If you want to earn money today on Substack, especially if you have an audience already, on Substack or elsewhere, we recommend enabling payments by connecting to Stripe, our payment processor. This takes less than five minutes to set up.
If you’re still building your list or getting into the hang of regular writing, we recommend launching quietly to start. You can still enable paid subscriptions and pick a price—some readers might be ready to support you already—but wait to start paywalling posts or do a marketing push until you’ve found your rhythm and grown your audience.
If your really not sure about paid subscriptions, all new publications have Pledges enabled. This lets your readers commit to paying a future subscription and helps you build confidence that readers love and value your writing.
As part of the paid subscriptions process, writers often ask, “What should I offer paid subscribers?” and “How should I let them know about paid subscriptions?” We rounded up our best resources for you:
The going paid checklist will help you pick a price, build a content strategy, craft an announcement post, and promote your publication far and wide.
If you’ve gone paid, share in today’s thread what’s worked and what hasn’t. If you’re thinking about going paid, drop any top of mind questions.
Our team will answer questions and share insights with you in the threads today from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m.–2 p.m. EDT. Go back to today’s Office Hours hub to explore other threads.
🟧 One of the values of my substack is a growing archive of in-depth posts. I was very happy to see tags implemented, because they're a great way for people to discover similar posts when I cover a topic that's relevant to them.
But, tags are only half-implemented. If you tag all your posts, nothing happens. You have to add tags to your navigation bar, which is more like a reimplementation of sections. Or you have to manually build a tag page and enter all your own links. Or you have to manually add tag links to each post.
This was discussed last week. Is there any clarification from Substack at this point about what the plan is with tags? I'm asking again this week because they're really powerful, but at this point we're kind of set up to do a whole bunch of work manually that's about to be automated by Substack. Or, much worse, we do a bunch of manual work that then ends up being undermined by which direction Substack chooses to go with tags.
To close with two focused questions: Is Substack going to start automatically showing tags on any post that has tags? What is Substack's roadmap for implementing the tag system in a way that's visible to readers?
We've heard requests for tags on the post page and it is something we are considering. In the meantime you might consider using the tag URL in your posts to point to other relevant posts on the same topic.
Thanks, I had thought about that. Maybe there could in future also be some visual way to add it to the bottom of posts, similar to how there are now 'previous' and 'next' buttons, there could then be a 'see other posts with this tag' grid.
A tag cloud on the main page or at the bottom or sidebar like with most blogs would be cool, with differently weighted tag word sizes to visualise the content based on either popularity or frequency.
As soon as you have a nontrivial archive of posts, you can easily have 20-50 tags if you tag all your posts. This is especially true for people who write information-focused newsletters.
I get that people can start to manually insert tag URLs into posts, but that's way more work than is reasonable as soon as you have enough posts to make tagging worthwhile. It's also going to look really unprofessional as soon as Substack starts adding tags automatically.
This is great thanks! I'm not sure if it's been reported but there appears to be a bug where it's not possible to rename an existing tag's label (but keep the URL the same). I found this out the hard way and used short-hand, URL friendly lower-case names for all my tags, only to find out that when adding them to the navigation bar I couldn't set a more friendly label. If you try to edit the tag to change the label, you get an error. I had to go back and re-tag my posts - thankfully I don't have many yet so it wasn't too painful, but writers who've amassed a lot of posts might find it frustrating!
That seems to work reasonably if you're using tags as sections. And tags are flexible enough that it's probably not going to create much confusion if people have a subset of tags that are used to implement sections.
Hey Eric, we're working on enabling writers to display posts from a tag as a section on the homepage. We've also been discussing how to incorporate them into posts as well. There are definitely things in the hopper surrounding tags!
I agree - tags can be so important as the archive grows, but it would be nice to know what the final configuration is going to look like. I was too impatient to wait for that, had to start playing with them in at least a limited way...
I made two sets of tags - one for "type" (Essays, Reports, Roughs, etc.) and one for "topics" (running, writing, nature, etc.). After I had my posts tagged (generally with one "type" tag and at least one "topic" tag), I added the type tag pages to the Navigation bar, and I added the topic tags to my Homepage Links under the group heading "Posts by Topic". The nav bar items are easy to work with, the homepage links are a bit more tedious because you have to paste in the URL (and you can't edit them - if you want to change something you have to delete it and start over). But it works for my needs right now.
I had considered using sections instead of type tags, but decided that is even more of a work-around than using tags this way, since I don't want to complicate things with multiple email lists, etc. I'll save those for special projects that I might want different lists for (or that I want to keep out of the "everything" archive list).
or maybe it could even be possible to find other writers' tags, or is that making it too similar to categories? I feel like categories should be broad, whereas tags can be specific.
That's such an interesting question. At the moment I use sections to gather 'like' topics together, but I can see that generation lots of sections when a better 'shorthand' might be more useful.
🟧✏️ This is my first time attending the Office Hour, and I just launched my publication NYK Review in April. Ever since I launched my publication, I have put much effort into growing NYK Review. However, I can't seem to get NYK Review to appear on any search engine, not even when I search "NYK Review Substack". Also, after the initial spike of viewership in the first month, web trafficking to my publication has steadily decreased, despite that I have not change my work pace at all (especially after I changed the title of my publication from "Kado's Reading Couch" to "NYK Review").
🟧Hi! I need help! How could I set up paid subscriptions payments lower than $5?? This is my blog and I get to decide how much I want to charge. I know my audience and I know how much they will be willing to pay. I understand and respect substack values but the choice is either I can do lower amount $1-$2 or not at all. I think for everyone is better to get paid, isn't it?
One additional note is that at particularly low subscription prices, the Stripe payment processing fees would take out relatively a large portion. More on Stripe's processing fees here: https://stripe.com/pricing#pricing-details
🧠 I started my stack in August 22 with 50 free subs (friends/family). I now have 710 subs with 62 paying. I turned on paid about two months after starting. At first I just turned it on, but over time I began letting people know at the top of my posts. I made some posts free and some paid with a free preview. More recently I lowered my rate from $50/year to $35/year and I saw my paid signup rates rise as a result. I think you just have to be confident and direct. Most writers (especially newbies) seem insecure and afraid of asking for money. That’s a turnoff to many people. Own it. Act like you’re worth being paid for your writing. And of course you gotta deliver: Put out quality writing each week and do some free, some paid. Remember: often free subs become paid later.
You are so right! One of my subscribers asked me why I didn't ask for paid subscriptions. I told them I thought it would be weird to ask for money with something they had gotten for free and she said get over it already and ask! I think I will! Thanks to your post and my friend who is a huge supporter. I will check out your stack:)
Sabrina, one of the first things I read about Substack was the idea of having "reader-supported writing." My plan is to put up my paywall but still allow everyone to access everything for free, saying something like, "If you'd like to support my writing and keep it possible for me to provide it without advertising or sponsors, please consider subscribing." It really shouldn't be about my salesmanship. I'm a good salesman, but that's not what I want readers to respond to. For me, this needs to be all about the writing.
Yes, Sabrina Howard has a good strategy. A few of your readers will support you because they see the quality of your content even though they don't get anything personally in return. I think that the mindset of supporting small players and specialist creators is part of the growing revulsion at the antics of the billionaires who think they own our content. My advice is to have a paid option, but explain clearly that all content will be free. You might be surprised at how many people are willing to pay a little for your content.
I don't think that's a silly question! I mean making sure that you sound confident when you ask for people to upgrade to paid subscriptions. I think Ashley at BOSS BARISTA does this really well. You can see it in her post here: https://bossbarista.substack.com/p/if-its-going-to-happen-its-going She's clear and direct about how financial support helps and why people should upgrade. I see some people be wishy-washy "If you can afford it, it would really help, etc" and that tone translates in people's brains to "Okay I'm not buying this."
Huh, it cut off the second half of my comment. So, continued: Ashley is great about explaining why she needs financial support and what you get in exchange. She's direct and clear without being demanding. Some people sound wishy-washy, writing things like, "If you can... It would really help..." But that lack of confidence translates in people's brains to "I'm not going to buy this."
So awesome Michael! Thanks for sharing and congrats on your success.
I have mentally set a goal of 1000 free subscribers before turning on paid. This I know is an arbitrary number but maybe I am using it to just prove it to myself that it can work.
How do you manage free vs paid posts, or do you have everything behind the paywall?
That is a great advice. In your opinion , is there a minimum number of follower base that is must before you start going into paid. I have to get over this fear of looking desperate for going paid. It takes a long time to write what I write and I do believe and try my best to give absolute value to the reader. but since I have a very small readership base, it kind of does not make sense to go paid but also I feel like there is a ceiling to what I can do without getting paid. Any thoughts?
Michael, you wrote: "Most writers (especially newbies) seem insecure and afraid of asking for money. That’s a turnoff to many people. Own it. Act like you’re worth being paid for your writing."
That's really good advice.
But with a completed novel already posted on my site, not sure the best way to "sell it". I put 2 years of research and writing into this project, and I thought I'd try Substack as an innovative (and inexpensive) way to get self-published.
I wish Substack had a one-time payment for something like a completed novel.
Hi there! Have you checked out my Stack Writers at Work? I ask because much of it is about serializing on Substack. Lots of free content. It may be helpful. https://www.writersatwork.net/
I just put up a post on the different ways creative writers can use Substack professionally beyond "getting subscribers." Hope it helps!
My understanding is that Substack was started by Journalists as a way of controlling and profiting from their own writing, so I understand their monthly/subscription model. And for novelists, serializing seems to work - except that I don't want to wait a week between chapters - when I get into a novel I want to read it straight through. That's why a 1-time payment to read a completed novel makes sense for the writer, and Substack could make money off of that too.
This has been a very productive thread and I'll be re-reading all of these suggestions.
I'm not out to get rich; mainly I want people to read my book, but like Michael said above, we deserve to be paid (I put 2 years into this) and Substack isn't currently (but could be) set up for this kind of 1-time payment for access to a completed novel.
To upload a book to Amazon you need to convert to Kindle - which costs $3000+, and your book's reading format is basically a .pdf
Here on Substack it's free to upload, plus very user-friendly formatting, pics, beautiful layout, etc. I'm very pleased with the look and readability of my book on Substack. (Have a look.)
So writers would certainly publish on Substack if they could get paid (even $5, which is about what you get selling a book on Amazon) and Substack would have a new income-stream.
So I think that's a good thing for the writer and for Substack.
Hi Roger - not sure what your first para is referring to, as the conversion from a manuscript to Kindle format is absolutely free (other than time, of course).
I don't know if you're a fan of ChatGPT but it gives terrific answers to questions like these. I just tried it and it gave a very comprehensive answer. It's truly amazing and terrifying at the same time.
I think it's based on what you choose for a monthly fee. $8/mo is $80/a year, $5/mo is $50/year etc. However, $5 and $50 seem to be the minimums so I would like to know how Mr. Mohr was able to set $35/month
When I set up the paying subscriptions with Stripe I was allowed to go no lower than $5 a month and $30 a year. (I set it for $40.)
My first paying subscriber came in that day for an annual for which I get something like $34.50. So there is a cost involved and that's probably why the minimum is $5. But you do it initially, although I'm sure if I logged back in to Stripe I could change it.
Thank you, Sarah. I had originally tried to set it at $35/mo and it said $50 was the minimum (or so I thought), but it's working now, so obviously I was doing something wrong!
I wish they had an "open" option for Founding Members.
In my case, I've uploaded my whole novel, so if someone wanted to pay $10 for the book, that would work for me. If there were enough subscribers, Substack would make their money.
Yes, I think my work is worth $5 or $10, but Substack doesn't seem to work well for completed novels. But I'm getting some good ideas here today.
how do you feel about paywalls within previews of paid posts? do you to that, or just have some posts that are always all paid and others that are free and open from the start?
(see my other comment/post here in this thread for more context, if you like)
🟧 Is it possible for Substack to offer one time payments for single paywalled posts? Sometimes I want to read one article but not necessarily subscribe to monthly payments. Would be a cool addition!
An interesting idea. We've heard similar requests and it's definitely worth considering. We believe deeply in the subscription model, and recurring payments, as a way to for writers to earn a reliable income.
As substack reader before getting my own substack. This was something I wished were opportunity pay for single paywalled post instead monthly subscriptions. I think lot more readers would be interested to pay single articles.
Also this would benefit the writers get paid for single articles behind paywall.
Oh, this is a really cool idea! It would be great if it would be any amount too. Writers could set a minimum (like with the founding tier) but readers could put any amount they want.
🧠 I'm a big fan of ALL writers "going paid." It should always be an option on your site. You can keep the majority or all of your content free and set up your 'Subscribe with a Caption' to read that you're asking for support to keep your newsletter going as opposed to getting certain content for free.
The public isn't used to automatically paying for newsletters--yet. The more of us on here producing exceptional work and charging for it, the sooner the public won't think twice about paying for a subscription.
>> Note the exceptional work part. As someone at Substack put it to me (so beautifully), a Substack newsletter is about building trust with your readers. If you offer them value (a business-y term, I know, but artistic value matters too), they will have no problem paying.
If you need more convincing on why and how you should believe in yourself and your work, check out Beyond's excellent interview with Cheryl Strayed and my post, "How Much Is Your Writing Worth?"
I agree. I switched on payments on day one. I haven’t paywalled anything though, and I am building content and an audience (entering month 2). The thinking is if people like it they will support it, if I put up paywalls it may turn readers away.
There's published authors who come to Substack with an established readership, they can paywall because people know they want it. Then there are new/unknown/unpublished writers trying to build readership, build content. The incentive to pay for an unknown writer in the fiction writing space is skewed towards established writers, naturally. Paywalling content then is only increasing the likelihood of turning potential readers away. Build quality content first, network with writers you enjoy and build and engage with your readership. Switching on Paid tiers from the start lets those who regularly enjoy your content support you on their own accord. Adding incentives like extra content/goods to paid tiers may lead to higher conversion rates. I have been here for a few weeks, so it is too early to say if this works for my substack. Time will tell.
Congratulations. You are far ahead already! You are in a better position to give me advice. ;) I started with 0 and have 55 after 1.5 months. Then again, I don't do other social media and only limited time on Notes. Focussing on building content.
I'm trying to figure out how much is too much when it comes to paywalls. My starting strategy is to publish public posts once a month, and posts for paid subscribers once a week. Should I just make everything free in the beginning?
You can also offer everything for free at first and then paywall your archive, so that all posts are paywalled after a certain amount of time (2 weeks, 4 weeks, etc.). Go to Settings > Payments >
Paywall your archives
Automatically add paywalls to posts after they have been published. This will affect previously published posts and any post published in the future. This change will not apply to podcasts or posts with voiceovers going to RSS. You may edit or remove this lock date at anytime. Learn more.
Thanks Alexander. Your comment suggests that it's possible to make all previous articles available without charge. My setup is currently that readers have access to the previous three articles (I write weekly). I hadn't considered that that might be a default setting that I can change.
switch on payment? or switch off paywalling archives? In settings you scroll down until you see the section: "Paywall your archives" and untick the checkbox.
This. Give those that want to support you the option without forcing it on the rest of your audience. That way everyone can be part of your community and follow your work, no matter their financial situation.
Maybe though, incentivise paid tiers. E.g. thinking about offering an ebook at some point with all my flash fiction pieces, tangible things, or a printed version of the novel when it is published, or other "physical goods". Would be interested to hear what incentives other authors offer for their paid tiers.
I think in general offering extras / bonuses is definitely a good idea. Whether that is personalised content or goodies. In the future, I will definitely consider that, although that brings with it a lot of shipping headaches worldwide I think.
That's an interesting question. My chat is for paid subscribers only, primarily to keep the conversation among those interested enough in the content to pay for it.
I might be an outlier here, but I think this can be a put-off. As a free subscriber, it feels a bit like you're being snubbed. I understand that that's meant to be an incentive to therefore subscribe, but for me it feels like the opposite. Curious to hear what others think if anyone sees this.
I hear you. I definitely don't do it to get people to subscribe. I do it to keep it to those who are really interested. I haven't had negative comments, but many people have and the paywall is a way to deter it or at least be compensated for it. As the great Emily Nunn says, "If you're going to insult me, you'll have to pay to do it."
I completely agree! I turned on paid subscriptions, but have not paywalled any of my content. That allows people to support me if they wish, but leaves the content free to be shared more widely.
