Chapter 1: The Current Landscape for Writers

As an avid reader and supporter of emerging writers, I find myself frequently switching between the Medium and Substack applications (do you do the same? 😁). Currently, there’s a notable competition between Medium's Notes feature and the new Substack Notes.

I first learned about Substack Notes from a user named Tom. In one of his recent updates, he enthusiastically described how effective this new tool has been in expanding his audience. Remarkably, within three months, he attracted 6,000 new subscribers to his newsletter by sharing concise and engaging Notes daily. Some of these Notes even gained viral traction, leading to hundreds of new signups in just one day. Quite impressive, don’t you think? So, what sets Substack Notes apart?

Tom highlights several key features:

1. Notes are brief and straightforward to create, allowing for frequent posting without significant time commitments. This is ideal for exploring new ideas.
2. The Substack community remains relatively small, making it easier to gain visibility and foster a following compared to more crowded platforms.
3. Regularly posting on Notes encourages you to discover intriguing angles and hooks that capture readers' interest. It’s excellent practice.
4. You maintain ownership of your subscriber list on Substack, ensuring that the audience you cultivate through Notes remains with you in the long run.

This does sound compelling, doesn’t it? However, let’s consider Medium for a moment. They’ve had a Notes feature for some time as well. Is Substack truly outperforming them?

Well, Medium's Notes are only accessible to the author and those who comment on them. Essentially, they serve as private remarks. While useful for providing feedback, they fall short when it comes to fostering a public audience. In contrast, Substack Notes are publicly visible, allowing for likes, shares, and comments from others. It’s an interactive and social experience—like a mini social media network nested within Substack.

Thus, while Medium's Notes have their advantages, they are not competing in the same field as Substack Notes. It’s a matter of public engagement versus private discussion; building an audience versus quiet collaboration.

For me, I believe Substack Notes is superior for writers aiming to cultivate a dedicated audience. The numbers clearly indicate that this new tool is assisting individuals like Tom in achieving rapid growth. Given that Substack is still relatively new, now appears to be the perfect opportunity to establish your presence.

That said, I wouldn’t dismiss Medium entirely. It remains an excellent platform for publishing long-form articles and connecting with their established readership. I think astute writers will learn to leverage both platforms effectively.

Consider posting your more extensive, evergreen content on Medium to enhance your credibility and reach new audiences, while utilizing Substack Notes to engage your devoted followers on a daily basis and encourage them to subscribe to your newsletter.

By maximizing the strengths of each platform, you’ll be well on your way to developing a thriving online writing career. At least, that’s my perspective! What are your thoughts? Are you Team Substack Notes, Team Medium, or both? 😋😁

Bella enjoys writing about life, psychology, and relationships. Click here to ensure you receive Bella's latest stories directly in your inbox.

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Chapter 2: Insights from the Experts

In this video titled "The New Twitter for Writers Is Here - Grow With Substack Notes | Interview with David McIlroy," David discusses how Substack Notes is transforming the writing landscape for authors and aspiring writers.

The second video, "A Complete Breakdown of Medium vs Substack | How to Make Money as a Writer," provides an in-depth comparison between the two platforms, exploring monetization strategies for writers.