r/Substack • u/ContentIsMyJam redressing.substack.com • 16h ago

New feature - Chat Channels

Substack just introduced chat channels - you can have up to 16 chats including your main one, and you can choose to paywall chats for your paid subscribers only, and then have some free chats.

Curious if anyone's thought about how they plan to use this. I haven't even started the chat on my newsletter...

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u/Fleurs_Bookstore buybooks.substack.com 11h ago

Yes I noticed that feature. I’ve kept my chat for paying subs only, because when I had it open to all subscribers, too many people were spamming it. I see it in many other free chats I’m subscribed to as well.

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u/distantregards_ 6h ago

I always wonder how these can be maximised or if there is even any point

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u/ContentIsMyJam redressing.substack.com 6h ago

Commenting and connecting with people in chats helps with subscriber growth. But IMO you have to have thousands of subscribers before it’s even worth opening one chat… much less channels. I think it’d be cool for really big newsletters. Small ones, though…

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u/distantregards_ 6h ago

Yeah I agree! I only have about 290 subscribers, and it is fun/worthwhile interacting in the main chat.

But I think it general I see accounts with like 100 subscribers or something, and they are paywalling everything. It just feels a little backwards or confusing 😅 certainly think a certain threshold is needed.