Letters by Burk #140: All In On Substack?

Also, business tweaks, low contrast outfits, fashion fun facts, and more

Aug 27, 2024

a close up of a surfboard on a wall — Photo by Denise Bossarte on Unsplash

Hi friends,

Over my years in the content creator business — even from the good old blogging days in 2008 — I’ve tried and worked with so many different platforms and formats on the internet.

Tools came and went, platforms were great, then sucked, networks popped up and disappeared. And I’ve tried almost anything.

But now I like simplicity. I like minimalism. I almost completely ditched Twitter for Substack Notes. As well as other social networks.

I hardly post anywhere else.

Substack has a unique appeal to me. So much so that I currently consider (again) going all in on Substack. I used to publish daily on Medium. Now it’s only a few times per month (if anything). I use my WordPress blog only to republish content.

I used to republish most writing on Vocal. Now I only do it occasionally.

I could easily move my entire blog to Substack, stop Vocal, and even dismiss Medium.

That’s how good (and simple) Substack is. Oh, and free.

What’s your take on that? All in on Substack or nay? Have you done it? Are you planning on it? Tell me!

In that sense:

Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision right. — Phil McGraw

Summer sale → everything 50% OFF

You get everything in my Gumroad store 50% off right now. Head over here and sing up to get everything 50% off ↓

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#1 Main Story:

The Simple Tweaks That Transformed My Side Hustle into a Full-Time Business

“The best time to start was yesterday, the second-best time is now.”

In 2021, the advice that propelled me into the world of online content creation was simple: “Just begin.”

And that’s precisely what I did.

Perfection isn’t expected from the outset; it’s something you cultivate along the journey, continuously improving and sharing your experiences.

That’s how I went from scratch to earning over $20,000 in my first two years.

For 2024, my goal is somewhat different: Making enough money to sustain my now full-time creator career.

Here’s how.

Read the rest

#2 Off Topic:

The Art Of the Low-Contrast Outfit

Fashion is for the masses; trends are for the few.

Being well-dressed is often a result of simple outfit choices that respect the little details that matter.

This is especially true for people who don’t have the perfect figure. A little dad bod or some extra meat on the hips — this is natural and normal.

Being fit and athletic has its upsides, without a doubt, but we can’t all look that way tomorrow. But we can dress in a way that helps us achieve a similar aesthetic while hiding our problem areas.

Here’s a simple yet powerful dressing art form: Low-contrast outfits.

Read the rest

#3 Cool New Substack Tool

This week, I have a tool recommendation for you. It’s called Sidestack. Perfect for all you Substackers who don’t want to start a Gumroad account.

Sidestack helps you earn more from your Substack. Easily sell eBooks, guides or other downloadable products directly on Substack.

This allows you to monetize readers who prefer one-time purchases to ongoing subscriptions, adding a new revenue stream with minimal effort.

Click here to start selling for free

#4 Fun Facts

The term "denim" comes from the French phrase "serge de Nîmes," referring to the fabric's origin in Nîmes, France.
High heels were originally designed for men, particularly Persian cavalry, to keep their feet in stirrups while riding horses.
The first fashion magazine was published in Germany in 1586.
Buttons on shirt sleeves, known as "surgeon's cuffs," were originally functional and allowed doctors to roll up their sleeves easily.
The color "mauve" was accidentally discovered in 1856 while a chemist was trying to create a cure for malaria.
In medieval Europe, sumptuary laws dictated what people could wear based on their social class.
The tiny fifth pocket on jeans was originally designed to hold a pocket watch.
The term "bikini" was named after Bikini Atoll, where the US conducted nuclear tests in 1946.
The first recorded use of a zipper in clothing was in 1914 for a flying suit.
Tights were originally worn by men in the 15th and 16th centuries as a symbol of nobility and wealth.

#5 New Medium Extension

For all my Medium users, here’s a sweet little Medium extension that will give you an overview of your earnings in a far more detailed way than the Medium stats page itself.

This extension will organize all your earnings data in a spreadsheet for you to download and use however you like.

It’s great for all us stat nerds. Read all about that extension here:

Medium Extension

Something to think about

Best,

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