HOW TO BUILD A WORLD CLASS SUBSTACK (REVIEW)
BOOKOLOGY 5
Title: How To Build A World Class Substack
Authors: Claire Venus, Russell Nohelty
Category: Substack, Writing Self Help, Business Advice
Publish Date: December 9, 2024
Publisher: Russell Nohelty
Rating Five Star *****
Summary:
A detailed guide to Substack with an emphasis on building a paid subscriber base. Advice on how to build writing as a paid occupation.
Review:
I absolutely love this book even though it is not by either Ray Bradbury or Anthony Robbins. My admiring complaint is that there is so much practical, “use now” information that I have had to read sections many times. I generally don’t like to do that. Besides the “use now” information about Substack there is great advice about every aspect of business life. Having owned a retail business in New York City for twenty-eight years I know quality business advice when given.
Clearly this book is about making Substack a paying business enterprise for writers. Therefore, great business advice from both authors is a welcome benefit. The advice does not just pertain to Substack.
That said, based on this book, my personal insight into moving The Complaint Department behind a paywall may make sense. There is a good argument by the authors as to showing my seriousness and commitment to my stack via paid subscriptions. My goal from the beginning is education about politics and economics. So far, I have changed the description of the Complaint Department joewightman.substack.com in the “ABOUT” section on my home page and thus change the category from Politics to Education.
If I might cite Tony Robbins, he has mentioned that he has frequently been asked why his programs are expensive. His basic answer is along the lines of free advice is worth what you pay for it and that people don’t value what does not require commitment, most commonly by way of a payment for a school, a paid program or a subscription.
If I have a quibble, it is the chapter “Maximizing Substack for each Author Ecosystem”. I did not understand the concepts as there was not enough of an introductory preamble with an example-based definition of each term of an ecosystem. I did not understand the relevance.
I did get the author’s idea of a Goodwill Bank for growing your audience. Essentially, give more than ask for a subscription from readers. That will lower the barrier to reader engagement and subscription. It also happens to apply to most things in life. “How can I help you get the bar tenders attention?” is a much better ice breaker than “Do you come here often?”
I found this book via Substack expert Karen Cherry’s recommendation. Yet, I want to know more about the mechanics of Substack. I am a “newbie” author. The good news is that it hits the substantive issues of how to be a great creator on Substack. The bad news is that I still don’t know about using other non-writing materials from non-Substack sources. For example, can I verbatim recite/quote with attribution, articles e.g. The New York Times in text or a video to make a point or criticism to say nothing of satire? What are the rules for photos, cartoons etc. Yes, you can find them, but wouldn’t it be smart to have a set up guide or YouTube for new writers. I would pay for this kind of add on.
I highly recommend this book no matter what your ultimate Substack purpose is. I was just looking for more subscribers and found this gem. Now I am a signed up for the Author’s Stack etc. I look forward to more from Mr. Nohelty and Ms. Venus.
How To Build A World Class Substack
Claire Venus , Russell Nohelty
---Available: https://www.russellnohelty.com/books/h2bwcs/