Dear friend
Let me give you a peek behind the curtain into how I pick my Fav Five topics. It's pretty simple, really. I usually see a need and I get excited because I have ideas and resources to help fill that need!
For example, when I was feeling out of sorts, and noticed others were in the same boat, I shared my strategy to gently reset.
Seeing comments like:
Made me realise I have a lot to share about Notes. And just like that, this week's Fav Five piece was born.
It's all about finding those common threads and sharing them in hopes it might help others too.
I would LOVE to hear your experience on Notes! So please leave a comment.
1. New to notes?
If someone likes or comments on a Note, it automatically gets shown to their subscribers and followers.
Notes show up chronologically, so if it doesn’t get any interaction, it will likely move into the abyss, unless someone interacts with it and someone from their community interacts with etc etc.
Yes, you can get subscribers from Notes (Kristi Keller wrote a great piece about the Notes strategy she uses to get 480 Subscribers), BUT even with a hefty number of subscribers, your Note could still end up without a single interaction.
Don’t feel pressure to do it a certain way. You never know what will resonate. I’m sure Holly A Brown had no idea that this gorgeous photo would get so much traction. (I mean, who woudn’t love those toes!)
How you show up on Notes (or not show up on Notes), the frequencey etc is up to you. Whether you try features, like video on Notes is your choice.
But if you do decide to embrace it, it’s lots of fun! I love how Claire Venus describes Notes, “It’s a 24/7 party and EVERYONE’s invited…” (If you’re a visual learner like me, she has an informative YouTube video about Notes, as well as other really helpful info - check it out!)
2. Haven’t started on Notes yet?
Being new or having a low number of subscribers is the PERFECT time to try things out.
Download the app (if you haven't already) and give yourself permission to just explore Notes. Start with commenting on other writer’s Notes.
Then start experimenting with posting your own Notes:
If you’re new to Substack, talk about how you’re finding it - what you enjoy, what you struggle with.
If you read a quote you love, share it.
If you love your garden, take pictures of your garden and why you love it.
If you love reading, take a picture of the book you're currently reading or the book you just finished and your thoughts on it.
At this stage, don’t ask questions (unless you are ok with no answers just yet).
If you’ve read something on Substack that resonates with you, Restack it! (Learn how here):
Either select a quote you like and Restack it.
Or Restack the whole newsletter.
Don’t forget to thoughtfully include why it resonated with you (often the writers are touched and may Restack it for their readers to enjoy).
3. You’re not alone if you feel discouraged
These feelings are normal:
I show up constantly on Notes, with no interactions and I start to wonder “what’s the point?”
I got excited about sharing something, maybe a bit vulnerable, and if feels like it “flopped”.
I ask questions on Notes and feel rejected because no one responds.
4. Your feelings about Notes makes a difference
Eventually, someone will say it was just what they needed, or thanks for the chuckle, or share how much they could relate. In the meantime, you have to protect your energy around Notes, so you can harness its power without feeling you are paying the price for it.
Write because you feel compelled to share it with your readers, not because you hope it will get interactions.
Be heartfelt, genuine, and generous with your sharing, not because you hope some writer with lots of subscribers will share it.
5. My advice
Do not have ANY expectations on how a Note will “perform”. Just put it out there and then move on with your life, but do come back and interact with the comments (that’s the fun part!!)
Experiment! See if you can find the intersection between what you love to post (and what comes easily) AND what seems to resonate with your readers (remember don’t get discouraged if some do well and others get no interaction).
And if you feel like your Notes are constantly going into the void or you’re building up the courage to write your first one, tag me in your next Note (by writing @Mika) so I can cheer you on!!!
✍️ I would LOVE to hear your experience on Notes. How is it going for you? If you feel comfortable, I would love to know why you haven't started yet?
Thank you so much for stopping by! You may enjoy reading these as well:
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.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t posted on social media for years (until trying with writing recently). It’s hard for me to see notes as different than social. I can’t disentangle the notion that the ultimate goal of the product (I’m a product manager after all) is “notice me so I can get more subscribers” (and so substack can get more revenue). That’s why they built it. It’s 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, I’ve tried a few times, and I get between 0-1 likes, lol. So that doesn’t help.
I really don’t mean to be pessimistic I’m just a hypersensitive person to people’s base motivations.