The Spike

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Substack housekeeping

There is a post about lip balm waiting for you over on Substack. Grab yourself a moving buddy and let’s go.

Click this link to create an account at Substack, that’s all you need to do for now.

Why Substack? Because WordPress has caused me unforgivable amounts of technical problems and I’m just sick of it. It also has formatting trickery that drives me wild trying to navigate. A website is also, really, too advanced for me. I’m not showcasing my photography or running a shop. A newsletter is so much more straightforward and far more suited to what I actually do. You will still be able to comment on posts and chat to other Spikers.

In terms of income, WordPress is also not working for me. In order to generate revenue from WordPress, I have to use affiliate links, which I like doing less and less because it works on the basis of selling things to you. There are very few things I like enough to recommend and there are also many technical problems with affiliate links – they’re all run by different companies and they squabble over who you use. I have heard rumours that some affiliate links cancel each other out, which I completely believe. The tax on the micropayments you receive from affiliate links is fiddly and stupid.

Substack, on the other hand, has an option for paid subscribers. I’m not doing that yet, so all content will still be free, but perhaps in six months’ time, if it’s all going well, I might introduce a paid-for area.

So head over to Substack! Let’s get this thing moving. I am sorry that this is yet another thing to you have to sign up for and I do hope it’s as painless as possible. Please be careful, those of you who like to comment anonymously, at the sign-up stage to provide a nickname.

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Comments

  1. Emily Knight says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:02 am

    Sorry Esther, the link doesn’t work for me!

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      January 11, 2022 at 10:09 am

      I’ve changed the link, try now?

      Reply
  2. Kelly says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:03 am

    Hi Esther, sorry but I get an error message when I try to use the link you provided.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      January 11, 2022 at 10:08 am

      so annoying, try now

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:05 am

    I can’t open the link to substack I’m afraid.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      January 11, 2022 at 10:08 am

      okay try now 🙁

      Reply
  4. Claire O'Connell says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:05 am

    Sorry Esther the link isn’t working !

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      January 11, 2022 at 10:08 am

      bugger, try again, I’ve changed it

      Reply
    • Marie says

      March 20, 2022 at 11:10 pm

      Not working for me either, Esther, keeps sending me round in circles – always end up at a page that says ‘you’re logged in but this page is private. Try loggiing in with a different email or letting the author know they’ve linked to a private page.

      Reply
  5. Juni says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:06 am

    Hi, looking forward to your new home! The links aren’t working for me 🙁

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      January 11, 2022 at 10:08 am

      ARGH!!! I’ve changed the link, try now? 🙁

      Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:09 am

    Sorry link doesn’t work 😩

    Reply
  7. lagunalesley says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:11 am

    Sorry, the link doesn’t work for me. Agree though that Substack is a better place for you

    Reply
  8. Leona says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:12 am

    Esther, the link isnae working, I’m afraid. Happy to sign up though!

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:13 am

    Link doesn’t work, I’m afraid. Suggests a typo?

    Reply
  10. Rebecca Jeffries says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:14 am

    Hi, the link isn’t working – I’m in Australia if that makes any difference?

    Reply
  11. Maureen McCollum says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:14 am

    “This site can’t be reached’

    Reply
  12. Emily Knight says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:15 am

    Sorry, I cannot get the link to work!

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:16 am

    Help! The links are not working for me I just get this url can’t be shown. Love your posts so don’t want to miss out.

    Reply
  14. Tracey says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:18 am

    I keep getting the message that this URL can’t be shown:(

    Reply
  15. Lorna Mirza says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:22 am

    Hi, I’m sure you’ve heard already but the link isn’t working. X

    Reply
  16. Melbournista says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:23 am

    I’m getting an error message from the link

    Reply
  17. Claire says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:25 am

    The link doesn’t work for me. 🙁

    Reply
  18. Claire says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:26 am

    The link isn’t working for me unfortunately!

    Reply
  19. kpcunningham says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:28 am

    Bah, can’t open the link! 🥲

    Reply
  20. Heather Allison says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:29 am

    The link isn’t working it says page not found

    Reply
  21. Emma says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:29 am

    The link isn’t working! Not sure if it’s just me

    Reply
    • Emma says

      January 11, 2022 at 10:31 am

      Sorry, working now!

      Reply
  22. Catherine says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:30 am

    The links aren’t working for me …

    Reply
  23. Caroline says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:33 am

    Arrrgh, neither of the links worked for me. It just goes to the “this site can’t be reached” page. Doom.

