Infogram is an online tool for creating infographics, charts, dashboards, and interactive reports. Users can upload spreadsheets containing the data they want to visualize, or set up a live integration from another data source using the Infogram API. From a graphics and layout perspective, Infogram includes a library of stock images, icons, etc. (or users can upload their own) and a drag and drop editor.
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Substack
Score 8.9 out of 10
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Substack is a subscription-based newsletter publishing platform.
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Vellum
Score 6.0 out of 10
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Vellum is a publishing tool by 180g, that enables users to create ebooks for every platform: Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, etc. Each specialized file can guide readers to buy the writer's next book in their favorite store. Vellum is currently available for Mac.
Infogram is perfect for creating engaging and professional-looking infographics, data visualizations, and social media content with no technical knowledge required. I have worked with NGOs with no technical or design staff that need to get their message out there or raise awareness about something. Infogram is easy and quick to use and the results look great. Infogram is not heavyweight data visualization software, it's best for summarizing and explaining the results of data analysis to an audience or breaking down complex concepts to make them understandable to the general public.
I think Substack is better for people who want to set up a personal-facing branded website vs people who just want to post random musings every so often. Monetization is better there than any other collective publishing platform as well as organic reach via email. Substack also allows you to build direct relationships with your readers via emails and own them 100% which is great long-term if you use it to pivot to another site or another form of writing/content creation. Substack would be less helpful for someone wanting to write as a part of a group, not individually, or someone who's unwilling to put their personal brand behind their content. It's less optimized for SEO (which other platforms allow you to do) and can be harder to curate content based on your interests (you really have to go in knowing what you want vs finding it on the fly).
Vellum is perfect for novels, novellas, short fiction anthologies, and any lightly illustrated fiction. It’s excellent for most non-fiction. It’s great for e-Books and Paperbacks. I haven’t tried using the file for hardcover but it is likely good for that as well. Vellum wouldn’t be the right tool for coffee-table art books, picture books or children’s illustrated books.
Because it has a very high Domain Authority ranking relevant backlinks in a published article will help make my store more searchable.
Substack is very easy to work in. The toolset they provide may not be as extensive as other platforms but it is certainly enough to create a meaningful, interesting post.
Substack is very focused on creating a community of writers that support each other. They run an ongoing email campaign that reinforces their focus on building a community of writers.
Could improve ability to change the look of a design element like Ornamental Break.
Doesn’t currently output in Smashwords .doc format (but does EPUB).
Spell Check is rudimentary but accurate - still, it’s much better to use Word or Grammarly.
If style uses initial drop cap, it doesn’t handle one-letter words well (I, A, O) - repeats letter in sentence. This may be standard practice, not sure.
There are a couple dozen styles. I would gladly pay for a “Style Pack” to add on additional styles.
Infogram's most unique strength is its focus on infographics, providing a great number of templates and at the same time connecting such graphics with data sources. Prezi is great for presentation, but it provides static infographics. Illustrator and Photoshop have some possible ways to integrate data into their graphics, but they are rudimentary compared to Infogram's abilities. Despite the huge power of Photoshop and Illustrator for creating specific images, Infogram is easier and more powerful in conveying data, making it the best option for infographics.
Medium is not so good for running newsletter. I find the mail that a user gets is very easily readable. Also as a creator it's very easy for me to track the analytics and monetise my blogs unlike Medium. Blogger is a very old technology. The kind of integrations and the support for Markdown / different media is very great in Substack.
Up until purchasing Vellum, I’ve used Smashwords Meat Grinder template and Kindle’s PC-Only software. I had to buy a PC just to publish to Kindle - very expensive investment with modest return. Vellum is only for Mac. In fact, it would have been cool if it worked with a PC. But Mac is my ecosystem for writing, and the PC is a pain. I ultimately chose Vellum because it works with my MacBook.
