Great breakdown, Landon. I’m personally in for Substack now (duh) as Kit didn’t give the community building option. And I craved it for a long time searching for the perfect social media platform too.
Amazing. That's such a fantastic part of Substack. I love the conversation and relationships that can be built through the comments and Chat features here.
Hi, Landon! Great post. Informative and to the point as usual. Thanks for sharing! I'm just building my audience, so Substack is the place for me (at this time.) I have a question for you - What would you consider to be a "mature Wordpress blog"? Just curious. Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
I don't have an exact definition but I would say that it would be actively generating considerable organic traffic from SEO or the brand is large enough that the brand itself is generating inbound traffic (or has a large enough social following to share the posts).
If there is no SEO traffic, the blogs effectively receive no traffic unless you're sharing them somewhere.
Both. I promote lead magnets in notes. I also link to them in posts/articles in various ways. I also optimize my profile in various ways. I wrote a bit about it here.
Thanks for sharing. Reading your article now. I'm relatively new to Substack and I'm still trying to figure out whether it's algorithm downplays Notes with external links in them. This happens so much on other platforms like LinkedIn.
Hey Landon, thanks again for this crazily informative article! Can you speak to frequency of posts? I currently post once a week in Substack and have just started using Kit for promotions. I'm soon going into a selling cycle for a new offering I have which I am going to broadcast on Kit once or twice a week, but I want to keep my weekly newsletters going on Substack too. I know I am going to get some unsubscribes (I will do a consent op-in/out on Kit once I start the selling cycle) but does that kind of frequency sound about right? thanks!
(Feel free to DM me and we can chat deeper about this). It's super contextual. I think the goal and desire of each plays a large role as well as the stage of your business. I know people that do weekly substacks and I know some that do daily. I JUST started 2x. For email, I know some that do 1x and some that email daily. I think it can all work its more so a matter of finding what works best for you, your business, at this stage, and allowing the flexibility to adjust.
Awesome to see you're seeing SEO working here. I oddly have never come across a Substack article in SERPs. They seemed own by reddit, quora, and medium.
🔥 Nice analysis Landon. I use both as well. I tend to break it down into simple principles.
1. Substack is good for those getting started. More turnkey.
2. Kit is good for those at a more advanced part of their journey.
(For example, I use it for distributing Free email courses, which builds subscriber lists)
I don't intend either to be 'monetized' - a term I despise (and wrote about why recently). Yet, I'm thankful some generous folks have a paid subscription to Box Cutter Co.
I also dislike the notion of "owning an audience". "Earning" one is more accurate (and some are cool enough to pay)
The big piece I consistently see missed in similar comparisons -- social media (inc. Substack and Kit) are largely free marketing channels. It's a way for people to get eyes on what you create.
I'm of a pre-Internet generation (and maybe you are too). 20 years ago, it was a very, very different game to get people's eyes on what you are writing, drawing, videoing, etc. Not everything needs to be a rush to put a $ value on it (not that you're only suggesting that).
What I write and post online (for free) has brought multiple paying clients to my businesses. That's where the serious value can be found in these platforms (I find, anyways). 🙌
Thanks David. I love the synopsis. I think an often overlooked aspect is the 'social growth' side of Substack - which is why it's effectively become my social media. But I don't see me stopping CK anytime soon.
Great comparison article! I too use both for many of the reasons you mentioned. I’d like to not have the expense of ConvertKit/Kit, but I have benefited from their Creator Recommendation feature and love using their automations for my email courses.
Definitely working on that this year as well. I feel like I tried all the recommended tools and ended up not needing hardly any of them. Live and learn!
Sometimes we don't know till we try. At least know your mind is at ease with canceling or not using them. I am in the process or reducing some additional ones right now. I just moved 3 podcasts from Buzzsprout to Spotify (because it's free). And I decided to cancel my adobe subscription because I literally haven't used it in a year.
I literally just canceled my Adobe subscription as well! I ended up pushing pause on my podcast because it was too many things. It’s nice knowing there’s others out there who go through the same decisions. Thank you!
You have NO idea. It's very easy to mask it on social media. And we tend to not realize what other people are going through. Odds are many people are doing and contemplating the exact same things.
Great article Landon, thanks. Moving from ConvertKit to Substack is one of the best professional moves I've ever made. Reading your article it occurs to me that Substack is what ConvertKit wanted to be but got a bit lost. I still use ConvertKit for opt-in and product email sequences, tho I'm slowly moving that to Gumroad. When Substack adds more email sequences, it's gonna be rough on ConvertKit...
Thank you Michael. I really appreciate the kind words. One of my mentors taught me to always be "on the same side of the table" as my audience so this is something I try to do.
I use both, Substack for the love of writing and building a community and Convertkit to sell my offers via automations and to maintain a buyers list.
In the process of moving 2000+ subscribers from CK to Substack so I only have buyers on CK
Same here Mark, I don't see myself using only 1 anytime soon either. But I won't say never because features change daily and new platforms can emerge.
Great breakdown, Landon. I’m personally in for Substack now (duh) as Kit didn’t give the community building option. And I craved it for a long time searching for the perfect social media platform too.
Amazing. That's such a fantastic part of Substack. I love the conversation and relationships that can be built through the comments and Chat features here.
This question has been floating around in my head for a while so thanks for answering it 😊.
Did this help provide you with clarity?
Yes very much 🙃
Hi, Landon! Great post. Informative and to the point as usual. Thanks for sharing! I'm just building my audience, so Substack is the place for me (at this time.) I have a question for you - What would you consider to be a "mature Wordpress blog"? Just curious. Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
I don't have an exact definition but I would say that it would be actively generating considerable organic traffic from SEO or the brand is large enough that the brand itself is generating inbound traffic (or has a large enough social following to share the posts).
