45 Comments

100% on blurbs and the need to tend your recommendation and blurb garden, and 200% on @substack please make the navigation easier!

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Ahh yes John! ✨ 🌱

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Thanks for the reminder abour recommendations! There is so much to think about, isn't there? 😊

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There is Debs but we don’t have to do it all?! I always prioritise recommendations every month because they are responsible for my growth. ✨🌱

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I’ve written a few blurbs for others but it is on my mind and heart to write more. Thank you for the reminder! 💗

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You’re welcome it’s such a lovely thing to do!

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founding

I wonder how you go about actually asking people to recommend you? Rather than recommending them and hoping they do it back 😆

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Well I just did a straight ask in a post (and made it a competition) when I started this space as I knew how impactful they are! For yours you could start with some you read?

Do it for you just for fun and generosity rather than PPM and then for PPM you can do a straight ask - “recomendations help others find out work and our services” type of thing?! ✨

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founding

I hadn’t thought about writing a post and asking! Thank you 🙏

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Sometimes we just need to be really really clear - you know I'm a huge fan of clarity!

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Ever since you told me about recommendations I’ve really prioritised it! I love doing them! Thank you for all your wisdom! Xx

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I'm so glad Lauren and I'd love to know the difference you feel it makes (both mindset wise and for growth)? I know it's not just me! 🤓

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founding

I love the idea of setting aside a bit of time each month to go through recommendations, thank you

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Isn’t it nice! We’ll do it in the Sparkle call eventually I think... ✨✨

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Signed up for the chat about licensing illustrations! Also, made a note to myself about spending time on recommendations, although I really should just do that right now, instead of making the note to do it later. Lol.

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Ha right?! My aim is 7 a month! But realistically I’m at capacity with what I can wholeheartedly read now...

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Claire, when I go into the list of newsletters that I recommend and click the three dots and write a blurb, does that blurb get sent to the writer of that newsletter? Is that they way that I share a blurb with someone else? Or does that only show up on my Substack? Thanks!

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Hey Aimee! They will see it when they go into their “blurb” section. They don’t get notified. You can also write notes when you upgrade to paid which is nice!! ✨🌀

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Thanks for the quick response, Claire! I usually poke around for an answer to my Substack question online and then next I think, "Let's see if Claire has written about it." Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

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You can't reply to paid subscriber notes yet. I've asked Substack. :o(

I didn't feel I could leave it so emailed the person directly.

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That’s so lovely of you!! It’s such a nice thing to receive!!

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Yes but not sustainable once subs grow!

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thanks Claire for sharing. I'm relatively new here (started publishing in May) and would love to make my efforts more worthwhile considering the effort I put into each piece. Thank you

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Hi Claire, this was the first Substack I’ve read of yours but I loved it as a newbie to the platform. Excited for the following ones!

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Ah welcome to Substack Lily! How you finding it? You might like this page I wrote too - https://sparkleon.substack.com/p/substack-tips

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Thank you! I’m really enjoying it so far and love the community aspect of it so far. I’ll definitely take a read ☺️

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Oh the community is so generous and supportive here! ✨🌱 pop back if you need anything? 🙏

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Will do. Thank you so much! ☺️

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I never heard of tht "Blurb" thing before this. So will start looking into it 😁

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Let us know what you find?! 👀

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Looking forward to sitting down and devouring your top tips at some point my love - all so useful and generous

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Recommendations is the single biggest way to grow within the Substack network so that's the one to prioritise! 😉

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I notice I’m reading so many more Substack posts now that I’ve deleted the app and switched to email again. It’s showing me I must have been avoiding the energy of the app. It’s feeling so cozy and nice again. 🥰

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Oh that’s so so nice!! I’m so behind now... I’m not sure I’ll catch up...

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I skipped almost everything from summer and just started fresh.

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Oh I like this!!

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Thank you for your sane advice!

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You’re welcome!!

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Sep 29, 2023Liked by Claire Venus

Love this Claire and your idea to do recommendations. Super lovely idea 💡

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Have you done any yet Lisa? It’s really a beautiful part of Substack and they use it to inform how they promote other Substacks to us too. ✨🌱

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Sep 29, 2023Liked by Claire Venus

I’m not sure how... is this when you follow someone and it says do you want to recommend them? If so I think I do click that button... I saw you recommended me - thanks lovely 🥰 but do tell me if it is something else? Do you share a post you like somewhere?

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Yes that’s one way for sure but in the screen shots above I go into move depth too. Writing blurbs and recommending others is one of my biggest tips for growth here. PLUS it’s lovely to do! ✨🥰

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