I love Substack Lives, even though I was a little nervous at first. Yesterday’s live was blurry unfortunately, but it was a fun topic- Croatia 🇭🇷, Calisthenics & Community!
Is it possible to do a Substack Live with audio and a photo only? I do my zoom client meetings like that now and it’s just what I’m used to. Also, in Zambia and now in Belize, with the internet a little ‘unstable’, it became necessary.
I've realized that going live and having a conversation is something I truly enjoy. Just had one last Sunday and loved it. But going live and possibly talk to an empty room is the thing I don't feel good with.
Since I've realized that part of the why lies in my Human Design, I've stopped trying to force myself to do it anyways.
Absolutely love your honesty about this because I have been thinking about going live or making a podcast or something to possibly boost my newsletter because I haven’t charged for it at all and I have over 3000 free subscribers at the moment. I’m going to give it a try soon.
Yes. Helpful. I don't know how. If I ever think to go live, I will at least have an in-advance something in my head to help me know how to view the definitely-not-slick way I am coming off.
I'm concerned with the video quality. When I go live, and lately when I use the studio function, I go down to 80% and bounce back up so it lags. My clips end up asynchronous. I have a fiber optic connection to my internet but am running from wifi not too far from the router. This has gotten worse with Substack lately.
I want to do more, but quality is a factor. Any thoughts, anyone?
I have done that, but I noticed that I don't get as many instant clips from that. Because I'm only a content creator as the beginning of the funnel, I don't really want to spend any more time than I already do.
My current format is to create the script that becomes the podcast companion in a couple of hours, release that podcast on Monday, then use restacked quotes in the morning and clips in the evening as notes and IG/FB reels and stories throughout the week. Substack automatically posts my podcast as well as 4 clips to YouTube and 2 clips to LinkedIn.
I'd like to avoid having to create my own clips if possible, but I'll give it another shot trying to record nmy laptop and uploading. Maybe it was just an issue that day?
The clips Substack generate have been wonky lately. Mine are a disaster. Not sure why. The subtitles are wrong etc. You can make your own clips in Substack from the video draft when it sets dumped into your draft folder.
I need to experiment more. But I think it’s as easy as highlighting the text you want to capture. I’m thinking of putting a ticket in about the subtitle sync issues. Just so they have a record of people having problems with it. Putting those on Substack Notes and cross posting to Instagram has gotten engagement.
So techie things aside … in a lot of ways it doesn’t even matter if everything is perfect and professional. I mean, I would love to look put together etc and have decent video quality.
But even if you show up for the live and don’t feel the replay is worth sharing, the engagement you get from going live is worth it.
In April for poetry month I went live right before my bedtine (meaning I looked tired), with bad lighting and no makeup, and shared poems for 5 days straight.
I didn’t have a crowd. I felt self conscious. But out of 10 people attending each live, at least 3 people subscribed. And I had fun doing it. I didn’t even announce it, I just hit live button and emailed my people and I got people to attend.
I haven’t published the lives yet for everybody. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.
But I agree with Claudia that just showing up is worth it.
Tania, you definitely need an Ethernet connection between your computer (laptop, whatever) and your router!
That'll take care of ANY lags.
No matter how fast wifi you have, it's still gonna be slow (simplex convo) compared to the full duplex convo Ethernet can do. Each packet has to be "acknowledged" before the other can talk in simplex. In full duplex, both hosts can talk as much as they want, as fast as they want, at the same time!
I hope that helps. Just figure out how to connect your computer to your router with Ethernet, and all your problems will be solved!
Tania, do you NEED a 100 ft cable? The shorter the better. The max length you can use is 100 m (without the cable capacitance causing problems, resulting in repeated packets). But you're still below that. Just remember, the shorter, the better. I'd never use longer than 100 ft. Also, minimize tight bends in the cable, don't coil up any excess either. Lay it out flat. There's engineering considerations to that!