✏️ wondering if anyone has used a tip jar scenario in lieu of paid subscriptions? Or had an option for paid subscriptions but kept content free? (Does anyone actually sign up for the paid if they don’t have to?) I don’t want to go paid yet, if ever. But I would like to provide a way for people to support and or express appreciation for the work I put into writing. I know that I can’t afford to support all the writers I read, but I really wish there was an option to pay once to read vs. a subscription. I often would pay to read one specific piece that I get a preview for if the threshold were a $1, but would love to be able to distribute it between the people I’m supporting.
I have an option for paid subscriptions but all content is free. People are paying. I've called it my Circle of Support and written why it's important to me to do it that way.
I'm thinking about doing this too. I'm fairly new and still building subscribers and don't need subscribers for income. I've signed up to Stripe but not switched it on. I have 3 pledges so far (out of 99 subscribers - waiting to hit that magic 100!) and would like to give the opportunity for people to support me because they want to. I love your idea of a circle of support!
Hi June. I’m in a similar situation to you - 100 free subs. What was it like when you turned on pledges? Feel like it’s a good step towards paid but slightly worried it might scare people away.
Do you mind me asking how large your subscription list is and what the percentage of paid/unpaid has been? I have thought about doing this as well. I really want to keep content free (because I myself can’t afford to pay for people’s writing right now - hello feeding 5 kids), but if I got paid maybe I could also support a few other people...
I like this idea. I've been thinking about doing the same with my publication, just to give people the option to support if they want to. But I feel there's a lot of validity for the tip jar option, too. People are bombarded with options to subscribe to everything, including products on Amazon that, realistically, no one needs to receive on a regular basis. I feel like the tip jar is less intimidating because it's a one-time choice rather than an ongoing obligation.
I am currently doing the same. And it works. I make it clear that my substack is a free offereing, but if others want to support it they can. In the future I may have subscriber only content, but in the meantime, this seems to be working and it keeps me accountable to write consistently.
Most of my favorite substacks keep primary content free and paywall Q&As or link roundups or whatever bonus content they're doing for paid subs. I think this model is great and I'm way more likely to upgrade. On my substack I'm keeping all my primary content free, but posting personal ephemera from my past for paid subs....still too early to tell how this will go, but I feel quite optimistic.
Yes, I appreciate when writers share some free posts and some paywalled/with preview posts. I am far more likely to read, appreciate, and share than if all the posts are paywalled.
The Intrinsic Perspective is a great example. Experimental History is another. I pay for both of them. Mine is called Juxtaposition.
I generally don't even bother doing a free sub for newsletters that paywall everything...like, I'm not gonna pay to find out if your stuff is worth paying for and if there's no free content there's no point for me.
I have used a tip jar and offered mostly free content along with my paid subscriptions. The tip jar works okay--people tip when a post really resonates with them, which is a good way to tell what your audience is interested in.
I set up a PayPal tip jar (paypal.me is the URL, i believe) and just put a link to it at the bottom of the post. You could also do it with Venmo or Buy Me A Coffee.
Valorie, I just signed up for a Free subscription on your site, but I don't see the PayPal tip jar at the bottom of you post. Am I looking in the wrong place?
I think I'll do a tip jar too and maybe an option to split with a charity like Amazon Smile. I'm just dreading the tech stuff bc I suck at it. And I know the more I say I suck at it, the more I will suck at it!
Or, at least, the harder it will be to motivate yourself to push past and get better (I'm a therapist and always like to promote positive self- talk! You'll learn more every time you try!)
✏️I was wondering about this as well. There is a new protocol called Nostr where you can tip people in BTC rather than simply hitting the "like" button. It would be great to be able to pay $1 to someone when I read their post and enjoy it rather than being tied into a monthly subscription. I still have to get my substack up and running. Annelise, do you know of anyone who I can hire to coach me on a few things? I will post this somewhere else as well. I am almost ready and have a few questions.
I have no idea 😂 I’ve been bumbling through and asking a few writer friends who have been doing it a little longer than I have. In general I’ve found Substack fairly intuitive to mess with. I would suggest using the web version vs. app if you run into issues as sometimes things are less glitchy.
I think I will just have to do it and let it be messy. Thank you. I will work on it for a few hours today. Adding photos is something I want to learn. I also want to know if I send an email to a private group/list I have in my personal contacts with a link to my blog...will they be directed to my first post (in which I answered the suggested Substack questions of why I am writing, why they might enjoy my blog)? Do you know if this is how it works? In which case, I will get that first post up with some photos, and then email a link to my Substack with a few sentences to this group of friends I have created... I hope that makes sense. Thanks for any suggestions.
I've considered trying this on my publication and wish it was a native thing on Substack! I often read good posts on publications that I can't afford to subscribe to but would happily tip to show my appreciation for the writing. It would also be great to have an option to occasionally tip or pay writers whose publications I enjoy but can't financially support.
I have just launched my historical novel "The Journal of John McLeod" using a $5/monthly subscription model, but I REALLY like the idea of a "tip jar."
I'd appreciate anyone here having a look and making suggestions about the best way to deliver a completed novel to readers.
🧠 -- Can I just right off the bat mention how creepy I think this brain emoji is?! 😂
Okay, here's my $.02 on paid subs. I waited over a year to develop a [modest] following. I wanted to prove to myself and my readers that I would be consistent in my content, delivery, and publishing schedule. Even though I'd planned to do it "someday," I was applying for an arts council grant that required me to show income from my work, so that motivated me to make it happen. I'm glad I did!
I explained that I would be grateful for the support from those who felt they could afford it.
Out of 385 subscribers, I now have 30 paid, so close to the 10% Substack says we might expect.
Frankly, I'm worn out by societal constructs that repeatedly benefit those who can afford things, and by the idea that we need to then turn around and reward them a second time with more! and exclusive! content. The way I see it, everyone deserves the same shot at everything.
I know that's not how we tend to roll in our world. And, it's a little much to unpack fully in a small comment. I hope many will understand all the same.
So, anyway, I've set up my Stack to offer options that are in closer alignment with my ideals.
This really resonates with me. I want to keep my work free, and I'd like to know that some people are wiling to pay - especially for my more personal writing.
Wendell Berry said, "Eating is an agricultural act." So, in that vein, as far as I'm concerned, writing is a personal act. Our writing voice speaks our truths. I think that has a lot of value, and apparently there are at least a few folks out there who agree. Good luck!
I like that trust and support concept, and I agree with you, Nathan. I have a long way to go with shifting how I think when it comes to human interaction, but I do know that we need a lot more of that in this world.
I think that is spot on! Options are probably the best way to go. As soon as I can take the time to figure it all out I will. Right now just trying to write as much as possible. Thank you for your post. sabrinalabow.substack.com
You're right to carve out undistracted headspace for when you do go paid. I'm a tail-end Boomer (forever young!), but like to think of myself as somewhat tech savvy, and it definitely required some thinky time. :)
i just posted this below on my facebook page. i am done with social media! long live substack!
My time on Facebook may almost be over. This is ridiculous.
I am contemplating leaving social media all together. I have been thinking about this for the last six months.
Over 26k followers on Facebook and this was my reach after a full day, only 300 views. I am just so frustrated, each time I post something it is this huge disappointment. I do not want to feel disappointed every time I create something.
THAT IS CRAZY LOW REACH! This has been repeated over and over and even in my private Facebook groups my posts are not being shown to group members and a lot of these posts are not always promotional either.
Instead, they encourage me to PAY to reach my own audience while still filling our feeds with ADS!
I am contemplating leaving social media all together. I have seen a drastic reduction in reach although my content and consistency has stayed the same. This is the case on Instagram, Youtube, Linked-In etc..
The one exception has been my growth on SubStack, which is the newsletter/article platform I have been using. Mostly because it uses e-mail to reach my followers, so I can have a reach of 50 percent or more using my e-mail list. I have been writing really long info packed articles for that platform and it just feels right, I really enjoy writing now. I can offer both FREE and paid versions of the newsletter.
I am thinking about stopping all social media platform posts and just going all in on my newsletter e-mail list on substack, this way if you want to see my content you can and not have it be hidden by money starved social media platforms even after I spent years of my life growing my audience. I won't leave today, but I am putting a plan in place to try to be able to get off social media and not have it affect my business and this will take time. I have been depending on social media for too long to get my name out there. It is going to take time to unwind.
I am looking forward to not having to jump through hoops and be constantly frustrated each time I login. Social media has peaked and I am not going to participate in a dying form of communication.
I am still planning on posting for a little while, but there will be a day hopefully soon where I will be heard by my own audience.
I absolutely agree with this. I have no social media and it's working okay for me. I just post here, and to my newsletter. I would just make sure to add a link in the comments to pull people here as much as you can.
I gained 200 subs just posted this a few hours ago. I am getting tons of feedback from followers telling me they are in total agreement and are ready to move off platform. Also thinking about starting a discord server to add more community aspect that my Facebook groups brought, and substack will be the heart of my content. I am ready. They are ready.
Russell Nohelty... Oh my! I have just clicked through to this link and fallen into a rabbit hole (including doing your quiz). I'm a forest! Ding.... Light bulb moment! I have been writing a very successful monthly newsletter on MailChimp for 9 years (plus an associated blog on my website). In that time I have amassed a tidy 7000 very, very dedicated followers. The newsletter is very geographically focused (it's a gardening newsletter specifically for our local area). I run workshops and events on gardening and have what I call my 'groupies' show up regularly. The newsletter was focused on selling our services and supporting others to grow their own food. They are a very invested bunch. I'm just about to drag all those readers across to substack and start asking for money in my next monthly email. Like most of us, I'm hoping that enough support will allow me to spend more time writing and less time on other revenue streams. I'm assuming based on my 'forest' tendencies, that I will have a pretty good conversion rate to paid subscribers form my existing fans, but struggle to engage many new readers on this platform. Any advice for specific strategies to build my audience given they tend to be very local to me and it's a specific topic (and demo-graph)? I get the general strategies for building audience for most folks (eg being active on notes), but they don't tend to work for me so I want to focus my energy on what will work.
For forests, it's all about interconnectivity. So, a healthy forest builds a very deep root structure that feeds everything. I would think that you might get a lot of value from having your newsletter talk to each other. Most ecosystems don't get that much from having people talk to each other, but forests and aquatics do. The way that forests are unhealthy deals with either thinking they are a different ecosystem, falling down one rabbit hole and not being able to serve the community, or in failing to look outside the community to welcome in new people. It takes a lot to get a forest community to work, but when they do, it's magical. We will have a lot more guidance about this in the coming weeks if you are subscribed. We're dripping it out over the next six weeks as we finalize the process.
Thanks Russell. One feature I love about substack is the ability for comments at the end of each newsletter. In the past I've usually received a dozen or so emails from readers with garden questions which I always respond to. My plan is to focus on getting them to add those questions as comments, rather than emailing me directly. This should help start conversations among themselves and foster that community. It also means that instead of investing 10 minutes to respond to one person directly. I can spend the same 10 minutes reaching a lot more readers through comments. I'm going to allow free subscribers to comment for the first few months to try and get them into the habit and then revert back to only comments from paying subscribers. It'll be an interest balance to strike.
Awesome!!! Yay! I'm putting the finishing touches on a tutorial on how I brought over all my people which you might be interested in, too. It should launch in a couple days, but yeah, I have a 25,000 person newsletter that I brought over here with a comped subscription.
You are so right on! I am hearing about more and more people leaving social media. I just posted about the relentless ads on these platforms that just don't stop and seem to be increasing. It's ruining the experience for me as I'm sure for many others. I understand they have to make $ but it's getting to be more ads than content from friends. And this algorithm they have on me is so effed up. ONE time I looked up how to lose 5 lbs fast because I wanted to fit into this pair of jeans I had and now I get all of these weight loss ads and I'm not even fat!
Yes, so true! I get incredibly low reach for any kind of image or text post on social media (except for Substack!) My reels and videos do somewhat better, but it's hard to share the written word in a video...
I am excited about sharing more of my essays to a larger and more interested audience on Substack. It feels right.
Oh it feels so much better - like I can actually express myself rather than have to fit in a square box or video! I still sometimes have flashes of inspiration for insta but I don’t know if I’ll create there more just connect and update people on my offers. I just want to create here in Substack!
and it is hard to beat a 50 percent open rate compared to my social media reach (which is now less than 5 percent reach). Substack has something right going on combining the power of e-mail with the accessibility of article writing, long-form content, books and all without ads, filler and junk. I hope they preserve it as substack becomes more popular.
I feel the same but colleagues do well I’m not sure what it is - apparently you have to tag people to start the conversations there - please can we live in a world of organic interest and reach?! 😂
half my audience does not have an e-mail as they are 16-25 years old so there is a bit of a conversion barrier for sure! But slow and steady will win the race. The older half of my audience are more quick to sign up. Some of it has to deal with generational differences and habits. I am in the design space and that just naturally skews younger but I do feel that this is the right direction for me as an older graphic designer.
Indeed..I have been working so hard on LI for the last 10 years without much return. I started a LI newsletter that got up to nearly 4000 subscribers. But I don't think they really cared because I couldn't convert even 10% of them when I started my substack!
LI metrics are not reliable at all. But that seems to be my only option to expand my reach at this time.
I'm afraid so. IG is dead. FB is the pest and Reddit... well, let's just say. Social media as a whole is a time-sink with abysmal ROI. Substack may be able to change that.
300 views that’s mad! I feel the same over on insta but I do post there over two days and then delete the app and put all my energy here. My business and confidence has sky rocketed since starting here a year ago. I honestly think part of that is that we are hard wired for connection and that exists in bucket loads here. ✨
the connections made here with my readers are so strong! mostly because they followed me here from somewhere else, showing stronger connections. I think 80 percent of followers on Facebook are just not that interested, but here I can foster the other 20 percent, the ones who really want to read and engage. I think that is more powerful than large numbers.
Exactly much more powerful. I fell into a trap of trying to grow on Instagram but actually my story views were only ever 100-200 and I was putting so much effort in. A post I did here last week had nearly 1000 reads - it’s just such a difference and I think for our brains it’s nice to rest away from the constant visual assault of social media. We don’t have to “grab” attention here - people are just in a more open and gentle head space... don’t you think?
✏️ When was the threshold of you turning your substack to paid? In my mind I want to wait until 100 subscribers (I’m almost there!) but a lot of the content I’ve been putting out as of late is really insightful, I’d love for it to be paid.
I was hesistant and was also kind of thinking of waiting until I met a threshold, but then I realized people wanted to pay me and I was just holding myself back.
I'll second that Reid! This has been the best thread of the day for me. Hey, if YOU don't believe in the value of your writing, how can you expect anyone else to??
I think you should just do it and see. I wanted to have a lot of content behind the paywall for people before I did it, and be able to ramp up my publishing schedule, but I don't think that's necessary.
I did mine around 400 subscribers, but honestly the number was meaningless. I could have turned it on much earlier. Once you feel like you have your cadence and general style sorted, I think you can turn it on
I turned on the option for paid subscriptions, but made it clear none of the posts would be paywalled for now. I'm okay if no one subscribes - but in the future perhaps someone will!
🟧 - Does Substack have a dedicated team member to help publications evaluate the merits of what they are offering paid subscribers? Someone who could advise about whether there is appeal to those items and maybe suggest other areas that the author may have overlooked?
🟧 - How do pledges work? if a reader pledges to support a Substack is that reader automatically charged as soon as the publication enables payments? If that happens and the end user wasn't aware that their pledge was a promise to pay, will the Substack be liable for chargebacks when they dispute the charges?
🟧 Has there been any conversation at Substack about region-appropriate pricing?
I had a free subscriber reach out and ask for a discount based on their region. I was quite happy to grant the request, but would love to see this handled at the platform level. Most readers in lower-paying parts of the world just see a high US-based price and move on.
Substack is clearly trying to balance respecting the value that writers provide, while serving a global audience. The current pricing structures are US based, and that's an understandable way to start out because the company was founded here. But as your reach has spread, have you considered implementing a more nuanced pricing structure?
🟧 Yes, I am interested in the feature as well. A significant % of my current subscribers are from India. I wonder if there is a way to offer a price point adjusted for purchasing power. Also, is there a way to have them pay in the local currency but I receive payment in USD since I am based in the US. Thank you
Thanks for bringing this up, Eric. It would be really encouraging to see some kind of regional (or circumstantial) discounting option built in that one could use.
I have readers from Africa and other parts of the world, many of whom I can't reasonably expect to pay the "cup-of-coffee" rate I hope for from my North American subscribers.
