Alice, when I first saw the title of this article, I thought it would be sad, but it was good and helped to reaffirm that I was right, leaving my MailChimp audience behind. I considered bringing my 600-plus Mailchimp subscribers from my art blog when I started here. Then I thought about whether they would really be interested in my writing. I decided against it but continue promoting it with my art on my website. They can then choose if they want to or not. For me it's not about getting lots of subscribers, but getting a few who relate or can be inspired by my posts. I love the intimate feeling of substack. Great post!
Thanks, Lynda. I'm glad it was helpful. Deep down, I realised that I'd lost those subscribers years ago and so it was a helpful 'cull'. And the more I do all of this--writing, sharing work online--the more I realise it's about one-to-one connections and conversation. How does each step I take in the world open possibilities? I like what you say here as a reminder to me of that. Thanks for taking time to read and comment xoxoxox
Oy!! You got me with your headline! I started with zero and I’m so grateful to have the subscribers I have now. What a good reminder about cultivating them and staying connected through consistency.
Thanks, Kim! I changed the headline because of a comment someone posted about the previous headline--which made it sound far sadder than I intended. I'm glad it's helpful. I have been thinking a lot about connections and conversation and how important all of that is, ultimately, and how it's fuel for everything.
This is truly such a great piece Alice. Loved reading this and I have not seen that feature on SS yet. Will I be brave enough to press it after just hitting 10k here - hmmmm....
Thanks, Clare. You’re so good at making your subscribers feel seen and heard, and at being consistent—I hope you never come close to losing 1000 in a day!!!
As a fledgling writer important reminders are super helpful.
Folks give you their attention via their email because they liked some you said are doing. They expect something in return.
For me I still struggle with the 'salesy thing' I know it's silly. If someone subscribed they know that they will be getting emails. They probably expect you will sell them something.
I’m glad it was a good reminder. I know how you feel about ‘salesy’ and have come to a very peaceful place where I just try to write the best I can. I appreciate you taking time to comment, Janet. Thanks so much ❤️🌻
Likewise! I have been going over and over the piece for this week about parenting with ADHD and something doesn’t quite work in it yet—it’s the interesting and demanding thing about writing: the patience it takes 😍😍😍
Alice, if you don’t mind answering, are you saying that Substack contacted you about this? Saying: “Unless you remove subscribers who aren’t responding, we’ll do it for you.”
I’ve just never heard of that before.
Also, I never receive emails from newsletters on Substack; I have emails turned off and read all posts in my Substack inbox. If someone were to cull subscribers who don’t open emails, I would be cut (even though I read nearly every post of every publication that I subscribe to).
Yes! I was just merrily going about my day and I received an email from them saying basically that. I wish I'd kept it so I could screenshot it for you, but after 'the cull' I was a bit, um, sorrowful. I realised I was only sorry that I'd made so little effort with all those people who'd kindly taken time to connect, once I took time to think of it. It helps me make effort and connect properly now.
I think that most of the people who were removed were very old and unused email addresses, and people who hadn't opened anything since I'd moved over to Substack--I don't think you need to worry that you'll be taken off lists you've subscribed to because you're active on here. I haven't heard it happen to anyone else, and it happened a while ago now, so maybe they've stopped doing it?
Similar to you, I've taken off most of my email notifications and spend my time here in the app rather than flooding my inbox.
Thanks for writing, Dana. Who do you love to read on here?
Thank you for sharing, Alice. So strange! But sounds as though you’ve found peace with it all.
Love reading so many writers here! Recently, have really been enjoying the work of Laura Kennedy (Peak Notions) and Giselle La Pompe-Moore (Be Difficult, Darling). xo
Writing a newsletter is toughening up my hide—refining my response to the flurry of Unsubscribe notifications that follow every post. I am learning to wish them well and to understand that it is better for them to move on if my content is not their cup of tea.
Hi Alice, I just saw this and it's poignant for me. I'm just getting my sea legs on Substack and minutes ago imported my long neglected author mailing list from Mailchimp. I'll send them the first post from here (vs. Mailchimp) soon and I expect for a ton to unfollow. But that's what happens when we ignore the dear people who've given us their email years ago. And that's ok. I'll be starting from scratch basically and hope to grow a reader at a time. (It's been a while since my last book came out.) I enjoy your posts. Thanks.
I hope the move over is going well! Any major bumps or all okay? I'm glad you enjoy the posts here--I love writing them and connecting with writers like you. Sorry for my slow reply. I was at Taylor Swift and lost to a world of glitter and fun!
The move over went well! Lost some but not drastically and there were fewer undeliverables than I expected. Taylor Swift. 😄 How fun! I’ll connect again soon and tell you how your Substack was an inspiration to me.
Alice, when I first saw the title of this article, I thought it would be sad, but it was good and helped to reaffirm that I was right, leaving my MailChimp audience behind. I considered bringing my 600-plus Mailchimp subscribers from my art blog when I started here. Then I thought about whether they would really be interested in my writing. I decided against it but continue promoting it with my art on my website. They can then choose if they want to or not. For me it's not about getting lots of subscribers, but getting a few who relate or can be inspired by my posts. I love the intimate feeling of substack. Great post!
