Category: Social MediaCategory: Social Media

RESIST AND UNSUBSCRIBE BUT ONLY ON INSTAGRAM I GUESS
Published On: February 28, 2026Categories: Social Media

Starting an email list is so hard, even Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway can’t figure it out. In 2026!

These two have started Resist and Unsubscribe, and they’re no luddites. And you know they’re surrounded by smart people!

That’s why it’s weird to me (in 2026) to share a very important message on a platform where probably 95% of their audience won’t see their next post.

“Hey, we’d boycott Instagram too if we could, but we need it to get this message to you. Share this message widely on Instagram, encourage your friends to repost, get everyone on board.”

Every smart phone ships with an email app, but not everyone is on Instagram. I can’t watch a single video on Scott’s profile because I don’t have an account.

In Scott’s post “The Algebra of Resistance,” the Resist and Unsubscribe has gotten a lot of traffic, but without an email sign up form no one subscribed for future updates.

Building a base of supporters is one thing. Reaching them with your next message is another.
SCREEN TIME CONFESSIONAL
Published On: February 23, 2026Categories: Social Media, Technology

NYC blizzard, February 12, 2006

About a week after hosting Break Up 💔 With Social Media Day, and deleting the YouTube and Substack apps from my phone, I reinstalled YouTube.

It was a moment of weakness, and there I was, flipping through YouTube shorts, consuming the digital cotton candy. Twenty minutes later I deleted it again. “Progress, not perfection,” as the AA saying goes.

Lately my phone is sits plugged in while I take walks or make coffee. I read a book while eating lunch instead of watching videos. I use the phone app to talk to people, but use my computer to reply to messages, or watch a movie, or write a post like this one you’re reading.

I haven’t written many (any?!) posts about my personal screen time or phone habits, but I figured this might be a good time since I don’t want to come off like I’m perfect, or beyond temptation. I’m also inspired by Manuel Moreale’s posts about reducing screen time.

We’re all just trying to figure this out, and I fully believe it’s better when we do that together.
TALKING SUBSTACK STRATEGY, EMAIL LIST BUILDING, AND CREATIVE INDEPENDENCE WITH MICHAEL GILBRIDE
Published On: February 23, 2026Categories: Email Marketing, Social Media, Video
Michael Gilbride of the MAD Records Collective and I sat down for an hour-long conversation about what actually matters when building a music career in 2026.
- Stop chasing vanity metrics. Having 50,000 Spotify listeners means nothing if you can’t reach those people when you have something to sell.
- We dove into lots of good stuff during this chat:
- Michael’s stark data point: 50,000 monthly listeners = one non-friend at his show
- Artists with small, engaged email lists are booking venues, selling out shows, making real Bandcamp revenue
- Sturgill Simpson released his latest album vinyl/CD/tape only—no streaming
- Creating friction isn’t a sacrifice, it’s smart business—increases fan commitment
- When fans go out of their way to support you, they convert from passive listeners to real fans
- Same principle for email: people who subscribe and open are demonstrating genuine interest
- Discussion covered economics of leaving streaming, potential comeback of physical mail, embracing business skills without sacrificing creativity
The core themes are this: stop building audiences you can’t reach (the Oatmeal is pushing his email list over socials), and don’t be afraid to focus on actually selling something!
TWO NEW SUBSCRIBERS IN FIVE MINUTES
Published On: February 22, 2026Categories: Email Guidance, Social Media

From a recent Email Guidance client:

Decided to go through my “General” IG mailbox and send a version of this note: [REDACTED]
Picked up two new free sub’s in the first five mins.

This writer reached out to people already in his DMs with a note saying they could subscribe to his newsletter, and two people did that just that in the first five minutes.

I’m not saying automated systems cheapen the exchange, but honest communication certainly can’t hurt.
GETTING INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS TO SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR SUBSTACK AIN’T EASY
Published On: February 21, 2026Categories: Email Marketing, Social Media

If you go by this post, “How Instagram creators are bringing their followers to Substack,” there are so many ways to get your Instagram followers to subscribe to your Substack newsletter! Video! Images! Text! Get creative!

In reality, however, your Instagram followers are likely very content to stay on Instagram.

Consider that best selling author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love) has 1.2M Instagram followers, but just 203,000 subscribers. Sure, 203,000 email subscribers is great, but it’s still less than 20% of her following on Instagram.
(more…)