A powerful tool—but is it serving you, or just spiking your dopamine? Here’s how to use it with intention and lean into the magic that already exists inside of your work.
Great piece, Claire. I have had to step back from Notes over the past few months as it got way too noisy and started to feel like all the other social media sites that I left many years ago. I still do share my own Notes and respond to comments I get but rather than going to the feed and scrolling, I go to the profiles of people I am interested in and want to interact with and read any Notes they have posted there instead. It’s much better for me to do it this way!
That’s a really lovely idea! When I was researching this it was hard to get to the list of a person’s notes. Do you find you have to add /notes after their publication name? I’m sure it used to be after their profile. Anyway I struggle to keep up because of the frenzy - glad you appreciated this and can stay in your own lane of valuing connection in it all.
I just search for their profile by their name and then click in the Activity tab. I only read Notes on the web version so that I am not getting involved in the scrolling in the app!
Thanks for the mention Claire and sharing my little bit of good luck!
Since New Year, I've spent less time on Notes. I removed all social media apps from my phone, including Substack, and scrolling feeds feels less addictive on a browser. I dip into it now but never get lost in it.
The other thing to note is that going viral is *scary*. Slow and steady growth allows your confidence to grow with your audience. Viral sets off the imposter syndrome alert button and you're just waiting for all your new readers to discover that you haven't got a clue what you're doing.
You're welcome. Yes I can imagine - there's been a few flutters and frenzies inside of my publication where I've felt like that... in the end it settles down but it's a lot isn't it. It's also hard to connect with each person when it happens which is why I ended up bringing in two assistants last year. It doesn't feel enough to press a heart plus it makes me dizzy if I scroll too quickly. You're an inspiration Simon - keep doing what you do. Looking forward to our podcast interview at some point this year.
You are the wisest owl and look I bet your nervous system has stayed way calmer than mine. It makes me tired feeling like I have to be there and learn it all to help people so I’ve reframed it a bit for my sanity this year and will just present lovely things and lots and lots of alternatives! Sending sparkles to you!
Thanks, Claire! Actually I've been doing some hard work with my own nervous system recently thanks to fatigue and related health issues, and gosh, now that I've taken even more pressure off myself I am doing much better with how I feel about all that.
It's so easy to forget that everything we do, however disparate and unrelated all of those things seem - work, obligations to others (and ourselves), chores, family, even the 'want tos' that we love doing - they are all part of just one human person, and it's that whole person who needs care to thrive. It's only in the last three months that I've realised that 'hey, if this is how it is, this is okay, and I don't HAVE to do this, this, this AND this, and the world won't ACTUALLY end if I publish my next post on Sunday rather than Saturday'.
And guess what? That post? It's not GOING to be ready for Saturday, and that is okay. More than okay, actually. Am still enjoying writing it, and it'll be out there sometime.
Thank you for this. Notes feels very much like "traditional" social media with a very random algorithm, and with the increase in people in the past month there's content coming up I really don't want to see (had to block someone who posted an image very much NSFW yesterday in the feed). I curate with hiding/muting and like, restack and comment on those I enjoy, but ultimately I prefer to read the long form articles and engage with those. If I wanted a quick fix I'd be scrolling through X or Instagram, and there's a reason I deleted those from my phone!
Yep same! Marketing is part of my job so sadly I inevitably have to dip in and out, but I’ve mostly broken the urge to post every photo on Instagram and mindless scroll.
I’ve definitely been sucked in to the whole scrolling notes thing- this damn dopamine desperate brain of mine! I love the tip below to only look at notes on the desktop version to avoid this 😍
Unfortunately for me, Notes has not been bringing enough traction. I haven’t changed much in the type of content I am sharing but there was a time when the same type of writing got me 100+ subscribers within days. At the end of the day, Substack also runs on algorithm and you are absolutely right about the Notes boost thing. The pressure can be so real sometimes. We need to step back from time to time and be intentional about this.
You know I am SO glad it’s not just me. My fear is I have a fair few mutes on my account because when you show up a lot it happens but then I look at folks with five times the subs I have and their notes still go un noticed. It’s just wild really and would drive you bonkers if you tried to keep feeding the beast. What else are you doing for joyful growth? I’m running a free challenge next week. ✨✨
Thank you for sharing this timely advice. Writing notes resembles IG which I quit recently. Can you remind me who receives the notes? Do they always go to our subscribers? It’s challenging to focus on seasonal living while inundating people with my notes. It feels more personal since I have 100 subscribers. I might feel differently after spending more time updating and honing my space.
