✏️ - I've got the two-week paywall setting turned on, but I'm thinking of changing it to a year,. or even getting rid of it altogether. Reasons: #1 All my supposedly more popular posts are behind the paywall, as others have noted; #2: I've a lot of good stuff that's over two weeks old and which, therefofre, people can't see. So my questi…
✏️ - I've got the two-week paywall setting turned on, but I'm thinking of changing it to a year,. or even getting rid of it altogether. Reasons: #1 All my supposedly more popular posts are behind the paywall, as others have noted; #2: I've a lot of good stuff that's over two weeks old and which, therefofre, people can't see. So my question is: has anyone else experimented with changing the archive paywall setting, and with what results? Thanks
I just opened everything up. I don't think I get any more paid subscribers, but I do get a lot more reads, and I don't have to worry about pulling things in and out of the paywall. I think it's probably been worse for my income so far, but better for reach, which is more important right now.
Interesting! So it's possible to publish an essay with a paywall (somewhat like exclusive access) then open it up around a few weeks when it's no longer one of your latest essays?
yes. You can make an article available to paid subscribers, but schedule when it gets opened up to everyone, or you can schedule when free articles go behind a paywall
Thanks, Russell. Yes, I think at the moment I'm more interested in expanding my reach than making my fortune. I presume, though, that the corollary is that I'd have to give paid subscribers even more of an incentive to upgrade, as access to the archive would no longer be a bonus? I know you offer a lot more than that
So true! The reality is that there is no magic formula. You always need to test your thesis and adjust. Paid subs could seek high value content variance, want just to support your work so don’t care about premium content or “temp riders” paying for just one article that spiked their interest.
No. It’s like you’re offering your free subs pizza margarita and paid subs the pricier specialty pizza with 5 toppings. In short, free content vs. premium paid content you invested more time on.
Terry, I’m wrestling with a similar question, not moving a paywall but also weighing the priorities of reach vs premium benefits. I think that when people offer to pay us (or when I pay someone), they don’t mean to curtail our efforts at reaching as many people as we can. Maybe the incentives to upgrade can be modest - while reach has priority.
Thanks, Tara. I'm sure you're right. I think the people who upgraded on mine did so when there was nothing extra, they just wanted to support me. But I feel guilty if I don't offer more
I had mine on initially but I regularly link back to older articles and it seemed ridiculous to do so if there was a paywall so I turned it off. Feels more aligned with me.
I like the Anne Kadet @cafeanne model. Everything is free. She has thousands of free and paid subscribers. Her stack is a wonderful niche. And she comes from journalism. I try to lure new paid subscribers with deals and hopefully humor they can’t live without.
I used to have no archive paywall setting, then moved to to a year — and had the same experience as the one you’re sharing. My “most popular” tend to be older. So then I changed it to 18 months then moved it back to 12. What has been interesting is that two paid subscribers have said they went paid because they wanted to check out more articles and that they appreciated being able to see a year’s worth.
I'm undecided so I keep changing it up 😁 I think for some people, 2 weeks might be too short a time (illness, holidays, clogged-up inbox, etc.). For me, paywalling too soon did not yield good results, I feel it may have put some people off. It's a tricky one...
I ended up only paywalling my most personal/intimate posts, initially making them available for free for 5-6 weeks after publishing them. It seems to have raised some curiosity, with some paid subscriptions almost immediately afterwards. Now it's gone quiet again. Right now I have 7-day free trials active on all my paywalls for the "crazy season", since readers will hopefully have some more time to strobe through the newsletter a bit more.
✏️ - I've got the two-week paywall setting turned on, but I'm thinking of changing it to a year,. or even getting rid of it altogether. Reasons: #1 All my supposedly more popular posts are behind the paywall, as others have noted; #2: I've a lot of good stuff that's over two weeks old and which, therefofre, people can't see. So my question is: has anyone else experimented with changing the archive paywall setting, and with what results? Thanks
I just opened everything up. I don't think I get any more paid subscribers, but I do get a lot more reads, and I don't have to worry about pulling things in and out of the paywall. I think it's probably been worse for my income so far, but better for reach, which is more important right now.
