Seconded even though I’ve been here for less than 2 years. So many writers have grinded their way through for years upon years with little to no funding, all the while Substack begins to focus more on video and tries to fund outside entities to come onto the platform with EXISTING audiences.
What Mr. Alexander said! I love Substack, but would love to see at least a nod towards smaller creators--like myself--who've worked hard to build our followings--slowly and surely--on the platform.
We may be small, but we're helping make Substack money too. Please don't forget it.
Thanks to you and the team for all you do.
Great platform. Look forward to helping the team make it even better.
I don’t disagree. I understand that it’s a business and those influencers or creators who are just trying to preserve their livelihoods, this is an Olive branch and assistance and it’s kind. But it’s also self serving in a way because more money coming in to the platform, and more money for people at the top. And while I hope there will be some trickle down economics as a result of this accelerator, my gut reaction is that this CREATOR ACCELERATOR FUND gives me the ick.
Although it's good to be bringing more people across with that olive branch, having a twig of something for those of us already here would be great, especially for the lower-tier but consistent/persistent stacks with a small yet engaged audience.
It's just business. Larger audiences, larger income for Substack but not really for the small writers, especially in topics which are taken over by larger publishers (politics, economics): as usual the winner takes it all, due to economies of scale.
It's reality. It's competition. There's still room for niches.
Yet, Substack could really help the smaller writers to join forces an become a large publisher with multiple authors. There's no easy system now.
What worries us is IF Substack owers sell it to a larger platform, thus killing freespeech (all other platforms except gab.com are censoring anti-narrative substacks like mine:
Unfortunately this screams “let’s get Tiktokers to Substack”… would be SO nice to do something for the millions of weekly users of this app that are here already. If it became easier to gain paid subscribers on here, perhaps more people can earn a decent living here and become Substackers.
I’d be very cautious—you have a community of people who adore it here. But we’re all scared about this app becoming something new, and ultimately, something we no longer love.
Seriously. It’s such a bummer that everything on the internet seems to turn to shit. I’d love to grow on here but it’s been a challenge. Still enjoy the platform… for now.
Okay, that's good, but how does this help us, the smaller writers who have plugging away for years? Those of us who defended Substack from spurious charges late in 2023? Are we completely forgotten and abandoned in this push for growth?
I sincerely hope not, because I really like it here...
Ultimately, I do think that this can help smaller writers like you and I, who have been here for a long time, writing consistently.
If big accounts, from elsewhere, bring their people to Substack, that increases the size of the ecosystem. That larger ecosystem will have at least some people who will end up finding us, one way or another, giving us the ability to be seen by someone whom we had no chance of being seen by otherwise.
At least that's my pollianna thinking about it!
But, I do worry about this place eventually enshittifying itself.
it would be useful to see something designed for small medium and large creators to offer some form of incentive for people to progress with the platform.
Substack’s focus on helping creators own their audience is great, but it reminds me of TikTok’s success. They nailed it by making it easy for smaller creators to get noticed and grow. By the way, the checkbox for `Also share to Notes` is not working well.
What would be great would be to have some trickle-down funds to those who have built an audience from nothing and who hack away each week and have done nothing but defend this space for years.
I still love it here, but it feels increasingly hard to compete (for lack of a better word).
I can’t support everyone that I want to follow. Please develop a way to bundle subscriptions so I can pay a bit to more creators. I’m relying less and less on mainstream for anything (and I trust is less and less). Substack is keeping me connected.
I feel this Sandra! We can only support so many but there are so many amazeballs creators here. I offer discounts on mine, starting at $10/year (it's unpaywalled content too) to help people support me in ways that feel comfortable. More people could start doing that because it's a tool that already exists via 'discounts'.
So true! Only learned of Substack this week and am following many with a free subscription. I can’t possibly pay for everyone I want to support and follow. Free only takes you so far.
I'll just hang out over here with my tiny pub trying to create good content while you promote Rubin, Weiss, Reich, and whatever big name Tiktokers decide to take part in your "bring us your income stream" cash grab.
