Disclosure: I do not typically have AI compose my writing, but given the subject matter, it seemed fitting to let Claude draft this one and then edit it to my satisfaction. I want to always be transparent regarding the use of AI beyond typical editing for grammar and typos.
I had been running my blog on Squarespace and handling email distribution through MailChimp. It worked, but the process had too many steps. Every post required formatting in the Squarespace editor, then a separate round in MailChimp to send the newsletter. Two platforms, two subscriptions, two sets of problems.
I knew I wanted to simplify, but I did not want to spend days reading comparison articles of uneven quality. So I sat down with Claude and laid out my requirements: Markdown support, built-in newsletters, direct publishing from iA Writer, and reasonable cost. Over a couple of conversations, Claude walked me through the options, answered follow-up questions, and helped me think through the tradeoffs. It was like having a knowledgeable colleague available on demand.
I landed on Ghost. The results have been worth the effort.
Ghost includes newsletter distribution as a core feature, so MailChimp is gone. I write in iA Writer, publish directly to Ghost as a draft, review it, and send. One workflow, one platform. Squarespace required me to paste formatted text into its editor and hope nothing broke. That friction is eliminated.
On cost, Ghost comes in slightly less than what I was paying for Squarespace alone, and that Squarespace price did not include their newsletter add-on. So I am paying less for more capability.
Claude also helped with the migration from Squarespace, connecting iA Writer to Ghost, and moving my MailChimp subscriber list over. Each step involved specific research and clear instructions. I would not call any of it difficult, but having an assistant that could look things up and walk me through each process saved considerable time.
I am delighted with the new workflow and how Claude was instrumental in my research and the migration. I’m saving time, frustration, and money. 