Leaving Substack (Leveling Up)

Going independent. Improving articles. And releasing new work.

Explorers Design is leveling up.

I rebooted the Explorers Design website a couple of years ago and started blogging here on Substack a year after that. The result was a frustratingly obtuse network of services. Now, I’m combining the two places into one.

One website, blog, and newsletter in one place.

What do you have to do to keep reading?

If you’re a newsletter subscriber. Nothing. Your email is moving to the new backend. You’ll get Explorers Design updates with no interruption. It’ll actually be better because it won’t have any of that substack drek on it.

If you’re a website bookmarker and visitor. Not much. The substack domain won’t get any additional updates after a few weeks. Please update your bookmarks with the URL www.explorersdesign.com (the URL will transfer shortly) and immediately start visiting me at the standby url (which will work indefinitely):

Why the change? It’s not been long.

There are three reasons for the change. They all relate to internet platforms.

Substack isn’t working.

• The substack website lacks the functionality (and portability) I want for longevity.

• Substack’s algorithm floods my feed with tech grifters and culture warriors.

• Substack wants to build a social platform and neglects the newsletter service.

• The website runs on venture capitalist money and is unsustainable.

• I don’t trust Substack to make decisions that benefit Explorers Design.

Shopify isn’t working.

• Explorers Design is on Shopify. It’s a decent storefront and a miserable CMS/blog.

• Shopify requires extra work for fulfillment, sales tax, and currency exchange.

• Fees, fees, and more fees. Fees for the backend. Fees for hosting. Fees for emails.

• I make just as much money from Itch.io and donations as from Shopify.

Ghost works well.

• Ghost is an open-source platform that gives me Substack’s blog/newsletters with Shopify’s website design, membership portal, and flexibility.

• I can focus on writing instead of Missouri, Cornwall, and New Zealand tax laws.

• I save money in the long run by paying one provider instead of 4-6.

• Product sales can stay on Itch, and I can offer guides/resources through a membership on Explorers Design. A model exactly like Patreon.

Follow me! There’s more to discover.

You can find me on the new website and social. Do me a favor, share this post and my announcements on social. I’ll be giving out thank-you gifts to those who have been following along.

See you on the other side.