We love WordPress (especially via WordPress.com). Truly we do. It can do some amazing things. Unfortunately, in our opinion, helping find an engaged audience isn’t amongst those things.
So after some research and weighing the pros and cons, we decided to move our Blog + newsletter from WordPress to Substack. This shift is driven by the desire to streamline our communication and enhance the subscriber experience.
Here's why we think Substack is a much better choice for us:
1. Simplicity and Focus: Substack's user-friendly interface allows us to focus on what matters most – delivering compelling content to fellow art lovers and makers.
2. Built-In Newsletter Functionality: Substack seamlessly integrates blog and newsletter functionalities. This consolidation not only simplifies our content creation (and publishing) process but also ensures that our readers receive updates in a unified manner. No more toggling between platforms for different types of content.
3. Engaging with Subscribers: One of Substack's standout features is its ability to foster direct communication with our subscribers. The platform enables us to build a closer connection with our audience through comments and feedback, creating a sense of community around our content.
4. Monetization Possibilities: While we plan to keep our newsletter 100% free, Substack has built-in tools for monetizing content. The platform provides the flexibility to explore potential revenue streams in the future.
While Substack is now the home for our Blog + Newsletter, we're not bidding farewell to our WordPress. Instead, we're simply redefining its role within our online presence by using it for:
1. Collections + Galleries: WordPress excels as a content management system, making it the ideal choice for hosting our collections and galleries. The platform's robust features allow us to showcase visual content in a dynamic and organized manner. (More collections and galleries are in progress, but our Making History and Quotes galleries are examples of how we plan to use the platform.)
2. Resources: WordPress will also continue to serve as our go-to platform for creating a hubs for Resource. Its versatility in structuring information makes it the perfect tool for housing guides, tutorials, and other valuable resources. (In addition to a page of creative Resources, we also have a growing list of Museums, and a year-round Pride Calendar.)
This transition to Substack is not just a shift in platforms – it's a strategic move to enhance user experience, engagement, and adaptability.
By leveraging the strengths of Substack and WordPress, along with those of our CollidePress.com and Threadless shops, we aim to provide a well-rounded and enriched content for our art-loving audience, patrons, and subscribers.
Thank you for reading!
Clint
MORE FROM COLLIDE PRESS
Ko-Fi + Linktree + Shop + Storefront + YouTube
We are brand new here too so wishing you good luck on your new Substack journey!