Substack writers, you need a website
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Writers should own their domain and treat Substack as a distribution channel, not a home.
Elizabeth Tai argues that Substack writers should maintain their own independent website as a permanent homebase rather than relying solely on Substack. She advocates the POSSE method: Publish on Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere. Citing John Scalzi's 28-year blog at whatever.scalzi.com as an example of digital independence, Tai warns that platforms eventually change rules, making writers digital sharecroppers. She notes Substack allows custom domain setup but has limited SEO and customization capabilities compared to other CMS options like Ghost or self-hosted WordPress.
What commenters are saying
Commenters split into two camps: those who agree that owning a domain is important for long-term control, and those who counter that push mechanisms like Substack's email delivery are essential for reaching readers. Top comment notes that the POSSE method's 'syndicate elsewhere' step is non-trivial despite easy domain setup. Several commenters mention Ghost as an alternative, though one notes Substack's spam-free email delivery is difficult to replicate. A dissenter argues nobody visits independent websites and push is necessary, but others counter that email subscriber exports are at risk if Substack changes policies.