Daniel Loftus delivers an insightful exploration into how Substack can empower genealogists, bloggers, and content creators to share their research and engage with communities more effectively. Speaking from both personal experience and technical expertise, Loftus breaks down the capabilities of Substack, a modern publishing platform that has rapidly become a favored space for genealogical writers. This webinar is especially relevant for genealogists looking to amplify their voices, document their findings, and build meaningful connections within the research community.
Key Takeaways:
- Substack as a Versatile Publishing Platform: Substack offers a clutter-free, user-friendly space where genealogists can publish written posts, podcasts, videos, and newsletters, all under one digital roof. Its focus on direct-to-inbox delivery helps creators maintain strong reader engagement without relying on traditional social media algorithms.
- Community Building and Discoverability: With features like topic-specific recommendations (including the recently added “Genealogy” category), reader comments, and subscriber chats, Substack fosters genuine interaction between writers and readers. Loftus highlights the platform’s powerful search capabilities and the importance of discoverability, making it easier to find and connect with fellow researchers and bloggers.
- Flexible Content Creation for Various Roles: Whether used as a personal blog, a podcast hub, or a private family archive, Substack’s flexible tools support a range of creative approaches. Loftus encourages genealogists to think outside the box, suggesting scenarios like sharing family videos, research notes, or collaborative writing with relatives—all while emphasizing the platform’s robust privacy options.
Ready to Elevate Your Genealogy Blogging Experience?
To fully appreciate the rich possibilities Substack offers, view the complete webinar here. Daniel Loftus not only provides a step-by-step introduction but also offers practical examples and creative ideas that can inspire your own publishing journey. From crafting engaging posts to fostering a loyal reader base, this session equips genealogists with the knowledge needed to make informed choices about their digital presence.
Be sure to explore the additional resources provided in the downloadable five-page syllabus. This carefully curated guide includes a glossary, dashboard navigation tips, and further reading recommendations—valuable tools to support your first steps (or next steps) on Substack. Don’t miss the opportunity to deepen your understanding and enhance your genealogical storytelling with this engaging and educational resource.
Comments (34)
Just catching up - thank you for this great introduction to substack
Hey, Daniel, first, thanks for doing this! Next, I wanted to add a discovery I made to the challenge of setting up a Substack as a private family archive. This is something I personally gave a lot of thought to as a means not only to store my family's archival material but also to use it as a distribution system. I wanted it to include posts, video, and audio recordings, so I put together a recipe to explain how to use Substack to create a "Private Podcast." In my case, I was also using an external platform, WeAre.xyz, to host the private family tree, documents, and the like. The combination has turned into a perfectly well suited "Private Podcast." Here's my "recipe" for how I did it: https://projectkin.org/private-podcasts. (yep, that's all free ?)
Excellent webinar! Thank you Daniel for helping me understand Substack and how I might use it. Your syllabus notes are wonderful as well.
Thank you, Janice!
Very good webinar, Daniel explains how to use it very well.
Excellent overview! Can't wait to try it out.
Excellent introduction to Substack! Thanks, Daniel!
Very interesting to learn about this technology which is new to me. I just started a "Family Archive" blog on Blogger, but looks like Substack is quite a bit more versatile.
Great overview of Substack and how it all works. Thank you for sharing this with us!