Hmm that’s such a good question. I have 20k followers (followers follow your notes but don’t subscribe) and subscribers automatically follow you unless they block or mute you. I don’t get more interaction than I did when I first started infact it’s like feast or famine with the likes so our algorithm are serving us what it thinks we’ll like but who know how it knows. Ai 🤖 drives Notes and I prefer to just toggle along the categories because I never see many people I follow anyway?! 🤷🏽♀️
You are absolutely right on all of this (of course). Plus, I don't know what 'going viral' means but I had one Note which got 2.5k likes and a ton of restacks which only led to 25 free subscribers. Which I know is still great but I've had other notes which converted far higher. So I guess that side doesn't always figure either. I find it a bit busy over there right now tbh, it is feeling far more like other social media. But I think you're right, if you keep clear boundaries and curate your feed a bit it is still fun.
Woah Nelly! That is awesome insight and yes absolutely people can be liking and scrolling because it’s turned that way. To like a subscribe us a big move. There’s so much more nuance here I want to dig into. I guess I wasn’t really til now. I liked it when we all wrote lovely things and chatted. 😞 There’s still space for our voice and connection and that’s a lovely thing! ✨✨
I tend to dip in and out with notes. Some days I'm up for it and others days not at all. I realise I'd be potentially growing faster if I would be on notes more, but it's ok 😊
Great piece, Claire. I have had to step back from Notes over the past few months as it got way too noisy and started to feel like all the other social media sites that I left many years ago. I still do share my own Notes and respond to comments I get but rather than going to the feed and scrolling, I go to the profiles of people I am interested in and want to interact with and read any Notes they have posted there instead. It’s much better for me to do it this way!
That’s a really lovely idea! When I was researching this it was hard to get to the list of a person’s notes. Do you find you have to add /notes after their publication name? I’m sure it used to be after their profile. Anyway I struggle to keep up because of the frenzy - glad you appreciated this and can stay in your own lane of valuing connection in it all.
I just search for their profile by their name and then click in the Activity tab. I only read Notes on the web version so that I am not getting involved in the scrolling in the app!
Ah yep so that used to be where you could toggle along to notes but now it’s posts and notes
Thanks for the mention Claire and sharing my little bit of good luck!
Since New Year, I've spent less time on Notes. I removed all social media apps from my phone, including Substack, and scrolling feeds feels less addictive on a browser. I dip into it now but never get lost in it.
The other thing to note is that going viral is *scary*. Slow and steady growth allows your confidence to grow with your audience. Viral sets off the imposter syndrome alert button and you're just waiting for all your new readers to discover that you haven't got a clue what you're doing.
You're welcome. Yes I can imagine - there's been a few flutters and frenzies inside of my publication where I've felt like that... in the end it settles down but it's a lot isn't it. It's also hard to connect with each person when it happens which is why I ended up bringing in two assistants last year. It doesn't feel enough to press a heart plus it makes me dizzy if I scroll too quickly. You're an inspiration Simon - keep doing what you do. Looking forward to our podcast interview at some point this year.
Wise, so wise - thanks, Claire! My own no-Notes policy helps to keep the noise down in my already deafening life. Hugs! 🤗
You are the wisest owl and look I bet your nervous system has stayed way calmer than mine. It makes me tired feeling like I have to be there and learn it all to help people so I’ve reframed it a bit for my sanity this year and will just present lovely things and lots and lots of alternatives! Sending sparkles to you!
Thanks, Claire! Actually I've been doing some hard work with my own nervous system recently thanks to fatigue and related health issues, and gosh, now that I've taken even more pressure off myself I am doing much better with how I feel about all that.
It's so easy to forget that everything we do, however disparate and unrelated all of those things seem - work, obligations to others (and ourselves), chores, family, even the 'want tos' that we love doing - they are all part of just one human person, and it's that whole person who needs care to thrive. It's only in the last three months that I've realised that 'hey, if this is how it is, this is okay, and I don't HAVE to do this, this, this AND this, and the world won't ACTUALLY end if I publish my next post on Sunday rather than Saturday'.
And guess what? That post? It's not GOING to be ready for Saturday, and that is okay. More than okay, actually. Am still enjoying writing it, and it'll be out there sometime.
