Subscribe to my monthly newsletter on Substack: https://1mkwilliams.substack.com/subscribe

When I started my newsletter, I signed up with Mailchimp. I had no list to start with, so it was free, and I knew it could be a much more powerful platform if and when I needed that. Over the years I’ve had ideas to start a course or do a mastermind-type group. I have my Author Your Ambition series and with it consulting and client work so having the ability to have separate lists within that platform was helpful. I could have a newsletter just dedicated to my non-fiction and my Author Your Ambition business and another one just for readers who like fiction. I had multiple automations set up so if you signed up on one specific landing page, it would send you a welcome with the associated freebie (bonus story or planning worksheet) that was promised.

Well, I had been thinking of switching platforms. I ask myself the question once a year. And then one day I logged into MailChimp, and suddenly NONE of my automations were on. Because that was now in a paid tier, and that was going to cost me $26.50 A MONTH!

Cue the existential crisis
Do I need all these automations?
Are they serving anyone?
Should I even keep my author-your-ambition business? Ultimately, I decided yes
Are other platforms cheaper? – yeah, but not by much

And then I found Substack. I’m subscribed to several Substack newsletters of publishing industry professionals. I follow other authors. And not only is it free for me to have the newsletter there, but I can also set up paid tiers. I’m not doing anything with those. If you click on the subscribe link below, click the free option. I think I set a tier if you give a good amount, I’ll name you in the acknowledgements of my next book. But otherwise, no extra benefits. For now. For a while. Maybe forever.

The setup with Substack was very easy. Maybe too easy. Export the contacts from Mailchimp. Import to Substack. If you were getting my monthly newsletter and didn’t get one yet this month, you might not have transferred over. If you just signed up, can you confirm that you got the automated email you were supposed to?

But my first newsletter went out. You can join. You can get my monthly thoughts and updates. Because I know the algo does us all dirty and my posts and my videos sometimes don’t pop up in your feed. Subscribe. It’s free. Subscribe here. Subscribe to the newsletter. It is free 99, and it means you won’t miss any updates. Like when I have new books. Or when there is a limited-time giveaway. Or a sale. I don’t want you to miss out.

OK, what Substack accounts are you enjoying? Who is bringing great content? What do you like to receive in author newsletters?