Newsletter platform Substack is shaking things up once again with its latest feature release. On Wednesday, the company announced the launch of video capabilities within its Chat feature, allowing writers to directly communicate with their subscribers through short videos.
This addition comes on the heels of Substack’s recent rollout of videos on Notes, their X/Twitter-inspired platform for sharing bite-sized content. With the introduction of video in Chat, Substack shows its ongoing efforts to compete with traditional social media platforms.
For newsletter creators, the integration of video in Chat presents a new opportunity to engage with loyal followers and share exclusive content or sneak peeks with their community. The company initially launched Chats earlier this year, creating a more casual and intimate space for interactions between users and subscribers.
As part of their continuous development, Substack also introduced the option to paywall entire chats or specific threads for paid members just last month. This feature allows writers to monetize their content even further and reward their most devoted subscribers.
To share a video within Substack Chat, writers can simply open a new chat and click on the plus icon in the bottom left corner. From there, they can choose the “Video” option and either upload media from their gallery or record a new video using their phone’s camera. It’s worth noting that videos are limited to a five-minute duration.
With the added ability to include captions, paywall the video, and email subscribers directly, this new feature is sure to enhance the overall user experience. In addition, subscribers will receive push notifications on their mobile devices, maximizing visibility and engagement with the content. It’s a game-changer for Substack, opening the door for a wider range of creators to join the platform beyond just writers and publishers.
Furthermore, Substack is once again putting creators at the forefront by allowing subscribers to start their own chat threads and share videos as well. And according to the company, this is just the first step. Soon, subscribers will have the ability to send video replies, effectively creating a more interactive and immersive experience for all users.
With video now an integral part of Substack, it’s clear that the company is committed to evolving and expanding its platform to cater to the ever-changing needs and desires of its community. From written content to now video content, Substack continues to revolutionize the newsletter landscape and attract a wider audience of innovative creators.