"Substack Creator Accelerator" would seem to suggest an investment in the deep base of creators who've helped turn Substack into a competitive media platform. But....this just sounds like another round of dangling money and resources in front of people with large audiences who are not currently publishing on Substack, as a way of coaxing them onto the platform. Or am I missing something?
My immediate reaction too. Great, I thought, support for small yet consistent creators to move up a notch or two.
No, it’s not that. At all. I enjoy @substack and it’s helped me to find my writing niche and a slowly growing audience. This isn’t the only option for writers though. If they’re now focusing on those with established audiences - just as mainstream publishers do - then other platforms will fill the space.
I hope I’m here on @substack long-term. Please support the struggling writers as much as the superstars.
While I find the initiative exciting and interesting, especially in establishing Substack as a contender against the monopoly of other creator-led platforms, it would be nice to see Substack supporting emerging talent and/or maybe those from under-privileged and disadvantaged backgrounds to promote more merit within the creator ecosystem at large. It’s all a bit elitist and hierarchical.
It's a shame how Substack has essentially outsourced supporting the creators who make this platform what it is to others who may or may not be reliable in an effort to encourage already successful creators to come here and squeeze out the opportunity for people like me. I love Substack but this announcement is mildly infuriating.
it’s cool to try and acquire more creators and I love consuming their work as well but how about something to build up the people who have always been here
This feels like that moment when somebody tells you the really beautiful quaint high street filled with great independent shops selling local and special interest stuff is about to be improved by being demolished and replaced by a Wall Mart Megastore... and the best part - we are using the money we made from all those indie stores to pay them to come... Yes, that's right, we are paying people who have everything, lots of money we made from millions of indies who have very little... Now isn't that a great idea.....Can I get an Amen......Hello? Anybody there...
Firstly, why sending this to people who already are using Substack, since not a cent of this “Substack Creator Accelerator Fund” will go to any of us.
Secondly: I understand that Substack is not a charity, and that if more people come in = profit for Substack, but careful what you wish for, because the tons of TT refugees aren't after the kind of quality content we're used to on here.
I don't want to sound snobbish, but if I wanted to be on TT (and I still could because — shock! horror! — not all Substack users are from the US…) I wouldn't be making an editorial plan for photo essays on here right now.
So, instead of just working to level things down and to welcome hypothetical new users, flashing wads of cash before their eyes just to make them sign up and bring over their followers (who, again, aren’t used neither to the kind of content people usually publish on Substack nor to the kind of interaction that goes on in comments and notes), why don't you also make things nicer for already existing ones?
How is this helping me grow my business? This is just a bribe to bring people across from other platforms. Forgive me if I don't jump in the air for joy.
Asking questions is necessary. Democrats & Independents & several rational former “Old School Republicans” are currently in a Political Limbo. We are in a state of crisis & MSM has been bought, FOX’s original intention was to make tons of money by creating fake news and brainwashing Americans. 3 years ago, I cut cable and searched for alternative,reliable & honest news outlets. I turned to Meidas MTN and Substack & now Blue Sky. Our Democratic Party must organize now, come up with a bigger & stronger platform for all Americans. The Fascist & oligarchs are HERE!
Cool. How about doing something for those of us who have been ambassadors (and investors!) for this platform for years now?
Seconded even though I’ve been here for less than 2 years. So many writers have grinded their way through for years upon years with little to no funding, all the while Substack begins to focus more on video and tries to fund outside entities to come onto the platform with EXISTING audiences.
What Mr. Alexander said! I love Substack, but would love to see at least a nod towards smaller creators--like myself--who've worked hard to build our followings--slowly and surely--on the platform.
We may be small, but we're helping make Substack money too. Please don't forget it.
Thanks to you and the team for all you do.
Great platform. Look forward to helping the team make it even better.
I was going to say, "all you early adopters can suck it."
That’s what it feels like
Exactly the same feeling.
I don’t disagree. I understand that it’s a business and those influencers or creators who are just trying to preserve their livelihoods, this is an Olive branch and assistance and it’s kind. But it’s also self serving in a way because more money coming in to the platform, and more money for people at the top. And while I hope there will be some trickle down economics as a result of this accelerator, my gut reaction is that this CREATOR ACCELERATOR FUND gives me the ick.