Just a point re what to charge for your newsletter if going paid. Its all about perceived value. If you start off too low your product will be seen as having little value. If you start off high, you can always discount or gift complimentary subscriptions. This way the percieved value of the product is higher, and the product is more desirable. Realising you've valued your product too low cannot be corrected by putting prices up without upsetting buyers. I'm talking as an ex retailer here, and we are all selling here, ourselves, our knowledge, experience, content, our art, subscriptions. So lets not undervalue ourselves and what we do. 💕
Haha! Same here, Naveen! I don't want to make a musrake, but that's how we learn. I am overly cautious at times, I guess. Also, I suspect there's no 'one size fits all'... what works for one Substack might not work for another. Best of luck to you, whatever approach you take! 🍀🍀🍀
🟧 Hi! Is there any way to see the metrics on how many people click and listen to the voiceover? As I consider the parts of my Substack and what I'm offering, I'd love to have statistics about what parts resonate. I like being about to see how many emails are opened and what links are clicked, but as far as I can tell there aren't statistics about the voiceover. I like doing the voiceover but if I had statistics that said literally no one ever listens to it, that would be helpful (or if the statistics said a high percentage listened, then I might consider other offerings, like a podcast).
Thank you for your help! And for continuing to support writers.
🟧 Also, same question for an audio recording embedded in an article. I know we get the metrics for a video post, but not sure if this is available for an audio recording inside an article.
✏️& 🟧 I'm thinking about taking the leap and beginning to paywall some of my stuff.
Substack team: do you have any data on what strategies work best? (Alternating paid and free content, paywalling a portion of every post, etc.)? I'm sure there's no simple answer here.
Fellow Writers: what strategies have worked for you / haven't worked?
Also: is there a good way to convert free to paid subscribers without using a paywall?
We've dug into the data and there is no secret recipe for what to put behind the paywall to convert free readers to paid subscribers. Writers have found success with a variety of approaches, including offering everything for free and putting everything behind a paywall.
Thank you, Katie. I assumed there wasn't a secret sauce, but thought it worth asking. I love the article you linked to. It's so helpful--as are all of the comments!
I have questions about what strategies work as well, but mostly I'm here to say you should definitely paywall some things. Your newsletter is so freaking good and exactly the sort of newsletter I think people will be happy to pay for at least somr of it.
🧠 This is about partial previews / paywalls in the middle of paid posts...
For the past few months I've been posting chapters of my memoir-in-progress An Ordinary Disaster as paid posts with a partial previews, and setting the posts to automatically open up after a few weeks to everyone. I do like that this gives a little perk to paid subscribers, and also that it gives me a little while to make further edits before a post goes out to a wider audience... BUT I've been feeling more and more lately that, as several folks have pointed out in a fruitful thread on Notes recently, running into a paywall in the middle of a post is annoying at best, and at worst can seem like sort of a trick.
I've been thinking lately that the way I've been doing it may have gained me some paid subscribers, but that overall it's probably keeping more people from reading my work. I'm thinking that a better strategy is simply to publish everything as open, and let people become paid subscribers if they wish to. There might be some content that I still keep as paid, but I'd rather have more people reading than have people run into a paywall in the middle of an article.
It's interesting how your own point of view can shift on things. I appreciate how Substack has various options to let us set up our free/paid material however we want to, and also to change that over time—and, I really really appreciate the open dialogue amongst the community here!
Btw at this point, about ten months in, I have ~850 subscribers and about 50 paying...
To that end, I'm opening all 17 of the chapters that I've published so far of AN ORDINARY DISASTER
A book-length memoir of a man learning to listen to himself, serialized right here on Substack:
Interesting how you have tried out earlier access to posts, thanks for sharing your experiences. I recognise a lot of your considerations. Great to see that it can work to keep your content open.
✏️ curious how many people you yourself pay to subscribe to? no judgment, just wondering since mostly what we all talk about is people subscribing to us. Thought some people sharing might broaden the picture.
For me, I am new to Substack and feeling out who I most want to give my money to so I currently don’t pay anyone BUT I have a commitment to give at least ten percent of my income to other artists and writers so starting June 1 I’ll be adding a few that I pay for. I have two earmarked and might go up to four for June then check in each month to see how many more I can add.
I honestly don't have much of a budget for subscribing right now, which is one reason why I'd love to see a native "tip" option. I'd happily give to celebrate or support individual posts that I enjoy.
If I had unlimited resource, I think I would pay for 2 to 3 of the newsletters I currently subscribe to because the writers are extremely good or I feel a connection with them through their posts.
Good to know. If you don’t mind me asking is it that you don’t have any discretionary funds or that you spend them elsewhere? I learned recently the idea that what we spend our money on reflects our priorities and it’s shifted my spending. Not that I have much extra money but it makes me consider specifically where I want to spend what I do so I am just curious how others spend theirs. One thing I am working on is dining out less. I spend so much on it mostly because I just don’t enjoy cooking at all but in terms of priorities I would rather it go to creative stuff.
Right now, zilch on discretionary funds. I'm a freelancer and often have the "feast or famine" issue. So on good months, I put extra away. I also donate to several ministries and charitable organizations, and I spend some on personal health and fitness. So yeah, that doesn't leave a lot for subscriptions!
This is a good question Kathryn and I have started thinking about it. Just like you, I am thinking about supporting 1 writer from my list of subscribed newsletters for every 10 paid subscribers for mine. I haven't turned on the paid feature yet on my substack, but plan to do so in the near future.
Great suggestion Kathryn. I'll subscribe as small recompense. You / we could tell readers this tithing is what we're doing and why it's important to network and support what we believe in.
Thanks! I have practiced the ten percent artistic tithing for a long time and it’s a great way for me to stay focused on supporting things I care about even when so many other expenses crop up.
I want to try a book giveaway in exchange for referrals, say when someone refers 5 of their friends to subscribe, they are entered into a drawing. I am hoping there will be a way to confirm that 5 new subscribers came from a certain member. That way. I can have a list of people for the drawing.
🟧 Hi, Substack. I love being here. Wondering about a couple of things.
1. Can we add a "pledge" to our subscription offerings, which would -- in fact -- not be a subscription, but for people who like the work but may not be able to afford a monthly or annual commitment? I know we can add Buy Me A Coffee or something like that with a custom button, but a one-time "tip" would be a nice feature. As Substack grows with writers, readers are going to be stretched. This might be a good opportunity for both.
2. For those of us who do courses/workshops/seminars, have you thought about adding a feature for those payments so we can stay here on Substack rather than going to Eventbrite or the like? That would be truly helpful.
That's great, Reid. Thanks. I hope it does become a priority with all the influx of new writers (myself included; started in March). Having those options/opportunities will likely bring in new readers to Substack as well (those who take course/workshops through friend referrals, etc.). And definitely having an opportunity to pledge/tip/contribute on a one-time basis would be beneficial. Thanks again! xo
✏️ Have any of you used the 7 day trial as part of your strategy to get more paid subscribers? I am curious to know how it has worked for any of you who have used it.
🟧 When using the free 7 day trial is a credit card necessary or until the 7 days of trial are over?
Yes! I actually did a month free trial in March and got a few subscribers from that, and now I have it turned on for 14 days free all the time. I feel like that gives people more time to poke around.
Yes, it's a special offer! I set it up as a 14-day free trial, that anyone can see (not only people with a "special offer" link) and set it so it never expires.
✏️ - I have a podcast based on my writing that has many more followers (3-4X) than the actual Substack email list (mostly on appple podcasts); it’s still early for both, but I am wondering about launching paid and whether that can/will bring listeners or readers to the Substack platform. What has been everyone’s experience bringing people who follow you elsewhere onto Substack?
I exported my newsletter subscriber list to Substack, and about half of them have become regular readers. I now use my newsletter only for advertising events and such, and put all my writing on Substack. I have a "Blog" tab on my website that directs to Substack. I like how this is working out.
Even though the blog tab on my website directs visitors away from my website, I love having this easy access for them to my Substack platform, which organizes all my writing in such a beautiful easy format (as opposed to archiving all that content on my website somewhere, although maybe that would improve the SEO, who knowsI.
Who knows how much longer SEO will even be a thing with search engines going to AI. It would be great if at some point we could just embed our substack on our website like a blog. It might be possible with a custom domain, but that would be great.
I didn't have a substack before I left social media, but I did have a newsletter and it just relentlessly providing value, free books, or other content that is worth drawing them off platform to your list.
You just gave me an idea. I think give subscribers a website they may find of interest. Relate it to your newsletter. For instance, if you were writing about retail, put Retailmenot.com in the newsletter. sabrinalabow.substack.com
It would be better to just make a lead magnet that relates to your article and people will find interesting. To use your example, if your article is about retail then you could say “download my retail checklist at xxx.xxx/retailchecklist
🧠✏️ I set my annual price at the rate that I ideally want to be paid. However just today I announced that I am offering a Pay What You Can option. Curious if anyone else has tried something similar?
I just said “email me what you can pay, no questions asked, and I will set it up”. So I’ll set up special offers at the prices people are requesting. I’m not sure if there’s an easier way but it works for me for now.
🟧 ✏️ From what I understand, but maybe someone else knows more, it does create a special offer that anyone could take advantage of but only if they have the link or it is emailed to them. Since I am offering Pay What You Can to anyone right now it wouldn’t be a problem for me if it were shared with others.
If the pledge subscription amount from even one pledge is meaningful for you, turn pledges on! Sounds like some readers are ready to support you already. You can then wait to start paywalling posts or do a marketing push once you've found your rhythm and grown your audience.
Hi Kristen - I am still confused about the Pledge option. Is there a substack help article or video that explains how it works? I am not sure how they will convert to a paid subscriber in the future and what if they don't want to pledge anymore?
🧠 Posting regularly really helps. We post M-F with a team of writers. Consider guest posts to help your output! (Shameless plug: we are always looking for film/television/pop culture writers.)
🧠 I'm trying a strategy where I'm doing a long ramp up with heavy permanent discounts for early paid subs. Each new paid post will see the sub price go up over the course of a couple months til reaching the final price. Too early to show results but it's a way to make people feel more comfortable betting on a new publication, while building excitement and tapping into that "don't miss out" psychology without going overboard.
Thank you! I surprised myself with the idea haha. I launched my first paid post 6 days ago so it's wayyyy too early to see any trends...but I did convert 1/20th of my base with that post so that felt really good and I know it'll get more traction as time goes on.
You can also set expiration dates on special offers so I have them set to expire the day the next paid entry releases, when the new special offer goes into effect.
What is the 10% fee that gets subtracted from subscriptions? For example, I receive only about $69 for each $80 annual subscription, and a bit over $6 for each $8 monthly.
Also, how does Substack benefit when I insert custom links that offer readers another way to donate to my non-profit, buy my books, etc.
Thanks Roger. I was wondering if that 10% was Substack's customary profit. Yes, Stripe surely takes like 2.99%. I have a custom link I can use for donations to my non-profit ministry, of which my writing is a project under that umbrella. I just don't know how Substack looks at this use of 'buttons.' I'm assuming I can use them to link to my books?
Yes, I see your Donate button. I like that option: Free Subscribers can make a 1-time donation if they think the content is worth it. How did you create that Donate button? And I also wondered how Substack would look at this kind of model.
I have a payments merchant platform (like Substack, but a different one) that I use with my non-profit. They created the donations page for me, which I can link to. Substack has not stopped me from using it, but I also wonder, since it bypasses their profit %. It might be more profitable for writers to use the Substack subscription buttons, because people can't just choose a one-time donation. I do get the impression that Substack encourages writers to promote our books through Substack, which would be sold outside of Substack's Stripe platform, so I don't see how using my Donations button is any different, except that it replaces some subscriptions, potentially.
Substack's business model seems to be designed for Newsletters/Bloggers etc., not for one-time purchases like a completed novel.
I'm really wrestling with how to offer my book to subscribers - after 2 years of research and writing it's pointless to just give the whole novel away for free, but monthly subscribers will finish the book and then cancel so that isn't sustainable long-term. The one-time tip-jar or donation seems the best idea - surely readers won't balk at paying $5 for a completed novel?
Maybe Substack can offer this kind of 1-time payment model and take their % off of the multiple donations. (Their Founding Members price is too high)
Oh I see, your book IS your Substack? I used Substack to write chapter installments as weekly blog-posts, and now I am putting those together into a paperback book and also an ebook. I will keep writing my weekly blog on additional topics, post-book. Original subscribers will have read much of the book's content, but still might like to own it in a formalized, organized paperback book. Also, I do see lots of Substackers requesting a one-time payment option.
✏️ This is very timely as I am seriously thinking of going paid next month. I intend to keep my usual monthly newsletter free but want to add more content for paid subscriptions and pledges. I was just wondering what extra content other writers with paid subscriptions have had success with. Of has extra content turned people off and you havd lost subscribers as a result? I feel like its such a minefield. I dont want to bombard people's inboxes.
I moved from Mailchimp to Substack last September, and in some ways am still experimenting with what works behind the paywall, and also what I have the creative capacity for. I turned on paid from the start. I offer an extra essay a month, a photo story prompt, and Q&As. Right now, I'm working my way through a college creative writing textbook and every month I post writing and creativity assignments related to that month's chapter. But it's hard to know what is resonating! I think there are always people who read but don't comment (which is fine!). In fact, I just sent out a post to paying subscribers last night asking how they felt about the paid offerings, and most people are saying they're happy with the amount offered.
I'll also say that I lose some subscribers every time I send out an essay. Which I think is normal. People might subscribe and then think, "oh, wait, this isn't for me." I try not to focus too much on numbers, and more on what I'm writing and posting.
Thank you Julie, this is really interesting and helpful. With hindsight, I think I should have done what you did and go paid right from the start. I also lose some free subscribers everytime I send out a newsletter, but gain as many new subscribers over the following weeks. I agree re commenters, but get quite a few emails instead, so I think people are either shy, or enjoy having one-to-one interaction. Its really hard to know, so many variables and as many ways of interpreting them... makes it all so much fun, I guess! 😄
Yup, same, I get more new subscribers than unsubscribes, and I get email replies too. I say turn on paid options right now! You can do a soft launch by just turning it on (and then people will see the upgrade option when you drop in the subscribe button) and you can play around with what you'll offer behind the paywall.
My biggest recommendation is really to figure out what YOU can do. There are many newsletters that post weekly, and I think that's great, but I don't want to write an essay every week, and-- nobody is mad about it. Do whatever works for you, be free to change your mind, and play around to see what feels right.
Thanks Julie, great advice. I am thinking so hard about what more I can offer paid subscribers I havent considered what would work best for me! Yet that is a huge factor! 🤣
I think so much of the messaging of social media has been that we are content creators and we have to feed the algorithm and be strategic and offer value and all of these things that are exhausting and not necessarily conducive to actually writing good things. One thing that happened when I moved to Substack was realizing I could take a breath and really consider how often I wanted to write.
Hi Ali - wishing you all the best ahead. Can you share if you have decided to go paid after hitting certain milestones like number of free subscribers, open rates etc.? Just curious to learn about your thought process.
I am currently at 600 after 2 months. Thinking of waiting until I hit 1000.
I post 2x/week. My plan is to post 1x/week for everyone (including free subscribers) and move the 2nd post each week only to paid subscribers.
I also want to be able to automatically move some of my paid posts to free after let us say a month behind the paywall.
I am struggling with the notion of providing "extra" value only to paid subscribers. I think everyone should benefit and enjoy our writing. But maybe the paid subscribers can have early access to some of the more valuable content.
You are doing really well to have so many subscribers so quickly! I have 3800 free subs after 5 months but a good chunk came with me from my previous blog. I feel ready coming up to 6 months to set up paid subscriptions. Why should artists feel like they must give away their work for free or 'exposure'? No other line of employment does this.
I have a big post launching once I finish editing it about how I added back catalog books using sections for paid subscribers. Right now I have a timer of 3 weeks before everything goes paid, so people who want more than the last couple of posts need to go paid, or get a trial subscription.
Hi Ali, interesting the concern about bombarding people with extra content. I share it and I'm wondering if that's part of an invisibility thread in my life and that I need to be more open about my voice.
I get that, Andrew. I turned on pledges and found that new readers were keen to pay, but existing free subscribers did not respond. I dont know if that's simply because they like their free content or whether they did not realise the option to pledge was there. I'm not sure how people are asked by Substack to pledge. In my next post I'm going to be open and ask people to subscribe if my writing means anything to them.
Ali, Writers at Work (Sarah Fay) said this on Office Hours today: I'm a big fan of ALL writers "going paid." It should always be an option on your site. You can keep the majority or all of your content free and set up your 'Subscribe with a Caption' to read that you're asking for support to keep your newsletter going as opposed to getting certain content for free.
