Substack Is Changing. You Might Not Have Noticed
They added Notes, Chat, and Video... but everyone still calls it a newsletter app. Why is it so hard to change what users think?
Hey hey,
Back again with another product twist to chew on.
Last week, we dug into the dark mode option, and let’s say you all had thoughts.
This time, we are shifting gears to Substack, the newsletter platform that’s trying to not just be… well, newsletters. I mean so hard.
Substack's Identity Is the Same Despite Growing
Substack began as a simple platform for creators to send newsletters. But now, they are stepping into the territory of short-form posts, real-time chats, and even video.
They have rolled out:
Notes for quick, tweet-like posts.
Chat for live conversations between writers and readers.
Video for adding video content directly onto the platform.
The different types of posts you can create on Substack
Even though these features are exciting, Substack is still mostly known for its email-based newsletter model. So, what's holding it back from becoming a full-blown content hub?
Here's What We Know
Substack launched Notes in April 2023 as a way for creators to post short, informal content similar to Twitter.
Chat is a new feature that lets creators and their subscribers message in real time.
Video support allows creators to upload or record videos directly within posts.
Despite these updates, Substack’s identity still leans more toward being a newsletter platform.
Think Like a PM
If you were Substack PM, what one feature would you kill today—and why?
(Hint: Which feature is not pulling its weight?)
What would you do to make Notes feel less like a Twitter knockoff and more like a must-use feature?
Imagine you’re leading product at Substack. Would you rather double down on creators… or try going after readers?
Drop your thoughts in the comments & get featured in the next edition!
Thoughts From The JAPM Team
Last week, we spoke about dark mode, and here are our thoughts on that.
Dark mode isn’t just a feature anymore. It’s an expectation. While it might not need to be in version 1.0, it should definitely be on the early roadmap.
Skipping it for too long can make your app feel outdated or less thoughtful. But great dark mode isn’t just light mode with dimmer lights.
When done right, it brings a whole different mood.
Something like calmer, easier on the eyes, and often more focused. It should feel like its own design, not a flipped version of another. The danger is in rushing it.
Poor contrast, unreadable text, broken visuals — all of that turns a feature meant for comfort into a reason to uninstall. It’s a small detail with a big impact.
Build it with care, or don’t ship it at all.
See you in the comments.
—Sid
I like reading the Notes, I see, so I guess the algorithm works from that perspective. It's just hard to have 75 different 300 or less character apps to constantly check.