Yes, well said.
Although it's good to be bringing more people across with that olive branch, having a twig of something for those of us already here would be great, especially for the lower-tier but consistent/persistent stacks with a small yet engaged audience.
Amén
Bingo!!!!!!!!!!
I actually opened this email with excitement thinking it would be something like this.
But, alas, no.
Same here.
It’s very sad that they’re doing this.
It's just business. Larger audiences, larger income for Substack but not really for the small writers, especially in topics which are taken over by larger publishers (politics, economics): as usual the winner takes it all, due to economies of scale.
It's reality. It's competition. There's still room for niches.
Yet, Substack could really help the smaller writers to join forces an become a large publisher with multiple authors. There's no easy system now.
What worries us is IF Substack owers sell it to a larger platform, thus killing freespeech (all other platforms except gab.com are censoring anti-narrative substacks like mine:
https://ScientificProgress.substack.com
In the end, we were the second set of footprints in the sand. They certainly courted us, though—we could all be Julia Roberts...
I make no bones about it anymore, and feel a bit naive about how excited I was when this all started out.
Exactly!
what do I get if I want to deccelerate?
Yassszzzz. This is exactly what I was going to post 👏🏿👏🏿
Unfortunately this screams “let’s get Tiktokers to Substack”… would be SO nice to do something for the millions of weekly users of this app that are here already. If it became easier to gain paid subscribers on here, perhaps more people can earn a decent living here and become Substackers.
I’d be very cautious—you have a community of people who adore it here. But we’re all scared about this app becoming something new, and ultimately, something we no longer love.
Seriously. It’s such a bummer that everything on the internet seems to turn to shit. I’d love to grow on here but it’s been a challenge. Still enjoy the platform… for now.
Starting as a platform for serious writers, adopting TikTok aspirations will compromise quality (yes, my personal opinion).
Im with you Lottie
Okay, that's good, but how does this help us, the smaller writers who have plugging away for years? Those of us who defended Substack from spurious charges late in 2023? Are we completely forgotten and abandoned in this push for growth?
I sincerely hope not, because I really like it here...
I fully agree, it’s a little disappointing
Sure feels like it.
Same. 100%.
Yah I was excited about it till I realized the blog I’m illustrating for doesn’t apply.
Ultimately, I do think that this can help smaller writers like you and I, who have been here for a long time, writing consistently.
If big accounts, from elsewhere, bring their people to Substack, that increases the size of the ecosystem. That larger ecosystem will have at least some people who will end up finding us, one way or another, giving us the ability to be seen by someone whom we had no chance of being seen by otherwise.
At least that's my pollianna thinking about it!
But, I do worry about this place eventually enshittifying itself.
it would be useful to see something designed for small medium and large creators to offer some form of incentive for people to progress with the platform.
Feels a bit like when your bank does deals for new customers and those who started from 0 who've been working daily for years are still paying more.
But also, to clarify, a great idea and a huge amount of money pledge to welcome new people 👍
Which, in turn, feels a bit like a kick in the teeth.
Exactly 😆
But also, to clarify, a great idea and a huge amount of money pledge to welcome new people 👍
Substack’s focus on helping creators own their audience is great, but it reminds me of TikTok’s success. They nailed it by making it easy for smaller creators to get noticed and grow. By the way, the checkbox for `Also share to Notes` is not working well.
What would be great would be to have some trickle-down funds to those who have built an audience from nothing and who hack away each week and have done nothing but defend this space for years.
I still love it here, but it feels increasingly hard to compete (for lack of a better word).
**Attention:** Please allocate your $20 million in funds to support the less fortunate members of Substack! 😬
I can’t support everyone that I want to follow. Please develop a way to bundle subscriptions so I can pay a bit to more creators. I’m relying less and less on mainstream for anything (and I trust is less and less). Substack is keeping me connected.
I feel this Sandra! We can only support so many but there are so many amazeballs creators here. I offer discounts on mine, starting at $10/year (it's unpaywalled content too) to help people support me in ways that feel comfortable. More people could start doing that because it's a tool that already exists via 'discounts'.
But the bundle idea would be awesome!