🟧 I have two questions! (1) I’m very torn about if and when to go “paid.” I’ve been very focused on building my readership, and although I have some paid subscribers, I don’t distinguish between what paid and free subs get, and I don’t urge people to pay. I have nothing against being paid for my work; I’ve been a working writer all my life. But I worry that all the wonderful people who signed up for free will get pissed (and possibly leave) if I suddenly change things up on them. (2) I’d like to do a week of Anne Boleyn posts in commemoration of her May 19th execution—I have tons of great interviews that I did when I was writing my book, as well a excerpts. But I don’t want to load the emails of people who aren’t necessarily Boleyn junkies. My substack is a “magazine” that covers a lot of different topics and genres, and the Boleyn people are just one subset of the kind of subscribers who came to my stack knowing my work. Any way to do this? Thanks so much!!! Substack is great.
Thanks Katie! I took a look at her substack and I love her approach. Coheres very well with what I’d like to do. So thanks again. (I also subscribed to her substack.)
Susan, have you looked into using sections? I am currently building out my substack to cover specifically "themed" content: personal things, management, technology, etc. As I currently understand, sections can then have specific lists of your readers so that way you can target folks who enjoy that specific content.
I have not launched my 'sectioned-stack' yet, so, I'll have a portion of my section to let everyone know "how it's going." :-)
I spent some time trying to figure out how I wanted to use my Substack... I've had blogs since the day Blogger hit the web. I was a huge WordPress person back in the day... now with Substack I want to get started in constructing how I want to share before I begin to share... :-)
WordPress had quite the love-hate relationship for many... I actually liked to hack that blogging tool... I am versed in PHP (the base code) so I was one of those who hacked deep into the tool to make my blogs more personalized...
Now, I just wanna write, so, Substack is "just right" to write, right?!?!?! :-)
Maybe you could do a post and ask folks to reach out via the comments portion of your post? That's a workaround I use on LinkedIn since LinkedIn is pretty lame for building readership / a following that is best for strong ties.
I'll try to look into that specific feature and maybe the folks at Substack have given us a way to have folks "enroll" or "sign up"...???
Sections definitely seem like a good option here. I wish there was a way where you could add a button that allowed people to subscribe to the new section in one click, but alas we don't have that yet.
Katie, I went to those instructions and am a bit confused. Are my “old” subscribers not getting emails for BordoLines “as a whole”? I have created sections but wasn’t aware that if you do that subscribers have to sign up for the ones they are interested in. Or have I got this wrong? Most of my subscribers are there for the whole shebang.
This is the line that has me confused: “If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.”
✏️So, I’ve opened paid subscriptions with a letter to my 40 or so subscribers. I’ve had a great retention rate and have close to 70% emails opened each post—roughly posting something once a week. Here’s the question: how long did it take to grow paid subscribers? What are some things that have worked for you to grow subscriptions? Is it possible to do it without social media? Feel like I can’t do much more to grow subscribers right now but growth seems stagnant...
I just wrote a whole big piece about this, but here is the relevant section.
In the “pre-Notes” days, it seemed like roughly 1 in 10 people who followed a Substack eventually transitioned into a paid subscriber, but after Notes debuted, it seems to have been closer to 1 in 20.
Substack’s own indicates that their ideal metric is that 10% of users will eventually “go paid”. That made sense when everything was highly siloed and finding new publications was hard, but when you expose that same network to more and more creators, that number has nowhere to go down but down.
How much? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised it if ended up closer to the 1 in 100 number I discussed earlier, and more people choosing not to stick around for the long haul.
I spend time posting on Substack Notes, and commenting to help drive engagement, but I think the best thing I did was just writing better posts. The better my posts are the more new subscribers I get, and the better my comments are the more new subscribers I get, too.
Non-promotional commenting on other people's stuff is how I have gotten many of my subs as well. High quality comments make people curious about you, curious people click on your face and read your writing. If they like it, they sub. Bonus is that I would do that anyway, even if I wasn't trying to "market" myself lol
100%. There's an old expression that became popular with the rise of Airbnb. "in order to scale you must do the unscaleable", and I think it's that kind of stuff that really matters to people.
I think it’s also just good marketing. If somebody can read a piece and say “holy heck that was great” they will subscribe and share. Most writers have a problem with voice that prevents them from being immediately shareable. If you make your work better then a higher percentage of people will subscribe when they land on your page, and you will win the battle of network effects more often.
So, yes, it is king, but there is intention behind it too.
I am in a similar situation, Christopher, with great retention and open rate. I feel I need Instagram to promote though, and today sent out an email to my free list with a special offer if they subscribe before the end of the month but... Nothing yet.
I just comped all my free subscribers a three month paid subscription, but I also added a ton of content behind the paywall. I think it's better for people to just see what they get, and then remind them it will be taken away. IDK if that will work in my situation, but it works when I'm on the other side of the equation.
I think it's because people are inundated with emails. It's too much. I just answered an email from a subscriber from a month ago. I realize I'm a bit of a luddite but I think we can all agree that it's getting to be sensory overload. The newsletter I am working on now is about luddites. Coming soon...sabrinalabow.substack.com
Hey Sabrina, thanks for taking the time to respond. Yes, it's a funny old thing. I came to this platform for slowness but everything now feels very fast! I love the idea of slow living but wonder if it's fetishized on Substack by a whole raft of writers who are living far more quickly than their posts suggest. Do you know about the New York Luddites? Total heroes of mine!
🟧 In the latest “On Substack” Katelyn Jetelina stated that she implemented payments as donations and kept all her posts free. (Or words to that effect)
I’d like to understand what that means.
Sounds like a case of having your cake and eating it, too. Is it different than pledges? How would a writer set things up to both accept voluntary(?) paid subscriptions and keep their posts freely accessible? What would that look like to prospective subscribers encountering your Substack for the first time? How might the writer make it clear to readers that paid “donation” subscriptions are an option and are purely voluntary? And, would the donations be one-time only, or recurring?
🟧 - what happens to existing paid subscribers if and when I change the pricing on the paid subscription? Do they stay on the original price point they were on? Do they move to the new one? Or does it depend on whether the price goes up or down?
✏️ I'm thinking of turning on paid subscriptions as a way to mark the one-year anniversary of writing the newsletter. Any tips on using the celebration of one year as way to convince readers to consider the paid subscription?
Has anyone found a solution to this dilemma? I have made tons of stuff free, in the hope that some people will like it so much that they go premium (some have). On the other hand, I wonder if I'd be better off making hardly anything free, to give people more of a reason to pay. Thoughts?
I am thinking along the same lines, but right now I am split between two options
(currently only free, publishing 2/week)
1. do 1x/week free and 1x/week paid; schedule the paid post to become free after a month
2. no new posts for free; 1x/month converts to free from paid; but increase the frequency of paid posts. Maybe a mix of 2-3 short weekly posts with 1 long form essay, but all paid.
Thanks, Naveen. That sounds good. Trouble is, I worry about uposetting existing subscribers by suddenly making articles initially inaccessible. Still, making them free after a while soulds like a good compromise. Presumably the logic is thta people who really value your stuff will want to read it sooner?
You can always do a post in which you lay these thoughts out, explain your rationale for changes, and possibly ask for feedback through comments or a poll. Being open usually works best.
I have been sensitive to that as well, that is why I am leaning towards option #1. I am waiting until I hit 1000 subscribers to make sure I have a good base of articles on my website for anyone to browse for free.
🟧 Am I required to offer a discounted annual subscription fee? I am concerned that if I someday decide to discontinue (or am unable to continue) writing my blog posts, I will owe a lot of people refunds.
Great point, I wonder if there is a way to do only the monthly or the annual, but not both. I know there are pros and cons to each, but I do see your point. I do wonder though, if there is a way for them to get a pro-rated refund automatically if they decide to cancel.
Hi there. If a Substack publisher decides to "turn off paid subscriptions," refunds will automatically be issued to paying subscribers for the subscription time they paid for but won't receive.
🟧 What are the terms & conditions for paid subscriptions, and is there a place for us to add our own terms upon purchase? I’d like my annual subscriptions to have a “no refunds” policy, even if I have to stop writing. And I’d like that to be clear to readers up front, that their fee is a contribution to support me and not a guarantee of a certain number of posts per year.
🟧 Substack team - is it possible to schedule article behind the paywall to automatically become "Free" after sometime? I am thinking of switching on paid soon, but want to keep offering good quality articles to free subscribers, only delayed by say a month or so.
"Interested in scheduling a paid post to unlock automatically and be sent as a newsletter to free subscribers?
Once you're finished with the draft, click "Continue". On the Publish page, check the box next to "Schedule time to unlock post and email free subscribers". Select a date and time and your post will unlock for free readers on the web and be sent as an email to your free subscribers at the scheduled time."
So if free subscribers are not seeing the post when it comes out as a paid post, but receiving it for the first time when it is free, how does this incentivize them to pay? It seems they wouldn’t even realize that they missed out on seeing it sooner.
I haven’t turn on Paid yet and I’m finding these insights useful, especially on what writers put behind a paywall. I have thought of making my weekly (nonfiction) essays available to all and serializing my novel behind a paywall (with a preview first chapter free). I’d love to hear other ideas! Thanks!
🟧 Not precisely relevant to this thread (sorry!)... At the moment new post emails to subscribers are going into their gmail Promotions inbox not their Primary. Any idea how I can rectify that?
We take steps on our end to try to ensure Substack emails reach the reader's main inbox, but over time, the reputation that your newsletter builds up with readers is the most important input.
Asking your readers to drag the emails back to the inbox helps. Also, you can encourage them to write to you at your @substack.com address, which helps Gmail recognize your emails.
Putting together my business plan and concerned by the high price point. I understand in the past Substack had a lot more flexibility on pricing. Is there any way to work around a minimum 50 per year subscription? Thanks, Clare
I kept mine at £70 as I’ve learnt it’s harder to raise your prices further down the line. You can offer discounts which I did for a full month and lots of my subscribers joined my paid tier.
✏️ How have people navigated turning on Pledges? I have an aspiration to write extra paid content at some point in the WAY distant future, but knowing that people found my work worthwhile enough to pay for with pledges would be a great sign.
Trouble is, does anyone else think pledges put people off subscribing?
I hesitated to turn on Pledges, but after a while I figured if people wanted to pay me, why was I holding myself back? I haven't gotten any new paid subscribers since turning on the monetization feature, but at least I'm getting paid by the people who want to pay me. It's also a great motivator to stay on task. My Substack is explicit that it's sort of an informal weekly writing exercise more than anything else, but some people seem to think it's worth paying for.
Also, I know all the people who are pledging personally and know that it's their way of supporting my efforts. If I start to get paid subscriptions from strangers, that will be a time to get more serious about thinking about the differences between paid and unpaid benefits.
I have everything free for three weeks, so they can get everything for free forever if they just subscribe free, but if they want back catalog stuff they have to subscribe. Most people seem to go paid just to support great writing.
I waited mostly until I could have lots and lots of content behind the paywall, and then I comped everyone a three-month subscription so they could see everything that was available and read it. It felt low stress for me, and now I have to just get them excited about what's available before it's taken away.
Brad, if I can figure out how to turn on Pledges, you can. :-) I'm surely the least-tech-savvy person in this thread, but I've been able to figure out Substack. So far.
✏️ Fellow (serial) fiction writers, what's your stance on offering bonus content as a paid incentive? Like extra non vital chapters, side stories, behind the scenes stuff, etc. It seems like one of the more natural paid incentives for me, but looking to get insight from those with hands on experience.
It seems to be popular with fiction. I have found most people just want access. I did a free webinar with Author Learning Center about subscriptions last month and I have one coming up at the end of the month, but Early Access and bonus material are two very good ways to do paid.
I have been doing that (write mostly non-fiction though), since I did not want to wall off content that I want everyone to read. My idea is to have main content, then extra content on top of that that offers related or personal content.
🟧 I am developing my paid model and noticed some high volume users are selling ads in their articles (like studio "for your consideration" movie ads. Yet, when I reviews your substack rules I believe this practice is not encouraged...Is it allowed or not?
And secondly, what about offering affiliate deals to encourage friends and other writers to share our paid membership opportunities
🟧- Are substack newsletters visible through google search? Could be really silly question but I am reading these posts where writers are showing how to link substack to google analytics. But does it work? Can someone google my posts?
I’ve also been wondering how this works! I have a Google alert set for myself, and it just picked up one of my Substack articles after five months of publishing.
Ohhhh that is new. Yeah it is confusing. If you search Austin Kleon, a lot of his posts are there in google search but for so many others, it is not there. Its a mystery
It seems like you are going to WEBSITE>HOMEPAGE LINKS>EDIT, that's not right. It's the way I said above. Go to website, scroll to + new link, and you put in the title and link.
I don't work for substack, but I can try to help. So, either you can add tags, or you can add them to a section. The section this is not very hard, but there's a lot of possible things to choose. Substack has a guide for it. https://on.substack.com/p/a-guide-to-publication-sections
However, I'm also about to release a big explainer post about Sections and how I use them. If you subscribe you'll get that one probably next or within the next week.
Once you have the section, then I would just make a link to it on the menu.
🟧 How do we create more than one Substack? I currently post my personal essays about infertility, mental health, and adventure at www.lizexplores.com, but I’m interested in starting a separate Substack with a separate audience for my UNperfectionism coaching business. I tried to set it up from my account, but it shows up as a “section” of Liz Explores, which is not what I want. Do I have to start a whole new Substack account with a different email address in order for UNperfectionism to have its own home?
✏ Just curious as to how everyone manages to keep themselves on track and posting regularly as I have have been having issues with it and am thinking of relaunching my Substack. Is that a good or bad thing to do or should I just start posting after an extended time away?
Hi Christine - I am currently publishing 2x/week, and that is taking up pretty much all my time. I just try not to give myself an option to slip on this commitment, even though I know it probably is not a big deal to readers. It will probably matter more if you have paid subscribers, which currently I don't.
In any case, if you are going to take a break, maybe send them an email (not publish on your blog) that you will be out and let them know when they can expect to start receiving your articles again.
🟧So, this idea came to my mind now - I wonder if you could setup an "out of office" email on Substack that will go out to your subscribers automatically?
An Out of office email is a great idea!! It would be helpful for holidays, emergencies and time off. It could keep readers in the loop and maybe put a pause on membership payments if you're out for more than two weeks with a date option of when payments will start again for paid subscribers.
I have a lot of old content, so it was easy for me to do 1 post a month, but when I thought about coming back to Substack I was just going to do what I wanted when I wanted. Underleverage yourself is my best advice.
Very interesting newsletter that you write! Well, my thing is I really do need to be an almost everyday writer otherwise I feel like I'm not challenging myself if that makes any sense. I like to be working on a project consistently, I'm a workaholic is the best way to put it, although you wouldn't know it by looking at my Substack posts etc. I have been working harder at my day job and for others and not working hard for myself and what I want, especially in the case of my writing, which has led to a bit of a writers anxiety and lack of motivation, and I've also used having a health issue as an excuse for putting off doing the hard work of writing. I just really want to get back into it consistently and get readers engaged and interested to get my newsletter off the ground and for this to be my fulltime gig along with maybe selling my photography. My day job isn't bad at all, but I want something outside of technical editing, it pays the bills but not what I want to continue to do for the long haul.
That's nice, but there are actually five archetypes to have author success that we have identified, and if you're not working to grow your ideal author/writing ecosystem, then you're probably not going to succeed. So, saying "I just need to write everyday" is fine...but to what end? Your writer anxiety probably comes from working in an unhealthy ecosystem. There's a good chance you're a grassland based on what you have said, but you can learn more about them all in this post. https://authorstack.substack.com/p/the-era-of-personalized-marketing
I'd say just start posting again. You could include a little note at the top of your first post about why you weren't posting or just to say "Hi, I'm back!"
What works for me and other writers I know is to set yourself a deadline and commit to it--say, every Wednesday at noon you post, or every second Friday of the month, whatever works for you. Then schedule your writing process with that date as the end goal. It takes some trial an error, but it keeps you consistent and accountable. :)
✏️ Would it make sense to create a new and separate newsletter as a paid subscription and letting one's current subscribers know about it, perhaps by way of "links" in the current free newsletter that everyone is subscribing to? Reason being that the new newsletter has slightly different content and target audience. Thanks in advance!
I kept mine at £70 a year which Substack set it at and I made my work to fit that. A fair few people in my industry set it lower but for me £70 makes sense and I’ve just put my monthly up to £10 a month. Part of the reason for this is I spend a long time writing comments back and forth with my paid subs (members) and I couldn’t do that if it grew at a lower price.