Glad I could help! You'll notice much snappier responses. Holla if u need mo' help.
I've been reading your posts, not every one, but off & on, for a while now.
What you described is EXACTLY what I imagined I'd feel if I ever did one of those "live" things.
Frankly, I just don't see the point!
Aren't my words enough?!
But what you wrote hit me.
Just like you intended it to.
I've got a guy kicking me to make YT videos, cuz he says my insights need to be seen by more people.
He says I "only need to read it." And my face never needs to be seen.
My old face. The one that's lived through my life.
The one I see in the mirror every day. That one.
In truth, I think my face would give me more credibility. I really do.
But....
Y'know, I used to give lectures to college students. I didn't worry about my "face being seen" back then. Heck, part of being a grad student meant we had to record videos of our "presentations" to get past any discomfort, and to quit doing all the "bad habits" - things ppl do, the "ummms" and "like yknow's" and all that.
But that was then.
These days, it seems preposterous.
The "kids" who really NEED to hear my messages wouldn't pay attention to an "old guy." Would they?
I don't think they even ever notice me, except when I'm driving. They're always hurrying to get in front of everyone else, they'll just sideswipe 'em if they get in the way. So they see my vehicle, not me, but they know it's not someone young like them, cuz I'm not in "their kind of vehicle." No, I'm not driving like an old fart, I'm keeping up with traffic, but they see a gap between my front bumper and the back bumper of the car in front, and even though it's not big enough for their car, they take it. They figure I'll slow down enough
in a checkout line - THAT'S when they don't see me. I'm just a thing taking up space that they want.
So, why would seeing my face "live" and hearing me speak my words matter?
Would they even show up?
I don't think so....
Even though I have the answers, the knowledge, the insights they seek....
They don't want to hear it FROM me. That's rather get it from the all-knowing "God" that is the internet!
(They don't even realize we're the ones who put it all on there....)
thanks, Jeffro! I am pretty sure they’d connect differently to you if they just hear and see you, no matter the age and what not. it’s all about connections these days :) human to human
Makes sense - they see you are human, mistakes and all! Believe it or not, I felt the same anxiety before I ever put audio to my post (made it a podcast)..like who would want to hear my Scottish stumbling audio!?!! Again though, it’s nice for folks to hear I’m a human 😂 Thank you for telling us how it is, so that we may decide to do it too 💕
Even though I likely won't get my "target" audience, I'll prolly get one person who wants to hear what I have to say.
I'm getting ready to publish my most insightful stuff yet. That's what I think of it, anyway.
I've recently started emailing with a "mentor" of sorts, he knows more about the "online world" than I do, and it's funny, cuz stuff I write to him seems like nothing to me, but he says it's "gold." It lights him up. He says I should elaborate more. He wants to hear more, and keeps saying I need to also do YT vids to get more brains witnessing my insights.
I think what I'm publishing is the real gold. Until I have a new insight, then I realize I was just dancing around in the previous posted article. This one is the real meat.
On another level, I get the whole convo. The "termite guy" who checks the traps every month called to let me know he'd be poking around in the yard next Monday, and I asked him a question about roaches, ticks, etc. Like if they spray for those too.
We got into a 20-minute convo that never would've been predicted by either of us earlier that morning!
I love Substack Lives, even though I was a little nervous at first. Yesterday’s live was blurry unfortunately, but it was a fun topic- Croatia 🇭🇷, Calisthenics & Community!
Hi Claudia,
I have a question please.
Is it possible to do a Substack Live with audio and a photo only? I do my zoom client meetings like that now and it’s just what I’m used to. Also, in Zambia and now in Belize, with the internet a little ‘unstable’, it became necessary.
you can do it with the camera off, I think that could work
Thank you so much. Want to do the same with a planned podcast.
I've realized that going live and having a conversation is something I truly enjoy. Just had one last Sunday and loved it. But going live and possibly talk to an empty room is the thing I don't feel good with.
