Frequently Asked Questions
Not so brief answers to few of the frequently asked questions.
Why a newsletter, why not a Youtube channel?
People in the adventure and travel space use a lot of visuals to tell their story. Naturally one would expect me to use a platform which is photo/video centric, especially Youtube, considering the trend. However, there are two main reasons why I decided to start a newsletter instead of starting a youtube channel -
I believe that people are more invested in the content when they are reading text compared to watching a video. The cognitive effort it takes to read an article and digest it is higher than the effort it takes the brain to watch a video.1 This is why we all watch way more than we read. This is also the reason why video is more conducive for passive consumption, whereas reading demands active involvement. So, video is an ideal medium for content that is meant to entertain people, whereas this newsletter’s intention is to dive deep into issues, to write about thought provoking topics, not to merely be a source of entertainment. Reading the about section should have made it clear already. I want you, the reader to be actively involved in what is being offered :)
Writing gives you space to go back and look at the same experiences differently, reflections in hindsight can be more illuminating than the experience itself at times. It is hard to record all these on footage on the trip itself. There is a lot that would be lost.
Beyond such reasoning, I simply enjoy writing more than I enjoy making videos!
Why Substack when there is social media?
Social media has long stopped being social. Every second post on my facebook timeline is either an ad or something that I did not signup to read. Instagram shows ads or random viral content once every 3 organic posts. All this while posts from people we actually follow are hidden, because we are at the mercy of an algorithm which keeps showing us addictive content. Whether my post reaches you or not is decided by the algorithm. Such a space is not where I want to host my content. The reason for picking substack is to connect directly with people interested in my posts and have control over my reach while being in a space free of click-bait media or ads.
How often do you deliver your post?
This is a fortnightly newsletter, which means paid subscribers get to read a minimum of two posts a month, I might stretch it to three at times. There is no fixed schedule of posts for free subscribers. With a pay as you like option, subscription is being offered at as little as ₹1. So I hope you would choose to become a paid subscriber.
What is the difference between subscribing directly on substack vs subscribing by paying as you like?
Subscribing directly on substack means you have an option of monthly or yearly billing and an option to stop future billing after you unsubscribe. For subscribers who have chosen the pay as you like option, the subscription period is only 3 months, so one will have to resubscribe every 3 months. Subscribing on substack requires you to have a card (debit or credit) Indian or International. Indian users can use multiple options including UPI with the pay as you like option.
I do not have a card, how do I subscribe?
Readers from India can use the pay as you like option and use UPI to make the payment. Unfortunately, substack does not have any other option but to subscribe through your card.
What are the payment options for non-Indian readers?
Substack supports all international cards so that would be the best option. If non-Indian readers wish to use the ‘pay as you like’ option, they can do so through Paypal on this link.
How do I unsubscribe?
There is a link to unsubscribe in every post that is delivered to your mail. You could also unsubscribe through your own account.
My query is not here, whom do I contact?
Please write to sharathvishnucollective@gmail.com for anything you might want to ask.