Hi everyone. No weekly newsletter this week, sorry. Instead, I have been deciding to switch back to our old newsletter system and sorting all that out!
Short summary: there’s no need for you to do anything. I’ll be writing individual posts on the blog as before, which you’ll get via email - unsubscribe if you’d like a quieter inbox - everyone will automatically get a monthly round-up. The same system we used to have! All is free as before; you can buy me a coffee or two as you feel moved to. Existing paid subscribers can continue, ask for a refund or buy me some coffees instead.
Phew.
I shan’t bore you too much with the logistics and machinations behind the decision. Except to say that:
I moved to Substack as it seemed to be a quieter, more intelligent place to write. It’s not any more; I find it too noisy, pushy and stressful, although there’s plenty of excellent writing, which I am finding very distracting and pricy! I don’t like the paywall system on most newsletters, where you just get into reading something and then hit a paywall. Blimey, there’s only so many fivers you can afford. I also found a lot of the writers in a much higher income bracket than me - aspirational maybe, but I’m not that materialistic!
I wanted somewhere I could send the newsletter to you for free. That worked, actually. But then I realised Substack take 10% so not free then ;) It worked out cheaper to go back to the blog and Mailerlite!
I hoped I might be more visible via Notes and pick up some more readers. Not. I’ve lost about 30 over the 9 months, gained some, lost some but overall down - and I find Substack flings stats at you all the time, which makes you focus on numbers. I don’t like that.
I imagined somewhere that might mean I could pull away from Facebook and the like as Musk is really getting on my wick. Nope, too many of you like it there - and so do I - so I had better be where you all are. I felt a bit lonely! People didn’t use the chat, although I did have more comments, which I enjoyed - but you can still comment under the blog posts the same on the blog or the Facebook page/group.
I wanted somewhere I could legitimately ask for paid subscriber support in answer to those who kept offering it, bless your hearts. It worked well and I am SO grateful, it brings a lump to my throat, but I find the Substack system too pressured as you literally cannot send a post out without a bright orange SUBSCRIBE/PAY ME button. Also, if I’m honest, I love doing the newsletters, but I found the pressure to give you value and earn your subscription money stressful. Yes. I am a numpty ;)
Essentially, I wanted a calmer approach for us, not a noisy social media hypey place, which is not good for our nervous systems! I’m going through a stage of unsubscribing to a lot of content - I get assailed by about 70-80 emails a day trying to tell/sell me things. I don’t want to be that person for you, you know.
We had it about right before. I like trying new systems, but you’ve got to be brave enough to think: actually, I liked it better before! Plus, Substack is clearly gearing itself up to be sold as the next big social media company - I can feel it.
So, from now on…
I will be writing individual posts rather than a newsletter on the blog as before and you’ll get those to your inbox as usual. You’ll also get a monthly round-up again via Mailerlite. You can unsubscribe from either or keep both - most do. The choice is yours.
Paid subscribers is a little more tricky. I have shifted you over to the blog at Wordpress, so that your subscription can continue if you want it to. That’s lovely, but don’t feel you have to. I will not be offended if you cancel. Instead, anyone can buy me a coffee or two as they feel like it. I’ll not lie: it’ll be a wrench to lose subscription money, but I’ll get over it!
I’ll miss doing the regular Substack Notes, but I’ll go back to the Facebook group/page and just trust that people will find me when they need me. So, do join there for chat if you’re not on there already. You can also like and comment under the blog posts, of course, which helps them to get seen more, so please help with that.
OK, does that all make sense? Really nothing for you to do unless you want to unsubscribe from something OR if you wish to cancel your subscription - you can do that via Stripe or Substack yourself or ask me to do it. If you want a refund, just ask me, of course; I do realise I’m changing what you paid for. I may keep a form of subscription anyway but I’ve not worked that out yet!
I’m bound to have cocked up some setting somewhere - so do let me know if something doesn’t work or seem right! Other than that, see you on the blog, on FB or in the monthly round up. Any questions or issues, just email me: micki@purehealthclinic.co.uk.
Either way, a BIG thank you for being with me - many of you have been for a very long time and I never take you for granted; you are always in my heart and I try my best to provide useful, easy stuff that will truly help you. Thank you for your continued faith in me - I don’t say that enough!
Love,
Micki xx
Hi Micki,
Totally 'get' all of the above and just hope the machinations haven't completely exhausted you!
And breathe...
I'm heading over to the blog right now...see you there,
xx