The reason I skip the interviews is they don't generally include much of your perspective or analysis, which is what drives my all-but-interviews 100% open rates on my subscription. I know, I know, there's analysis and perspective in the interview questions, but...
One thing I'd love to see in these interviews of the tech bros crafting our reality: some sort of "grain-of-salt-o-meter" after the answers. Like, how much of the answer is 100% true, true but only inclusive of self-serving bits, true and inclusive of non-self serving bits, true-ish, maybe true but beside the point, and pants-on-fire. How much of the answers are talking points versus honest engagement with the questions?
Congratulations on your Anniversary, Casey. It's a great accomplishment. For next year I have only one piece of advice:
As an independent tech sole proprietor I have always found my biggest problem to be my boss--he never wants to give me any time off. Be good to yourself and enjoy your second year of independence! Keep up the wonderful work!
I can’t believe it’s been a year, congratulations Casey. A few thoughts:
* I don’t mind interviews with people who aren’t spokespeople. Interviews with Zuck or Spiegal (whom I like) are kinda worthless because nothing really new comes out of them. Researchers, marginalized voices, those I like hearing from but honestly I’m here for your reporting and insight.
* the 10% conversion pitch from Substack is kinda surprising. My experience in conversions to paid is that 5% is quite nice and 2-3% is standard.
* I like the idea and value prop of the discord, I never have time to hang out there
* you comment that the only way subscribers grow is through tweets should turn Substack exec’s blood to ice with fear. And yet they seem so f’ing oblivious. The authentication sucks, the commenting sucks, and there’s no public support channel to ask for these things to change. I’ve rarely seen a product so conceptually simple fail to improve (on the reader side) and to implicitly give the finger to anyone who has feedback.
Thank you for all the great content you've provided us over the last year. To me, it's well worth it for sure. I'm also so glad you're considering a podcast. That would be fantastic for Platformer.
The interviews, on the other hand, were my favorites, but I may be in that small percentage of your readers.
Congrats on the first year Casey ! I'm not surprised at the conversion rates (5% is supposed to be very good, 2-3% average in my benchmark), rather at the Substack overselling pitch. And I'm curious as to how Substack will pitch us renewals as I'm almost up I believe (I subscribed the dat you wrote from The verge saying you'd be doing this instead). As the customer experience is not awsome, from an account perspective, I dread it won't be as easy as it could be. I'll let you know ! Cheers from Bordeaux, France
Congratulation for a great first year! On your note about "[Your reader] hate interviews", for me personally, I like them. I just don't listen to the podcast. I always like your writing. It has depth, warmth, and conciseness that make it worth subscribing.
I'm here for year 2! And for interviews with marginalized voices - thanks for posting insights into Platformer, it got me to convert to a paid subscription 🍻
The real question is can anyone actually dealing with the truth actually continue to exist inside Big Tech or their inventions? We can try but there is "Blood On the Tracks" everywhere, A "Slow Train" has been oncoming for quite awhile and working inside this dystopian reality often feels like we're all out on "Highway 61." If we really process the Elizabeth Holmes debacle there is much truth to be confronted. It's a metaphor.
What I learned from a year on Substack
Dude, GREAT post. Thank you for sharing all that insight with all of us and congrats on your first year. Very happy I subscribed. - mike
The reason I skip the interviews is they don't generally include much of your perspective or analysis, which is what drives my all-but-interviews 100% open rates on my subscription. I know, I know, there's analysis and perspective in the interview questions, but...
One thing I'd love to see in these interviews of the tech bros crafting our reality: some sort of "grain-of-salt-o-meter" after the answers. Like, how much of the answer is 100% true, true but only inclusive of self-serving bits, true and inclusive of non-self serving bits, true-ish, maybe true but beside the point, and pants-on-fire. How much of the answers are talking points versus honest engagement with the questions?
Congratulations on your Anniversary, Casey. It's a great accomplishment. For next year I have only one piece of advice:
As an independent tech sole proprietor I have always found my biggest problem to be my boss--he never wants to give me any time off. Be good to yourself and enjoy your second year of independence! Keep up the wonderful work!
I can’t believe it’s been a year, congratulations Casey. A few thoughts:
* I don’t mind interviews with people who aren’t spokespeople. Interviews with Zuck or Spiegal (whom I like) are kinda worthless because nothing really new comes out of them. Researchers, marginalized voices, those I like hearing from but honestly I’m here for your reporting and insight.
* the 10% conversion pitch from Substack is kinda surprising. My experience in conversions to paid is that 5% is quite nice and 2-3% is standard.
* I like the idea and value prop of the discord, I never have time to hang out there
* you comment that the only way subscribers grow is through tweets should turn Substack exec’s blood to ice with fear. And yet they seem so f’ing oblivious. The authentication sucks, the commenting sucks, and there’s no public support channel to ask for these things to change. I’ve rarely seen a product so conceptually simple fail to improve (on the reader side) and to implicitly give the finger to anyone who has feedback.
I’m in for year 2. Congratulations.
Thank you for all the great content you've provided us over the last year. To me, it's well worth it for sure. I'm also so glad you're considering a podcast. That would be fantastic for Platformer.
The interviews, on the other hand, were my favorites, but I may be in that small percentage of your readers.
Way to go for years and years!
Congrats on the first year Casey ! I'm not surprised at the conversion rates (5% is supposed to be very good, 2-3% average in my benchmark), rather at the Substack overselling pitch. And I'm curious as to how Substack will pitch us renewals as I'm almost up I believe (I subscribed the dat you wrote from The verge saying you'd be doing this instead). As the customer experience is not awsome, from an account perspective, I dread it won't be as easy as it could be. I'll let you know ! Cheers from Bordeaux, France
Congratulation for a great first year! On your note about "[Your reader] hate interviews", for me personally, I like them. I just don't listen to the podcast. I always like your writing. It has depth, warmth, and conciseness that make it worth subscribing.
Here to another great year of Platformer.
I wouldn't mind gifting a sub to someone if that was all set up with recipients. Looking forward to the next year :)
I'm here for year 2! And for interviews with marginalized voices - thanks for posting insights into Platformer, it got me to convert to a paid subscription 🍻
The real question is can anyone actually dealing with the truth actually continue to exist inside Big Tech or their inventions? We can try but there is "Blood On the Tracks" everywhere, A "Slow Train" has been oncoming for quite awhile and working inside this dystopian reality often feels like we're all out on "Highway 61." If we really process the Elizabeth Holmes debacle there is much truth to be confronted. It's a metaphor.