Such a simple but great bit of advice. I've come across guides that explain how to do things... and How-to videos that all miss little steps along the way - or never clearly identify each tiny step in the process. There is so much out there that is not clear to the reader or user.
Makes me curious as to how much possible lost revenue there is in a single year from potential buyers not following through because directions weren't clear.
Great article, Jen.
And the fill-in-blank template was a nice surprise!
Thank you so much for this. I was able to rewrite my about page to a much better version (or at least I think so). Your tips were spot on and very helpful.
Jen, I am not sure how you showed up in my feed but I am so glad you did! This is exactly what I am grappling with right now as I get ready to relaunch my Substack. I had it named after my book and it makes sense since both the book and my SS have a focus on mental health. But I am expanding my publication to include more of my wider Integrative Medicine expertise and I did your exercise but I am challenged by advice to not only be clear but also "to keep it very short" So this is where I am now for title and blurb, any thoughts on if it's clear enough?
Your Integrative Physician
Weekly doses of what you wish you got in your doctor's visit (or just more plainly...What you wished you got in your doctor's visit--the weekly doses was a way to include that you get a weekly email when you sign up)
Thanks for this exercise and helpful post! I am also subscribing to you now!
Tanmeet! I'm so happy to connect with you too. Thanks for your patience with my slow response. (I had a health issue!) I'm subscribing to you too. Your book looks fantastic! I took a crack it and I'll DM you this as well...
What you wished you got in your doctor's visit: vital doses of science-backed wisdom on joy, justice, and healing from an integrative physician, author, and TEDx speaker with 26 years in the trenches. Weekly emails with honest conversations about mental health, psychedelics, and finding strength in life's hardest moments.
Thank you for this article! Just what I needed as a newbie. Copy is so important to learn. I'm going through two courses right now. Well...more like one after the other.
Soooo helpful, thanks Jen! Substack newbie here just trying to decipher all the spots I need to build out for my publication, so seeing examples like this is just what the doctored ordered! 🫶
Yes, I am confused by substack to, I thought I was the only one!
I was wondering if I could benefit from using it and I just couldn’t figure it out!
It was helpful to have your input, that since I only put a newsletter out everyone month to 6 weeks to make it worthwhile using substack weekly would be more appropriate.
I also think that Substack makes it unnecessarily difficult to write a comment. There’s so many hoops that have to be jumped through just to write a comment.
Even although you’re giving advice to substack users, I also find it very useful, so thank you!
Here’s my elevator pitch:
You possess the power to heal! I’m a detective for your body and tenacious at finding the source and the solution to your pain, then we turn it over to your body to do the healing.
I’m wondering if that sounds to woo woo? In reality, it’s far away from woo woo. The results are very real and concrete.
It's more like this Saci... On your website where you have the pop-up that says, "Don't miss a thing...sign up" and then in the footer where it saying that again. That's the area I'm talking about for you.
Just for shits and giggles here's something cheeky I'd put there:
Monthly tips, quips, and bits of breathwork wisdom delivered straight to your inbox from a Scottish lighiche. (Healer) Regular stories that enlighten you about your body’s innate intelligence to heal itself because you were born to flourish.
FWIW, I feel Kevin's pain. As a fellow copywriter, I find Substack an INCREDIBLY confusing place. It took me ages to figure out the difference between Notes and Posts. I'll sign up to follow a writer I like, only to discover there's a paywall I didn't know about. An entire parade of popups greets me when I follow someone. And I have yet to see a really good tutorial on making the most of the platform *from the Substack Powers That Be* themselves.
Ami - I feel your confusion about Notes, posts & paywalls. Following vs Subscribing can be confusing. That's partly why I haven't put anything behind a paywall yet... I want to do it in a way that lets all my email subscribers have a week or two to read the whole thing.
When Kevin said that to me I thought 💭 So many people feel the same way!
Such a simple but great bit of advice. I've come across guides that explain how to do things... and How-to videos that all miss little steps along the way - or never clearly identify each tiny step in the process. There is so much out there that is not clear to the reader or user.
Makes me curious as to how much possible lost revenue there is in a single year from potential buyers not following through because directions weren't clear.
Great article, Jen.
And the fill-in-blank template was a nice surprise!
Thanks, Mark. Clarity is key. And as you know, a value prop is a challenging concept to come up wit,h so most people skip it and hope it'll be ok!
Thank you so much for this. I was able to rewrite my about page to a much better version (or at least I think so). Your tips were spot on and very helpful.
I'm so glad you found this helpful! I wrote another specifically on About pages, feel free to check this one out too. Hope it helps:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jenbaxter/p/whos-your-about-page-really-about?r=nvsss&utm_medium=ios
I don't have time to look at it now, but i book marked it to check out next week. Thanks for the additional info.
Absolutely 💯
Jen, I am not sure how you showed up in my feed but I am so glad you did! This is exactly what I am grappling with right now as I get ready to relaunch my Substack. I had it named after my book and it makes sense since both the book and my SS have a focus on mental health. But I am expanding my publication to include more of my wider Integrative Medicine expertise and I did your exercise but I am challenged by advice to not only be clear but also "to keep it very short" So this is where I am now for title and blurb, any thoughts on if it's clear enough?
