"Substack: Empire of Narratives and Microsoft's Human Insights Library: Creating a Living Body of Knowledge"

Kazuki

Hatched by Kazuki

Sep 16, 2023

4 min read

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"Substack: Empire of Narratives and Microsoft's Human Insights Library: Creating a Living Body of Knowledge"

Introduction:

In a world driven by digital media and technology, platforms like Substack and Microsoft's Human Insights Library (HITS) have emerged as powerful tools for content creators and researchers. Both platforms aim to provide a network and ecosystem where individuals can collaborate, share knowledge, and build their businesses. This article explores the common points between Substack and HITS, highlighting their goals, growth, and potential for the future.

Substack: Empowering Publishers and Writers:

Substack was founded with the vision of revolutionizing the business model of contemporary media. Instead of relying on advertising revenue, Substack introduced the concept of direct subscriptions, allowing readers to support writers directly. With a simple way to manage subscriptions, Substack became a platform where independent publishers could grow and collaborate. Its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 136% and millions of paid subscriptions demonstrate the success of this model.

Microsoft's Human Insights Library: Harnessing Collective Knowledge:

On the other hand, HITS serves as a platform for researchers and product teams at Microsoft to unlock the power of collective user experience (UX) insights. It functions as a network of interconnected nodes representing individual insights, recommendations, study reports, and curated collections of knowledge. The connections between these nodes allow researchers to trace the evidence that supports each insight, creating a living body of knowledge. By integrating real-time curation into the research practice, HITS ensures the durability and reuse of valuable insights.

Collaboration and Growth:

Both Substack and HITS emphasize the importance of collaboration and growth within their respective ecosystems. Substack provides a dashboard that reveals audience demographics and overlap with other publications, enabling potential collaborations and partnerships. Similarly, HITS encourages researchers to reference and connect insights, fostering a culture of shared knowledge and collective learning. These collaborative efforts contribute to the growth and robustness of the platforms, attracting more users and expanding their cultural impact.

The Power of Doing One Thing Well:

Substack's success can be attributed to its focus on doing one thing exceptionally well. As a tool for writers, it enables them to publish, email subscribers, and accept payments seamlessly. By prioritizing user experience and addressing the pain points of content creation and monetization, Substack has become a preferred destination for writers and readers alike. This emphasis on simplicity and quality serves as a valuable lesson for other platforms.

The Potential for Future Expansion:

While Substack is currently known as a newsletter platform, its founders envision it as the best place to build a media business, regardless of content type. This flexibility allows Substack to adapt and expand its offerings to meet the evolving needs of creators. Similarly, HITS has the potential to evolve beyond its current state as a UX insights library. By integrating AI technologies and exploring new content creation methods, HITS can lower barriers to creation and become a hub for innovative research and knowledge exchange.

Conclusion:

Substack and Microsoft's Human Insights Library, though serving different purposes, share common principles of collaboration, growth, and user-centric design. They empower creators and researchers to shape narratives, share insights, and build thriving communities. To harness the full potential of these platforms, it is crucial to prioritize simplicity, support collaboration, and embrace new technologies. By doing so, we can create an environment where knowledge and creativity flourish, paving the way for a future where content creation and user research are truly transformative.

Actionable Advice:

  • 1. Embrace collaboration: Seek opportunities to collaborate and partner with other creators or researchers in your field. By sharing insights and expertise, you can expand your reach and unlock new opportunities for growth.
  • 2. Prioritize user experience: Whether you're a content creator or a researcher, prioritize user experience in your work. Focus on creating seamless and enjoyable experiences for your audience or users, as this will drive engagement and loyalty.
  • 3. Embrace innovation: Stay open to new technologies and methods that can enhance your content creation or research process. Consider integrating AI tools or exploring new content formats to stay ahead of the curve and offer unique value to your audience or users.

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