Should I use Substack for my newsletter? My subscribers say no.
Writing my newsletter is one of my favorite things to do in my business
Do you remember last year when Substack was suddenly… everywhere? It seemed like every creator I knew was making the move. I was briefly tempted to join them, as I liked Substack’s simplicity and impressive functionality. But after careful consideration, I decided to stay with Squarespace Campaigns for my Calm Letters.
I wrote about my decision here, outlining five main reasons—from maintaining the intimacy of my newsletter to keeping everything integrated in one place.
When I also shared my decision in a Calm Letter, I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic response from my subscribers! So many wrote back to say why they were relieved I wasn't making the move. The feedback was so thoughtful and validating that I wanted to share it here on the blog. If you're a course creator or small business owner who's been on the fence about Substack, these insights from my community might help you make your own decision.
Here's what they had to say…
1. Many people did not relish the idea of learning, or using, yet another platform to receive my newsletters.
As an aside, you can just get a Substack newsletter delivered to your inbox; you don't have to use the Substack app or website to read it. You’d only need a Substack account if you wanted to engage via liking or commenting.
2. Substack feels overwhelming.
I agree! As a tech geek, I’m impressed by Substack’s intuitive functionality, which encourages engagement and community building. For instance, hovering over a comment displays a summary of the commentator’s profile and a button to subscribe to their Substack. That’s pretty ingenious. However, when Substack started adding Notes, Chat, and DM’s it quickly began to feel overwhelming, especially for those of us with ADHD. For me, this means that I can only enjoy Substack with strict boundaries and intention.
3. My subscribers do not like the sales-y side of Substack.
With Substack’s “upgrade to paid” buttons, some people were concerned that I would turn my newsletter into a paid subscription, and it just felt too sales-y. I have no intention of ever monetizing my newsletter. In fact, I have a lot of thoughts about Substack's subscription culture— maybe a topic for a future letter!
4. They prefer the intimacy, individuality, and design of my current newsletter.
With Substack, all newsletters look, more or less, the same. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, as the Substack design is clean and reader-friendly. However, if they all look and feel the same—even though the content is very different—something is definitely lost along the way. What I have always liked about my current format is that my newsletters are more like private conversations than public group discussions, which is what they would essentially become if I used Substack.
One subscriber put it perfectly: “It’s like the difference between taking your wares and selling them in the corner of a big department store, you get to benefit from all the passing trade. Or opening your own little shop, where you know your customers’ names.” Such a great analogy, thank you, Vajradarshini!
5. They felt that the community aspect of Substack was not that important.
A few were concerned about attracting trolls (unless I went with a paid option), and it not feeling as calm as the current setup. While I can see the growth potential of using a platform like Substack, I agree with this concern.
As subscriber Trish reflected, my newsletter could lose its signature authenticity: “You ARE the calm brand, Kerstin. And it’s your openness and vulnerability that are helping to shape it. If you have to censor yourself or be less open because you fear what the wolves might say, the brand is already less authentic.”
The Bottom Line
Reading my subscriber responses confirmed what my gut had told me all along: the right platform isn't always the most popular one. It's the one that aligns with your values, serves your audience best, and supports the kind of business you want to run.
For me, that means staying with Squarespace Campaigns, where I can maintain the intimate, intentional, and calm connection that makes my newsletter feel like a private conversation rather than a public discussion. Where the design can reflect my brand's personality. And where I can focus on creating value for my audience without the pressure of monetization or the noise of endless engagement loops.
If you're weighing this decision yourself, I hope these insights from my lovely subscribers help you trust your own instincts. The best choice is the one that feels calm and aligned for your business—not what's trendy or what everyone else is doing.
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