Substack frustrations, website therapy, and moving forward (444 words)

I was disillusioned with Substack

I've been on Substack for a few years and have created and killed about seven—yes, I said seven newsletters there.😳

I've always had an issue with how Substack limits monetization, and I soon found that their email function—while a cool feature—wasn't robust enough.

As Substack evolves, bigger names crowd out the attention base of the folks some of us serve. Don't get me wrong—I think Dan Koe's coming to Substack is great. Others of his caliber, such as Jim Acosta (formerly of CNN), Jake Tapper (currently still with CNN), and others with huge followings, are finding their way to Substack.

But the time is right for me to diversify my web presence, not isolate it. I'm growing my email list via Medium, Substack, and the website.

I've been redesigning www.BazMorris.com to accommodate my nicheless creator mindset. Working on websites is a very relaxing experience for me. I can lose myself in it— and a flow state results. Hopefully, it shows.

Here are some screen captures of the site's Home page:

These are the panels of the home page only. There's a lot more coming in the days ahead, but it's a start.

Note: In case you're wondering, I use Squarespace to create and host the site. The photos are largely from Unsplash but a few are my own. I use Kit (formerly ConvertKit) for my landing pages and this email newsletter. Currently, I'm using Gumroad to handle payment for book and course sales.

Today, I submitted a brief piece to Medium about transitioning to a nicheless mindset and how it eliminated the boredom I previously felt limited to a single niche.

Depending on the publication's review cycle (Practice In Public), it should be live in a few days - I'll post the link when it is.

For too long, I was fixated on finding the perfect niche because everyone told me I needed to find a niche.

They say the riches are in the niches. This isn't bad advice, but it isn't for everyone.

It's not right for me. I'm just now wired for that.

I've come full circle on websites, too

Last year, I was certain I didn't need one. I thought Substack could handle all my needs. But, as a spry 67-year-old toddler, 🤭 I'm continually learning new things and adding this information to my existing data banks.

It turned out, that Substack didn't meet my needs. I wanted an all-in-one solution where I could host email courses, products, articles, etc.

Squarespace has its limitations, but it works for now.

Moving Forward

You'll begin receiving two brief emails per week, like this one. I'm aiming for a conversational style that continues from issue to issue.

There are no hard sells; I'm just allowing you to get to know me. If there's something I think you'll appreciate, I'll provide links at the bottom.

🙏🏼,

Baz 'always learning, always experimenting' Morris

P.S. See you Thursday.

Links