugh - for someone just starting I would say. write for you. not for likes comments or subscribes but because you feel called to do it.
π―
This is great and helpful information - thank you for sharing it!
Iβm so glad it was helpful Keila! I hope you have fun on Notes.
I dont like notes. Nothing that I post get seen. Not by all those followers I keep getting or my subscrbers. Doesnt matter if it something good and honnest, or art. Nothing. And then I see someoen else post something similar and that one blows upβ¦. I just dont like social media at all. Never worked for me, ever π
I also really like this response by a veteran on Substack: https://musingsbymika.substack.com/p/fav-five-how-to-joyfully-thrive-on/comment/54931163?r=iv86x&utm_medium=ios
If you find you donβt like it, then itβs good to step away. I think itβs important to make Substack a place you enjoy.
Great Post, thanks for all the tips! Loving your substack! π€
Thank you so much. Iβm so happy that your enjoying musing by mika!