I did this a while back, and I like how clean it makes the landing page. However, I am mindful that I have only visited a small percentage of the Substacks I've susbscribed to. More often I subscribe through Notes or through a post that I like. Rarely am I curious enough to click through to the main page.
Although there are times when I want to read something first before I subscribe, and in that case I do explore the landing page first. So I'm not sure how much the hero post drives new subscriptions, but at the very least it can't hurt and makes the site seem well organized and purposeful!
One thing I did that I'm not sure is terribly common is use Canva to create an image for the welcome post that includes two testimonials. Most folks will have these in the Recommendations dashboard (see Settings). I wanted at least one of them to speak to my coaching services and the other to speak to my writing more broadly. It's not perfect, but I've been pretty comfortable with the result.
Karen, I know you've seen my site, but I'll leave the link here if it's a useful reference for others.
Picked up recently that when one does nor regularly read an author one has subscribed to, it detrimentally affects their email algorithms. Would you want that for your own posts ? Worth digging a bit deeper here, n'est ce pas. Peace, Maurice
You're correct about deliverability, Maurice, but that doesn't apply to a hero post which (usually) isn't emailed.
In fact, if people stay on the hero post for more than a few seconds, search engines recognise that your web-based content is valuable and may rank it higher in search results.
This is terrific and very practical advice, Karen. Little did I know that I created a hero post last year without even knowing it! Off to pin it to my newsletter's homepage now!
Great points. I actually recently redesigned my Substack website around a hero post, and included a short video clip where I explain what subscribers can expect from The Healthy Jew.
That's a great-looking page! I love the video! Very nice!
If I'm being honest, I probably wouldn't make it to the bottom of the page if I'm just trying to "see what you're about." That's a LOT of information!!!
Thanks for the honest feedback, so valuable. Right now I have lots going on, but I'm going to take a closer look when I can and see how I can pare it down.
Hi Karen! I'm still new to Substack so posts like this are hugely valuable! Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. I made my Hero Post this morning!💪🙌 Here it is!
Thanks for this really, really useful post. I'm so appreciative of the step-by-step. Not only was it immediately valuable, but it also made me rewrite and think about the value proposition and positioning of my newsletter. Great results: lynchamberlin.substack.com.
I did this a while back, and I like how clean it makes the landing page. However, I am mindful that I have only visited a small percentage of the Substacks I've susbscribed to. More often I subscribe through Notes or through a post that I like. Rarely am I curious enough to click through to the main page.
Although there are times when I want to read something first before I subscribe, and in that case I do explore the landing page first. So I'm not sure how much the hero post drives new subscriptions, but at the very least it can't hurt and makes the site seem well organized and purposeful!
One thing I did that I'm not sure is terribly common is use Canva to create an image for the welcome post that includes two testimonials. Most folks will have these in the Recommendations dashboard (see Settings). I wanted at least one of them to speak to my coaching services and the other to speak to my writing more broadly. It's not perfect, but I've been pretty comfortable with the result.
Karen, I know you've seen my site, but I'll leave the link here if it's a useful reference for others.
https://joshuadolezal.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-recovering-academic-8c8
Picked up recently that when one does nor regularly read an author one has subscribed to, it detrimentally affects their email algorithms. Would you want that for your own posts ? Worth digging a bit deeper here, n'est ce pas. Peace, Maurice
You're correct about deliverability, Maurice, but that doesn't apply to a hero post which (usually) isn't emailed.
In fact, if people stay on the hero post for more than a few seconds, search engines recognise that your web-based content is valuable and may rank it higher in search results.
Hi Karen. Thanks for this article, which I just used to take my newsletter (Bren's Buzz) up a notch! Really great stuff.
https://open.substack.com/pub/coribren/p/hello-readers?r=2umm6v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Very much liking this idea and I'm off to create a hero post right now!
I did it! https://open.substack.com/pub/knowingselfknowingothers/p/join-the-discussion?r=1h4e2i&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
All feedback on ways to make it even more heroic are very much welcomed! Thank you Stackers!
Nice! Beautiful, clean presentation.
Yay. Thank you
I love it!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
I was just checking out this topic and am now a subscriber to your stack!
That’s brilliant. Thank you. Appreciate your company!
Just in time to properly update mine in the final stretch of my rebrand! I can’t wait to get to it; thank you for writing this!
This is terrific and very practical advice, Karen. Little did I know that I created a hero post last year without even knowing it! Off to pin it to my newsletter's homepage now!
Thanks Karen. Now I have homework for my multiple platforms. I don't like homework but this one makes sense. 😁
Love learning new things. And with a focus on Substack growth this year- Going to design this right now. 🙌
Thank you, you just solved MY WHOLE LIFE!!
Great points. I actually recently redesigned my Substack website around a hero post, and included a short video clip where I explain what subscribers can expect from The Healthy Jew.
Here it is: https://thehealthyjew.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-healthy-jew
Great concise information.
Thank you!
That's a great-looking page! I love the video! Very nice!
If I'm being honest, I probably wouldn't make it to the bottom of the page if I'm just trying to "see what you're about." That's a LOT of information!!!
I do love the page, though.
Thanks for the honest feedback, so valuable. Right now I have lots going on, but I'm going to take a closer look when I can and see how I can pare it down.
This is really great advice for anyone writing a newsletter. I’m going to make these changes to my creativity newsletter as well. Thank you! 💕
Hi Karen! I'm still new to Substack so posts like this are hugely valuable! Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. I made my Hero Post this morning!💪🙌 Here it is!
https://open.substack.com/pub/samanthaburns/p/your-friendly-neighborhood-farmer?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1zlz8n
I subscribed.
Thank you so much!!!
Yay! A farmy person! I'm a ranchy person in Texas. I haven't been bumping into many Ag folks around here.
About your hero page... Fantastic!
Awwe thank you so much!!! I'm glad to "meet" you too! Definitely a scarcity of ag-people and writing here. Don't you worry😉 I'm digging in here.
Thanks for this really, really useful post. I'm so appreciative of the step-by-step. Not only was it immediately valuable, but it also made me rewrite and think about the value proposition and positioning of my newsletter. Great results: lynchamberlin.substack.com.
Thank you for this! I'm working on my "hero page" right now, and all the details here are so useful -- so much so now I have to go back and revise :-D
This is such a good idea. Will incorporate this on my substack.
Clear, cogent, and generous. Thanks Karen!
This is a great idea and I'm gong to try it. Thanks so much for the step-by-step instructions, too!