It’s time to say goodbye
...on here, at least
Oof, that’s ‘one of those’ headlines, right? Clickbait-tastic, etc.
It’s true, though - at least, for this Substack newsletter. And I’m going to cut to the chase with this, rather than continue to lead you on.
That would be unfair, wouldn’t it?
Stop it, Mark.
I’ve loved writing this Substack newsletter. I’ve used it as a platform from which to share what it’s like to run a content business. I even used it, briefly, as a way to document my inner thoughts in the form of a public diary. That didn’t last long, but at least I tried it.
I’ve also used this digital page to tell you about my growing team and ambitions for Mark Ellis Media. It’s hard to believe that what started as a one-man-band content machine has turned into a thriving business with a team that often gets things done without me ever having to lift a finger. This has enabled me to focus on what I should be focusing on - content production, strategy, travel, and being a dad.
It has also given me a fresh perspective on things. That always happens when you bring other people into a business; they can look at what you’ve been doing for years with a slightly less emotionally connected eye. They’ll spot things you’ve been doing for ages which could be undertaken far more efficiently - or scrapped entirely. They’ll ask questions. And, the best people won’t be afraid to say “I think we should be doing this differently”.
I have no ego in this business. That might sound odd coming from a guy who spends his life filming his face and publishing the resulting footage worldwide for people to see. But I haven’t. I dropped the ego a long time ago (I think most people do once they reach their 40s and realise that the world doesn’t revolve around them). It’s why I’m able to take all suggestions from my team in the manner they’re intended.
Several weeks back, we were on our weekly team call when the subject of newsletters and community was raised. It was made pretty clear that, for people who encounter my online presence for the first time, it’s not particularly clear how or where I should be followed. There’s the obvious - YouTube, Instagram, X, and TikTok - but what if you want the inside track? Well, you have the option of joining my Discord server. And my weekly video newsletter. And this Substack newsletter.
Confused? I am.
I’ve always consoled myself with the belief that those three platforms are relatively well-defined. The Discord channel is linked to Patreon (oops, there’s another choice) and designed for people who want to talk with like-minded tech nerds in the Mark Ellis Reviews, erm, ‘space’. The weekly video newsletter is where you’ll probably end up if you hunt through the descriptions of my YouTube videos, or visit markellisreviews.com and encounter the irritating pop-up. This Substack newsletter? That’s if you want to know what’s going on behind the scenes at a content business, right?
Put simply, it’s all a bit too much. There’s too much choice. Too much me. And it took my team to point this out. I’m glad they did.
I fully appreciate you may not feel the same about this Substack newsletter. These ramblings achieve about 600 views, on average, every week. While sitting in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport waiting for my flight back to London earlier, I looked at the people milling around, trying to imagine 700 of them reading these words. That’s a lot of people, by anyone’s reckoning. We also have several paying subscribers, which currently account for around $700 per year in revenue (although that is steadily falling). That’s immeasurably kind on their behalf, and something, once again, I struggle to comprehend being a bloke from Northampton who decided to start a YouTube channel four and a half years ago.
However, the more time I’ve regained by bringing people into this business, the more I realise how precisely it needs to be spent, and publishing two weekly newsletters is neither efficient for me nor coherent for anyone who wants to follow me beyond the weekly YouTube videos.
So, this will be my final Substack newsletter. In its place, we’re going to be completely revamping the weekly Mark Ellis Reviews newsletter. The behind-the-scenes video will remain, but it will be joined by some written ramblings about the latest goings on at Mark Ellis Media, our favourite tech news and deals, and input from the team. We’ve got lots more planned for the only newsletter we’ll be sending from this point forward, but I can’t wait for you to see it.
Where does that leave this Substack? Well, I won’t be shutting it down; it’ll remain a piece of history for Mark Ellis Media. I’m also not going to cancel all subscriptions brazenly. If you want to support the business via that subscription, it will remain open, but I totally understand if you immediately cancel it. It’s entirely up to you, and there are of course no hard feelings if you decide to hit the cancel button.
I want to use this last paragraph to thank everyone who has consistently opened and read this newsletter every week - particularly if you dipped your hand in your pocket to pay for the subscription. While I’m going to miss communicating with you via Substack, I’m not going anywhere; we’re just moving these words elsewhere.