I am at about 3,700 subs, and sometimes my Notes pass by with little or no engagement. So it might not be all that abnormal.
On the other hand, after a year of growth at a very steady and reliable pace, my rate of increase has dropped over the last few months. Others have reported something similar, so something may have changed with the algorithm. I wish they wouldn’t meddle so much with things that were working just fine!
Thanks for the reply, fren. Since I don't monetize my stack, my concern is more whether or not I am wasting my time with writing. I still find it a great place to keep up with the authors I respect, and mostly just use it as a news source. I'll give this post 24 hours and see how much engagement it gets.
I hear ya, brother; same issue here, especially with Notes. Over 1,800 subscribers, and nearly 4,000 followers... and I am lucky if I get double-digit likes on my Notes; I may - MAY - hit three-digits on my recent 'Norm' post, but it has been many months since that has happened for me.
Engagement is way down on my Substack posts as well, and like Christopher mentioned subs have come to a near-standstill. They've definitely changed the algorithm, and from my observations it seems to favor authors and subjects from a certain perspective... and that perspective is not mine LOL
Thanks for the timely reply sir. From my (tiny) corner of Substack, the consensus seems to be that Notes may be responsible for our experience, e.g. earlier this week Jason Powers announced a sabbatical. But I feel that tapping the like button on Notes couldn't be easier...I prolly 'like' 50 Notes / Posts daily, and don't feel it's an imposition. And of curse I'm familiar with the old saw "if your posts get X engagement, it got X x Y eyes" or some such. Also, I am NOT here for affirmation...but an occasional pat on the head IS nice.
It should be kept in mind that at least some of the followers are people who don't use Notes altogether, they just became followers because of recommendations. Last time I checked, when you're subscribing to someone, you're given 3 random suggestions from their recommendations to subscribe to, and up to 50 (!) to follow; and people sometimes just accept that en masse.
YES. Although I always deselect those checkboxes, newbies surely do not, and I suspect that up to half of Skepsis Nation is ghosts. I also think that newbs aim to free-sub / follow as many stacks as possible, as fast as possible, thinking that makes a difference to others. Damn tweeters!
He was recently embroiled in securing Medicare / disability benefits: "The worst time in the history of the world to be doing this shit." I think his sailing days are prolly over. In my prayers 🙏
DUDE. Same old, same old here. You were missed. Substack has changed alot during your absence, and not entirely for the better. Good thing you're back to kick ass and take names. Show no mercy!
almost 2 months after you posted this, I found your ss (through Petra Liverani's), but then 21 May was my father's birthday (auspicious date). since I don't have a smart/iPhone (I like to think I'm smarter than my phone), I do most of my internet activities by way of a sturdy desktop 'puter and honestly, Notes is not easy to navigate at all. so I say "HI there, nice to meet you!" (and subbed). be well
Cheers Amy. Nice to see you...hope all's good! TYVM for the shout.
I am here.
I am at about 3,700 subs, and sometimes my Notes pass by with little or no engagement. So it might not be all that abnormal.
On the other hand, after a year of growth at a very steady and reliable pace, my rate of increase has dropped over the last few months. Others have reported something similar, so something may have changed with the algorithm. I wish they wouldn’t meddle so much with things that were working just fine!
Thanks for the reply, fren. Since I don't monetize my stack, my concern is more whether or not I am wasting my time with writing. I still find it a great place to keep up with the authors I respect, and mostly just use it as a news source. I'll give this post 24 hours and see how much engagement it gets.
Time is more precious than money.
I hear ya, brother; same issue here, especially with Notes. Over 1,800 subscribers, and nearly 4,000 followers... and I am lucky if I get double-digit likes on my Notes; I may - MAY - hit three-digits on my recent 'Norm' post, but it has been many months since that has happened for me.
Engagement is way down on my Substack posts as well, and like Christopher mentioned subs have come to a near-standstill. They've definitely changed the algorithm, and from my observations it seems to favor authors and subjects from a certain perspective... and that perspective is not mine LOL
Oh well, it is what it is...
Thanks for the timely reply sir. From my (tiny) corner of Substack, the consensus seems to be that Notes may be responsible for our experience, e.g. earlier this week Jason Powers announced a sabbatical. But I feel that tapping the like button on Notes couldn't be easier...I prolly 'like' 50 Notes / Posts daily, and don't feel it's an imposition. And of curse I'm familiar with the old saw "if your posts get X engagement, it got X x Y eyes" or some such. Also, I am NOT here for affirmation...but an occasional pat on the head IS nice.
I appreciate you.
It should be kept in mind that at least some of the followers are people who don't use Notes altogether, they just became followers because of recommendations. Last time I checked, when you're subscribing to someone, you're given 3 random suggestions from their recommendations to subscribe to, and up to 50 (!) to follow; and people sometimes just accept that en masse.
YES. Although I always deselect those checkboxes, newbies surely do not, and I suspect that up to half of Skepsis Nation is ghosts. I also think that newbs aim to free-sub / follow as many stacks as possible, as fast as possible, thinking that makes a difference to others. Damn tweeters!
TYVM for your reply.
Many of us are here, but don't follow Notes on a daily basis.
Thanks for checking in, old fren. Radio silence from NJ over on GAP makes me fear the worst. 😞
Hmmm. That is a concern. Shoot him a DM?
I Protoned him 2 weeks ago...no reply; and no gab activity for a month (although I rarely visit since Torba banned VPN access)
Does he still have that boat? Maybe he's off in the Caribbean?
He was recently embroiled in securing Medicare / disability benefits: "The worst time in the history of the world to be doing this shit." I think his sailing days are prolly over. In my prayers 🙏
Indeed.
Hey Doc! Long time no talk. How you been?
DUDE. Same old, same old here. You were missed. Substack has changed alot during your absence, and not entirely for the better. Good thing you're back to kick ass and take names. Show no mercy!
In a limited capacity I'll get a scalp here and there.
almost 2 months after you posted this, I found your ss (through Petra Liverani's), but then 21 May was my father's birthday (auspicious date). since I don't have a smart/iPhone (I like to think I'm smarter than my phone), I do most of my internet activities by way of a sturdy desktop 'puter and honestly, Notes is not easy to navigate at all. so I say "HI there, nice to meet you!" (and subbed). be well