Wow, I didn’t know that. I just always read it from the email and commented. I will now always read it from the app. Thanks for the info cause I will now do that for others I follow.
I am very grateful for Substack because a lot of the news and commentary on it Is in one place. Frankly it is hard to keep up with all that is happening so I am grateful for this platform. Thanks Jack.
You have a way of cutting through the noise and helping me focus on what's really going on. I shared a couple of your newsletters this evening with a friend who had not read any of them before. I have a feeling you'll have a new subscriber soon. Thank you for all you do. I know I'm not the only one who totally appreciates it - and YOU!
Mary Jo, I appreciate your kind words, and really appreciate you being willing to share what you’ve found to be helpful for you…with friends. That’s how this work spreads to more and more people. Thank you.
Reading in the browser is not the same as reading in the app -- right? That's what you meant by "reading on the web" -- right? (Just trying to get the terminology straight -- even if I sound like an idiot.) BTW, I always read Substack in the browser. I don't have the app / don't want it. And I like the visual rendering in the browser far better than reading in email.
(Any idea whether multiple comments from one user on the same post -- as in "replies", or multiple first-line comments, etc. -- count as multiple instances of engagement -- or if a kind of one reader / one vote logic applies.)
Hate to hair-split, but I've owned a website before / worked with the search engines / know some of this is not intuitive -- so I check logic / terms what counts & what doesn't, etc., like a fiend. (Color me paranoid.)
Finally ... I don't publish a Substack myself / don't have followers -- so I assume if I restack (and nobody reads it because nobody's there TO read it ... it doesn't count.) But as a practical matter ... it might. Depending on how Substack "counts" the action. Any thoughts?
I will help you any way I can -- even if I have to "play Substack's silly game" to do it. Just -- let me know.
Your work has value / is sometimes priceless. Please know this. (One last question. Does "liking" comments on a post help at all??)
Rebecca Brents, you don’t sound like an idiot at all...you sound like someone who understands systems and knows they’re rarely intuitive.
Quick, clean answers:
Browser vs app: Yes ...“reading on the web” means reading in a browser while logged in, not email. Email is off-platform. Browser (or app) is on-platform. You’re already doing the right thing...and you’re right that browser rendering is better.
Comments & replies: Multiple comments and replies do count. Substack seems to value conversation depth...not one-comment-per-person logic. Back-and-forth matters.
Restacks without followers: They still count as a signal...even if they don’t drive traffic. Think of them as a vote...not a share.
Likes (posts & comments): Yes, they help...especially liking comments...which boosts the visibility and value of the discussion.
Big picture: you’re not paranoid. Platforms measure behavior...not intention...and you’re engaging in the ways that actually matter.
And...I genuinely appreciate you being willing to “play the game” to support work you value! I certainly do. I'm learning this side of Substack...right along with you.
I appreciate it, Rae...truly. Yeah...I decided to make a "risky"...but reversible decision with my profile pic. The other one is so easily identifiable and has been used nonstop for the last 7 years. It may stay...it may not. We'll see:)
Good to know but… I always read from the SubStack app (sometimes I listen to the audio if my eyes are tired or I’m multitasking)… I always restack… I usually comment but can make that always. I read your notes. Go to your timeline and frequently share to social media which I guess doesn’t help here but I always hope it will draw people in. I spend quite a lot of time on SubStack. If there’s anything else I can do I’m more than happy to help.
There’s a glitch when clicking “read in app” that it won’t open the post. It opens the notes page. Annoying so would read in email. Will try to have more app activity.
I'm not surprised that it works as you describe. Naturally, I'm glad to help where I can. (Of course, given the substance of your posts it is often harder NOT to engage as you have suggested.)
Thanks for this. I can always comment and then poke around, even if I just re-open posts I've already read. Thanks for telling us how to help you thrive.
Wow, I didn’t know that. I just always read it from the email and commented. I will now always read it from the app. Thanks for the info cause I will now do that for others I follow.
MUCH appreciated, Linn. 💙
I am very grateful for Substack because a lot of the news and commentary on it Is in one place. Frankly it is hard to keep up with all that is happening so I am grateful for this platform. Thanks Jack.
Agreed, Jack. Thank you so much. 🔥
Ditto!👍
You have a way of cutting through the noise and helping me focus on what's really going on. I shared a couple of your newsletters this evening with a friend who had not read any of them before. I have a feeling you'll have a new subscriber soon. Thank you for all you do. I know I'm not the only one who totally appreciates it - and YOU!
Mary Jo, I appreciate your kind words, and really appreciate you being willing to share what you’ve found to be helpful for you…with friends. That’s how this work spreads to more and more people. Thank you.
Well worth subscribing to!
That’s great to hear. Thank you.💙🔥
Always look to you to tell it, Jack. Thank you
Much appreciated.🔥
Thanks for the education.big fan Jack.
