I wish that it were possible to read the occasional article written by someone one relishes WITHOUT having to subscribe.
How about making available one-time koffee payments for all? This would accomplish two things:
1.) Bring in more revenue to the writers;
and
2.) Give readers the opportunity to browse much as we did in the “ old days” of reading newspapers and magazines AND still reward good contributors with small, more affordable, payments.
I am currently reviewing my subscriptions.
I’m spending too much on subs especially on writers that I like but read only occasionally. Yet I DO want to support them, albeit not with a full subscription. Too much of a budget squeeze.
Keep in mind that readers’ time (to read) and money (to spend) is not unlimited.
Let’s find a better win-win for writers and readers alike.
Sep 20, 2023Liked by Jasmine Sun, Substack Writers
"By posting notes, you help readers get to know you before they subscribe. The feed will also foster automatic growth." I like the direction Notes is taking.
“We’ve designed this queue to boost retention for writers by prioritizing new posts from paid subscriptions.” I understand Substack’s need to generate paid subscriptions. But this is putting more pressure on me to go paid, and I feel ambivalent about that. I’ve worked hard to make my relatively new newsletter known, and I’m nearing 1000 subscribers. But so far I’ve made paid subscriptions purely voluntary. I haven’t pressed for them, and so I only have 55 paid subscriptions. I wonder how many of my hard-won free subscribers I’ll lose if I do what it appears is the “norm” on substack, and reserve some features for paid subscribers, etc. I love substack, but I can’t help but notice that there is a self-reproducing system in which long-standing, well-known, and well-financed newsletters get better promotion, are picked as features, etc. All of which enhances them still more and round and round we go. I want to emphasize that I think you guys are doing a wonderful job, and I’m loving this new stage in my long career as a writer. But self-perpetuating hierarchies based on fame, how big an established email list one enters with, longevity on substack, and--to be honest--certain genres over others (I won’t go into that now; too big a subject) are depressing my enthusiasm. Just being honest here!! I know I’m only one of thousands of writers who are struggling to become better known on substack, and this is not a plea for special treatment. But I do sometimes feel as though my pieces are getting lost in the network. And perhaps others do too. Don’t know how things can be different! Maybe others have some ideas.
Looks like I am deleting the app and reading in my inbox again. You had something great and unique going. Why do you creep more toward being a traditional social media every month?
I wish that it were possible to read the occasional article written by someone one relishes WITHOUT having to subscribe.
How about making available one-time koffee payments for all? This would accomplish two things:
1.) Bring in more revenue to the writers;
and
2.) Give readers the opportunity to browse much as we did in the “ old days” of reading newspapers and magazines AND still reward good contributors with small, more affordable, payments.
I am currently reviewing my subscriptions.
I’m spending too much on subs especially on writers that I like but read only occasionally. Yet I DO want to support them, albeit not with a full subscription. Too much of a budget squeeze.
Keep in mind that readers’ time (to read) and money (to spend) is not unlimited.
Let’s find a better win-win for writers and readers alike.
We do want to pay something. Really.
I was hoping to come up with a snarky dumb comment here but tbh this is just very cool great work yall !!
Ooooo. I hope this helps me find some more weirdos to sub to
"By posting notes, you help readers get to know you before they subscribe. The feed will also foster automatic growth." I like the direction Notes is taking.
The power of good design. Great job. After only ten minutes on the new home page, I can tell I’m going to read, find, discover more. Thank you.
Devastated to report that the new front page has not yet recommended me to myself.
“We’ve designed this queue to boost retention for writers by prioritizing new posts from paid subscriptions.” I understand Substack’s need to generate paid subscriptions. But this is putting more pressure on me to go paid, and I feel ambivalent about that. I’ve worked hard to make my relatively new newsletter known, and I’m nearing 1000 subscribers. But so far I’ve made paid subscriptions purely voluntary. I haven’t pressed for them, and so I only have 55 paid subscriptions. I wonder how many of my hard-won free subscribers I’ll lose if I do what it appears is the “norm” on substack, and reserve some features for paid subscribers, etc. I love substack, but I can’t help but notice that there is a self-reproducing system in which long-standing, well-known, and well-financed newsletters get better promotion, are picked as features, etc. All of which enhances them still more and round and round we go. I want to emphasize that I think you guys are doing a wonderful job, and I’m loving this new stage in my long career as a writer. But self-perpetuating hierarchies based on fame, how big an established email list one enters with, longevity on substack, and--to be honest--certain genres over others (I won’t go into that now; too big a subject) are depressing my enthusiasm. Just being honest here!! I know I’m only one of thousands of writers who are struggling to become better known on substack, and this is not a plea for special treatment. But I do sometimes feel as though my pieces are getting lost in the network. And perhaps others do too. Don’t know how things can be different! Maybe others have some ideas.
Love the combination of human / technology driven discovery.
Looks like I am deleting the app and reading in my inbox again. You had something great and unique going. Why do you creep more toward being a traditional social media every month?
As someone who doesn't want to charge subscribers, this sucks: "prioritizing new posts from paid subscriptions"
Wonder if it will also be paid newsletters that are recommended in the discovery feed.
Love this update! So far I have mainly been on the desktop but I think I may well start playing more with the app!
Absolutely fantastic. The team continues to impress by rolling out great new features.
love this update!
I am so excited about being able to save things.
Can you get recommended things in “read next” that you aren’t subscribed to?
Great update! I've mostly been using the desktop version so far, but the new design invites spending more time on the app 😃