I see the savvy of this approach. I've tried something slightly different--sharing a few links out and away at the end of my posts as "extras" -- songs, art, books... my readers tell me they value this so I'm inclined to keep it.
However... I could have the best of both worlds... maybe put it behind the paid membership walls and make it a juicy "extra" my inside peeps get. When I turn payments back on that is something to consider.
Coming back this evening to answer your ACTUAL question - about linking out on our NAVIGATION bars lolol. :-) I don't link out in the navigation links...I want it to feel like the reader has landed "in" An Inviting Space and keeping the navigation in that space helps me set a cozy boundary--at least that is my goal.
It's such a challenge to work online because the entire internet is always only a click away... I'm less interested in holding attention and more interested in holding space and THAT idea just occurred to me as I was typing this response. Going to consider that and what it means for my home page.
This is really helpful to know. Would you say the same approach should be taken with your profile page, or do multiple links to external places not matter so much there?
I'm a little behind in Substack language. I think I follow this but just for my clairty...this is in addtion to the About page and would come first, requiring a choice to 'read first' as one person applied to hers. I have a lot on the About page which apparently people don't click on much and it's best to give it up front when they arrive? Does this bother regular readers if they aren't coming in from an email notification?
If I have books on Amazon (which I do, and which I mention in some but not all of my posts) it is best NOT to lead them to it in the content area...but you can lead them to it by listing it after the post?
And I noticed I have my photo in the little box but it doesn't link and open. Is there a step about that if you want to have it...with the photo is fine with me. My logo is a bit too big to be usable.
Hey Shellie - this post is about your navigation bar (underneath the title of your publication). Maybe it’s clearer if you re read with that filter on as you go? We’re not covering about pages in the challenge but I do have a wealth of resources about them over at Sparkle on Substack. ✨✨✨
Your Creatively Conscious About page is much longer than your Welcome page. To me, they hold a very similar feel. Can you expand on the purpose and intent of the Welcome page?
I have links out to my podcast on Apple and Spotify from my About page but no other external links so far. I hope to sign on to write a chapter in an anthology soon, and I will likely link to that through posts and maybe even the About page, or possibly Welcome page. (re-read above and you recommend external links in the footer of emails - SMART!!!)
Currently, I have some standard things turned on: Home, Podcast, Notes, Archive, About. The other pages I have are tags. The tags aren't great, but I find they are generally good categories I would want my subscribers to browse. But I'm not clear on the benefit of a Welcome page. Hoping you can provide additional insight!!!
It’s more a contents page than a welcome page - I just have it read welcome/ contents because I’m speaking to both new and existing subs and I love a big welcome.
I also have links out to my sections in the contents page which is helpful for folks because I’m such a multi hypen so not everything is relevant to everyone. 💞
oh interesting angle! I can see how this would apply to me if I linked to tags from a Welcome page instead of pages for my tags at the navigation bar. For now, I like my navigation bar with pages for my tags 😊
(FYI I clicked your "1. All your resources are here" link from the Welcome/Contents page and it is a broken link that leads to the Home page and Latest posts.)
Hi, so I feel like my Welcome to Pathways of Connection is my sales page, since it has all my offerings and links to them. All the links stay on Substack. Added it to my navigation bar
Wondering if I should add more? I will update next month when I begin my memoir-in-progress for paid subscribers. Thank you!
in addition I do have links to my website because I have books to sell. Also I'm creating a Substack sales page on my website to bring people to this publication.
I see the savvy of this approach. I've tried something slightly different--sharing a few links out and away at the end of my posts as "extras" -- songs, art, books... my readers tell me they value this so I'm inclined to keep it.
However... I could have the best of both worlds... maybe put it behind the paid membership walls and make it a juicy "extra" my inside peeps get. When I turn payments back on that is something to consider.
Great idea to link away to extras at end of posts.
Love your creative ideas here Sarah! ✨🩷✨
I’m speaking directly about the navigation bar links here but my changes haven’t saved 🙈
No that makes sense I was just coming back in to amend my own comments along those lines! lol too many ideas firing at once. <3
Love it!
Coming back this evening to answer your ACTUAL question - about linking out on our NAVIGATION bars lolol. :-) I don't link out in the navigation links...I want it to feel like the reader has landed "in" An Inviting Space and keeping the navigation in that space helps me set a cozy boundary--at least that is my goal.
It's such a challenge to work online because the entire internet is always only a click away... I'm less interested in holding attention and more interested in holding space and THAT idea just occurred to me as I was typing this response. Going to consider that and what it means for my home page.
That's a really beautiful approach Sarah!
This is really helpful to know. Would you say the same approach should be taken with your profile page, or do multiple links to external places not matter so much there?
I give people my main social and my books. ✨✨💖
Fab thanks, that’s what I’ve been doing (socials not books tho!)
There’s no right or wrong but I do think it’s all worth thought!
I'm a little behind in Substack language. I think I follow this but just for my clairty...this is in addtion to the About page and would come first, requiring a choice to 'read first' as one person applied to hers. I have a lot on the About page which apparently people don't click on much and it's best to give it up front when they arrive? Does this bother regular readers if they aren't coming in from an email notification?
If I have books on Amazon (which I do, and which I mention in some but not all of my posts) it is best NOT to lead them to it in the content area...but you can lead them to it by listing it after the post?
And I noticed I have my photo in the little box but it doesn't link and open. Is there a step about that if you want to have it...with the photo is fine with me. My logo is a bit too big to be usable.
Hey Shellie - this post is about your navigation bar (underneath the title of your publication). Maybe it’s clearer if you re read with that filter on as you go? We’re not covering about pages in the challenge but I do have a wealth of resources about them over at Sparkle on Substack. ✨✨✨
That’s a great idea about an evergreen additional page. That’s food for thought while I contemplate my rebrand
Your Creatively Conscious About page is much longer than your Welcome page. To me, they hold a very similar feel. Can you expand on the purpose and intent of the Welcome page?
I have links out to my podcast on Apple and Spotify from my About page but no other external links so far. I hope to sign on to write a chapter in an anthology soon, and I will likely link to that through posts and maybe even the About page, or possibly Welcome page. (re-read above and you recommend external links in the footer of emails - SMART!!!)
Currently, I have some standard things turned on: Home, Podcast, Notes, Archive, About. The other pages I have are tags. The tags aren't great, but I find they are generally good categories I would want my subscribers to browse. But I'm not clear on the benefit of a Welcome page. Hoping you can provide additional insight!!!
Hey Amanda!
It’s more a contents page than a welcome page - I just have it read welcome/ contents because I’m speaking to both new and existing subs and I love a big welcome.
I also have links out to my sections in the contents page which is helpful for folks because I’m such a multi hypen so not everything is relevant to everyone. 💞
oh interesting angle! I can see how this would apply to me if I linked to tags from a Welcome page instead of pages for my tags at the navigation bar. For now, I like my navigation bar with pages for my tags 😊
(FYI I clicked your "1. All your resources are here" link from the Welcome/Contents page and it is a broken link that leads to the Home page and Latest posts.)
Thanks lovely I’ll look at that. I haven’t updated in a while. ✨
Hi, so I feel like my Welcome to Pathways of Connection is my sales page, since it has all my offerings and links to them. All the links stay on Substack. Added it to my navigation bar
https://janinedetilliocammarata.substack.com/
Wondering if I should add more? I will update next month when I begin my memoir-in-progress for paid subscribers. Thank you!
in addition I do have links to my website because I have books to sell. Also I'm creating a Substack sales page on my website to bring people to this publication.
I owe you an audit too - just catching up after London!
Very useful!
Oh thanks!