    Reply
  24. Claire says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:34 am

    I can’t access the link to Substack – I get a message saying ‘Safari cannot open the page. The error was “The URL can’t be shown” ‘

    Reply
  25. Fran James says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:34 am

    Hi Esther, not sure if it’s just me but the link isn’t working X

    Reply
  26. Rosemary says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:40 am

    Sorry Esther, but the link does not seem to work. Could be me…..Sod’s law.

    Reply
  27. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:40 am

    The link isn’t working for me sorry.

    Reply
  28. zoeshelton says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:41 am

    The links don’t seem to work!

    Reply
  29. Hazel says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:41 am

    The link doesn’t work and I can’t find you by searching on substack

    Reply
  30. Sophie says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:43 am

    More worryingly, I went straight to substack (not through the link) and searched variously for ‘spike’ and ‘esther’ and couldn’t find you there either. I already have an account there btw.

    Reply
  31. Sarah says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:50 am

    Unfortunately the link isn’t working for me 🙁

    Reply
  32. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:50 am

    Might just be my settings – but when I click the link it says that Safari can’t open the page. Tried copy and paste to chrome – same response.

    Reply
  33. Angie Konrad says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:50 am

    Sadly, the link doesn’t seem to be working!

    Reply
  34. Lizzie P says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:52 am

    Hi Esther – not sure if it’s just me but the Substack link doesn’t seem to work…xx ps. In response to a previous post : am OBSESSED with E-cloth! Try the duster attachment on the mop head: Life.Changing.

    Reply
  35. Anna Bateson says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:52 am

    The link is currently not working.. x

    Reply
  36. Amy says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:53 am

    cant find you on substack!

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      January 11, 2022 at 11:05 am

      Have you tried searching The Spike? I’ve looked and some people have managed to sign up, so I’m definitely discoverable

      Reply
  37. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:54 am

    Link not working for me….

    Reply
  38. Jess says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:58 am

    Sorry Esther, that link isn’t working for me (on my iPhone, at least)

    Reply
  39. Claire says

    January 11, 2022 at 11:03 am

    Hi – link not working?

    Reply
  40. Charlotte says

    January 11, 2022 at 11:22 am

    The link doesn’t work for me. It says the site can’t be reached “Check if there is a typo in %3Ciframe%20src%3D%22https.”

    Reply
    • Zoe says

      January 11, 2022 at 11:27 am

      Trying…

      Reply
  41. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 11:41 am

    Also having trouble

    Reply
  42. Lulu says

    January 11, 2022 at 11:45 am

    Sorry, the new Substack link won’t work for me – either in the email or on the blog itself 🙁

    Reply
  43. CarolineP says

    January 11, 2022 at 11:55 am

    Sorry to report the links to Substack aren’t working… 🙁 Can you repost the link? Very keen to join you in the new space!

    Reply
  44. Jenny says

    January 11, 2022 at 12:10 pm

    Hi Esther,

    I don’t think the links are working?

    Reply
  45. Jacky Kitching says

    January 11, 2022 at 12:23 pm

    Not sure what I’m doing wrong, Esther, but neither link connects to anything.
    Getting this error message:

    This site can’t be reachedCheck if there is a typo in %3Ciframe%20src%3D%22https.
    If spelling is correct, try running windows network Diagnostics.
    DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

    Reply
  46. Laura B says

    January 11, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    Hi Esther, the link isn’t working for me I’m afraid

    Reply
  47. Trish says

    January 11, 2022 at 12:39 pm

    Sorry Esther, when I click the link it says URL cannot be shown..

    Reply
  48. Lizzie says

    January 11, 2022 at 12:43 pm

    It’s very possible I’m doing it wrong but I’m logged in and getting a message saying “ this page is private. Try logging in with a different email, or letting the author know they’ve linked to a private page.”

    Reply
  49. Edie says

    January 11, 2022 at 12:50 pm

    Terrific news – Substack is ace. Could well be just me…but I couldn’t get either of the two links in your post here to work. *sorry*

    Reply
  50. Amelia says

    January 11, 2022 at 12:50 pm

    Esther, you know neither of the links above is working, right?

    Reply
  51. Kirsten says

    January 11, 2022 at 12:54 pm

    Link isn’t working for me

    Reply
  52. missbookshelvesS says

    January 11, 2022 at 1:00 pm

    trying to click link – have tried via email and blog post but keep telling me page doesn’t exist with some weird coding.

