The Art of Substack
A great newsletter platform for writers
Substack is not exactly new, but it is a great way for writers to stay in touch with an audience. It’s basically a blog that’s also a newsletter — and now, they even have a podcast feature.
I actually have two Substacks — one on consumer finance issues and one on education policy.
I’ve found that these are both useful tools for staying regular contact with readers. For me, it’s also a way to expand on ideas I write about here on Medium and to include and highlight the work of others in the field. Plus, with the paid subscriber model, you can earn some money.
One great newsletter I read is from Dana Leigh Lyons. Here’s here take on the benefits of Substacking:
For issues related to consumer finance and particularly fintech, I follow Jason Mikula’s Fintech Business Weekly.
I also participated in the six-week Substack Grow sessions this summer and found a great newsletter on emergency management issues.
Todd DeVoe does a great job with this newsletter — it includes industry-relevant news, a podcast, and links to other great work in the field. It’s definitely targeted to a very specific niche, but it is also (in my view) a great example of how to craft and tailor your newsletter to meet the needs of your target audience.
Have you written on Substack? What’s your view of the platform?
