Thanks for this - I’m planning to have a look at the options in the next couple of days.
Is it worth having a separate website, say using Wordpress, alongside Substack? I would use it for writing that doesn’t fit my Substack topic, as well as to send traffic to my Substack posts - as well as a backup. What are your thoughts?
Ian, I wrote a post exactly about this. I do think it's worth it to have a landing spot separate from Substack that can direct people to wherever you are on the internet.
I have seen it, but the UX doesn’t still seems exciting may be because I’m not a tech person.
I feel like one needs a clear skill in graphic design to put it together properly as a magazine or blog. I wonder if there is anyone in substack who teaches how to design substack to be abit more colorful or who has a very well designed substack.
All the design I’m seeing either confuses user from web or is normal
It's not the layout that makes it attractive, it's how they've created such continuity with colors and images that makes it beautiful. I don't think layout is most important factor in a pleasing user experience here on Substack.
I just checked it out and it’s impressive. It even has a pop-up for new visitors once you open the site requesting you to subscribe and that is what I would love to have but don’t know how, any idea?
Thank you for this Karen. I'll take some time to fiddle around with mine.
One this I still don't see is this new "welcome page" layout people keep talking about. Kristina God showed a screen shot of her welcome page that now has a different layout and I don't see where that switch is.
Nope not yet. Yesterday, Marc Typo and I did a test because he didn't know he had it but I saw it on his. I THINK it may have to do with how many subscribers you have. Like over 1000 maybe? I have no clue! But I just crossed the 1000 mark today so I'm going to check tomorrow and see if anything is different for me.
Huge Congrats Kristi! I'm hovering under 1k was hoping to cross that threshold but had a good 'ol small departure of old email list. I cleaned them up as sleepers aren't my audience.
I'm going to write to you. It may be the morning but look out for a little email. Well done again. Love your work.
Thank you! I will say I just had a massive influx of subscribers due to a note I posted the other day that has over 2K likes on it lol. So I'm not sure how those new subs will translate into engagement but we shall see!
I don't think I get much "homepage" traffic (nor to my "hero post"), what's the best way to figure out if spending time tinkering w/ the homepage is worth it?
I added three content blocks with sidebars to my homepage last week. The design page is a little squirrely. I tried to change the order once, but it wouldn't land where I wanted it and wouldn't let me rearrange the order of my blocks a second time. Eventually, I swapped out the sidebar info to agree with the order of my post groups.
This is really cool. The "subscribe call to action" in the new advanced layouts is a bit confusing, as it has options for non-subscribers, plus free and paid. We don't need current subscribers to subscribe, so it would be cool if we could change this call to action from "subscribe" to "share".
Just at the point where my head was going to explode (and I am not a technophobe, quite the opposite), I saw (and booked!) your consultations. Head intact, look forward to your wisdom.
Thanks for this - I’m planning to have a look at the options in the next couple of days.
Is it worth having a separate website, say using Wordpress, alongside Substack? I would use it for writing that doesn’t fit my Substack topic, as well as to send traffic to my Substack posts - as well as a backup. What are your thoughts?
Thanks 😊
Ian, I wrote a post exactly about this. I do think it's worth it to have a landing spot separate from Substack that can direct people to wherever you are on the internet.
Here's the post in case you want to read my reasoning: https://unstackit.substack.com/p/is-having-an-author-website-useful
Thanks Kristi!
I have seen it, but the UX doesn’t still seems exciting may be because I’m not a tech person.
I feel like one needs a clear skill in graphic design to put it together properly as a magazine or blog. I wonder if there is anyone in substack who teaches how to design substack to be abit more colorful or who has a very well designed substack.
All the design I’m seeing either confuses user from web or is normal
One of the most attractive Substacks I've seen is https://stack.betwixt.life/
It's not the layout that makes it attractive, it's how they've created such continuity with colors and images that makes it beautiful. I don't think layout is most important factor in a pleasing user experience here on Substack.
I know Hazel, thought you might like to know (chuckles). She's superb, her substack has a beautiful feel to it!
this substack is now getting a lot of traffic!
I just checked it out and it’s impressive. It even has a pop-up for new visitors once you open the site requesting you to subscribe and that is what I would love to have but don’t know how, any idea?
I'll have to go back and check it out. I didn't get a pop up. Sounds intriguing though!
It came up the first time i opened but after I tried again I didn’t see it. So it seems for first time visitors
You may use a different account or browser to confirm!
Thank you for this Karen. I'll take some time to fiddle around with mine.
One this I still don't see is this new "welcome page" layout people keep talking about. Kristina God showed a screen shot of her welcome page that now has a different layout and I don't see where that switch is.
Did you find this Kristi? I'd love to know. x
Nope not yet. Yesterday, Marc Typo and I did a test because he didn't know he had it but I saw it on his. I THINK it may have to do with how many subscribers you have. Like over 1000 maybe? I have no clue! But I just crossed the 1000 mark today so I'm going to check tomorrow and see if anything is different for me.
Huge Congrats Kristi! I'm hovering under 1k was hoping to cross that threshold but had a good 'ol small departure of old email list. I cleaned them up as sleepers aren't my audience.
I'm going to write to you. It may be the morning but look out for a little email. Well done again. Love your work.
Thank you! I will say I just had a massive influx of subscribers due to a note I posted the other day that has over 2K likes on it lol. So I'm not sure how those new subs will translate into engagement but we shall see!
Looking forward to your email!
I don't think I get much "homepage" traffic (nor to my "hero post"), what's the best way to figure out if spending time tinkering w/ the homepage is worth it?
I added three content blocks with sidebars to my homepage last week. The design page is a little squirrely. I tried to change the order once, but it wouldn't land where I wanted it and wouldn't let me rearrange the order of my blocks a second time. Eventually, I swapped out the sidebar info to agree with the order of my post groups.
This is really cool. The "subscribe call to action" in the new advanced layouts is a bit confusing, as it has options for non-subscribers, plus free and paid. We don't need current subscribers to subscribe, so it would be cool if we could change this call to action from "subscribe" to "share".
Just at the point where my head was going to explode (and I am not a technophobe, quite the opposite), I saw (and booked!) your consultations. Head intact, look forward to your wisdom.
It's mad, isn't it! Looking forward to talking with you on Friday/Saturday, John.
I don't see these changes in mine!
Thank you Karen fro helping us move the cobwebs out of the way!