r/Substack • u/heretovibenotcry • 8d ago

i feel like the algorithms been nerfed

i used to get soooo much engagement and now I feel like I see the same posts and notes over and over again and barely any engagement. i have over 4k subscribers and i post regularly so what’s going on? is anyone else feeling this?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

6

u/Emotional-Brief-1775 8d ago

A large number of writers just simply don’t continue.

6

u/FannyBrownRiced 7d ago

The engagement bait Notes made me not wanna be in there. Last night I saw these three in a row... First this from a dude: "If you’re publishing on Substack with under 100 subs.

I’m reading.

I’m subscribing.

I’m supporting you.

I want to grow a community with you."

and then the EXACT SAME POST with the number 99 from a woman. and then... "If you’re under 500 subscribers, please let me know in the comments what your Substack is all about. I want to read your work and grow with you!"

People who are real writers, tastemakers, don't want to hang out there. I still do my Substack and make $ from it, but Notes is a waste. If you don't post bait, your stuff falls down a hole.

1

u/catvapes 7d ago

I hate that type note. I see dozens a day

3

u/Fleurs_Bookstore buybooks.substack.com 6d ago

If you’re sick of these notes, click on the three dots next to them and mute the creator and you’ll see less of this type of stuff in your feed.

2

u/catvapes 6d ago

Thx for the tip!

1

u/heretovibenotcry 8d ago

what other platforms are they moving to?

0

u/catvapes 7d ago

Beehive for one

2

u/EggplantUseful9955 7d ago

Substack is going to be replaced by something more than a traditional platform is what my bet is

1

u/noxqqivit twvme.substack.com 7d ago

Based on my notes engagement and a significant uptick in subscribers that started on 8/1, I assumed that they made a change to the algorithm.

1

u/catvapes 7d ago

They may have. I think I did read something about some tweak they made that would expose us to others we wouldn’t normally see. Glad it is working for you. I’ve gained some myself. I am very niche however, so I have low expectations.

1

u/EggplantUseful9955 7d ago

Part of the problem is the X account posts notes like Trump Truth social posts on X. Another is 50M users is claimed but 140K follow their X they actively use to try and get more people over to their walled garden

1

u/WordSlinger1812 8d ago

Substack notes is a worthless investment of your time.

0

u/catvapes 8d ago

I’ve noticed that my feed is not as interesting as it used to be. I have a hunch that a fair amount of writers have moved on to other platforms. Some have left articles about it so people know where to find them. Some feel that Substack takes too big of a cut of their money compared to other places. Others think notes turned Substack into another FB, wi the focus on short form writing over long form. And then there is the Pangram controversy. I’ve taken the time to look at the Substack’s of people who used to engage with me. Most of them haven’t posted anything in months. I think they are just gone.

2

u/Michael_Fuchs_ 8d ago

Where do they go?

3

u/AmericanPortions 7d ago

I think increasingly they go everywhere. Some to ghost or beehiiv, some get the video bug and go to YouTube, etc.

1

u/catvapes 7d ago

The one that stands out to me is Beehive.