Less Certain turns Six-Month

This is an important milestone and I want to take a moment to celebrate, thank you and ask for feedback

Jun 10, 2024

It's been six months since I started this journey with Less Certain, and what an incredible, unexpected ride it has been! Today, I want to celebrate, thank you, and ask for your invaluable feedback.

ribbons and confetti on floor\ — Photo by Matheus Frade on Unsplash

Celebrate

In these past six months, I've achieved more than I ever imagined possible. Here are some highlights:

Consistency: I've published every Tuesday since January 17, 2024, bringing you 26 articles in under six months.
Engagement: My average open rate per article is 60%, and I have around 450 views per post. This means that 60% of the people who get Less Certain in their inbox, 60% open the email.
Growth: Just over 400 subscribers, with 20 being paid members.
Dedication: I've increased my writing time by 180 more hours than I would have without Less Certain. I am averaging one hour of writing a day!
Community: 92% of my readers are in New Zealand, with the rest in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Connections: My subscribers mostly overlap with those of The Democracy Project, The Kākā, and The Blue Review. These are all New Zealand-based Substack accounts that discuss current political topics from different angles.
I get around 400 views every Tuesday, which is the most immense privilege, and I still can’t quite believe it.

Start Survey

Here are the top posts that resonated the most with you:

Screenshot of Most Popular Articles so far

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

When I started this weekly newsletter, my goal was simple: to become a better, stronger, and more confident writer. I wanted to integrate writing into my daily life instead of letting it be a daunting task that caused me so much anxiety.

Less Certain has delivered on that promise. I've dedicated an extra hour each day to writing, totalling 180 more hours than I would have otherwise. It's forged a discipline that I have been working to have with writing since I was six and diagnosed with dyslexia, preventing me from ever being able to write at all.

This dedication has improved my writing skills and helped me achieve a goal I never thought I would achieve; it has attracted an audience and a community far beyond my expectations. Over 400 subscribers in just six months is a milestone I never dreamed of reaching. And to the 20 of you who have become paid subscribers, I am incredibly grateful for your support.

dog biting Thank You mail paper — Photo by Howie R on Unsplash

I would Love Your Feedback

As I look to the future, I am keen to keep developing my skills as a writer and analyst and would love your advice, feedback and suggestions. For example, I’m thinking if it is worth diversifying the content a bit and trying:

Special content for paid subscribers
Q&A sessions
Discussion threads
A Less Certain Substack texting group
Potential audio recordings

However, I want to remain true to my original mission: write more, write better, and write confidently. Less Certain's core format will stay the same, but these additions might hopefully bring more value to our growing community.

I would appreciate it if you could fill out my survey. It should only take 3-4 minutes, and it will be crucial in helping me shape the future of Less Certain.

Thank you for riding this wave with me. In a year that has been so stressful and unsettling, this journey has been a great personal win. I hope you have gotten a small moment of joy, relief or insight by reading Less Certain.

Here's to more learning, growing, thinking, and writing together.