From Blogger to Substack? Input, please!

 I told you that I don't know about blogging and blog sites and asked for help. Multiple people have recommended switching from Blogger to Substack. Why? They really like how Substack works, giving you the opportunity not only to find my blog but to connect to other blogs that may be worth reading. I dunno. Is it just blog-facebook? Then again, Blogger doesn't seem to be anything on its own. On Blogger you must have an account to explore any blogs unless you already know the site address like FatherPalka.blogspot.com. On Substack, you can "explore" even without signing up. Go ahead and try it. Substack.com and "explore" to find Father Palka, or FatherPalka, or Father Edwin Palka or other such things. Let me know if it doesn't bring up my first post!

The Kansas Lovebugs are huge!

Here are some issues people have come across with Blogger. Here also is what I think Substack may do with the same issues. Your input will be helpful.

1. Some people can't figure out how to leave comments here. I was one. You have to click the word "comments" near the bottom where it says how many comments have been left. By default you have to log in to your gmail account to comment. I found a way to change that so that anyone can comment, but all the warnings say that by allowing anonymous comments the spam bots and trolls will surely attack. That said, if you don't have a gmail account, you can now comment unless things really do get bad.

On Substack, it looks like you have to click on the little "comment" icon on the bottom, similar to blogger. But it looks to me at this point that only those who have signed into Substack with some sort of email can comment. Nobody else can click on that comment icon. So, you don't have to have a gmail account but you have to use some sort of email, whatever you already have. There may be a way around it but I haven't found it yet. Better? Who knows.

2. On Blogger, most people haven't yet figured out how to receive notifications when (and if) a new article is posted. I finally found a "follow" button to put at the bottom of the page. Click it and, I hope, you will get some sort of notification when a new post is published.

 Substack puts something right in the middle of the article asking if you wish to subscribe. Enter your email and you are set. I think! You also have a choice to "subscribe" (lots of big buttons trying to get you to do that) or to "follow" by clicking on the three dots next to "Subscribe" and "message." As near as I can tell, "subscribe" gets the post sent to your email, while "follow" gets you a notification of a new post sent to your Substack account if you have one. Let me know if it doesn't actually work this way. Better? Who knows.

3. Both can be monetized, which means that I can make money by you reading my posts. How much money? Probably not much with a small following as I expect to have. I am fortunate in that, being a Catholic priest, I don't need money! Send donations to the Sisters instead of to me! You'll get on their prayer list if you do!

 Blogger gives me money if I allow ads. I don't want ads! I thought I had to allow them. Nope. What a relief.

Substack gives me money by shaking you down and asking you to give me money. They take a chunk of everything you try to give me. Again, not something I am looking for. 

Let me know what you think. I'll try both for a while but will probably have to choose one or the other.