    Reply
  53. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    Esther, when I click on your link it tells me the site is unavailable but I can click on the URL at the bottom of your email and it takes me straight there. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

    Reply
  54. RJ says

    January 11, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    I’m afraid the link doesn’t work for me…

    Reply
  55. Rhi says

    January 11, 2022 at 1:22 pm

    Hey I can’t make the link work!?

    Reply
  56. Emma Simmons says

    January 11, 2022 at 1:27 pm

    The link isn’t working -sorry

    Reply
  57. Sue Madelin says

    January 11, 2022 at 2:10 pm

    Am I doing something wrong? I can’t get the links to work. And if I google Substack and search for you as Esther Walker or The Spike I can’t find you. Sorry to be such a luddite but can someone point me in the right direction? Yours is the only blog I subscribe to and I’d hate to lose you. x

    Reply
  58. Louise Fisher says

    January 11, 2022 at 2:11 pm

    Sorry Esther, but the link is not working for me – anyone else having problems?

    Reply
  59. Lucy Waters says

    January 11, 2022 at 2:15 pm

    I’m having no luck with the link – anyone else having similar issues?

    Reply
  60. Grace says

    January 11, 2022 at 2:19 pm

    Hi Esther, unfortunately I’m getting an error when I try to click on the link

    Reply
  61. Joanne Rowe says

    January 11, 2022 at 2:52 pm

    I can’t get the link to work.

    Reply
  62. Sarah says

    January 11, 2022 at 3:22 pm

    I get ‘This site can’t be reached’ when I click on your link, Esther – anyone else?

    Reply
  63. Victoria Usher says

    January 11, 2022 at 3:23 pm

    I had an error message when I clicked on both links, Esther. And sorry to hear about all the arduous technical issues you’ve had. Such a ballache.

    Reply
  64. Louise says

    January 11, 2022 at 3:30 pm

    I do t know if this helps anyone but both links took me to the “this page is private” page but when I clicked the sign in (or sign up, I can’t remember 🙈) button on the bottom right of the screen it took me to The Spike page where I then subscribe.

    Reply
  65. Liz says

    January 11, 2022 at 4:13 pm

    Esther I’m so sorry to connect regarding tech stuff but the link doesn’t work for me. I get ‘page doesn’t exist’. It may be because I am in the USA right now. Unless you there’s a known IT solution, (which I don’t for a minute expect you to be able to magic out of thin air), I’ll sign up in a few weeks when I return to the UK.

    Reply
  66. Penny says

    January 11, 2022 at 5:56 pm

    FYI the substack sign up link above isn’t working for me.

    Reply
  67. Fiona Burgess says

    January 11, 2022 at 6:28 pm

    When I click on the link the message is that this page can’t be reached?

    Reply
  68. Emily says

    January 11, 2022 at 7:48 pm

    Hi, every time I click on the link (and I’ve tried both of them) I get the “Safari can’t open the page” message. I’ve tried using Safari and Chrome.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      January 11, 2022 at 8:04 pm

      Hello! Try https://thespike.substack.com

      Reply
      • Susannah says

        January 11, 2022 at 9:17 pm

        Ahah, that’s worked perfectly, will delete my other comment now! Thanks:)

        Reply
  69. tinkerbell742 says

    January 11, 2022 at 8:23 pm

    Just says

    SAFARI can’t open the page

    when I click on the link?

    Reply
  70. Susannah says

    January 11, 2022 at 9:16 pm

    Unfortunately just getting error messages when I click on those links. Nothing happened when I clicked them from the spike link on Instagram. Now I’m on Safari and getting an error page🧐

    Reply
  71. Sarah says

    January 11, 2022 at 9:19 pm

    Sob! The link to Substack not working – it says the url cannot be found? Tried searching your name and on the spike on Substack but it didn’t bring you up. Help!

    Reply
  72. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    Hello! Those links don’t work for me, it says the URL can’t be shown.

    Reply
  73. Mary says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:00 pm

    I tried to join your substack but the link is broken 🙁

    Reply
  74. Mary says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    Oh gosh – WordPress doesn’t want you to leave. Sorry I checked for comments before I posted and none were showing. *facepalm*

    Reply
  75. Sharon Summers says

    January 12, 2022 at 1:00 am

    lt states that it’s a private page and to let you know that.

    Reply
  76. Kate says

    January 12, 2022 at 3:36 pm

    I got a working link but when I clicked on the link in the email I was sent it had expired. This was in a 20m window on the tube. Thanks!

    Reply

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