Substack Or Mailchimp For Writers?
Which is better for writers?
Hi, y’all!
Another week, another newsletter. Thoughts so far?
Newsletters: Which Way To Go?
I used Mailchimp for years and years - switched during the pandemic to MailerLite (easier and less expensive). Now I’m here on Substack and loving it!
Both companies offer newsletter options, however, they’re very different.
Think of Substack as a boutique bookstore where authors both sell and promote their books, whereas Mailchimp is like a megastore for all sorts of marketing tools, where books are just one of the many products.
Both are platforms aimed at email marketing and audience engagement, but their focus, features, pricing, and flexibility models are different.
Let’s break down those four aspects!
Focus:
- Substack: Primarily for writers, journalists, and creators who want a streamlined way to monetize their content (or keep it free - up to you). Imagine it like a pop-up book fair dedicated to writers. Excellent tools for formatting, branding, and payment (if you choose that option).
- Mailchimp: It’s a broader email marketing platform used by all sorts of businesses. If Substack is a writer’s haven, Mailchimp is more like a literary festival with booths for everyone, from publishers to small businesses.
Features:
- Substack: Built-in monetization features like paid subscriptions make it easier for writers to earn money directly from their audience'; kinda like having a tip jar next to your bookshelf. I also like the uncomplicated analytics such as open rate, subs/unsubs, etc. They’ve also now added the shorter ‘notes’ option (think social media but here).
- Mailchimp: Offers a more extensive suite of tools, like automated marketing campaigns, A/B testing, and analytics. If that sounds too complicated, look elsewhere.
Pricing:
- Substack: Takes a cut of your subscription fees (typically around 10%). Think of it as (potential) commission for helping you sell your “books”—no sales, no fees.
- Mailchimp: Monthly subscription model with various pricing tiers based on features and the number of contacts. As your subscriber list grows, so does your pricing.
Flexibility:
- Substack: Less flexibility but easier to use. Ideal for writers who want to focus more on content and less on the tech side. It's a no-fuss, no-muss approach.
- Mailchimp: More customizable but requires a steeper learning curve. If you're keen on experimenting with marketing techniques, it offers more room to play around.
Final Thoughts:
Substack might feel like a more intimate community platform, while Mailchimp offers a comprehensive set of tools for wider marketing strategies.
What if you already have Mailchimp? Is it possible to convert to Substack? Should you continue with both? More on that in future newsletters.
Hope this helps! What are you using and what are your thoughts?
All writers are welcome! Join my audio space #BookMarketingChat - a free, weekly space I host on Twitter/X, generously sponsored by Booklinker.
Upcoming #BookMarketingChat Twitter/X Spaces, every Wednesday at 11 am pst/2 pm est - click the orange highlighted link below to set a reminder now:
(Recorded) 8/30: AI Writing Tools with
and Mischa's Musingson how they are specifically using AI to aid their writing and marketing.
(Recorded) 9/6: Open Q&A on all things book marketing!
Coming up:
9/13: Author interview and giveaway with Julia’s Newsletter - Julia Park Tracey, author of the novel, The Bereaved.
9/20: Author interview and giveaway with Brian Williams, MD, author of the new memoir, The Bodies Keep Coming.
*Spaces are audio-only. Click on the above links to set a reminder now.
New: What Are You Reading?
I just started a ninety-four-year-old writer’s first novel, A Comedy Of Pretzels, by J.J. Boskin (he’s written a dozen or so academic books).
Hilarious, incredibly well-written, and if you’re Jewish or live/lived in NYC, especially Brooklyn, you will relate. Pick up a copy here.* Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram (he’s just getting started - follows are appreciated).
*Full disclosure: Boskin is a client. He does not pay me to say nice things, only to help with his social media. His book really is great.
Reader Question of the Week featuring Anonymous Mouse
Q: What are the biggest mistakes you see from authors on their websites?
A: I’m not a website expert, but I can tell you what I see most often:
No social media icons, anywhere. Add that shiz! To your home page, to your blog posts, to all pages.
Where to place? In Western countries, we primarily read from left to right, top to bottom, so top right is the best placement (and remember to link the icons to your profiles).No updates. Are you blogging or vlogging? Have you done any lives or videos? Add them to your blog and when you publish, search engines are signaled to scrape your site for new content (as long as you optimize it. Not sure what that means? Pick up my 99c guide here)!
Too many links. Do your frazzled-launch-self a huge favor: use free Booklinker to create universal links for your books on Amazon and Apple Books. Learn more here. They also have a terrific blog!
That’s it for this week. Want to be featured in my next newsletter? Ask a question here in the comments, and you’re automatically entered! Find this helpful? Please share and/or subscribe.
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This is perfect timing for me, Rachel. I've had the Mailchimp free plan for years, but I'll soon top out on the number of subscribers allowed and have to start paying, which isn't cheap. I look forward to your next newsletter about the option of converting to Substack.
Great info, thank you!!