Read on Twitter
It's time to gradually exit Twitter.
While Substack is great, it's better to set up a paid newsletter at your own domain. You can do this in an hour and maintain it for less than $30 per month.
I wrote up a tutorial here to walk you through it: https://balajis.com/set-up-a-paid-newsletter-at-your-own-domain/
While Substack is great, it's better to set up a paid newsletter at your own domain. You can do this in an hour and maintain it for less than $30 per month.
I wrote up a tutorial here to walk you through it: https://balajis.com/set-up-a-paid-newsletter-at-your-own-domain/
Why gradually exit Twitter? It's not just the hack. There are many overlapping issues around security, authentication, pseudonymity, distribution, incentives, and culture.
I greatly respect Jack and everything he's built. But we need a change. https://balajis.com/how-to-gradually-exit-twitter/
I greatly respect Jack and everything he's built. But we need a change. https://balajis.com/how-to-gradually-exit-twitter/
Feel free to stop after you set up your paid newsletter. It's a useful thing in its own right.
But in terms of what's next, we may be able to knit these newsletters together into a decentralized media community, with individual sites as the new profiles. https://balajis.com/how-to-gradually-exit-twitter/
But in terms of what's next, we may be able to knit these newsletters together into a decentralized media community, with individual sites as the new profiles. https://balajis.com/how-to-gradually-exit-twitter/
Come for the newsletter, stay for the network?
One approach to replacing Twitter is as follows: given enough newsletters at their own domains, we can experiment with decentralized web tech for linking them together, starting with a joint paid RSS feed.
https://balajis.com/how-to-gradually-exit-twitter/
One approach to replacing Twitter is as follows: given enough newsletters at their own domains, we can experiment with decentralized web tech for linking them together, starting with a joint paid RSS feed.
https://balajis.com/how-to-gradually-exit-twitter/
Also, if you're an employee of a media corp, you may not realize this but I really do want you to be CEO of your own publication!
So consider this a general amnesty for all past flamewars. Specifically if you have issues with setting up your paid newsletter, DM and I'll help.
So consider this a general amnesty for all past flamewars. Specifically if you have issues with setting up your paid newsletter, DM and I'll help.
By the way, I have no stake in Ghost. It's open source. cc @JohnONolan https://ghost.org/about/
By the way, you can make all posts free and just build up a mailing list. Making posts paid is wholly optional. https://twitter.com/balajis/status/1284473850894270465
Good piece by @jerrybrito in response to @micsolana’s great question the other day on the “freedom stack”.
Substack is convenient but self-hostable is better in the long run.
Also, you can export emails from Substack — but not subscription relationships! https://sometimesright.com/2020/07/18/substack/
Substack is convenient but self-hostable is better in the long run.
Also, you can export emails from Substack — but not subscription relationships! https://sometimesright.com/2020/07/18/substack/
Again to be clear, I think Substack is a great company and fills an important niche. You can get started with a paid newsletter quickly. They have executed well and deserve massive success.
BUT: for ultimate freedom, having your own domain plus self-hosting option can’t be beat.
BUT: for ultimate freedom, having your own domain plus self-hosting option can’t be beat.
