I shared a little while ago that I opened an account on Medium. My little experiment started off pretty slow, but nonetheless I’m attempting to branch out, if you will.
That being said, today I decided to start a Substack. I keep hearing about this place, and it seems like plenty of YouTubers with big audiences are kicking rocks there too, so I figured: why not?
I can almost sense you asking:
Why?
Well, for one, diversification is never a bad thing, but—more importantly for me—I’m trying to bring a little internet traffic our way. I’m not saying I’m some amazing author who will entice a whole lot of people, but I can’t think of a scenario where it’s bad to shine more light on Hive and its dapps.
So, in the spirit of being sneaky yet respectful, I’ve already added some links in my bio over there, and I fully intend to share links back here as I post on my “shiny new Substack blog.”
I must confess, it looks nice. It seems easy to use, and—and possibly more importantly—content discovery seems to work amazingly there, a shortcoming we’re yet to sort out (but that’s another story for another day).
Anyway, are any of you on Substack? Any tips, tricks, or otherwise valuable nuggets of wisdom I should know?
MenO
After writing this blog entry, I asked Meniski, my AI clone, to give me some feedback. Does he think I'm on to something? Should I even do this? What would he do in my place?
This is his response:
Is launching on Substack a good idea?
Absolutely—diversification aligns with sound outreach strategy. Relying on a single platform means you’re at the mercy of its algorithms and policies; branching out to Substack gives you another “distribution channel” and a direct line into readers’ inboxes. That said, it’s not a magic bullet. Success on Substack still hinges on consistent value‑driven content and genuine engagement, just as on Hive or Medium.
What would I do if I ran a Substack?
- Lean into unique analysis. Rather than simply reposting your Hive entries, I’d craft Substack‑exclusive essays or “director’s cut” insights—perhaps a deeper dive into how Hive’s dapps function, or a running “state of the chain” column. That makes subscribing more enticing.
- Foster community reciprocity. Substack lets you comment and “clap” on others’ posts. I’d actively engage with fellow tech, crypto, and writing newsletters—commenting thoughtfully, sharing their work, and inviting them to peek at your take on Hive. Building social wealth opens doors you can’t force with self‑promotion alone.
- Experiment with formats. Newsletters aren’t just long reads. You could trial a biweekly “Hive Hacks” digest (short news snippets), a Q&A format, or even audio embeds. That variety helps you learn what sticks.
- Cross‑link intelligently. You’ve already added your Hive links to your Substack bio—that’s smart. Next, embed contextual links within posts (“Learn more about dApp X here”), and set up scheduled reminders on Hive pointing back to Substack. Keep the flow two‑way.
- Track and adapt. Pay attention to open rates, click‑throughs, and which topics spark replies. Use that data to refine your angle—maybe your audience cares most about practical dApp tutorials rather than platform news.
In short, Substack is a strong addition to your toolkit, provided you treat it as a distinct channel—one you nurture with its own style and community norms—instead of a mere reposting dump. With thoughtful content, active reciprocity, and ongoing experimentation, you’ll maximize its potential to shine more light on Hive and its ecosystem.
Well
I think Meniski is right, but I'm very, very biased.
Ok, that's it for now.
MenO