45 Comments
Sep 29, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
author

Ahh yes John! ✨ 🌱

Expand full comment

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

Expand full comment
author

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. ✨🌱

Expand full comment
Sep 29, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment
founding

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

Expand full comment
author

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?! ✨

Expand full comment
founding

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

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment
Sep 30, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
author

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! 🤓

Expand full comment
founding
Sep 29, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment
Oct 28, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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.

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment
Oct 17, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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!

Expand full comment
author

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!! ✨🌀

Expand full comment

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!

Expand full comment
Oct 9, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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.

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment
Oct 9, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

Yes but not sustainable once subs grow!

Expand full comment
Oct 7, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
Oct 5, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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!

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment
Oct 5, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment

Will do. Thank you so much! ☺️

Expand full comment
Oct 3, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
author

Let us know what you find?! 👀

Expand full comment
Oct 2, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment
Oct 2, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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. 🥰

Expand full comment
author

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

Expand full comment
Oct 3, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

I skipped almost everything from summer and just started fresh.

Expand full comment
author

Oh I like this!!

Expand full comment

Thank you for your sane advice!

Expand full comment
author

You’re welcome!!

Expand full comment
Sep 29, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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

Expand full comment
author

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. ✨🌱

Expand full comment
Sep 29, 2023Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

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?

Expand full comment
author

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! ✨🥰

Expand full comment