Since I've realized that part of the why lies in my Human Design, I've stopped trying to force myself to do it anyways.
Thank you for sharing. It can be daunting. The lack of in-platform editing also challenging.
Absolutely love your honesty about this because I have been thinking about going live or making a podcast or something to possibly boost my newsletter because I haven’t charged for it at all and I have over 3000 free subscribers at the moment. I’m going to give it a try soon.
Can’t border
I’m definitely going to do this and I bought me a Kim quarter yesterday so I’m going to work on it this morning
yes for sure, do it!! :)
Yes. Helpful. I don't know how. If I ever think to go live, I will at least have an in-advance something in my head to help me know how to view the definitely-not-slick way I am coming off.
I'm concerned with the video quality. When I go live, and lately when I use the studio function, I go down to 80% and bounce back up so it lags. My clips end up asynchronous. I have a fiber optic connection to my internet but am running from wifi not too far from the router. This has gotten worse with Substack lately.
I want to do more, but quality is a factor. Any thoughts, anyone?
hm, that’s a really good point. so far the quality has been okay for me, but maybe try to record instead of doing lives and see if something changes?
I have done that, but I noticed that I don't get as many instant clips from that. Because I'm only a content creator as the beginning of the funnel, I don't really want to spend any more time than I already do.
My current format is to create the script that becomes the podcast companion in a couple of hours, release that podcast on Monday, then use restacked quotes in the morning and clips in the evening as notes and IG/FB reels and stories throughout the week. Substack automatically posts my podcast as well as 4 clips to YouTube and 2 clips to LinkedIn.
I'd like to avoid having to create my own clips if possible, but I'll give it another shot trying to record nmy laptop and uploading. Maybe it was just an issue that day?
The clips Substack generate have been wonky lately. Mine are a disaster. Not sure why. The subtitles are wrong etc. You can make your own clips in Substack from the video draft when it sets dumped into your draft folder.
Yes, I might just need to do yhat. Thanks for the suggestion!
I need to experiment more. But I think it’s as easy as highlighting the text you want to capture. I’m thinking of putting a ticket in about the subtitle sync issues. Just so they have a record of people having problems with it. Putting those on Substack Notes and cross posting to Instagram has gotten engagement.
So techie things aside … in a lot of ways it doesn’t even matter if everything is perfect and professional. I mean, I would love to look put together etc and have decent video quality.
But even if you show up for the live and don’t feel the replay is worth sharing, the engagement you get from going live is worth it.
In April for poetry month I went live right before my bedtine (meaning I looked tired), with bad lighting and no makeup, and shared poems for 5 days straight.
I didn’t have a crowd. I felt self conscious. But out of 10 people attending each live, at least 3 people subscribed. And I had fun doing it. I didn’t even announce it, I just hit live button and emailed my people and I got people to attend.
I haven’t published the lives yet for everybody. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.
But I agree with Claudia that just showing up is worth it.
Tania, you definitely need an Ethernet connection between your computer (laptop, whatever) and your router!
That'll take care of ANY lags.
No matter how fast wifi you have, it's still gonna be slow (simplex convo) compared to the full duplex convo Ethernet can do. Each packet has to be "acknowledged" before the other can talk in simplex. In full duplex, both hosts can talk as much as they want, as fast as they want, at the same time!
I hope that helps. Just figure out how to connect your computer to your router with Ethernet, and all your problems will be solved!
"One cable, that's all!"
👍
I found an existing hole in the floor. I ordered a 100 ft cable, a better camera and a new light because my old one died.
Thanks again for the suggestion!
Tania, do you NEED a 100 ft cable? The shorter the better. The max length you can use is 100 m (without the cable capacitance causing problems, resulting in repeated packets). But you're still below that. Just remember, the shorter, the better. I'd never use longer than 100 ft. Also, minimize tight bends in the cable, don't coil up any excess either. Lay it out flat. There's engineering considerations to that!
