Member-only story
Why I’m done playing the algorithm game
Yesterday, I wrote a newsletter about the merits of running a paid newsletter on Kit and Substack.
A reader asked why I’m using Substack if I already run this newsletter on Kit.
They also wanted to know why I’m creating a Telegram group, which I teased in that newsletter.
I started my email list on MailChimp back in 2015. I moved to ConvertKit in 2016 as it’s a better fit for creators. I use ConvertKit (now Kit) because it’s connected to Become a Writer Today via landing pages and forms.
I spent a few years building that website with a team of writers. When people visit my site, I offer them a book to join my newsletter. It still gets traffic today, but it’s not my primary focus (more on why in a moment).
I sometimes run Facebook Ad campaigns and send traffic to a landing page connected to Kit. They also hook me up with sponsors, and I attract subscribers organically via the Kit Creator network. I also use Kit to email students of my courses.
Except for organic growth, none of this is possible on Substack.
In 2020, I experimented with Substack. Then, I turned off my paid publication, exported my subscribers, and moved them to this email list.
