Hey there! 👋
When I started SavvyMonk, the idea was simple enough. I wanted to write the kind of AI and tech newsletter I would want to read myself, one that skips the hype, checks the facts and respects the few minutes you give it each morning.
I have kept that promise as best I can. I research every story, I cut whatever does not need to be there, and I read every reply that lands in my inbox. But I also have to be honest with you, because the subscriber count has barely moved for months, and no amount of extra effort on the writing side seemed to change that.
I kept telling myself to be patient and give it more time. At some point, though, I realised that waiting without changing anything was not really a plan, so I decided to change the one thing I could control, which is where SavvyMonk lives.
Why I Am Not Blaming Beehiiv
I want to be fair here, because Beehiiv has been good to me. The editor is clean, the analytics are useful, and I have no complaints about how the platform works.
The problem is that a newsletter platform mostly helps you serve the readers you already have. It does very little to put your writing in front of people who have never heard of you, and that is exactly where SavvyMonk has been stuck.
Why Substack
The biggest reason is Substack Notes. Notes is a short-form feed inside Substack where writers share quick thoughts and readers can restack them, reply and follow the writers they like.
I have been spending time there, and it feels closer to a conversation than a broadcast. I can share a half-formed thought about an AI story, talk with other writers and readers, and let someone discover SavvyMonk because a post of mine showed up in their feed. That kind of discovery is the piece I have been missing, and I would rather try it properly than keep wondering whether it would have worked.
I am not expecting overnight results, and I know a new platform will not fix everything by itself. But it gives me a real shot at reaching new readers, which is more than I can say for the way things have been going.
What Changes for You
Very little changes on your end. I am moving the subscriber list to Substack myself, so if you are reading this, your email address is coming with me and you do not need to sign up again.
The one thing you will notice is that issues will start arriving from Substack, which means the sender name and address will look a bit different. Please keep an eye on your spam or promotions folder for the first few issues, and if one lands there, move it to your main inbox and mark it as not spam so the rest arrive where they should.
And if you would rather not make the move with me, that is completely okay. There is an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every issue, and I will not take it personally.
What Stays the Same
The newsletter itself is not changing. It will have the same name, the same voice and the same format, with one deep dive on a story that matters and a prompt you can use straight away.
The web address is staying too. I will transfer savvymonknewsletter.com to Substack, so the same domain will take you to the new home once the move is done.
If you have not subscribed to my newsletter, you can do now here: https://savvymonk.substack.com/
Thank you for reading!