Same.
Interesting! So it's possible to publish an essay with a paywall (somewhat like exclusive access) then open it up around a few weeks when it's no longer one of your latest essays?
yes. You can make an article available to paid subscribers, but schedule when it gets opened up to everyone, or you can schedule when free articles go behind a paywall
Thanks, Russell. Yes, I think at the moment I'm more interested in expanding my reach than making my fortune. I presume, though, that the corollary is that I'd have to give paid subscribers even more of an incentive to upgrade, as access to the archive would no longer be a bonus? I know you offer a lot more than that
So true! The reality is that there is no magic formula. You always need to test your thesis and adjust. Paid subs could seek high value content variance, want just to support your work so don’t care about premium content or “temp riders” paying for just one article that spiked their interest.
Thanks Shlomi. May I ask, what do you mean by 'high value content variance'? Do you mean writing on a range of subjects?
No. It’s like you’re offering your free subs pizza margarita and paid subs the pricier specialty pizza with 5 toppings. In short, free content vs. premium paid content you invested more time on.
Thanks, Shlomi. Well yes, I can relate to that because I do, generally speaking! Love the analogy!
Terry, I’m wrestling with a similar question, not moving a paywall but also weighing the priorities of reach vs premium benefits. I think that when people offer to pay us (or when I pay someone), they don’t mean to curtail our efforts at reaching as many people as we can. Maybe the incentives to upgrade can be modest - while reach has priority.
You can poll your subs stating a bunch of reasons and open ended one to find out.
Thanks, Schlomi. I might do that
Thanks, Tara. I'm sure you're right. I think the people who upgraded on mine did so when there was nothing extra, they just wanted to support me. But I feel guilty if I don't offer more
I had mine on initially but I regularly link back to older articles and it seemed ridiculous to do so if there was a paywall so I turned it off. Feels more aligned with me.
Thanks, Kathryn. Yes, I link back, and am continually depaywalling posts.
I like the Anne Kadet @cafeanne model. Everything is free. She has thousands of free and paid subscribers. Her stack is a wonderful niche. And she comes from journalism. I try to lure new paid subscribers with deals and hopefully humor they can’t live without.
I think Anne has brought a large audience with her from her journalism years, though, hasn't she? Pls correct me if I'm wrong.
Don’t know. Good point.
I'm not sure I have the self-belief to try that!
I used to have no archive paywall setting, then moved to to a year — and had the same experience as the one you’re sharing. My “most popular” tend to be older. So then I changed it to 18 months then moved it back to 12. What has been interesting is that two paid subscribers have said they went paid because they wanted to check out more articles and that they appreciated being able to see a year’s worth.
Thanks, Mark. I have to say that's my preference -- not least because I keep finding myself de-paywalling articles that I'd like people to see!
Hi Terry,
I'm undecided so I keep changing it up 😁 I think for some people, 2 weeks might be too short a time (illness, holidays, clogged-up inbox, etc.). For me, paywalling too soon did not yield good results, I feel it may have put some people off. It's a tricky one...
Thanks, Jo Yes it's definitely tricky! As a compromise for now I've changed it from 2 weeks to a year
Best of luck, Terry. Let's see what it brings.
Thanks Jo. What did u decide on in the end, and how is it working out?
I ended up only paywalling my most personal/intimate posts, initially making them available for free for 5-6 weeks after publishing them. It seems to have raised some curiosity, with some paid subscriptions almost immediately afterwards. Now it's gone quiet again. Right now I have 7-day free trials active on all my paywalls for the "crazy season", since readers will hopefully have some more time to strobe through the newsletter a bit more.
Sounds good. I wish you luck as well, Jo
Thanks so much, Terry.