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.
Sorry Esther, the link doesn’t work for me!
I’ve changed the link, try now?
Hi Esther, sorry but I get an error message when I try to use the link you provided.
so annoying, try now
I can’t open the link to substack I’m afraid.
okay try now 🙁
Sorry Esther the link isn’t working !
bugger, try again, I’ve changed it
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.
Hi, looking forward to your new home! The links aren’t working for me 🙁
ARGH!!! I’ve changed the link, try now? 🙁
Sorry link doesn’t work 😩
Sorry, the link doesn’t work for me. Agree though that Substack is a better place for you
Esther, the link isnae working, I’m afraid. Happy to sign up though!
Link doesn’t work, I’m afraid. Suggests a typo?
Hi, the link isn’t working – I’m in Australia if that makes any difference?
“This site can’t be reached’
Sorry, I cannot get the link to work!
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.
I keep getting the message that this URL can’t be shown:(
Hi, I’m sure you’ve heard already but the link isn’t working. X
I’m getting an error message from the link
The link doesn’t work for me. 🙁
The link isn’t working for me unfortunately!
Bah, can’t open the link! 🥲
The link isn’t working it says page not found
The link isn’t working! Not sure if it’s just me
Sorry, working now!
The links aren’t working for me …
Arrrgh, neither of the links worked for me. It just goes to the “this site can’t be reached” page. Doom.
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” ‘
Hi Esther, not sure if it’s just me but the link isn’t working X
Sorry Esther, but the link does not seem to work. Could be me…..Sod’s law.
The link isn’t working for me sorry.
The links don’t seem to work!
The link doesn’t work and I can’t find you by searching on substack
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.
Unfortunately the link isn’t working for me 🙁
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.
Sadly, the link doesn’t seem to be working!
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.
The link is currently not working.. x
cant find you on substack!
Have you tried searching The Spike? I’ve looked and some people have managed to sign up, so I’m definitely discoverable
Link not working for me….
Sorry Esther, that link isn’t working for me (on my iPhone, at least)
Hi – link not working?
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.”
Trying…
Also having trouble
Sorry, the new Substack link won’t work for me – either in the email or on the blog itself 🙁
Sorry to report the links to Substack aren’t working… 🙁 Can you repost the link? Very keen to join you in the new space!
Hi Esther,
I don’t think the links are working?
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
Hi Esther, the link isn’t working for me I’m afraid
Sorry Esther, when I click the link it says URL cannot be shown..
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.”
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*
Esther, you know neither of the links above is working, right?
Link isn’t working for me
trying to click link – have tried via email and blog post but keep telling me page doesn’t exist with some weird coding.
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
I’m afraid the link doesn’t work for me…
Hey I can’t make the link work!?
The link isn’t working -sorry
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
Sorry Esther, but the link is not working for me – anyone else having problems?
I’m having no luck with the link – anyone else having similar issues?
Hi Esther, unfortunately I’m getting an error when I try to click on the link
I can’t get the link to work.
I get ‘This site can’t be reached’ when I click on your link, Esther – anyone else?
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.
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.
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.
FYI the substack sign up link above isn’t working for me.
When I click on the link the message is that this page can’t be reached?
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.
Hello! Try https://thespike.substack.com
Ahah, that’s worked perfectly, will delete my other comment now! Thanks:)
Just says
SAFARI can’t open the page
when I click on the link?
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🧐
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!
Hello! Those links don’t work for me, it says the URL can’t be shown.
I tried to join your substack but the link is broken 🙁
Oh gosh – WordPress doesn’t want you to leave. Sorry I checked for comments before I posted and none were showing. *facepalm*
lt states that it’s a private page and to let you know that.
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!