I know Substack probably won't see this, but I'd love it if we could customize our CTA with the subscribe button and not have to manually re-write it each time. In other words, change the default wording that comes with the subscribe with caption button. Adding the subscribe with caption button is so easy, but revising it each and every time to say what I want to say gets tedious, so I often don't.
I use the opportunity to write a new one each time that fits with the content of my post. It's actually kind of fun coming up with a custom message every week.
This is brilliant! I've wanted to do this but using italics will help. So many people read my newsletter say they like it but don't subscribe. I don't think they know they need to!
Discovered same thing. I put 5 posts in my only publication, then got sidetracked and never paid any attention to these buttons. I assumed that everyone knew that these posts were actually email newsletters that they can be subscribed to.
This is great advice Karen. Substack even prompts us to insert a subscribe CTA before each newsletter sends. We should totally be using the opportunity every time.
Okay, this CTA idea is brilliant. I recently noticed that I have over a hundred more followers than subscribers and feel some type of way about that… my substack is free- why not subscribe?
I will update my next letter on Tuesday with CTA and see what goes down!
I love the idea of coming back after the subscriber email goes out to add the CTA above the fold for newcomers. That solves the repetition problem for current subscribers.
If you are trying to emulate Ray's call to action he didn't do anything special with widens or formatting, just started the body of the email with a 'Subscribe with caption' button and used itallics for the 'caption', then put an image underneath.
Hi Karen - thanks for the reply! Great idea in this post, BTW. In my most recent post I included the Subscribe with Caption and when I did that Substack added it, but I cannot format the text above the button. I can edit the text and add Italics but I cannot widen the margins. It is like the formatting is fixed. Not sure what I am doing incorrectly. I thought it was the Pull Quote above it was carrying over but I tried it in the middle of my post and had the same problem. Confusing.
Me again, Ed. I just realised what you meant, about formatting, I think. Thanks to Tara, who pointed out that the Double Es CTA wasn't created using a Subscribe with Caption button. So sorry, my mistake.
It looks like Ray made his CTA using normal italicised text then added a 'subscribe' (only) button underneath. That's how come it goes the whole width of the page.
Ah hah! That makes sense! I spent a lot of time trying to change the formatting with no success. The combination you mentioned I can do! To me it is less obtrusive with the wider margins and a few lines compared to centered taking up a lot of space on the screen. Very helpful! Thanks to Tara too!
Hi Ed, yes the formatting is fixed and can't be fiddled with. This is so that it looks okay on all the different email reading platforms, app and website. If you need technical help with buttons and things you can book a call with me, or try Substack's built in chat-bot. https://karencherry.gumroad.com/l/help-with-Substack-2024
Now I understand why people do this, duh! Thank you! I like the example you gave because it's short and sweet. When people a long CTA above their newsletters, I ignore it.
I've had a similar approach for my first 17 issues or so, and then I've droped it. Now I'm considering bringing it back, maybe refresh the style and message a little bit 😅.
I think Flagging Down the Double E’s used regular text, added italics, then added a Subscribe button with no caption. It looks like a caption, but it’s just the text editor. Did I understand your question?
I know Substack probably won't see this, but I'd love it if we could customize our CTA with the subscribe button and not have to manually re-write it each time. In other words, change the default wording that comes with the subscribe with caption button. Adding the subscribe with caption button is so easy, but revising it each and every time to say what I want to say gets tedious, so I often don't.
I use the opportunity to write a new one each time that fits with the content of my post. It's actually kind of fun coming up with a custom message every week.
Yes Karen!! Let’s say it louder so they hear us!!
same here, Karen
I second that idea. After reading Karen's post I added a CTA to each of my posts and encountered the same problem.
This is brilliant! I've wanted to do this but using italics will help. So many people read my newsletter say they like it but don't subscribe. I don't think they know they need to!
Discovered same thing. I put 5 posts in my only publication, then got sidetracked and never paid any attention to these buttons. I assumed that everyone knew that these posts were actually email newsletters that they can be subscribed to.
Great advice! And I’ve already put your suggestions from our consulting call into practice. Thank you!
Simple stuff, but killer effective 👌🏼
Thanks so much! The most obvious staring me in the face... I use that space consistently, but never with a CTA. Got it there now!
This is great advice Karen. Substack even prompts us to insert a subscribe CTA before each newsletter sends. We should totally be using the opportunity every time.
I did this in my early days and then moved away from it, but I’m bringing it back. Thanks for the reminder!
Okay, this CTA idea is brilliant. I recently noticed that I have over a hundred more followers than subscribers and feel some type of way about that… my substack is free- why not subscribe?
I will update my next letter on Tuesday with CTA and see what goes down!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom here 🙏
Very useful, Karen. But I wish there was a way to permanently change the text on the Subscribe with caption button
I love the idea of coming back after the subscriber email goes out to add the CTA above the fold for newcomers. That solves the repetition problem for current subscribers.
This is helpful information! I haven't used CTA features yet. It's nice to know what's effective.
Great post Karen , as usual. I tried this but cannot format the text or widen the margins above the email field. What am I missing?
I'm not sure I understand your question, Paul?
If you are trying to emulate Ray's call to action he didn't do anything special with widens or formatting, just started the body of the email with a 'Subscribe with caption' button and used itallics for the 'caption', then put an image underneath.
Hi Karen - thanks for the reply! Great idea in this post, BTW. In my most recent post I included the Subscribe with Caption and when I did that Substack added it, but I cannot format the text above the button. I can edit the text and add Italics but I cannot widen the margins. It is like the formatting is fixed. Not sure what I am doing incorrectly. I thought it was the Pull Quote above it was carrying over but I tried it in the middle of my post and had the same problem. Confusing.
Me again, Ed. I just realised what you meant, about formatting, I think. Thanks to Tara, who pointed out that the Double Es CTA wasn't created using a Subscribe with Caption button. So sorry, my mistake.
It looks like Ray made his CTA using normal italicised text then added a 'subscribe' (only) button underneath. That's how come it goes the whole width of the page.
Ah hah! That makes sense! I spent a lot of time trying to change the formatting with no success. The combination you mentioned I can do! To me it is less obtrusive with the wider margins and a few lines compared to centered taking up a lot of space on the screen. Very helpful! Thanks to Tara too!
I 100% agree with you, Ed.
Thank you for this! I was confused as well. It looks much better (and takes up way less space) to do it Ray’s way.
Hi Ed, yes the formatting is fixed and can't be fiddled with. This is so that it looks okay on all the different email reading platforms, app and website. If you need technical help with buttons and things you can book a call with me, or try Substack's built in chat-bot. https://karencherry.gumroad.com/l/help-with-Substack-2024
Now I understand why people do this, duh! Thank you! I like the example you gave because it's short and sweet. When people a long CTA above their newsletters, I ignore it.
I've had a similar approach for my first 17 issues or so, and then I've droped it. Now I'm considering bringing it back, maybe refresh the style and message a little bit 😅.
see, I'm a shy person and I don't want to annoy people with subscribe now! messages all the time.
but I guess I have to :)
Do you know how they formatted it to be so wide?
I think Flagging Down the Double E’s used regular text, added italics, then added a Subscribe button with no caption. It looks like a caption, but it’s just the text editor. Did I understand your question?
Oh wow, Tara, you are right. Someone else was asking me how that was done and I didn't even notice the width. This is super helpful, thanks!