How to "Avoid Using Substack"

On May 8th, Sam Parr told the world, and Indie Hackers to "avoid using substack". In his IndieHackers podcast interview, he said this line. It struck me. Struck my gut. And my heart.

I had launched a newsletter 2.5 years ago with Mailchimp and Carrd. (Emails and landing page) and had been fine with that.

2 months ago I launched Better Sheets newsletter on Substack and enjoyed the experience. Didn't have to worry about connecting the pipes. Didn't have to worry about much except writing emails.

It felt like tinyletter on steroids.

It felt like I would love it.

I did, for a bit.

And now after 2 months, 5 emails a week (yes it's "daily"). I'm looking for more.

Here's my advice:

Try Substack

Then go somewhere else for your needs.

You'll need to balance 3 things: Your Content, Your Needs, and Your Audience.

Your Content

What do you write? And when do you write it?
for Influence Weekly I curate articles. Substack sucks for that.
for Better Sheets, I make screencasts. Substack sucks for that.

It might not suck for your content.

Your Needs

What do you want to get out of it? Do you want to have monthly or yearly subscribers who get your content in their inbox? IF that's what you want to do, use substack.

I like slinging html and js around. I've built a few of my own sites and want to continue doing that. Memberspace allows me to plug in a membership to any site I make. It's been awesome.

I also want to own my SEO, once I decide to work on it. Substack archives provide you, and your domain nothing. Absolutely nothing.

It's like writing on Medium. I still write on medium. I like the writing. I just don't want to remain there 100% of the time.

Right now I'm working on a new site that incorporates everything I've wanted to do with my newsletter over the past 2 years.

• Searchable Databases (behind a paywall, thx Memberspace)
• Lists (html)
• Visually pleasing Reports (not just writing)
• Blog (via Ghost)

Your Audience

What does your audience want?
I need to give my audience updates, so yes I do need email. But it's not the only thing. I want them to have an easy to read archive. I want to make sites that I can curate content for them on an ongoing basis.

My audience wants to be passive (get emails) and active (search through and read)

A simple email archive (what substack provides) won't be enough for them.

My audience for Influence Weekly and Better Sheets aren't consumers, readers. They are business people. Busy running small businesses. They won't check 100% of their emails. And want to search for topics when they have time. Not search through archives of editions.

Figure Out What Works

You'll have a different experience.

I suggest, if you haven't yet... try Substack. And don't feel stuck.
You can download your email list anytime.
You can copy/paste your archives to anywhere else.

If substack works for you, more power to you!

It's not for everyone.

Other Tools

• Carrd - For building landing pages
• Email Octopus - for emails. It's Chris' fave after testing 20 newsletter setups.

Why Use Substack

You should use substack if all you do is write 1k to 2k words a day for an audience who wants it and can find you other ways.