✏️ For writers who’ve gone paid, what percentage of your total audience are paid versus free? I just opened up pledges last month at www.lizexplores.com, where I write about infertility, mental health, and adventure. So far I have about a 10% subscription rate of readers who’ve pledged a yearly subscription (though the data are skewed because they are mostly people who know me personally and want to support me). I’m curious how much I’ll need to grow my subscriber list to reach my target income. What are you all seeing for paid-subscriber conversion rates?
Here's the relevant part. In the “pre-Notes” days, it seemed like roughly 1 in 10 people who followed a Substack eventually transitioned into a paid subscriber, but after Notes debuted, it seems to have been closer to 1 in 20.
Substack’s own indicates that their ideal metric is that 10% of users will eventually “go paid”. That made sense when everything was highly siloed and finding new publications was hard, but when you expose that same network to more and more creators, that number has nowhere to go down but down.
How much? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised it if ended up closer to the 1 in 100 number I discussed earlier, and more people choosing not to stick around for the long haul.
Hi Liz - I have heard a 5-10% conversion rate; but I think it might be lower than that in the long run as you grow your free base. I would not expect more than 2-3% to be honest.
I don't yet understand the difference between "pledge" and a subscription. Does it mean that they promise to sign up for a subscription when you switch it on? If so, can you really count on that? Thanks
Thanks Theresa - now I am learning that they have to give their CC at the time of pledging. I think this would be a huge mental barrier to overcome. Not sure how I feel about this right now...
Here is the link to Pledge article Substack team shared with me
To help organize the conversation, please use one of the following emojis when you start a new comment.
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🟧 - when asking a question you hope the Substack team can help answer
Use your emoji keyboard or simply copy and paste the emoji at the beginning of your comment.
🟧 One of the values of my substack is a growing archive of in-depth posts. I was very happy to see tags implemented, because they're a great way for people to discover similar posts when I cover a topic that's relevant to them.
But, tags are only half-implemented. If you tag all your posts, nothing happens. You have to add tags to your navigation bar, which is more like a reimplementation of sections. Or you have to manually build a tag page and enter all your own links. Or you have to manually add tag links to each post.
This was discussed last week. Is there any clarification from Substack at this point about what the plan is with tags? I'm asking again this week because they're really powerful, but at this point we're kind of set up to do a whole bunch of work manually that's about to be automated by Substack. Or, much worse, we do a bunch of manual work that then ends up being undermined by which direction Substack chooses to go with tags.
To close with two focused questions: Is Substack going to start automatically showing tags on any post that has tags? What is Substack's roadmap for implementing the tag system in a way that's visible to readers?
Hot off the press! You can now displayed tagged posts on your Substack Homepage in grid view.
Head to: https://your.substack.com/publish/settings/theme. In the posts section, select "Groups (sections or tags)"
We've heard requests for tags on the post page and it is something we are considering. In the meantime you might consider using the tag URL in your posts to point to other relevant posts on the same topic.
Thanks, I had thought about that. Maybe there could in future also be some visual way to add it to the bottom of posts, similar to how there are now 'previous' and 'next' buttons, there could then be a 'see other posts with this tag' grid.
Yeah top or bottom of posts would be good to have. Because then you could just click and see all of the associated posts.
A tag cloud on the main page or at the bottom or sidebar like with most blogs would be cool, with differently weighted tag word sizes to visualise the content based on either popularity or frequency.
As soon as you have a nontrivial archive of posts, you can easily have 20-50 tags if you tag all your posts. This is especially true for people who write information-focused newsletters.
I get that people can start to manually insert tag URLs into posts, but that's way more work than is reasonable as soon as you have enough posts to make tagging worthwhile. It's also going to look really unprofessional as soon as Substack starts adding tags automatically.
This is great thanks! I'm not sure if it's been reported but there appears to be a bug where it's not possible to rename an existing tag's label (but keep the URL the same). I found this out the hard way and used short-hand, URL friendly lower-case names for all my tags, only to find out that when adding them to the navigation bar I couldn't set a more friendly label. If you try to edit the tag to change the label, you get an error. I had to go back and re-tag my posts - thankfully I don't have many yet so it wasn't too painful, but writers who've amassed a lot of posts might find it frustrating!
Whew, thank you. Didn't know this was possible. That's great!
That seems to work reasonably if you're using tags as sections. And tags are flexible enough that it's probably not going to create much confusion if people have a subset of tags that are used to implement sections.
Oh wow. This is great.
That looks great! Any way this could be combined with a list of all your posts underneath?
That's awesome! Thank you!
Hey Eric, we're working on enabling writers to display posts from a tag as a section on the homepage. We've also been discussing how to incorporate them into posts as well. There are definitely things in the hopper surrounding tags!
I agree - tags can be so important as the archive grows, but it would be nice to know what the final configuration is going to look like. I was too impatient to wait for that, had to start playing with them in at least a limited way...
I made two sets of tags - one for "type" (Essays, Reports, Roughs, etc.) and one for "topics" (running, writing, nature, etc.). After I had my posts tagged (generally with one "type" tag and at least one "topic" tag), I added the type tag pages to the Navigation bar, and I added the topic tags to my Homepage Links under the group heading "Posts by Topic". The nav bar items are easy to work with, the homepage links are a bit more tedious because you have to paste in the URL (and you can't edit them - if you want to change something you have to delete it and start over). But it works for my needs right now.
I had considered using sections instead of type tags, but decided that is even more of a work-around than using tags this way, since I don't want to complicate things with multiple email lists, etc. I'll save those for special projects that I might want different lists for (or that I want to keep out of the "everything" archive list).
I’d assumed it helped with search ?
or maybe it could even be possible to find other writers' tags, or is that making it too similar to categories? I feel like categories should be broad, whereas tags can be specific.
That's such an interesting question. At the moment I use sections to gather 'like' topics together, but I can see that generation lots of sections when a better 'shorthand' might be more useful.
+ 1 ! really would love to see this sort of MVP blog-world precedent active and working in Substack ~~ thank you !
Hi all,
🟧✏️ This is my first time attending the Office Hour, and I just launched my publication NYK Review in April. Ever since I launched my publication, I have put much effort into growing NYK Review. However, I can't seem to get NYK Review to appear on any search engine, not even when I search "NYK Review Substack". Also, after the initial spike of viewership in the first month, web trafficking to my publication has steadily decreased, despite that I have not change my work pace at all (especially after I changed the title of my publication from "Kado's Reading Couch" to "NYK Review").
🟧 Hi. I'm really new here. How do I add tabs under my title, other than the standard "Home," "Archive" and "About."
Got to Dashboard>Settings>Website>Homepage Links, there you can add links to your home page other than "Home", "Podcast", "Archive" and "About".
once i created new tags, how to put a past post into that tag? thank you!
🟧Hi! I need help! How could I set up paid subscriptions payments lower than $5?? This is my blog and I get to decide how much I want to charge. I know my audience and I know how much they will be willing to pay. I understand and respect substack values but the choice is either I can do lower amount $1-$2 or not at all. I think for everyone is better to get paid, isn't it?
Hi there, monthly subscription prices must be set to at least $5. As a workaround, you could set up a discount to your publication, more info here: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037835291-How-do-I-offer-a-discount-to-my-publication-
One additional note is that at particularly low subscription prices, the Stripe payment processing fees would take out relatively a large portion. More on Stripe's processing fees here: https://stripe.com/pricing#pricing-details
🧠 I started my stack in August 22 with 50 free subs (friends/family). I now have 710 subs with 62 paying. I turned on paid about two months after starting. At first I just turned it on, but over time I began letting people know at the top of my posts. I made some posts free and some paid with a free preview. More recently I lowered my rate from $50/year to $35/year and I saw my paid signup rates rise as a result. I think you just have to be confident and direct. Most writers (especially newbies) seem insecure and afraid of asking for money. That’s a turnoff to many people. Own it. Act like you’re worth being paid for your writing. And of course you gotta deliver: Put out quality writing each week and do some free, some paid. Remember: often free subs become paid later.
I have more info on my stack.
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
You are so right! One of my subscribers asked me why I didn't ask for paid subscriptions. I told them I thought it would be weird to ask for money with something they had gotten for free and she said get over it already and ask! I think I will! Thanks to your post and my friend who is a huge supporter. I will check out your stack:)
Sabrina, one of the first things I read about Substack was the idea of having "reader-supported writing." My plan is to put up my paywall but still allow everyone to access everything for free, saying something like, "If you'd like to support my writing and keep it possible for me to provide it without advertising or sponsors, please consider subscribing." It really shouldn't be about my salesmanship. I'm a good salesman, but that's not what I want readers to respond to. For me, this needs to be all about the writing.
Yes, Sabrina Howard has a good strategy. A few of your readers will support you because they see the quality of your content even though they don't get anything personally in return. I think that the mindset of supporting small players and specialist creators is part of the growing revulsion at the antics of the billionaires who think they own our content. My advice is to have a paid option, but explain clearly that all content will be free. You might be surprised at how many people are willing to pay a little for your content.
Yup
That's a great idea! I think I may borrow that pitch! Thank you:)
Confidence is SO key. People can sense that. Edit, edit, edit your calls to action for paid subscriptions!
Silly question Valorie, but when you say edit our CTA do you simply mean change it to ask for a paid sub or something more specific or different?
I don't think that's a silly question! I mean making sure that you sound confident when you ask for people to upgrade to paid subscriptions. I think Ashley at BOSS BARISTA does this really well. You can see it in her post here: https://bossbarista.substack.com/p/if-its-going-to-happen-its-going She's clear and direct about how financial support helps and why people should upgrade. I see some people be wishy-washy "If you can afford it, it would really help, etc" and that tone translates in people's brains to "Okay I'm not buying this."
I totally agree it's best to be concise and direct. Thank you for sharing Ashley's link, I appreciate it. Look forward to checking it out.
Huh, it cut off the second half of my comment. So, continued: Ashley is great about explaining why she needs financial support and what you get in exchange. She's direct and clear without being demanding. Some people sound wishy-washy, writing things like, "If you can... It would really help..." But that lack of confidence translates in people's brains to "I'm not going to buy this."
I see what you mean. It's all very psychological. The way you word it is everything!
Mason Curry wrote a great post on this too, about the trepidation of going paid.
Thanks for this Michael, I appreciate your advice to be confident and direct. Act like you're worth it is valuable input.
So awesome Michael! Thanks for sharing and congrats on your success.
I have mentally set a goal of 1000 free subscribers before turning on paid. This I know is an arbitrary number but maybe I am using it to just prove it to myself that it can work.
How do you manage free vs paid posts, or do you have everything behind the paywall?
Hey Michael well done for your 700 subs! I started little while ago publishing I have 4 subs, when its the time to turn them into paid?
That is a great advice. In your opinion , is there a minimum number of follower base that is must before you start going into paid. I have to get over this fear of looking desperate for going paid. It takes a long time to write what I write and I do believe and try my best to give absolute value to the reader. but since I have a very small readership base, it kind of does not make sense to go paid but also I feel like there is a ceiling to what I can do without getting paid. Any thoughts?
Michael, you wrote: "Most writers (especially newbies) seem insecure and afraid of asking for money. That’s a turnoff to many people. Own it. Act like you’re worth being paid for your writing."
That's really good advice.
But with a completed novel already posted on my site, not sure the best way to "sell it". I put 2 years of research and writing into this project, and I thought I'd try Substack as an innovative (and inexpensive) way to get self-published.
I wish Substack had a one-time payment for something like a completed novel.
https://journalofjohnmcleod.substack.com/welcome
Hi there! Have you checked out my Stack Writers at Work? I ask because much of it is about serializing on Substack. Lots of free content. It may be helpful. https://www.writersatwork.net/
I just put up a post on the different ways creative writers can use Substack professionally beyond "getting subscribers." Hope it helps!
Excited to check this out!
Thanks Sarah, I will definitely check it out.
My understanding is that Substack was started by Journalists as a way of controlling and profiting from their own writing, so I understand their monthly/subscription model. And for novelists, serializing seems to work - except that I don't want to wait a week between chapters - when I get into a novel I want to read it straight through. That's why a 1-time payment to read a completed novel makes sense for the writer, and Substack could make money off of that too.
This has been a very productive thread and I'll be re-reading all of these suggestions.
I'm not out to get rich; mainly I want people to read my book, but like Michael said above, we deserve to be paid (I put 2 years into this) and Substack isn't currently (but could be) set up for this kind of 1-time payment for access to a completed novel.
https://journalofjohnmcleod.substack.com/welcome
But won't that make Substack into another Amazon Kindle Store?
To upload a book to Amazon you need to convert to Kindle - which costs $3000+, and your book's reading format is basically a .pdf
Here on Substack it's free to upload, plus very user-friendly formatting, pics, beautiful layout, etc. I'm very pleased with the look and readability of my book on Substack. (Have a look.)
So writers would certainly publish on Substack if they could get paid (even $5, which is about what you get selling a book on Amazon) and Substack would have a new income-stream.
So I think that's a good thing for the writer and for Substack.
https://journalofjohnmcleod.substack.com/welcome
Hi Roger - not sure what your first para is referring to, as the conversion from a manuscript to Kindle format is absolutely free (other than time, of course).
Hi Michael, congrats on your progress.
But how did you change the yearly rate? My Settings seem to have a built-in default at $50/yr.
I don't know if you're a fan of ChatGPT but it gives terrific answers to questions like these. I just tried it and it gave a very comprehensive answer. It's truly amazing and terrifying at the same time.
Yes, my Settings have a built-in default at $80 a year.
Settings>payment and type in the amount you want. It must be above $30.
Interesting. Bern stumped by the 5/50 cost as well
Hi Debby, it's strange that our default settings are different ... I'll have to take another look at my settings.
I think it's based on what you choose for a monthly fee. $8/mo is $80/a year, $5/mo is $50/year etc. However, $5 and $50 seem to be the minimums so I would like to know how Mr. Mohr was able to set $35/month
When I set up the paying subscriptions with Stripe I was allowed to go no lower than $5 a month and $30 a year. (I set it for $40.)
My first paying subscriber came in that day for an annual for which I get something like $34.50. So there is a cost involved and that's probably why the minimum is $5. But you do it initially, although I'm sure if I logged back in to Stripe I could change it.
$30 is the min
If Substack would lower that annual minimum to, say, $15 or $20, then it might appeal to more writers with completed books.
Compete with Amazon - and save writers the $3000+ cost of converting .pdf to Kindle.
Hello Amazon - maybe you're overlooking a business opportunity here.
https://journalofjohnmcleod.substack.com/welcome
Thank you, Sarah. I had originally tried to set it at $35/mo and it said $50 was the minimum (or so I thought), but it's working now, so obviously I was doing something wrong!
I wish they had an "open" option for Founding Members.
In my case, I've uploaded my whole novel, so if someone wanted to pay $10 for the book, that would work for me. If there were enough subscribers, Substack would make their money.
Yes, I think my work is worth $5 or $10, but Substack doesn't seem to work well for completed novels. But I'm getting some good ideas here today.
https://journalofjohnmcleod.substack.com/welcome
how do you feel about paywalls within previews of paid posts? do you to that, or just have some posts that are always all paid and others that are free and open from the start?
(see my other comment/post here in this thread for more context, if you like)
Super useful post Michael. Thanks.
It's true. The more at ease you can go through the world, the further you'll get.
This is such great advice, Michael!
Thank you for sharing!
🟧 Is it possible for Substack to offer one time payments for single paywalled posts? Sometimes I want to read one article but not necessarily subscribe to monthly payments. Would be a cool addition!
An interesting idea. We've heard similar requests and it's definitely worth considering. We believe deeply in the subscription model, and recurring payments, as a way to for writers to earn a reliable income.
As substack reader before getting my own substack. This was something I wished were opportunity pay for single paywalled post instead monthly subscriptions. I think lot more readers would be interested to pay single articles.
Also this would benefit the writers get paid for single articles behind paywall.
Oh, this is a really cool idea! It would be great if it would be any amount too. Writers could set a minimum (like with the founding tier) but readers could put any amount they want.
That's a great idea!!
+1 on this idea.
Such a great idea. I hope this will become available down the line!
Agreed!
I like this idea!
🧠 I'm a big fan of ALL writers "going paid." It should always be an option on your site. You can keep the majority or all of your content free and set up your 'Subscribe with a Caption' to read that you're asking for support to keep your newsletter going as opposed to getting certain content for free.
The public isn't used to automatically paying for newsletters--yet. The more of us on here producing exceptional work and charging for it, the sooner the public won't think twice about paying for a subscription.