Interesting how it works. I’m glad to know that reading in the app is more important than the emails, because that’s already my preferred method.
Keep it up, Jack, because your work is valuable. Thanks!!
Thank you so much, Joanna. You're welcome.
-Jack
Reading in the browser is not the same as reading in the app -- right? That's what you meant by "reading on the web" -- right? (Just trying to get the terminology straight -- even if I sound like an idiot.) BTW, I always read Substack in the browser. I don't have the app / don't want it. And I like the visual rendering in the browser far better than reading in email.
(Any idea whether multiple comments from one user on the same post -- as in "replies", or multiple first-line comments, etc. -- count as multiple instances of engagement -- or if a kind of one reader / one vote logic applies.)
Hate to hair-split, but I've owned a website before / worked with the search engines / know some of this is not intuitive -- so I check logic / terms what counts & what doesn't, etc., like a fiend. (Color me paranoid.)
Finally ... I don't publish a Substack myself / don't have followers -- so I assume if I restack (and nobody reads it because nobody's there TO read it ... it doesn't count.) But as a practical matter ... it might. Depending on how Substack "counts" the action. Any thoughts?
I will help you any way I can -- even if I have to "play Substack's silly game" to do it. Just -- let me know.
Your work has value / is sometimes priceless. Please know this. (One last question. Does "liking" comments on a post help at all??)
Rebecca Brents, you don’t sound like an idiot at all...you sound like someone who understands systems and knows they’re rarely intuitive.
Quick, clean answers:
Browser vs app: Yes ...“reading on the web” means reading in a browser while logged in, not email. Email is off-platform. Browser (or app) is on-platform. You’re already doing the right thing...and you’re right that browser rendering is better.
Comments & replies: Multiple comments and replies do count. Substack seems to value conversation depth...not one-comment-per-person logic. Back-and-forth matters.
Restacks without followers: They still count as a signal...even if they don’t drive traffic. Think of them as a vote...not a share.
Likes (posts & comments): Yes, they help...especially liking comments...which boosts the visibility and value of the discussion.
Big picture: you’re not paranoid. Platforms measure behavior...not intention...and you’re engaging in the ways that actually matter.
And...I genuinely appreciate you being willing to “play the game” to support work you value! I certainly do. I'm learning this side of Substack...right along with you.
-Jack
I appreciate your explanation here….thanks!
I think the app or on the web is fine but Jack doesn't get credit if you have a post sent to your email account and read it there.
On it like a duck on a junebug. I’m pretty technologically challenged, so I’m happy to have this info. It will help ME help OTHERS. That’s key.
Like your new profile pic.
I appreciate it, Rae...truly. Yeah...I decided to make a "risky"...but reversible decision with my profile pic. The other one is so easily identifiable and has been used nonstop for the last 7 years. It may stay...it may not. We'll see:)
-Jack
Both good, and I understand.
Good to know but… I always read from the SubStack app (sometimes I listen to the audio if my eyes are tired or I’m multitasking)… I always restack… I usually comment but can make that always. I read your notes. Go to your timeline and frequently share to social media which I guess doesn’t help here but I always hope it will draw people in. I spend quite a lot of time on SubStack. If there’s anything else I can do I’m more than happy to help.
So glad to be here!
Thanks Jack!
#HOLDFAST
~Susan
Wow. YOU are on top of your game, Susan! Please know how much I appreciate it.
Happy to help in any little way I can!
You are always my first go-to read.
Wow. Thank you for telling me that, Candy. It brought an appreciative smile to my face.
-Jack
I read your column every day in the app, Jack- it matters. Thank you for your sane voice in these insane times.!
Rich...you rock! Thank you.
There’s a glitch when clicking “read in app” that it won’t open the post. It opens the notes page. Annoying so would read in email. Will try to have more app activity.
Let me check on this issue...and get back with you, Shelia. If you don't hear within a couple of days...give me a nudge and remind me, please.
-Jack
click on Jack's header--the part of the email that says "The Jack Hopkins NOW newsletter."
That brings you right here.
As of now the “read in app” is working for your blog and others. It’s historically been intermittent so I’ll let you know if it goes away again. 😎
The glitch is back.
I'm not surprised that it works as you describe. Naturally, I'm glad to help where I can. (Of course, given the substance of your posts it is often harder NOT to engage as you have suggested.)
J.B., that's a very thoughtful thing to say. Many thanks!
-Jack
Thanks for this. I can always comment and then poke around, even if I just re-open posts I've already read. Thanks for telling us how to help you thrive.
Margaret...thank YOU. It means more than you know...to have people respond with comments like this. It really does.
-Jack
Hi Jack, me again. If I comment on someone's response (and vice versa), does that count?
Do Likes count?
Great question. I don't currently have a good answer. BUT...I will find out...and get back with you, Candy.
-Jack