Thanks, Lynda. I'm glad it was helpful. Deep down, I realised that I'd lost those subscribers years ago and so it was a helpful 'cull'. And the more I do all of this--writing, sharing work online--the more I realise it's about one-to-one connections and conversation. How does each step I take in the world open possibilities? I like what you say here as a reminder to me of that. Thanks for taking time to read and comment xoxoxox
Oy!! You got me with your headline! I started with zero and I’m so grateful to have the subscribers I have now. What a good reminder about cultivating them and staying connected through consistency.
Thanks, Kim! I changed the headline because of a comment someone posted about the previous headline--which made it sound far sadder than I intended. I'm glad it's helpful. I have been thinking a lot about connections and conversation and how important all of that is, ultimately, and how it's fuel for everything.
This is truly such a great piece Alice. Loved reading this and I have not seen that feature on SS yet. Will I be brave enough to press it after just hitting 10k here - hmmmm....
Thanks, Clare. You’re so good at making your subscribers feel seen and heard, and at being consistent—I hope you never come close to losing 1000 in a day!!!
Claire! With an extra letter: i. Sorry!!!!
I wonder if the “church” had the courage to cull their advertised “base” of baptized members who never show up or pay up, how many would they lose?
Interesting! I like how one strand of thinking can lead to another.
Thank you for this Alice, beautiful reminder that meaningful connections transcend numbers 💜
I realise it more and more each day. Not sure why it took me so long to fully understand it, but I do now!
Thanks for sharing Alice 🤗💕
As a fledgling writer important reminders are super helpful.
Folks give you their attention via their email because they liked some you said are doing. They expect something in return.
For me I still struggle with the 'salesy thing' I know it's silly. If someone subscribed they know that they will be getting emails. They probably expect you will sell them something.
If we ignore them they forget about us
Such a good reminder!!
Thank you 🌸
I’m glad it was a good reminder. I know how you feel about ‘salesy’ and have come to a very peaceful place where I just try to write the best I can. I appreciate you taking time to comment, Janet. Thanks so much ❤️🌻
I like that - "write the best I can"
You are welcome Alice, I look forward to reading more. ❤️🌻
Likewise! I have been going over and over the piece for this week about parenting with ADHD and something doesn’t quite work in it yet—it’s the interesting and demanding thing about writing: the patience it takes 😍😍😍
And then the 2nd guessing kicks in 😂
Sometimes- once you have gone you best - you gotta just hit - publish 😍😍😍
(The people you are writing to now - know you. It's going to be ok.)
Thank you. I’m going to re-read that when I’m at my desk and line it up to publish ❤️
Alice, if you don’t mind answering, are you saying that Substack contacted you about this? Saying: “Unless you remove subscribers who aren’t responding, we’ll do it for you.”
I’ve just never heard of that before.
Also, I never receive emails from newsletters on Substack; I have emails turned off and read all posts in my Substack inbox. If someone were to cull subscribers who don’t open emails, I would be cut (even though I read nearly every post of every publication that I subscribe to).
Yes! I was just merrily going about my day and I received an email from them saying basically that. I wish I'd kept it so I could screenshot it for you, but after 'the cull' I was a bit, um, sorrowful. I realised I was only sorry that I'd made so little effort with all those people who'd kindly taken time to connect, once I took time to think of it. It helps me make effort and connect properly now.
I think that most of the people who were removed were very old and unused email addresses, and people who hadn't opened anything since I'd moved over to Substack--I don't think you need to worry that you'll be taken off lists you've subscribed to because you're active on here. I haven't heard it happen to anyone else, and it happened a while ago now, so maybe they've stopped doing it?
Similar to you, I've taken off most of my email notifications and spend my time here in the app rather than flooding my inbox.
Thanks for writing, Dana. Who do you love to read on here?
xox
Thank you for sharing, Alice. So strange! But sounds as though you’ve found peace with it all.
Love reading so many writers here! Recently, have really been enjoying the work of Laura Kennedy (Peak Notions) and Giselle La Pompe-Moore (Be Difficult, Darling). xo
I love Peak Notions! But I haven’t read the together one. Thank you ❤️
Oh my goodness! These typos! I’m so sorry. I haven’t read the other one—Giselle’s work. I’ll take a look for sure xoxxo
Writing a newsletter is toughening up my hide—refining my response to the flurry of Unsubscribe notifications that follow every post. I am learning to wish them well and to understand that it is better for them to move on if my content is not their cup of tea.
I love this. I just had several people vanish from Instagram which is always a moment to remember this. Thank you 💕
Well, I’m glad I’m a subscriber Alice! Thank you for this piece!!
I'm glad you are, too! Thanks, Imola. I enjoyed your comment over on Story Club yesterday xox
Oh, I have to go back and look. It’s a nice community!
Hi Alice, I just saw this and it's poignant for me. I'm just getting my sea legs on Substack and minutes ago imported my long neglected author mailing list from Mailchimp. I'll send them the first post from here (vs. Mailchimp) soon and I expect for a ton to unfollow. But that's what happens when we ignore the dear people who've given us their email years ago. And that's ok. I'll be starting from scratch basically and hope to grow a reader at a time. (It's been a while since my last book came out.) I enjoy your posts. Thanks.
I hope the move over is going well! Any major bumps or all okay? I'm glad you enjoy the posts here--I love writing them and connecting with writers like you. Sorry for my slow reply. I was at Taylor Swift and lost to a world of glitter and fun!
The move over went well! Lost some but not drastically and there were fewer undeliverables than I expected. Taylor Swift. 😄 How fun! I’ll connect again soon and tell you how your Substack was an inspiration to me.