>> Note the exceptional work part. As someone at Substack put it to me (so beautifully), a Substack newsletter is about building trust with your readers. If you offer them value (a business-y term, I know, but artistic value matters too), they will have no problem paying.
If you need more convincing on why and how you should believe in yourself and your work, check out Beyond's excellent interview with Cheryl Strayed and my post, "How Much Is Your Writing Worth?"
https://www.writersatwork.net/p/how-much-is-your-writing-worth-e61
https://janeratcliffe.substack.com/p/cheryl-strayed
I agree. I switched on payments on day one. I haven’t paywalled anything though, and I am building content and an audience (entering month 2). The thinking is if people like it they will support it, if I put up paywalls it may turn readers away.
Hi Alexander - very interesting...can you share your thought process behind this strategy and if how it has worked out for you?
Wishing you continued success.
There's published authors who come to Substack with an established readership, they can paywall because people know they want it. Then there are new/unknown/unpublished writers trying to build readership, build content. The incentive to pay for an unknown writer in the fiction writing space is skewed towards established writers, naturally. Paywalling content then is only increasing the likelihood of turning potential readers away. Build quality content first, network with writers you enjoy and build and engage with your readership. Switching on Paid tiers from the start lets those who regularly enjoy your content support you on their own accord. Adding incentives like extra content/goods to paid tiers may lead to higher conversion rates. I have been here for a few weeks, so it is too early to say if this works for my substack. Time will tell.
Awesome! Best wishes to you.
I am working towards the goal of 1000 (I know it is arbitrary number!) of free subscribers before turning on paid. Currently at 600 in two months.
These chats are very useful! Thanks
Congratulations. You are far ahead already! You are in a better position to give me advice. ;) I started with 0 and have 55 after 1.5 months. Then again, I don't do other social media and only limited time on Notes. Focussing on building content.
Not at all! All the best to you.
Definitely. Support is always appreciated! I agree that too many paywalls turn readers away.
I'm trying to figure out how much is too much when it comes to paywalls. My starting strategy is to publish public posts once a month, and posts for paid subscribers once a week. Should I just make everything free in the beginning?
You can also offer everything for free at first and then paywall your archive, so that all posts are paywalled after a certain amount of time (2 weeks, 4 weeks, etc.). Go to Settings > Payments >
Paywall your archives
Automatically add paywalls to posts after they have been published. This will affect previously published posts and any post published in the future. This change will not apply to podcasts or posts with voiceovers going to RSS. You may edit or remove this lock date at anytime. Learn more.
Thanks so much for your tips!
Of course!
That's what I am doing. All free, with 1 paid tier that includes ebook content down the line and printed content for founder level.
Thanks Alexander. Your comment suggests that it's possible to make all previous articles available without charge. My setup is currently that readers have access to the previous three articles (I write weekly). I hadn't considered that that might be a default setting that I can change.
in settings you scroll down until you find Archive and switch off "Paywall your archives"
Thanks Alexander
I don't understand how you do that. Can I find it on the Substack website? I find the website hard to use, for information.
switch on payment? or switch off paywalling archives? In settings you scroll down until you see the section: "Paywall your archives" and untick the checkbox.
This. Give those that want to support you the option without forcing it on the rest of your audience. That way everyone can be part of your community and follow your work, no matter their financial situation.
Maybe though, incentivise paid tiers. E.g. thinking about offering an ebook at some point with all my flash fiction pieces, tangible things, or a printed version of the novel when it is published, or other "physical goods". Would be interested to hear what incentives other authors offer for their paid tiers.
I think in general offering extras / bonuses is definitely a good idea. Whether that is personalised content or goodies. In the future, I will definitely consider that, although that brings with it a lot of shipping headaches worldwide I think.
Indeed, physical goods come with a plethora of challenges. Maybe that's Founder's tier territory?
Yes maybe so, then it is definitely worth the effort, and probably limited to a manageable number of countries.
I honestly hadn't considered turning on paid at all, not until I had some sense of audience and post archive. This makes me reconsider somewhat.
Where do you stand on paywalled comments sections when the rest of the article is openly available?
That's an interesting question. My chat is for paid subscribers only, primarily to keep the conversation among those interested enough in the content to pay for it.
I might be an outlier here, but I think this can be a put-off. As a free subscriber, it feels a bit like you're being snubbed. I understand that that's meant to be an incentive to therefore subscribe, but for me it feels like the opposite. Curious to hear what others think if anyone sees this.
I hear you. I definitely don't do it to get people to subscribe. I do it to keep it to those who are really interested. I haven't had negative comments, but many people have and the paywall is a way to deter it or at least be compensated for it. As the great Emily Nunn says, "If you're going to insult me, you'll have to pay to do it."
Hah, nice.
OK, that's really good to know the reasoning. Appreciate it.
I completely agree! I turned on paid subscriptions, but have not paywalled any of my content. That allows people to support me if they wish, but leaves the content free to be shared more widely.
I love that article.
✏️ wondering if anyone has used a tip jar scenario in lieu of paid subscriptions? Or had an option for paid subscriptions but kept content free? (Does anyone actually sign up for the paid if they don’t have to?) I don’t want to go paid yet, if ever. But I would like to provide a way for people to support and or express appreciation for the work I put into writing. I know that I can’t afford to support all the writers I read, but I really wish there was an option to pay once to read vs. a subscription. I often would pay to read one specific piece that I get a preview for if the threshold were a $1, but would love to be able to distribute it between the people I’m supporting.
I have an option for paid subscriptions but all content is free. People are paying. I've called it my Circle of Support and written why it's important to me to do it that way.
I'm thinking about doing this too. I'm fairly new and still building subscribers and don't need subscribers for income. I've signed up to Stripe but not switched it on. I have 3 pledges so far (out of 99 subscribers - waiting to hit that magic 100!) and would like to give the opportunity for people to support me because they want to. I love your idea of a circle of support!
Congrats on your 100. I just subscribed.. yee I am the 100th :0
Thank you!
Hi June. I’m in a similar situation to you - 100 free subs. What was it like when you turned on pledges? Feel like it’s a good step towards paid but slightly worried it might scare people away.
I think pledges are there all the time from day one. I e never deliberately turned them on!
Do you mind me asking how large your subscription list is and what the percentage of paid/unpaid has been? I have thought about doing this as well. I really want to keep content free (because I myself can’t afford to pay for people’s writing right now - hello feeding 5 kids), but if I got paid maybe I could also support a few other people...
Sure. Just went over 300 subscribers and 8 are paid.
I like this idea. I've been thinking about doing the same with my publication, just to give people the option to support if they want to. But I feel there's a lot of validity for the tip jar option, too. People are bombarded with options to subscribe to everything, including products on Amazon that, realistically, no one needs to receive on a regular basis. I feel like the tip jar is less intimidating because it's a one-time choice rather than an ongoing obligation.
Thanks for the encouragement Sarah. That's exactly what I plan to do. Any hints, tips, or suggestions?
I am currently doing the same. And it works. I make it clear that my substack is a free offereing, but if others want to support it they can. In the future I may have subscriber only content, but in the meantime, this seems to be working and it keeps me accountable to write consistently.
I wish I knew how to do that . . .
Most of my favorite substacks keep primary content free and paywall Q&As or link roundups or whatever bonus content they're doing for paid subs. I think this model is great and I'm way more likely to upgrade. On my substack I'm keeping all my primary content free, but posting personal ephemera from my past for paid subs....still too early to tell how this will go, but I feel quite optimistic.
Yes, I appreciate when writers share some free posts and some paywalled/with preview posts. I am far more likely to read, appreciate, and share than if all the posts are paywalled.
This is the model I was thinking of. Can you share some examples please? Thanks.
The Intrinsic Perspective is a great example. Experimental History is another. I pay for both of them. Mine is called Juxtaposition.
I generally don't even bother doing a free sub for newsletters that paywall everything...like, I'm not gonna pay to find out if your stuff is worth paying for and if there's no free content there's no point for me.
I have used a tip jar and offered mostly free content along with my paid subscriptions. The tip jar works okay--people tip when a post really resonates with them, which is a good way to tell what your audience is interested in.
How exactly do you do this? Is there a built-in function on my Substack site for a "tip jar"?
I set up a PayPal tip jar (paypal.me is the URL, i believe) and just put a link to it at the bottom of the post. You could also do it with Venmo or Buy Me A Coffee.
I had no idea--thank you for the 411!
Thanks for this. Great idea. Is there a way of embedding Buy Me a Coffee?
I don't think so. I think you could do a custom button to it though.
Good question.
I hope Substack sees this as a new income-stream rather than a conflict with their current model.
Valorie, I just signed up for a Free subscription on your site, but I don't see the PayPal tip jar at the bottom of you post. Am I looking in the wrong place?
you can also put the link that Valorie mentions inside button ('custom button')
Thanks Robert. I'm learning a lot today. Very productive thread.
I think I'll do a tip jar too and maybe an option to split with a charity like Amazon Smile. I'm just dreading the tech stuff bc I suck at it. And I know the more I say I suck at it, the more I will suck at it!
Or, at least, the harder it will be to motivate yourself to push past and get better (I'm a therapist and always like to promote positive self- talk! You'll learn more every time you try!)
Lots of people willing to help if you need it! Just reach out. :)
Amazon has ended Amazon Smile. :-(
I saw that. I still need to figure out how to do it on my own. I've been focusing on the writing but I will get to it soon. Thanks for the info:)
✏️I was wondering about this as well. There is a new protocol called Nostr where you can tip people in BTC rather than simply hitting the "like" button. It would be great to be able to pay $1 to someone when I read their post and enjoy it rather than being tied into a monthly subscription. I still have to get my substack up and running. Annelise, do you know of anyone who I can hire to coach me on a few things? I will post this somewhere else as well. I am almost ready and have a few questions.
I'd be happy to help. Am currently helping a number of others get launched.
Sign up to one of my Substacks and I'll send you an email.
I signed up. Thanks. It looks like you have a beautiful and resonant blog...as I have studied addiction a bit and trauma work.
I have no idea 😂 I’ve been bumbling through and asking a few writer friends who have been doing it a little longer than I have. In general I’ve found Substack fairly intuitive to mess with. I would suggest using the web version vs. app if you run into issues as sometimes things are less glitchy.
I think I will just have to do it and let it be messy. Thank you. I will work on it for a few hours today. Adding photos is something I want to learn. I also want to know if I send an email to a private group/list I have in my personal contacts with a link to my blog...will they be directed to my first post (in which I answered the suggested Substack questions of why I am writing, why they might enjoy my blog)? Do you know if this is how it works? In which case, I will get that first post up with some photos, and then email a link to my Substack with a few sentences to this group of friends I have created... I hope that makes sense. Thanks for any suggestions.
I've considered trying this on my publication and wish it was a native thing on Substack! I often read good posts on publications that I can't afford to subscribe to but would happily tip to show my appreciation for the writing. It would also be great to have an option to occasionally tip or pay writers whose publications I enjoy but can't financially support.
Would be a great idea for Substack to build in a tip jar feature. Could be super simple—two clicks—to show support and leave a couple bucks.
Readers could fill a monthly tip jar fund within their account -- and use it freely until exhausted, with no risk of overages.
I have just launched my historical novel "The Journal of John McLeod" using a $5/monthly subscription model, but I REALLY like the idea of a "tip jar."
I'd appreciate anyone here having a look and making suggestions about the best way to deliver a completed novel to readers.
And also how to publicize and market it.
Thanks
https://journalofjohnmcleod.substack.com/welcome
Check out Fictionistas! They have a lot of resources about serializing a novel on Substack. https://fictionistas.substack.com/
I'll have to give this more thought.
Instead of serializing, I uploaded the whole novel. Hmmm
https://journalofjohnmcleod.substack.com/welcome
Following - I’ve had similar thoughts/questions.
Good question!
🧠 -- Can I just right off the bat mention how creepy I think this brain emoji is?! 😂
Okay, here's my $.02 on paid subs. I waited over a year to develop a [modest] following. I wanted to prove to myself and my readers that I would be consistent in my content, delivery, and publishing schedule. Even though I'd planned to do it "someday," I was applying for an arts council grant that required me to show income from my work, so that motivated me to make it happen. I'm glad I did!
https://elizabethbeggins.substack.com/
I left all my content free.
I explained that I would be grateful for the support from those who felt they could afford it.
Out of 385 subscribers, I now have 30 paid, so close to the 10% Substack says we might expect.
Frankly, I'm worn out by societal constructs that repeatedly benefit those who can afford things, and by the idea that we need to then turn around and reward them a second time with more! and exclusive! content. The way I see it, everyone deserves the same shot at everything.
I know that's not how we tend to roll in our world. And, it's a little much to unpack fully in a small comment. I hope many will understand all the same.
So, anyway, I've set up my Stack to offer options that are in closer alignment with my ideals.
This really resonates with me. I want to keep my work free, and I'd like to know that some people are wiling to pay - especially for my more personal writing.
Wendell Berry said, "Eating is an agricultural act." So, in that vein, as far as I'm concerned, writing is a personal act. Our writing voice speaks our truths. I think that has a lot of value, and apparently there are at least a few folks out there who agree. Good luck!
Appreciate seeing this. I struggle with these issues, and I m glad to see your example and approach.
I'm glad it feels useful, Amy, and thanks SO MUCH for subscribing! :)
I like this approach. Those who want to and can subscribe are able to do so. I think that in itself helps build trust and support.
I like that trust and support concept, and I agree with you, Nathan. I have a long way to go with shifting how I think when it comes to human interaction, but I do know that we need a lot more of that in this world.
Wishing you all the success.
I like your logo, by the way :)
Elizabeth thank you for this great insight. I love how you've chosen to maintain your alignment with your values in the system you set up.
Thanks, Donna. I miss the mark a lot in life, but this decision continues to feel right for me. Appreciate the comment.
I think that is spot on! Options are probably the best way to go. As soon as I can take the time to figure it all out I will. Right now just trying to write as much as possible. Thank you for your post. sabrinalabow.substack.com
You're right to carve out undistracted headspace for when you do go paid. I'm a tail-end Boomer (forever young!), but like to think of myself as somewhat tech savvy, and it definitely required some thinky time. :)
That's great and so helpful to hear! Thank you for sharing your process.
Glad it helped, Rey.
Thank you, this is helpful. Out of 152 subscribers after 6 months, I have 10 pledges. So I need 5 more to get to that 10 percent mark.
Go you! You're on your way. Enjoy the ride, with Sizzie.
i just posted this below on my facebook page. i am done with social media! long live substack!
My time on Facebook may almost be over. This is ridiculous.
I am contemplating leaving social media all together. I have been thinking about this for the last six months.
Over 26k followers on Facebook and this was my reach after a full day, only 300 views. I am just so frustrated, each time I post something it is this huge disappointment. I do not want to feel disappointed every time I create something.
THAT IS CRAZY LOW REACH! This has been repeated over and over and even in my private Facebook groups my posts are not being shown to group members and a lot of these posts are not always promotional either.
Instead, they encourage me to PAY to reach my own audience while still filling our feeds with ADS!
I am contemplating leaving social media all together. I have seen a drastic reduction in reach although my content and consistency has stayed the same. This is the case on Instagram, Youtube, Linked-In etc..
The one exception has been my growth on SubStack, which is the newsletter/article platform I have been using. Mostly because it uses e-mail to reach my followers, so I can have a reach of 50 percent or more using my e-mail list. I have been writing really long info packed articles for that platform and it just feels right, I really enjoy writing now. I can offer both FREE and paid versions of the newsletter.
I am thinking about stopping all social media platform posts and just going all in on my newsletter e-mail list on substack, this way if you want to see my content you can and not have it be hidden by money starved social media platforms even after I spent years of my life growing my audience. I won't leave today, but I am putting a plan in place to try to be able to get off social media and not have it affect my business and this will take time. I have been depending on social media for too long to get my name out there. It is going to take time to unwind.
I am looking forward to not having to jump through hoops and be constantly frustrated each time I login. Social media has peaked and I am not going to participate in a dying form of communication.
I am still planning on posting for a little while, but there will be a day hopefully soon where I will be heard by my own audience.
I absolutely agree with this. I have no social media and it's working okay for me. I just post here, and to my newsletter. I would just make sure to add a link in the comments to pull people here as much as you can.
I gained 200 subs just posted this a few hours ago. I am getting tons of feedback from followers telling me they are in total agreement and are ready to move off platform. Also thinking about starting a discord server to add more community aspect that my Facebook groups brought, and substack will be the heart of my content. I am ready. They are ready.