There are so many wonderful people to discover here. I do like your idea of discounts.
So true! Only learned of Substack this week and am following many with a free subscription. I can’t possibly pay for everyone I want to support and follow. Free only takes you so far.
I know it’s a bit frustrating.
This is amazing but what about the smaller creators who have been on the platform for years
This seems like the common sentiment and I very much share it.
Yeah, thanks Substack.
I'll just hang out over here with my tiny pub trying to create good content while you promote Rubin, Weiss, Reich, and whatever big name Tiktokers decide to take part in your "bring us your income stream" cash grab.
🪧 brave comment thanks .
"Substack Creator Accelerator" would seem to suggest an investment in the deep base of creators who've helped turn Substack into a competitive media platform. But....this just sounds like another round of dangling money and resources in front of people with large audiences who are not currently publishing on Substack, as a way of coaxing them onto the platform. Or am I missing something?
You’re not missing anything. That’s exactly what it is.
My immediate reaction too. Great, I thought, support for small yet consistent creators to move up a notch or two.
No, it’s not that. At all. I enjoy @substack and it’s helped me to find my writing niche and a slowly growing audience. This isn’t the only option for writers though. If they’re now focusing on those with established audiences - just as mainstream publishers do - then other platforms will fill the space.
I hope I’m here on @substack long-term. Please support the struggling writers as much as the superstars.
While I find the initiative exciting and interesting, especially in establishing Substack as a contender against the monopoly of other creator-led platforms, it would be nice to see Substack supporting emerging talent and/or maybe those from under-privileged and disadvantaged backgrounds to promote more merit within the creator ecosystem at large. It’s all a bit elitist and hierarchical.
That part! Thanks for saying it out loud
Well said!!
It's always like that... :(
It's a shame how Substack has essentially outsourced supporting the creators who make this platform what it is to others who may or may not be reliable in an effort to encourage already successful creators to come here and squeeze out the opportunity for people like me. I love Substack but this announcement is mildly infuriating.
Nailed it
Yes 🙌 I’m liking everyone who’s infuriated, mildly.
it’s cool to try and acquire more creators and I love consuming their work as well but how about something to build up the people who have always been here
This feels like that moment when somebody tells you the really beautiful quaint high street filled with great independent shops selling local and special interest stuff is about to be improved by being demolished and replaced by a Wall Mart Megastore... and the best part - we are using the money we made from all those indie stores to pay them to come... Yes, that's right, we are paying people who have everything, lots of money we made from millions of indies who have very little... Now isn't that a great idea.....Can I get an Amen......Hello? Anybody there...
This is soooo… weird, to say the least.
Firstly, why sending this to people who already are using Substack, since not a cent of this “Substack Creator Accelerator Fund” will go to any of us.
Secondly: I understand that Substack is not a charity, and that if more people come in = profit for Substack, but careful what you wish for, because the tons of TT refugees aren't after the kind of quality content we're used to on here.
I don't want to sound snobbish, but if I wanted to be on TT (and I still could because — shock! horror! — not all Substack users are from the US…) I wouldn't be making an editorial plan for photo essays on here right now.
So, instead of just working to level things down and to welcome hypothetical new users, flashing wads of cash before their eyes just to make them sign up and bring over their followers (who, again, aren’t used neither to the kind of content people usually publish on Substack nor to the kind of interaction that goes on in comments and notes), why don't you also make things nicer for already existing ones?
Give us a reason to stay, too.
How is this helping me grow my business? This is just a bribe to bring people across from other platforms. Forgive me if I don't jump in the air for joy.
Please explain what this announcement entails for the people who have been on Substack. Who contributed? How is this $ being distributed?
Glad u asked this.
Asking questions is necessary. Democrats & Independents & several rational former “Old School Republicans” are currently in a Political Limbo. We are in a state of crisis & MSM has been bought, FOX’s original intention was to make tons of money by creating fake news and brainwashing Americans. 3 years ago, I cut cable and searched for alternative,reliable & honest news outlets. I turned to Meidas MTN and Substack & now Blue Sky. Our Democratic Party must organize now, come up with a bigger & stronger platform for all Americans. The Fascist & oligarchs are HERE!