🥰 Sparkles back, dear girl! ✨
Thank you for this. Notes feels very much like "traditional" social media with a very random algorithm, and with the increase in people in the past month there's content coming up I really don't want to see (had to block someone who posted an image very much NSFW yesterday in the feed). I curate with hiding/muting and like, restack and comment on those I enjoy, but ultimately I prefer to read the long form articles and engage with those. If I wanted a quick fix I'd be scrolling through X or Instagram, and there's a reason I deleted those from my phone!
A quick fix yes exactly. I find when I delete the apps I’m soon not bothered. Do you find that too?
Yep same! Marketing is part of my job so sadly I inevitably have to dip in and out, but I’ve mostly broken the urge to post every photo on Instagram and mindless scroll.
Excellent points worth remembering. Thank you, Claire. I dip in and out of notes, and mostly I just open the ‘following’ tab, to stay sane!
NICE work Jo! If it can be fun that’s great but if it’s a slog or an assault it’s not worth it hey?!
Absolutely! 👍🏼 I want grow but not at the expense of my sanity or nervous system! 🤯
I literally just wrote a note about how important it is to go back to basic, i.e. creating great newsletter that brings value to our reader.
I agree, Notes is the new Instagram at the moment. It's an awesome tool to connect with our prospective subscribers and to market our writing.
However we do need to be careful not too carried away as we did with the other Social Media.
https://substack.com/@chrisprakoso/note/c-91198174
Totally Chris - if it's joyful that's great.
I’ve definitely been sucked in to the whole scrolling notes thing- this damn dopamine desperate brain of mine! I love the tip below to only look at notes on the desktop version to avoid this 😍
Ooo great - yes and get the notes you want to write written up and mix in your restacks and shares each week too.
That is some great advice Claire!
Unfortunately for me, Notes has not been bringing enough traction. I haven’t changed much in the type of content I am sharing but there was a time when the same type of writing got me 100+ subscribers within days. At the end of the day, Substack also runs on algorithm and you are absolutely right about the Notes boost thing. The pressure can be so real sometimes. We need to step back from time to time and be intentional about this.
Lovely post as always!✨
You know I am SO glad it’s not just me. My fear is I have a fair few mutes on my account because when you show up a lot it happens but then I look at folks with five times the subs I have and their notes still go un noticed. It’s just wild really and would drive you bonkers if you tried to keep feeding the beast. What else are you doing for joyful growth? I’m running a free challenge next week. ✨✨
Thank you for sharing this timely advice. Writing notes resembles IG which I quit recently. Can you remind me who receives the notes? Do they always go to our subscribers? It’s challenging to focus on seasonal living while inundating people with my notes. It feels more personal since I have 100 subscribers. I might feel differently after spending more time updating and honing my space.
Hmm that’s such a good question. I have 20k followers (followers follow your notes but don’t subscribe) and subscribers automatically follow you unless they block or mute you. I don’t get more interaction than I did when I first started infact it’s like feast or famine with the likes so our algorithm are serving us what it thinks we’ll like but who know how it knows. Ai 🤖 drives Notes and I prefer to just toggle along the categories because I never see many people I follow anyway?! 🤷🏽♀️
Love this Claire! Thank you so much for the mention.
Notes is a great place to grow but also, it’s a lot.
Comparisonitis city.
Right it’s just about a blend of boundaries and creativity isn’t it like all social spaces? Connection and joy totally possible!
You are absolutely right on all of this (of course). Plus, I don't know what 'going viral' means but I had one Note which got 2.5k likes and a ton of restacks which only led to 25 free subscribers. Which I know is still great but I've had other notes which converted far higher. So I guess that side doesn't always figure either. I find it a bit busy over there right now tbh, it is feeling far more like other social media. But I think you're right, if you keep clear boundaries and curate your feed a bit it is still fun.
Woah Nelly! That is awesome insight and yes absolutely people can be liking and scrolling because it’s turned that way. To like a subscribe us a big move. There’s so much more nuance here I want to dig into. I guess I wasn’t really til now. I liked it when we all wrote lovely things and chatted. 😞 There’s still space for our voice and connection and that’s a lovely thing! ✨✨
I tend to dip in and out with notes. Some days I'm up for it and others days not at all. I realise I'd be potentially growing faster if I would be on notes more, but it's ok 😊