Are you a forest? If you are a forest starting a discord is a great idea. Otherwise, it might not be a great idea. If you don’t know what I mean about forests, I explain it in this post. https://authorstack.substack.com/p/the-era-of-personalized-marketing
more of a grassland. I may need to think about this for a while. Excellent post.
Amazing! Yay! We'll have a lot more coming out in the next couple of weeks. This is just the intro, but yay!
Russell Nohelty... Oh my! I have just clicked through to this link and fallen into a rabbit hole (including doing your quiz). I'm a forest! Ding.... Light bulb moment! I have been writing a very successful monthly newsletter on MailChimp for 9 years (plus an associated blog on my website). In that time I have amassed a tidy 7000 very, very dedicated followers. The newsletter is very geographically focused (it's a gardening newsletter specifically for our local area). I run workshops and events on gardening and have what I call my 'groupies' show up regularly. The newsletter was focused on selling our services and supporting others to grow their own food. They are a very invested bunch. I'm just about to drag all those readers across to substack and start asking for money in my next monthly email. Like most of us, I'm hoping that enough support will allow me to spend more time writing and less time on other revenue streams. I'm assuming based on my 'forest' tendencies, that I will have a pretty good conversion rate to paid subscribers form my existing fans, but struggle to engage many new readers on this platform. Any advice for specific strategies to build my audience given they tend to be very local to me and it's a specific topic (and demo-graph)? I get the general strategies for building audience for most folks (eg being active on notes), but they don't tend to work for me so I want to focus my energy on what will work.
For forests, it's all about interconnectivity. So, a healthy forest builds a very deep root structure that feeds everything. I would think that you might get a lot of value from having your newsletter talk to each other. Most ecosystems don't get that much from having people talk to each other, but forests and aquatics do. The way that forests are unhealthy deals with either thinking they are a different ecosystem, falling down one rabbit hole and not being able to serve the community, or in failing to look outside the community to welcome in new people. It takes a lot to get a forest community to work, but when they do, it's magical. We will have a lot more guidance about this in the coming weeks if you are subscribed. We're dripping it out over the next six weeks as we finalize the process.
Thanks Russell. One feature I love about substack is the ability for comments at the end of each newsletter. In the past I've usually received a dozen or so emails from readers with garden questions which I always respond to. My plan is to focus on getting them to add those questions as comments, rather than emailing me directly. This should help start conversations among themselves and foster that community. It also means that instead of investing 10 minutes to respond to one person directly. I can spend the same 10 minutes reaching a lot more readers through comments. I'm going to allow free subscribers to comment for the first few months to try and get them into the habit and then revert back to only comments from paying subscribers. It'll be an interest balance to strike.
Awesome!!! Yay! I'm putting the finishing touches on a tutorial on how I brought over all my people which you might be interested in, too. It should launch in a couple days, but yeah, I have a 25,000 person newsletter that I brought over here with a comped subscription.
Excellent. I'll look forward to reading it.
I didn't think to do that but I will now! Thank you! sabrinalabow.substack.com
Amazing!
You are so right on! I am hearing about more and more people leaving social media. I just posted about the relentless ads on these platforms that just don't stop and seem to be increasing. It's ruining the experience for me as I'm sure for many others. I understand they have to make $ but it's getting to be more ads than content from friends. And this algorithm they have on me is so effed up. ONE time I looked up how to lose 5 lbs fast because I wanted to fit into this pair of jeans I had and now I get all of these weight loss ads and I'm not even fat!
Yes, so true! I get incredibly low reach for any kind of image or text post on social media (except for Substack!) My reels and videos do somewhat better, but it's hard to share the written word in a video...
I am excited about sharing more of my essays to a larger and more interested audience on Substack. It feels right.
Oh it feels so much better - like I can actually express myself rather than have to fit in a square box or video! I still sometimes have flashes of inspiration for insta but I don’t know if I’ll create there more just connect and update people on my offers. I just want to create here in Substack!
Awesome! That's great. I agree, Substack is a great way to express ourselves through writing to an audience!
and it is hard to beat a 50 percent open rate compared to my social media reach (which is now less than 5 percent reach). Substack has something right going on combining the power of e-mail with the accessibility of article writing, long-form content, books and all without ads, filler and junk. I hope they preserve it as substack becomes more popular.
Yes, absolutely! With a lot of online publishers unfortunately closing, Substack seems like a great place for long form content.
I don't use FB, but I am trying to convert 13K of my followers on LI into subscribers of my Substack. It has been slow and painful.
LinkedIn has 0% conversion rate for me atm... they're a tough bunch 😂
I feel the same but colleagues do well I’m not sure what it is - apparently you have to tag people to start the conversations there - please can we live in a world of organic interest and reach?! 😂
nope and people don't want to type their email addresses in boxes either ;)
half my audience does not have an e-mail as they are 16-25 years old so there is a bit of a conversion barrier for sure! But slow and steady will win the race. The older half of my audience are more quick to sign up. Some of it has to deal with generational differences and habits. I am in the design space and that just naturally skews younger but I do feel that this is the right direction for me as an older graphic designer.
Design you say? I could use feedback on my substack logo "design" if you were so inclined to go take a quick look.
My target audience is mostly on LI, so it seems to be working for me, but very s...l...o...w...l...y!
Ah "target audience" therein lies the rub. My followers and connections on LI are not quite the target audience...
Indeed..I have been working so hard on LI for the last 10 years without much return. I started a LI newsletter that got up to nearly 4000 subscribers. But I don't think they really cared because I couldn't convert even 10% of them when I started my substack!
LI metrics are not reliable at all. But that seems to be my only option to expand my reach at this time.
I'm afraid so. IG is dead. FB is the pest and Reddit... well, let's just say. Social media as a whole is a time-sink with abysmal ROI. Substack may be able to change that.
300 views that’s mad! I feel the same over on insta but I do post there over two days and then delete the app and put all my energy here. My business and confidence has sky rocketed since starting here a year ago. I honestly think part of that is that we are hard wired for connection and that exists in bucket loads here. ✨
the connections made here with my readers are so strong! mostly because they followed me here from somewhere else, showing stronger connections. I think 80 percent of followers on Facebook are just not that interested, but here I can foster the other 20 percent, the ones who really want to read and engage. I think that is more powerful than large numbers.
Exactly much more powerful. I fell into a trap of trying to grow on Instagram but actually my story views were only ever 100-200 and I was putting so much effort in. A post I did here last week had nearly 1000 reads - it’s just such a difference and I think for our brains it’s nice to rest away from the constant visual assault of social media. We don’t have to “grab” attention here - people are just in a more open and gentle head space... don’t you think?
✏️ When was the threshold of you turning your substack to paid? In my mind I want to wait until 100 subscribers (I’m almost there!) but a lot of the content I’ve been putting out as of late is really insightful, I’d love for it to be paid.
Check out one of my favorite posts, “Growing up in Texas made me uncultured and uneducated” https://denisemasiel.substack.com/p/growing-up-in-texas-made-me-uncultured
I was hesistant and was also kind of thinking of waiting until I met a threshold, but then I realized people wanted to pay me and I was just holding myself back.
That’s a great POV Dirk! I do feel like I’m getting in my own way. Imposter syndrome of sorts. I’ll try and kick it!
As a great thinker once said "if people want to pay you, let them."
I'll second that Reid! This has been the best thread of the day for me. Hey, if YOU don't believe in the value of your writing, how can you expect anyone else to??
I think you should just do it and see. I wanted to have a lot of content behind the paywall for people before I did it, and be able to ramp up my publishing schedule, but I don't think that's necessary.
I did mine around 400 subscribers, but honestly the number was meaningless. I could have turned it on much earlier. Once you feel like you have your cadence and general style sorted, I think you can turn it on
I turned on the option for paid subscriptions, but made it clear none of the posts would be paywalled for now. I'm okay if no one subscribes - but in the future perhaps someone will!
Are you willing to ask your readers if they feel your work is worth it? If so, you're going to be pleasantly surprised.
I hope so! Just getting started on Substack myself but building a reader-supported publication is one of my goals!
Napkin math is the best kind!
It is a tough question but I appreciate the price breakdowns Reid!
Very true, not going to let the overthink get the best of me :)
🟧 - Does Substack have a dedicated team member to help publications evaluate the merits of what they are offering paid subscribers? Someone who could advise about whether there is appeal to those items and maybe suggest other areas that the author may have overlooked?
I have this question too!
🟧 - How do pledges work? if a reader pledges to support a Substack is that reader automatically charged as soon as the publication enables payments? If that happens and the end user wasn't aware that their pledge was a promise to pay, will the Substack be liable for chargebacks when they dispute the charges?
Apparently what happens is they get notified, and it is then up to them to decide whether or not to go ahead with being charged.
Yes they start getting charged, but they could still cancel the subscription at that point, is what I meant
I have this question, too.
🟧 Has there been any conversation at Substack about region-appropriate pricing?
I had a free subscriber reach out and ask for a discount based on their region. I was quite happy to grant the request, but would love to see this handled at the platform level. Most readers in lower-paying parts of the world just see a high US-based price and move on.
Substack is clearly trying to balance respecting the value that writers provide, while serving a global audience. The current pricing structures are US based, and that's an understandable way to start out because the company was founded here. But as your reach has spread, have you considered implementing a more nuanced pricing structure?
🟧 Yes, I am interested in the feature as well. A significant % of my current subscribers are from India. I wonder if there is a way to offer a price point adjusted for purchasing power. Also, is there a way to have them pay in the local currency but I receive payment in USD since I am based in the US. Thank you
Thanks for bringing this up, Eric. It would be really encouraging to see some kind of regional (or circumstantial) discounting option built in that one could use.
I have readers from Africa and other parts of the world, many of whom I can't reasonably expect to pay the "cup-of-coffee" rate I hope for from my North American subscribers.
Thanks Reid, that's great to hear. :)
Just a point re what to charge for your newsletter if going paid. Its all about perceived value. If you start off too low your product will be seen as having little value. If you start off high, you can always discount or gift complimentary subscriptions. This way the percieved value of the product is higher, and the product is more desirable. Realising you've valued your product too low cannot be corrected by putting prices up without upsetting buyers. I'm talking as an ex retailer here, and we are all selling here, ourselves, our knowledge, experience, content, our art, subscriptions. So lets not undervalue ourselves and what we do. 💕
Totally agree Ali; Maybe one way is to offer a deeper discount on the annual.
I am still not sure how to go about it...so many ideas swirling in my head!!
Haha! Same here, Naveen! I don't want to make a musrake, but that's how we learn. I am overly cautious at times, I guess. Also, I suspect there's no 'one size fits all'... what works for one Substack might not work for another. Best of luck to you, whatever approach you take! 🍀🍀🍀
I meant mistake not musrake! 🤣🤣🤣
I like musrake better!
Well making up his own words was good enough for Joyce, why not jump on the bandwagon? Never did him any harm! 🤣🤣🤣
😂
Ha, I liked musrake too!
I worry about offering LOWER prices in case it upsets peole who have already subscribed
🟧 Hi! Is there any way to see the metrics on how many people click and listen to the voiceover? As I consider the parts of my Substack and what I'm offering, I'd love to have statistics about what parts resonate. I like being about to see how many emails are opened and what links are clicked, but as far as I can tell there aren't statistics about the voiceover. I like doing the voiceover but if I had statistics that said literally no one ever listens to it, that would be helpful (or if the statistics said a high percentage listened, then I might consider other offerings, like a podcast).
Thank you for your help! And for continuing to support writers.
Not today, though we do have robust audio data for podcasting. Sharing your request with the team.
I want to second this request!!
Thank you, Katie! I really love the set-up of voiceover otherwise!
I agree, I would love to see voiceover stats! And I’m also trying to figure out how the podcast feature works.
🟧 Also, same question for an audio recording embedded in an article. I know we get the metrics for a video post, but not sure if this is available for an audio recording inside an article.
Unfortunately not today, though we do have robust audio data for podcasting. Sharing your request with the team along with Julie's.
This would be super-helpful.
✏️& 🟧 I'm thinking about taking the leap and beginning to paywall some of my stuff.
Substack team: do you have any data on what strategies work best? (Alternating paid and free content, paywalling a portion of every post, etc.)? I'm sure there's no simple answer here.
Fellow Writers: what strategies have worked for you / haven't worked?
Also: is there a good way to convert free to paid subscribers without using a paywall?
We've dug into the data and there is no secret recipe for what to put behind the paywall to convert free readers to paid subscribers. Writers have found success with a variety of approaches, including offering everything for free and putting everything behind a paywall.
This is our best resource in thinking through free vs. paid: https://on.substack.com/p/free-vs-paid
Thank you, Katie. I assumed there wasn't a secret sauce, but thought it worth asking. I love the article you linked to. It's so helpful--as are all of the comments!
I have questions about what strategies work as well, but mostly I'm here to say you should definitely paywall some things. Your newsletter is so freaking good and exactly the sort of newsletter I think people will be happy to pay for at least somr of it.
Thanks for the encouragement, Julie. It means a lot 💛
🧠 This is about partial previews / paywalls in the middle of paid posts...
For the past few months I've been posting chapters of my memoir-in-progress An Ordinary Disaster as paid posts with a partial previews, and setting the posts to automatically open up after a few weeks to everyone. I do like that this gives a little perk to paid subscribers, and also that it gives me a little while to make further edits before a post goes out to a wider audience... BUT I've been feeling more and more lately that, as several folks have pointed out in a fruitful thread on Notes recently, running into a paywall in the middle of a post is annoying at best, and at worst can seem like sort of a trick.
I've been thinking lately that the way I've been doing it may have gained me some paid subscribers, but that overall it's probably keeping more people from reading my work. I'm thinking that a better strategy is simply to publish everything as open, and let people become paid subscribers if they wish to. There might be some content that I still keep as paid, but I'd rather have more people reading than have people run into a paywall in the middle of an article.
It's interesting how your own point of view can shift on things. I appreciate how Substack has various options to let us set up our free/paid material however we want to, and also to change that over time—and, I really really appreciate the open dialogue amongst the community here!
Btw at this point, about ten months in, I have ~850 subscribers and about 50 paying...
To that end, I'm opening all 17 of the chapters that I've published so far of AN ORDINARY DISASTER
A book-length memoir of a man learning to listen to himself, serialized right here on Substack:
https://bowendwelle.substack.com/s/memoir
Interesting how you have tried out earlier access to posts, thanks for sharing your experiences. I recognise a lot of your considerations. Great to see that it can work to keep your content open.
Thanks Bowen, appreciate you sharing your thoughts on having the paywall in the middle of the post, very helpful.
✏️ curious how many people you yourself pay to subscribe to? no judgment, just wondering since mostly what we all talk about is people subscribing to us. Thought some people sharing might broaden the picture.
For me, I am new to Substack and feeling out who I most want to give my money to so I currently don’t pay anyone BUT I have a commitment to give at least ten percent of my income to other artists and writers so starting June 1 I’ll be adding a few that I pay for. I have two earmarked and might go up to four for June then check in each month to see how many more I can add.
I honestly don't have much of a budget for subscribing right now, which is one reason why I'd love to see a native "tip" option. I'd happily give to celebrate or support individual posts that I enjoy.
If I had unlimited resource, I think I would pay for 2 to 3 of the newsletters I currently subscribe to because the writers are extremely good or I feel a connection with them through their posts.
Good to know. If you don’t mind me asking is it that you don’t have any discretionary funds or that you spend them elsewhere? I learned recently the idea that what we spend our money on reflects our priorities and it’s shifted my spending. Not that I have much extra money but it makes me consider specifically where I want to spend what I do so I am just curious how others spend theirs. One thing I am working on is dining out less. I spend so much on it mostly because I just don’t enjoy cooking at all but in terms of priorities I would rather it go to creative stuff.
Right now, zilch on discretionary funds. I'm a freelancer and often have the "feast or famine" issue. So on good months, I put extra away. I also donate to several ministries and charitable organizations, and I spend some on personal health and fitness. So yeah, that doesn't leave a lot for subscriptions!
Been full time freelance for going on two decades so I totally get it.
This is a good question Kathryn and I have started thinking about it. Just like you, I am thinking about supporting 1 writer from my list of subscribed newsletters for every 10 paid subscribers for mine. I haven't turned on the paid feature yet on my substack, but plan to do so in the near future.
Great suggestion Kathryn. I'll subscribe as small recompense. You / we could tell readers this tithing is what we're doing and why it's important to network and support what we believe in.
Thanks! I have practiced the ten percent artistic tithing for a long time and it’s a great way for me to stay focused on supporting things I care about even when so many other expenses crop up.
