Substack Unveils Revamped App: A Fresh Approach to Content
Discovery
Following a tantalizing preview in a blog post on Tuesday, Substack has now officially unveiled the details of its revamped app, featuring a fresh "Home" tab and several refinements to its current layout.
The most significant alteration comes in the form of the
Home tab, designed to facilitate content discovery by offering a gateway to a
vibrant universe of stories, ideas, and personalities on the platform. At the
top of this tab, users will encounter a queue of prominent cards showcasing
posts from their subscribed content creators, which they can swipe through,
reminiscent of Apple's "Up Next" suggestions in its Podcasts app.
Beneath these cards lies a feed akin to Substack's tweet-like Notes feed,
categorized under "Explore" (recommendations) and
"Following."
In a blog post, Substack asserts that the card queue isn't
solely beneficial for readers; it's also intended to bolster writer retention.
"We've crafted this queue to enhance writer retention by prioritizing new
posts from paid subscribers, saved content, and publications regularly consumed
by the reader," Substack explains.
Adjacent to the Home tab is the Inbox tab, presenting
subscriptions in chronological order. Users can employ swipe gestures to save
or archive posts and can use filters to streamline their inbox, displaying
saved posts and audio posts exclusively. Substack promises that these features
are just the initial steps in enhancing inbox customization and navigation.
Substack's chat section now resides in the right-most tab, relocating notifications to a new bell icon at the app's top. The user's profile picture is now situated on the right side of the screen, and access to the subscription library can be found by tapping on this picture.
Having spent a few minutes with the revamped app, it appears
to be a well-executed redesign. However, it seems that Substack is shifting
away from its newsletter-centric origins, adopting a greater focus on its feed,
the app itself, and encouraging users to consume content directly on its
platform, resembling a social network to some extent.
Nonetheless, in Tuesday's blog post, Substack's founder and
CEO, Chris Best, argued that it distinguishes itself from other platforms
because its business model is geared towards delivering the best experience to
its users. "We win when subscribers are happy," Best stated.
"Our business model succeeds when you spend time with the work that you
value the most; the work that helps you grow and progress; the work that helps
you fall deeper in love."
Best makes a valid point. When I engage with the Substack
app, I often feel that my time is better spent compared to refreshing other
platforms for the latest breaking news. Perhaps Substack's changes will entice
me to use its app more frequently, making it easier to stumble upon fresh and
captivating content.