Argh... Substack (www.substack.com/) is creeping into my head.
https://tokyospark.com
Argh... Substack (https://www.substack.com/) is creeping into my head.
I literally just launched this: https://tokyospark.com -- built on:
- WordPress + WPFusion plugin (among others)
- Hosted on Closte
- MailerLite for email sending
- Zapier for adding subscribers to mailing list on payment
- FastSpring for accepting payment (w/o worrying about VAT)
The benefit is it's mine. I can control nearly anything I want about it, but it's costing me about $120/mo to operate (not including the immense amount of time to craft).
Substack handles pretty much 100% of what I do -- but without the future flexibility (for instance, I'd eventually like to offer subscribers access to Japanese language courses, discounts on Japanese artwork, etc...)
What would you do? Stay "homemade" or switch to Substack?
Why? Why not?
In a similar situation. If you were starting out now, I would advise going to substack. But because you have launched, I would say keep your freedom and build on your own. If you need to downsize later, you can do it then!
That’s a great point. I do tend to think all or nothing a lot.
How is Substack different/better than Revue?
By the way, I would consider using Ghost instead of WordPress. As far as I know they are working on subscriptions:
https://twitter.com/JohnONolan/status/1096618391429730304
I'm not 100% sure how Revue is different than Substack... though it looks like a more mature product.
The thing that impressed me with Substack is the super smooth flow from interest to paid subscriber -- the reader's journey. It's literally a single Stripe element that slides in at just the right time.
Not a giant form that slaps them in the face. :)
Copy that then :)
Good idea. :)
For what services you pay $120/mo? 😱
It's a combination of everything: zapier, hosting, Adobe, a few key plugins (which are paid annually, but I divided into monthly cost), LLC/biz legal stuff... rounds out to about $120/mo.
I just literally wrote this piece on the build-your-own approach: https://trolley.link/2019/03/03/paid-email-newsletter.html
Downside of Substack is they take a full 10% of everything you make, NOT INCLUDING your Stripe fees.
True, but they don't charge for # of subscribers and offer a very smooth reader experience -- going from free to paid.
I use FastSpring now, they charge 8.9% (but they completely handle sales tax and VAT stuff so I don't have to).
Plus I have monthly fees from hosting, etc... that add up.
It's not really the cost part... it's all the moving parts in a "build your own" approach. Which I suppose is always the trade-off isn't it?
Clearly I'm talking myself out of Substack. :)
Substack looks great for the kind of folks who just want to get started and don't have (or don't have time to acquire) any tech skills.
Trading off time for money, as always :)
That's a good point too. I've been a web developer since the web began. :)
The tech side is easy for me... but I was looking at it from the perspective of finally not having to worry about that and just settle into a content routine.
But thinking about it, I probably won't have that many technical problems anyway... so... ;)
Thanks!
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