Your Integrative Physician
Weekly doses of what you wish you got in your doctor's visit (or just more plainly...What you wished you got in your doctor's visit--the weekly doses was a way to include that you get a weekly email when you sign up)
Thanks for this exercise and helpful post! I am also subscribing to you now!
Tanmeet! I'm so happy to connect with you too. Thanks for your patience with my slow response. (I had a health issue!) I'm subscribing to you too. Your book looks fantastic! I took a crack it and I'll DM you this as well...
What you wished you got in your doctor's visit: vital doses of science-backed wisdom on joy, justice, and healing from an integrative physician, author, and TEDx speaker with 26 years in the trenches. Weekly emails with honest conversations about mental health, psychedelics, and finding strength in life's hardest moments.
Ooh, there's some good 💎 In this!!
Glad you liked it!
This is brilliant, Jen, thank you, just changed my short description!
Oh wow! 🤩 That's great- I hold Thursday subscriber chats where we sometimes brainstorm these things...come try one sometime!
This is so helpful! Thank you so much! I've been here since the new year, still floundering!!!
Jen!!! Soooo good. Sooo helpful. Thank you! I’m working on mine right now. 🦋
Karen! I'm so glad 😀 Thank you!
Wow! Fantastic advice! Thank you so much!
I'm so glad it's helpful. I tried to break it down and make it as easy as possible to understand and try to do!
You were excellent! I’m subscribed and looking forward to your posts. Thanks again.
Jen-your comment is spot-on.
Substack is a great platform, but one that I find REALLY confusing. “Am I logging into SS or logging in to my newsletter?” Etc etc.
All underling your main point-the confused reader will NEVER become a subscriber or customer.
Thanks 🙏🏻 Mike. Good to know I hit the universal nail on the head:)
Thank you for this article! Just what I needed as a newbie. Copy is so important to learn. I'm going through two courses right now. Well...more like one after the other.
I had a friend who was confused about the same thing. He did subscribe, thankfully, but it wasn't clear to him.
Well Chris yours is crystal clear - and hilarious! You've got all the boxes ticked. But nice to see you here:)
Thanks so much, Jen!
Soooo helpful, thanks Jen! Substack newbie here just trying to decipher all the spots I need to build out for my publication, so seeing examples like this is just what the doctored ordered! 🫶
Hey Dre,
That's great you found it helpful. Examples are always what I need. I'm holding a chat today if you want some brainstorming style feedback on yours. Just follow this link if you want to see how a chat thread works: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/008dbf26-5cc3-4405-9425-bb19594f36c8
This is awesome! Thank you 😊
So glad you liked it and it was helpful. Thank you:)
Little PSA for my fellow Substackers:
This is SUCH important advice for newbies and long-time writers alike.
Just this one line: "... a confused mind says 'No.'" is worth it's weight in gold.
And I really appreciate the fill-in-the-blank template. Super helpful. Thanks, Jen!!
Such a great compliment from you Jamie! Thanks for the restack! It's super important and Substack is still confusing for so many people.
Yes, I am confused by substack to, I thought I was the only one!
I was wondering if I could benefit from using it and I just couldn’t figure it out!
It was helpful to have your input, that since I only put a newsletter out everyone month to 6 weeks to make it worthwhile using substack weekly would be more appropriate.
I also think that Substack makes it unnecessarily difficult to write a comment. There’s so many hoops that have to be jumped through just to write a comment.
Even although you’re giving advice to substack users, I also find it very useful, so thank you!
Here’s my elevator pitch:
You possess the power to heal! I’m a detective for your body and tenacious at finding the source and the solution to your pain, then we turn it over to your body to do the healing.
I’m wondering if that sounds to woo woo? In reality, it’s far away from woo woo. The results are very real and concrete.
It's more like this Saci... On your website where you have the pop-up that says, "Don't miss a thing...sign up" and then in the footer where it saying that again. That's the area I'm talking about for you.
Just for shits and giggles here's something cheeky I'd put there:
Monthly tips, quips, and bits of breathwork wisdom delivered straight to your inbox from a Scottish lighiche. (Healer) Regular stories that enlighten you about your body’s innate intelligence to heal itself because you were born to flourish.
Button copy: I need a Scottish lighiche!
FWIW, I feel Kevin's pain. As a fellow copywriter, I find Substack an INCREDIBLY confusing place. It took me ages to figure out the difference between Notes and Posts. I'll sign up to follow a writer I like, only to discover there's a paywall I didn't know about. An entire parade of popups greets me when I follow someone. And I have yet to see a really good tutorial on making the most of the platform *from the Substack Powers That Be* themselves.
Ami - I feel your confusion about Notes, posts & paywalls. Following vs Subscribing can be confusing. That's partly why I haven't put anything behind a paywall yet... I want to do it in a way that lets all my email subscribers have a week or two to read the whole thing.
When Kevin said that to me I thought 💭 So many people feel the same way!