What Is Substack Really About?
Will anyone actually read (or see) this?
Hey there. I’m not sure who to address this to. I’m typing to a black screen (literally). Maybe I should change from dark mode. I have no idea who (if anyone?) will see this. I started on Substack this past week, and I’m feeling a bit lost.
This isn’t on brand for me — if branding humans is a thing. I suppose niche is the accurate word here. I mean, my publication is titled At My Cottage in the Country. My tone is typically sweet and poetic. My Posts are meant to make you feel good. To create warmth in your heart, to invite you into being more present, more aware, and hopefully to begin finding those moments of pure bliss in ordinary days.
I often find (especially on social media) that the topics people write, talk, or promote about are what they crave and seek more of for themselves. It’s not necessarily that they’re experts in their niche or that they have it all together. (Let’s not be fooled.) That applies here, too. I want nothing more than to continue striving to be more present. To find more magic in my life, to feel more true joy.
But my publication is also about inviting you into my world. This Post is honest and present in my heart, so whether it’s on brand or not, it must be written.
So, where were we… oh yes, Substack.
What is Substack really about?
How does Substack even work?
How do people find you? Other than tags and whatever algorithms the site prefers.
How do you get subscribers? Seriously, how do people get so many subscribers?
Is that what it’s all about? Getting abundant subscribers? And when do you know you’ve hit the mark?
Do people actually read your work, or is everybody here just trying to promote themselves?
Are we sure having our Posts (or Notes even) land in someone’s browser isn’t just the same as buying a lottery ticket, or entering to win a contest of any sort, really?
Sure, I’ve spent time researching, but I want to hear from real people with real experiences.
I have all these questions. But do I really?
There’s a genuine curiosity to learn here. But I’m feeling that conviction creeping in. Here’s the truth: my need to know is likely 60% my need for immediate satisfaction. I’ve always had this. You should have seen me when I smoked pot. Five hits in a three-minute span — you’d have thought I’d learned my lesson. Or like the time I started a small cottage bakery business and set up at an event to sell treats (Okay. Fine. That time is this very moment, as I sit typing this), and got increasingly and uncomfortably anxious that nobody wanted a slice of pie and some cookies at 11:12 a.m. (precisely twelve minutes after opening).
The other 40%? A deep fear of feeling like, once again, I’m an outcast —not good enough. My whole life, I’ve been more of an outsider. Never quite up to standard to be a girly girl. Never made it to popular. Never had a bunch of girlfriends. I go to bed early, I drink green tea over coffee, I can’t keep up with getting my hair highlighted, no matter how many times I try, and people on social media bother me. But even more so because my posts usually get two likes to their seventy.
And for the most part, I’ve been okay with all that. I like my simple life and crave quiet days and nights. But I still find myself comparing. Maybe I’m subconsciously (or conveniently) filtering out those who may be like me or are right where I’m at, but I look around, and somehow all I see are those who differ and those who are steps ahead.
When I tap the Substack app, I see things like:
“Dear Substack, connect me with writers so we can sub for sub.”
“Dear Substack, let’s see how many subscribers we can help each other get with this Note.”
And so on, and so on.
And while I’m grateful for the interest, I question if it’s directed toward me. I wonder if Substack will become yet another social platform where scrolling, even interacting, becomes a combination of mindless habit and competition.
I don’t want that. That’s not why I’m here. I’m here because I continue to sense that writing is part of my identity, and I’m taking the next step to find out why.
It’s at this point that I should tell you I made a Substack Note about this, then deleted it. Did I delete it because I decided to write about it instead, or because of the fear of it being seen and ignored?
There’s that outsider shame creeping in.
Catch this one before it’s gone.
Every word I share here comes from the depths of my heart, and I hope a few have found their way to yours. ❤️
You can support my work by becoming a paid subscriber or by “buying me a tea” through the links below. Each subscription or contribution helps support me and my family, and we are so incredibly grateful.
Thank you for stopping by At My Cottage in the Country. 🌿
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Okay. Wow. So - first off - You are asking all of the right questions, the questions we have all asked! (And continue to ask). It's a theme through here, but it's the main thing - yes, a lot of people are promoting themselves. The "sub for sub" thing is definitely about the numbers.
What I think, though, is this - the more subs and followers, the more people who will find your work. It might not be the people subscribing! I know myself, I hit Subscribe all the time to support people, but in reality, I can't get back to all of them, and (honestly) I don't necessarily love all of the content. But it helps increase their visibility.
If I like a piece, I hit Like, I hit Subscribe, or at the very least Follow, and I Restack the piece or a quote from the piece.
You are right that the number of likes on a post might be low. Mine definitely are. But the amount of people reading them unseen will be bigger than that. Check out your views - that stat will be bigger and bigger as you go.
And one comment from a person telling you they are glad you are here writing, they enjoyed your work, keep writing... that one comment makes it all worth it.
You are 100% in the right place. This isn't like other forms of social media - mostly good and genuine people are on here. Even the ones using it as a business or to make money are invariably polite and good-natured. There's a couple of douchebags, but this is way better than any other platform. And the content is far purer.
Keep writing and it will grow. Engage with anyone subscribing/following/commenting/liking and it will grow. Write Notes as often as you can manage and make them genuine and good.
But keep writing and posting above all else. It's good for you, and you never know how many other people it's good for too.
This was a great read. The feeling that you’re drowning or not doing social media the “right way” is everywhere now isn’t it? That sticky creature shame, don’t let it get to you, you have a wonderful gift.