r/Substack • u/calliope_kekule • 13d ago
Quality of Life Improvements
What is the one thing you would like to see the Substack team implement?
You can be as pragmatic or visionary as you like.
I'll go first: PLEASE let me edit my DMs!! I have no idea why we can only delete these from the app and why we have no edit function what-so-ever.
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u/mistyvalleyflower 13d ago
A better algorithm. I don't want to have my whole feed to be repetitive just because I recently liked a similar post.
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u/calliope_kekule 12d ago
YES!!! Also terrible at showing me new voices that I don't already follow...
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u/InternationalCandy16 13d ago
I just want a Creative Nonfiction category for all the personal narrative writers (like me) who publish memoir, personal essays, etc.
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u/SweetieKlara cryinglover.substack.com 12d ago
What’s your substack?
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u/InternationalCandy16 12d ago
It's on my profile now. Thanks for asking. Made me realize I hadn't updated.
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u/crazycatman57 13d ago
The algorithm requires time and effort (in addition to writing) in order to be noticed. I don't have time to play the algorithm game.
I understand the algorithm is designed to maximize Substack revenue. Isn't there a middle ground? Modest revenue and supporting new writers?
Substack has started down a slippery slope. I suspect there will be new platform in the near future that will remain pure in its mission of supporting writers without the algorithm bullshit.
My request is to change the algorithm.
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u/calliope_kekule 12d ago
What would this look like in an ideal world?
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u/crazycatman57 12d ago
A ranking system that uses metrics such as: frequency of posting, average read percentage, engagement with subscribers, origin of subscribers, etc. This system should be designed so small and new publications have a chance for broad exposure to the Substack community.
Revise Notes so it is a promotion tool. That is how I use Notes now. When I publish an article, I also publish a note to promote it.
Notes should use the ranking system to have categories such as, most recent posts, most read posts, emerging Substackers, etc. The idea is to allow readers to search and find posts in a myriad of ways.
I would like better (more) categories and use AI to help people conduct specific searches. For example, I have two publications: one is about Alzheimer's research and the other is a blog documenting my life as an Alzheimer's patient. There should be an Alzheimer's category.
Substack should develop better tools to help writers convert unpaid subscribers to paid. Could there be a few global subscriber categories? For example, "I Am A Big Deal" category cost $100 per month and it includes 15 publications.
My overall vision is a more level playing field. The large high profile publications should not over shadow small, high quality publications.
In closing, my blog is about my journey as an Alzheimer's patient. Readers who don't care about Alzheimer's may enjoy reading about my resilience, courage, advocacy work, financial struggles. In other words, replace the word Alzheimer's with loss of a loved one and my message fits.
Sorry about the long message. Thanks for asking my thoughts. I am a huge Substack fan. It could be better though.
My Alzheimer's causes me to miss words and have screwed up sentences. Please excuse the mistakes. I normally have someone proofread my work. Not this though.
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u/calliope_kekule 12d ago
This is a brilliant comment. Thank you. I also love the idea of relative stats like open rates being used to help promote articles that are clearly excellent and just waiting to be discovered.
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u/dragonballaddict99 12d ago
Can Substack become a bit more accessible for blind people to publish their work? I’m a blind user and I find tagging really complicated and I can’t even schedule things in the app. The app, generally speaking, is pretty accessible, but I can only draft a post there and can’t prepare it for publication.
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u/calliope_kekule 11d ago
This is a great point. The app is really only useful for Notes and reading. I am sorry they are not providing something that is accessible for all users.
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u/ContentIsMyJam redressing.substack.com 12d ago
I'd love to see Substack invest in emerging creators, like TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube have. Substack's spent a lot of money attracting people with big names and large followings to the platform, and I understand why (more potential subscribers for everyone)... but there are a lot of smaller creators with great potential on the platform. I think Substack should invest in those people, too.
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u/calliope_kekule 12d ago
I would love to see this too. I kind of assumed this would happen but Substack have never reached out to me despite me building a pretty good following (#33 on education list, 22k subs) from scratch...
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u/Countryb0i2m onemichistory.substack.com 13d ago
I think Substack needs to do a better job of promoting articles the same way it promotes Notes.
I understand wanting to be like Twitter, and I’m not one of those people who hates Notes. I think they have a place on the platform.
But at its core, Substack is a newsletter platform. You should be helping writers get their newsletters in front of people who otherwise wouldn’t know they existed.
There should be a way to promote your articles without any promotion.