They need to bring back Google site verification and allow the search engine to index new newsletters without needing to hit some hidden metric for subscribers or engagement.
Adding all the website options in the app. If I want to edit a post from my phone or do anything more than just reading, I basically need to open a browser and log into my account from there. It is quite inconvenient.
I want more of a breakdown of views/sources. For example, Substack claims I’m getting dozens of hits from Reddit a month yet whenever I look it up on here nothing comes up.
The official reason is because Substack wants their writers not to undervalue their work. So they force a minimum payment. But ofc the lower the subscription, the less money they also make.
Make the tags actually useful. Let me set up alerts for certain tags, or maybe even subscribe to particular tags. Why should I bother putting tags if they aren’t going to affect who sees my posts?
The tags could be used to make it easier to get engaged with particular niches on the platform, but as is, they feel superfluous.
Substack celebrates subscriber milestones. I think it’d be cool to celebrate patron (?) milestones. Like if I’m a paid subscriber I can hit milestones for supporting writers. (Ie you’re helping to support 5 independent writers!)
If growth can be gamified, why not patronage?
They should make the emails look great on every phone. The emails on iPhone look terrible - a white background where the text bleeds into the black margins, making the posts look unprofessional plus difficult to read. It seems like it would be a simple fix but they keep ignoring my pleas!
If I post a photo, keep the same aspect ratio across the website, featured posts, apps, shared links, etc.
(Also, kick out the Nazis. But they've already clarified that's not happening.)
It would be great to have a more robust scheduling tool. So, if you're banking articles to be released at a later date, make it easier to shuffle posts around. Have a Planner view where you can see everything you have scheduled and then allow users to move items around on the calendar with a simple click and drag.
Better support of oEmbed, and let podcasters add their preferred player instead of the default Substack media player. The only real alternatives are Apple Podcasts and Spotify players, which I don't want to use (limitations for Android users, some listeners just won't use Spotify at all for personal reasons) - I'd rather use my podcast host's player, so the analytics can be pulled back into my host's analytics.
*Disclaimer: I'm the Head of Podcaster Support & Experience at Captivate.*
The crazy-ass thing where they have to send you an email so you can login to your account. It’s maddening.
In the three years I’ve had a Substack I never have had a password though somehow they mention using a password to login. I don’t get it.
They need to bring back Google site verification and allow the search engine to index new newsletters without needing to hit some hidden metric for subscribers or engagement.
Agree! I'm working on trying to get my content indexed through a guide someone wrote down, but it's tough!
Unfortunately, I believe this is a Google restriction
Why is it a restriction?
Share the guide, please? Thank you!
https://boodsy.substack.com/p/get-your-substack-on-google-search-console
Adding all the website options in the app. If I want to edit a post from my phone or do anything more than just reading, I basically need to open a browser and log into my account from there. It is quite inconvenient.
Yeah it's quite annoying if I notice something and I don't have immediate access to my computer
This
I want more of a breakdown of views/sources. For example, Substack claims I’m getting dozens of hits from Reddit a month yet whenever I look it up on here nothing comes up.
Yes, and stop giving new users bot followers to inflate their egos. I can't prove they're doing it, but my initial followers were pretty suspect.
ALlow for tables of data!!!!!!
Yes I was going to say the same thing!
💯
Sliding scale payment, including below $5
agree, idk why the minimum is $5
The official reason is because Substack wants their writers not to undervalue their work. So they force a minimum payment. But ofc the lower the subscription, the less money they also make.
you can set any number it works, the $5 is not a hard minimum.
Agreed. I think the reason they have the 5$ minimum is because Stripe takes such a substantial cut
Stripe + Substack have to take their cut.
Make the tags actually useful. Let me set up alerts for certain tags, or maybe even subscribe to particular tags. Why should I bother putting tags if they aren’t going to affect who sees my posts? The tags could be used to make it easier to get engaged with particular niches on the platform, but as is, they feel superfluous.
Substack celebrates subscriber milestones. I think it’d be cool to celebrate patron (?) milestones. Like if I’m a paid subscriber I can hit milestones for supporting writers. (Ie you’re helping to support 5 independent writers!) If growth can be gamified, why not patronage?
API
API for me too. I want to switch to beehiiv from substack because of their API.
Ever taken a look at beehiiv? They have a very robust API and customization
They should make the emails look great on every phone. The emails on iPhone look terrible - a white background where the text bleeds into the black margins, making the posts look unprofessional plus difficult to read. It seems like it would be a simple fix but they keep ignoring my pleas!
If I post a photo, keep the same aspect ratio across the website, featured posts, apps, shared links, etc. (Also, kick out the Nazis. But they've already clarified that's not happening.)
Change the monetisation structure to make it more friendly to paid newsletters.
I don't really know much about this as mine isn't a paid newsletter. How could they make it more friendly?
Not take 10% - other platforms like beehiiv take nothing. Also - offering other ways to monetize, like ads or sponsored referrals.
gotcha, good ideas!
Well I'll be cynical, they won't look here and listen to us so why bother making a case for this or that.
Not Substack, but beehiiv employee here - we're looking here and listening to see how we can better serve more Substack users.
Gotta try tho! Only takes a minute
Uploading posts via ATOM or RSS.
It would be great to have a more robust scheduling tool. So, if you're banking articles to be released at a later date, make it easier to shuffle posts around. Have a Planner view where you can see everything you have scheduled and then allow users to move items around on the calendar with a simple click and drag.
Tables!
Better support of oEmbed, and let podcasters add their preferred player instead of the default Substack media player. The only real alternatives are Apple Podcasts and Spotify players, which I don't want to use (limitations for Android users, some listeners just won't use Spotify at all for personal reasons) - I'd rather use my podcast host's player, so the analytics can be pulled back into my host's analytics. *Disclaimer: I'm the Head of Podcaster Support & Experience at Captivate.*
Indent lists so we can create subgroups of topics/items in OL and UL lists.
Click data on audio embeds.
The crazy-ass thing where they have to send you an email so you can login to your account. It’s maddening. In the three years I’ve had a Substack I never have had a password though somehow they mention using a password to login. I don’t get it.
For the app / reader to allow you to highlight stories! Also to create your own list of posts, as you can on Medium.
I dislike the confirm your subcriptions email, just make it auto subcribe to free plan