Redefining the Substack writer / reader relationship
When I started this newsletter, it was clear to me that I only needed 1,000 true fans and that at that scale I could have a unique relationship with my audience.
I started advocating the idea that your Substack writer could serve as your personal analyst, concierge, or private investigator.
It was a big part of the early pitch for becoming a paid subscriber: I will go do things for you in a faraway foreign country!
I thought it is worth repeating that idea.
We have 512 paid subscribers today, but I think I have had fewer than 20 significant requests for things. Off the top of my head these included:
Visit a data center under construction in Singapore and identify the sub-contractors.
Visit a factory in Johor and a building in Yokohama (obviously will only agree to this in special circumstances).
Send me material on X subject (only a handful of people regularly make this request).
Send me a summary of your call with Y (only one person has ever asked for this).
What did AYZ say about Maruwa?
Connect me with Z.
The power users of this Substack ask me questions all the time. There is also a similar dynamic in the FundaAI chat.
I wonder if I am opening a Pandora’s box by repeating the invitation to do so. You can reach me on DMs or at research@collyerbridge.com.
Of course I can’t answer every question, but it costs paid subscribers nothing to ask.
No, I will not visit the Strait of Hormuz. I would only agree to that if I had 10,000 paid subscribers.
Substack is complementing traditional sell-side research
On a different note, larger independent voices on Substack are becoming increasingly important in finance.
Citrini’s thought experiment was apparently escalated to the top of KKR.
TMTB post titles appear on Bloomberg.
Vik is too modest to advertise that he is quoted in JPM updates:
This trend is still in its infancy. By being a paid subscriber to any finance or tech Substack, you are already ahead of the curve.
And on that note, just because you read this far, here is a 20% coupon to the newsletter.
We’ll like to see that trend accelerate. More on that soon!
What you will find is that you will be getting outreach from a vocal minority of your paid readership, who probably aren’t representative of the whole.
Could u cook us a great meal for your subscribers? 😹