If there is no SEO traffic, the blogs effectively receive no traffic unless you're sharing them somewhere.
I see. Thanks!
With enough traffic.
Thanks! Appreciated.
Are you promoting your lead magnets in Notes or within your Substack articles?
Both. I promote lead magnets in notes. I also link to them in posts/articles in various ways. I also optimize my profile in various ways. I wrote a bit about it here.
https://landonpoburan.substack.com/p/5-ways-digital-writers-are-using?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks for sharing. Reading your article now. I'm relatively new to Substack and I'm still trying to figure out whether it's algorithm downplays Notes with external links in them. This happens so much on other platforms like LinkedIn.
It's been a topic of conversation. I can't say for sure, but even if it does, I will still leverage various opportunities.
Thanks. Your article you linked above was awesome I had no idea about these features so thank you!
You bet!
Hey Landon, thanks again for this crazily informative article! Can you speak to frequency of posts? I currently post once a week in Substack and have just started using Kit for promotions. I'm soon going into a selling cycle for a new offering I have which I am going to broadcast on Kit once or twice a week, but I want to keep my weekly newsletters going on Substack too. I know I am going to get some unsubscribes (I will do a consent op-in/out on Kit once I start the selling cycle) but does that kind of frequency sound about right? thanks!
But yes, I think your frequency sounds great. It's almost identical to what I am presently doing within my business.
(Feel free to DM me and we can chat deeper about this). It's super contextual. I think the goal and desire of each plays a large role as well as the stage of your business. I know people that do weekly substacks and I know some that do daily. I JUST started 2x. For email, I know some that do 1x and some that email daily. I think it can all work its more so a matter of finding what works best for you, your business, at this stage, and allowing the flexibility to adjust.
Thanks for your generosity Landon and for answering this knotty question! I know exactly what I need to do now. Thanks again.
More than happy to help :)
I recently switched. The difference in SEO is unbelievable. I see much more organic traffic now.
From CK to Substack?
Yes!
Awesome to see you're seeing SEO working here. I oddly have never come across a Substack article in SERPs. They seemed own by reddit, quora, and medium.
Was just reviewing this again, such good advice!
Thanks boss!
Be like @Philip Hofmacher and @Sinem Günel and embrace the beauty of both! https://www.nikatalbot.io/p/bold-types-12-philip-hofmacher-on?r=9w55n&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Well, if you happened to have read the full article you'd see that is exactly what I am doing ;-)
Great article Landon. It’s come at a point where I am considering integrating Kit so thank you!
Amazing! Glad the timing was right. What is making you consider it?
It was! Having two growth engines rather than one and looking at they can work together.
I also plan on a hybrid approach for the same reasons.
Awesome!
I was always in doubt on how to use both platforms equally. I guess you have helped me clear this out. :)
That was the goal!
🔥 Nice analysis Landon. I use both as well. I tend to break it down into simple principles.
1. Substack is good for those getting started. More turnkey.
2. Kit is good for those at a more advanced part of their journey.
(For example, I use it for distributing Free email courses, which builds subscriber lists)
I don't intend either to be 'monetized' - a term I despise (and wrote about why recently). Yet, I'm thankful some generous folks have a paid subscription to Box Cutter Co.
I also dislike the notion of "owning an audience". "Earning" one is more accurate (and some are cool enough to pay)
The big piece I consistently see missed in similar comparisons -- social media (inc. Substack and Kit) are largely free marketing channels. It's a way for people to get eyes on what you create.
I'm of a pre-Internet generation (and maybe you are too). 20 years ago, it was a very, very different game to get people's eyes on what you are writing, drawing, videoing, etc. Not everything needs to be a rush to put a $ value on it (not that you're only suggesting that).
What I write and post online (for free) has brought multiple paying clients to my businesses. That's where the serious value can be found in these platforms (I find, anyways). 🙌
Thanks David. I love the synopsis. I think an often overlooked aspect is the 'social growth' side of Substack - which is why it's effectively become my social media. But I don't see me stopping CK anytime soon.
Great comparison article! I too use both for many of the reasons you mentioned. I’d like to not have the expense of ConvertKit/Kit, but I have benefited from their Creator Recommendation feature and love using their automations for my email courses.
Costs add up super quick when it comes to running an online business. I try to keep it as lean as I possibly can.
Definitely working on that this year as well. I feel like I tried all the recommended tools and ended up not needing hardly any of them. Live and learn!
Sometimes we don't know till we try. At least know your mind is at ease with canceling or not using them. I am in the process or reducing some additional ones right now. I just moved 3 podcasts from Buzzsprout to Spotify (because it's free). And I decided to cancel my adobe subscription because I literally haven't used it in a year.
I literally just canceled my Adobe subscription as well! I ended up pushing pause on my podcast because it was too many things. It’s nice knowing there’s others out there who go through the same decisions. Thank you!
You have NO idea. It's very easy to mask it on social media. And we tend to not realize what other people are going through. Odds are many people are doing and contemplating the exact same things.
Great article Landon, thanks. Moving from ConvertKit to Substack is one of the best professional moves I've ever made. Reading your article it occurs to me that Substack is what ConvertKit wanted to be but got a bit lost. I still use ConvertKit for opt-in and product email sequences, tho I'm slowly moving that to Gumroad. When Substack adds more email sequences, it's gonna be rough on ConvertKit...
Interesting note: I replied to your restack, but that reply doesn't show here. Definitely a little quirk in Substack.
I really appreciate how you break down your illustrations and "speak to me" with your writing style.
I find this post both valuable and digestible. Helps me sort the mind clutter a bit.
👍
Thank you Michael. I really appreciate the kind words. One of my mentors taught me to always be "on the same side of the table" as my audience so this is something I try to do.