Glad I could help! You'll notice much snappier responses. Holla if u need mo' help.
Thanks SO MUCH! I think I can figure out how to do that. It might require drilling an access hole in the floor, but I'm up to the task!
Wow, Claudia.
I've been reading your posts, not every one, but off & on, for a while now.
What you described is EXACTLY what I imagined I'd feel if I ever did one of those "live" things.
Frankly, I just don't see the point!
Aren't my words enough?!
But what you wrote hit me.
Just like you intended it to.
I've got a guy kicking me to make YT videos, cuz he says my insights need to be seen by more people.
He says I "only need to read it." And my face never needs to be seen.
My old face. The one that's lived through my life.
The one I see in the mirror every day. That one.
In truth, I think my face would give me more credibility. I really do.
But....
Y'know, I used to give lectures to college students. I didn't worry about my "face being seen" back then. Heck, part of being a grad student meant we had to record videos of our "presentations" to get past any discomfort, and to quit doing all the "bad habits" - things ppl do, the "ummms" and "like yknow's" and all that.
But that was then.
These days, it seems preposterous.
The "kids" who really NEED to hear my messages wouldn't pay attention to an "old guy." Would they?
I don't think they even ever notice me, except when I'm driving. They're always hurrying to get in front of everyone else, they'll just sideswipe 'em if they get in the way. So they see my vehicle, not me, but they know it's not someone young like them, cuz I'm not in "their kind of vehicle." No, I'm not driving like an old fart, I'm keeping up with traffic, but they see a gap between my front bumper and the back bumper of the car in front, and even though it's not big enough for their car, they take it. They figure I'll slow down enough
in a checkout line - THAT'S when they don't see me. I'm just a thing taking up space that they want.
So, why would seeing my face "live" and hearing me speak my words matter?
Would they even show up?
I don't think so....
Even though I have the answers, the knowledge, the insights they seek....
They don't want to hear it FROM me. That's rather get it from the all-knowing "God" that is the internet!
(They don't even realize we're the ones who put it all on there....)
Yeah, I'll think about it....
👍 🤜🤛
thanks, Jeffro! I am pretty sure they’d connect differently to you if they just hear and see you, no matter the age and what not. it’s all about connections these days :) human to human
Makes sense - they see you are human, mistakes and all! Believe it or not, I felt the same anxiety before I ever put audio to my post (made it a podcast)..like who would want to hear my Scottish stumbling audio!?!! Again though, it’s nice for folks to hear I’m a human 😂 Thank you for telling us how it is, so that we may decide to do it too 💕
oh I love the Scottish accent!!
* curtsy 😊
Hey, I love hearing a good Scottish accent!
Just...longazits actual English ikin unna-stan.
👍 😁
Sorry, I meant "akkksent."
I try my best 🏴
Claudia, after reading your whole post, I get it.
Even though I likely won't get my "target" audience, I'll prolly get one person who wants to hear what I have to say.
I'm getting ready to publish my most insightful stuff yet. That's what I think of it, anyway.
I've recently started emailing with a "mentor" of sorts, he knows more about the "online world" than I do, and it's funny, cuz stuff I write to him seems like nothing to me, but he says it's "gold." It lights him up. He says I should elaborate more. He wants to hear more, and keeps saying I need to also do YT vids to get more brains witnessing my insights.
I think what I'm publishing is the real gold. Until I have a new insight, then I realize I was just dancing around in the previous posted article. This one is the real meat.
On another level, I get the whole convo. The "termite guy" who checks the traps every month called to let me know he'd be poking around in the yard next Monday, and I asked him a question about roaches, ticks, etc. Like if they spray for those too.
We got into a 20-minute convo that never would've been predicted by either of us earlier that morning!
So, I understand the connection part too.
I guess I just need to get over myself.
Thanks!
Cheers! 👍
https://jeffro55.substack.com and https://BrainEngage.substack.com