Right. Great practice! I'll suggest it in a future post, daring to ask more for support.
I have been intrigued by how many people don’t turn that on at first.
🟧 Hey Substack team - I think an engaged reader is probably the best source of growth. How can we try a reader referral program on Substack?
Thank you Reid! Can't wait.
I want to try a book giveaway in exchange for referrals, say when someone refers 5 of their friends to subscribe, they are entered into a drawing. I am hoping there will be a way to confirm that 5 new subscribers came from a certain member. That way. I can have a list of people for the drawing.
ooooh this is very exciting :)
🟧 Hi, Substack. I love being here. Wondering about a couple of things.
1. Can we add a "pledge" to our subscription offerings, which would -- in fact -- not be a subscription, but for people who like the work but may not be able to afford a monthly or annual commitment? I know we can add Buy Me A Coffee or something like that with a custom button, but a one-time "tip" would be a nice feature. As Substack grows with writers, readers are going to be stretched. This might be a good opportunity for both.
2. For those of us who do courses/workshops/seminars, have you thought about adding a feature for those payments so we can stay here on Substack rather than going to Eventbrite or the like? That would be truly helpful.
Thanks so much! xo
When pledges first launched, I thought they would be what you described, not what they turned out to be. So I love this idea!
Thanks, Liz. I hope they implement something like that because I think it would be helpful for both readers and writers. xo
That's great, Reid. Thanks. I hope it does become a priority with all the influx of new writers (myself included; started in March). Having those options/opportunities will likely bring in new readers to Substack as well (those who take course/workshops through friend referrals, etc.). And definitely having an opportunity to pledge/tip/contribute on a one-time basis would be beneficial. Thanks again! xo
✏️ Have any of you used the 7 day trial as part of your strategy to get more paid subscribers? I am curious to know how it has worked for any of you who have used it.
🟧 When using the free 7 day trial is a credit card necessary or until the 7 days of trial are over?
Yes! I actually did a month free trial in March and got a few subscribers from that, and now I have it turned on for 14 days free all the time. I feel like that gives people more time to poke around.
how do you do 14 days, I can only see 1 option in my settings for 7 days. is that through a special offer?
Yes, it's a special offer! I set it up as a 14-day free trial, that anyone can see (not only people with a "special offer" link) and set it so it never expires.
Would love to know as well!
I offer it in every post at the top and the bottom.
✏️ - I have a podcast based on my writing that has many more followers (3-4X) than the actual Substack email list (mostly on appple podcasts); it’s still early for both, but I am wondering about launching paid and whether that can/will bring listeners or readers to the Substack platform. What has been everyone’s experience bringing people who follow you elsewhere onto Substack?
I exported my newsletter subscriber list to Substack, and about half of them have become regular readers. I now use my newsletter only for advertising events and such, and put all my writing on Substack. I have a "Blog" tab on my website that directs to Substack. I like how this is working out.
Aside from linking to blog, this is exactly what I did too.
Even though the blog tab on my website directs visitors away from my website, I love having this easy access for them to my Substack platform, which organizes all my writing in such a beautiful easy format (as opposed to archiving all that content on my website somewhere, although maybe that would improve the SEO, who knowsI.
Who knows how much longer SEO will even be a thing with search engines going to AI. It would be great if at some point we could just embed our substack on our website like a blog. It might be possible with a custom domain, but that would be great.
Yes that would be very cool.
I didn't have a substack before I left social media, but I did have a newsletter and it just relentlessly providing value, free books, or other content that is worth drawing them off platform to your list.
You just gave me an idea. I think give subscribers a website they may find of interest. Relate it to your newsletter. For instance, if you were writing about retail, put Retailmenot.com in the newsletter. sabrinalabow.substack.com
It would be better to just make a lead magnet that relates to your article and people will find interesting. To use your example, if your article is about retail then you could say “download my retail checklist at xxx.xxx/retailchecklist
🧠✏️ I set my annual price at the rate that I ideally want to be paid. However just today I announced that I am offering a Pay What You Can option. Curious if anyone else has tried something similar?
Yea and I just add those people manually
How are you implementing a pay what you can offer? Is there a setting for this in Substack?
I just said “email me what you can pay, no questions asked, and I will set it up”. So I’ll set up special offers at the prices people are requesting. I’m not sure if there’s an easier way but it works for me for now.
Are you able to do this on an individual basis? Or does the special offer become available to everyone for a period of time?
🟧 ✏️ From what I understand, but maybe someone else knows more, it does create a special offer that anyone could take advantage of but only if they have the link or it is emailed to them. Since I am offering Pay What You Can to anyone right now it wouldn’t be a problem for me if it were shared with others.
🟧
How many pledges should I have before I try to from Free to Paid?
If the pledge subscription amount from even one pledge is meaningful for you, turn pledges on! Sounds like some readers are ready to support you already. You can then wait to start paywalling posts or do a marketing push once you've found your rhythm and grown your audience.
Hi Kristen - I am still confused about the Pledge option. Is there a substack help article or video that explains how it works? I am not sure how they will convert to a paid subscriber in the future and what if they don't want to pledge anymore?
Yes, we have a Help Center article about Pledges! https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/11463706473108-What-are-Substack-Pledges-
Thank you Kristen!
🧠 Posting regularly really helps. We post M-F with a team of writers. Consider guest posts to help your output! (Shameless plug: we are always looking for film/television/pop culture writers.)
Shameless! sabrinalabow.substack.com
🧠 I'm trying a strategy where I'm doing a long ramp up with heavy permanent discounts for early paid subs. Each new paid post will see the sub price go up over the course of a couple months til reaching the final price. Too early to show results but it's a way to make people feel more comfortable betting on a new publication, while building excitement and tapping into that "don't miss out" psychology without going overboard.
I love this. I often tell people to increase their price in stages, and this is brilliant.
Thank you! I surprised myself with the idea haha. I launched my first paid post 6 days ago so it's wayyyy too early to see any trends...but I did convert 1/20th of my base with that post so that felt really good and I know it'll get more traction as time goes on.
Interesting idea...is it possible to do this on Substack? Is there a way to time the price point?
I've been using the "special offer" button in posts with a ramping percentage discount to get around the minimum price point.
You can also set expiration dates on special offers so I have them set to expire the day the next paid entry releases, when the new special offer goes into effect.
Interesting, so this allows you to sell annual subscriptions for less than Substack’s new minimum $50 price?
Yep, and monthlies for less than $5. As long as your base price is above the minimums, your discount can fall below it appears.
Oh that is an excellent hack; thank you so much Alaina! 🙏
Totally! Good luck!
What is the 10% fee that gets subtracted from subscriptions? For example, I receive only about $69 for each $80 annual subscription, and a bit over $6 for each $8 monthly.
Also, how does Substack benefit when I insert custom links that offer readers another way to donate to my non-profit, buy my books, etc.
Ellen, after Substack takes their 10% I think Stripe takes a bite too.
I'm also interested in your idea of " custom links that offer readers another way to ... buy my books" and will look into how you do it.
Thanks Roger. I was wondering if that 10% was Substack's customary profit. Yes, Stripe surely takes like 2.99%. I have a custom link I can use for donations to my non-profit ministry, of which my writing is a project under that umbrella. I just don't know how Substack looks at this use of 'buttons.' I'm assuming I can use them to link to my books?
Yes, I see your Donate button. I like that option: Free Subscribers can make a 1-time donation if they think the content is worth it. How did you create that Donate button? And I also wondered how Substack would look at this kind of model.
I have a payments merchant platform (like Substack, but a different one) that I use with my non-profit. They created the donations page for me, which I can link to. Substack has not stopped me from using it, but I also wonder, since it bypasses their profit %. It might be more profitable for writers to use the Substack subscription buttons, because people can't just choose a one-time donation. I do get the impression that Substack encourages writers to promote our books through Substack, which would be sold outside of Substack's Stripe platform, so I don't see how using my Donations button is any different, except that it replaces some subscriptions, potentially.
Thanks Ellen, you've given me food for thought.
Substack's business model seems to be designed for Newsletters/Bloggers etc., not for one-time purchases like a completed novel.
I'm really wrestling with how to offer my book to subscribers - after 2 years of research and writing it's pointless to just give the whole novel away for free, but monthly subscribers will finish the book and then cancel so that isn't sustainable long-term. The one-time tip-jar or donation seems the best idea - surely readers won't balk at paying $5 for a completed novel?
Maybe Substack can offer this kind of 1-time payment model and take their % off of the multiple donations. (Their Founding Members price is too high)
https://journalofjohnmcleod.substack.com/welcome
Oh I see, your book IS your Substack? I used Substack to write chapter installments as weekly blog-posts, and now I am putting those together into a paperback book and also an ebook. I will keep writing my weekly blog on additional topics, post-book. Original subscribers will have read much of the book's content, but still might like to own it in a formalized, organized paperback book. Also, I do see lots of Substackers requesting a one-time payment option.
✏️ This is very timely as I am seriously thinking of going paid next month. I intend to keep my usual monthly newsletter free but want to add more content for paid subscriptions and pledges. I was just wondering what extra content other writers with paid subscriptions have had success with. Of has extra content turned people off and you havd lost subscribers as a result? I feel like its such a minefield. I dont want to bombard people's inboxes.
I moved from Mailchimp to Substack last September, and in some ways am still experimenting with what works behind the paywall, and also what I have the creative capacity for. I turned on paid from the start. I offer an extra essay a month, a photo story prompt, and Q&As. Right now, I'm working my way through a college creative writing textbook and every month I post writing and creativity assignments related to that month's chapter. But it's hard to know what is resonating! I think there are always people who read but don't comment (which is fine!). In fact, I just sent out a post to paying subscribers last night asking how they felt about the paid offerings, and most people are saying they're happy with the amount offered.
I'll also say that I lose some subscribers every time I send out an essay. Which I think is normal. People might subscribe and then think, "oh, wait, this isn't for me." I try not to focus too much on numbers, and more on what I'm writing and posting.
Thank you Julie, this is really interesting and helpful. With hindsight, I think I should have done what you did and go paid right from the start. I also lose some free subscribers everytime I send out a newsletter, but gain as many new subscribers over the following weeks. I agree re commenters, but get quite a few emails instead, so I think people are either shy, or enjoy having one-to-one interaction. Its really hard to know, so many variables and as many ways of interpreting them... makes it all so much fun, I guess! 😄
Yup, same, I get more new subscribers than unsubscribes, and I get email replies too. I say turn on paid options right now! You can do a soft launch by just turning it on (and then people will see the upgrade option when you drop in the subscribe button) and you can play around with what you'll offer behind the paywall.
My biggest recommendation is really to figure out what YOU can do. There are many newsletters that post weekly, and I think that's great, but I don't want to write an essay every week, and-- nobody is mad about it. Do whatever works for you, be free to change your mind, and play around to see what feels right.
Thanks Julie, great advice. I am thinking so hard about what more I can offer paid subscribers I havent considered what would work best for me! Yet that is a huge factor! 🤣
I think so much of the messaging of social media has been that we are content creators and we have to feed the algorithm and be strategic and offer value and all of these things that are exhausting and not necessarily conducive to actually writing good things. One thing that happened when I moved to Substack was realizing I could take a breath and really consider how often I wanted to write.
Hi Ali - wishing you all the best ahead. Can you share if you have decided to go paid after hitting certain milestones like number of free subscribers, open rates etc.? Just curious to learn about your thought process.
I am currently at 600 after 2 months. Thinking of waiting until I hit 1000.
I post 2x/week. My plan is to post 1x/week for everyone (including free subscribers) and move the 2nd post each week only to paid subscribers.
I also want to be able to automatically move some of my paid posts to free after let us say a month behind the paywall.
I am struggling with the notion of providing "extra" value only to paid subscribers. I think everyone should benefit and enjoy our writing. But maybe the paid subscribers can have early access to some of the more valuable content.
You are doing really well to have so many subscribers so quickly! I have 3800 free subs after 5 months but a good chunk came with me from my previous blog. I feel ready coming up to 6 months to set up paid subscriptions. Why should artists feel like they must give away their work for free or 'exposure'? No other line of employment does this.
Makes sense Ali; all the best to you.
that's impressive!
I have a big post launching once I finish editing it about how I added back catalog books using sections for paid subscribers. Right now I have a timer of 3 weeks before everything goes paid, so people who want more than the last couple of posts need to go paid, or get a trial subscription.
Interesting... I did not know there was the facility to do that on Substack.
you can see how it works at https://authorstack.substack.com/newsletters. It will be live soon, but it's 5,000+ words so it's taken me a little while to get it right.
Hi Ali, interesting the concern about bombarding people with extra content. I share it and I'm wondering if that's part of an invisibility thread in my life and that I need to be more open about my voice.
I get that, Andrew. I turned on pledges and found that new readers were keen to pay, but existing free subscribers did not respond. I dont know if that's simply because they like their free content or whether they did not realise the option to pledge was there. I'm not sure how people are asked by Substack to pledge. In my next post I'm going to be open and ask people to subscribe if my writing means anything to them.
Ali, Writers at Work (Sarah Fay) said this on Office Hours today: I'm a big fan of ALL writers "going paid." It should always be an option on your site. You can keep the majority or all of your content free and set up your 'Subscribe with a Caption' to read that you're asking for support to keep your newsletter going as opposed to getting certain content for free.
I'm going to do that. Best!
Ah thank you, great advice! And best of luck to you too! 🍀🍀🍀
🟧 I have two questions! (1) I’m very torn about if and when to go “paid.” I’ve been very focused on building my readership, and although I have some paid subscribers, I don’t distinguish between what paid and free subs get, and I don’t urge people to pay. I have nothing against being paid for my work; I’ve been a working writer all my life. But I worry that all the wonderful people who signed up for free will get pissed (and possibly leave) if I suddenly change things up on them. (2) I’d like to do a week of Anne Boleyn posts in commemoration of her May 19th execution—I have tons of great interviews that I did when I was writing my book, as well a excerpts. But I don’t want to load the emails of people who aren’t necessarily Boleyn junkies. My substack is a “magazine” that covers a lot of different topics and genres, and the Boleyn people are just one subset of the kind of subscribers who came to my stack knowing my work. Any way to do this? Thanks so much!!! Substack is great.
On going paid, I think Anne Kadet has an interesting approach that might work for you: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-series-20-anne-kadet
Anne keeps everything free but does short reminders that paid subscriptions enable here to do more of this work.
Thanks Katie! I took a look at her substack and I love her approach. Coheres very well with what I’d like to do. So thanks again. (I also subscribed to her substack.)
Susan, have you looked into using sections? I am currently building out my substack to cover specifically "themed" content: personal things, management, technology, etc. As I currently understand, sections can then have specific lists of your readers so that way you can target folks who enjoy that specific content.
I have not launched my 'sectioned-stack' yet, so, I'll have a portion of my section to let everyone know "how it's going." :-)
Great idea! 😍
I spent some time trying to figure out how I wanted to use my Substack... I've had blogs since the day Blogger hit the web. I was a huge WordPress person back in the day... now with Substack I want to get started in constructing how I want to share before I begin to share... :-)
Ah the good old days of Wordpress... loved it at the time, but dont miss it tbh! 🤣
WordPress had quite the love-hate relationship for many... I actually liked to hack that blogging tool... I am versed in PHP (the base code) so I was one of those who hacked deep into the tool to make my blogs more personalized...
Now, I just wanna write, so, Substack is "just right" to write, right?!?!?! :-)
You are so write... er, right! 🤣
Thanks! I do have sections, but I have no way of knowing which subscribers would be interested in which sections.
Maybe you could do a post and ask folks to reach out via the comments portion of your post? That's a workaround I use on LinkedIn since LinkedIn is pretty lame for building readership / a following that is best for strong ties.
I'll try to look into that specific feature and maybe the folks at Substack have given us a way to have folks "enroll" or "sign up"...???
Hey Susan,
Sections definitely seem like a good option here. I wish there was a way where you could add a button that allowed people to subscribe to the new section in one click, but alas we don't have that yet.
Instead when you introduce the new section, you can give your existing subscribers these instructions: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/8914938285204-How-do-I-subscribe-to-or-unsubscribe-from-a-section-on-Substack-
Katie, I went to those instructions and am a bit confused. Are my “old” subscribers not getting emails for BordoLines “as a whole”? I have created sections but wasn’t aware that if you do that subscribers have to sign up for the ones they are interested in. Or have I got this wrong? Most of my subscribers are there for the whole shebang.
This is the line that has me confused: “If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.”
Thanks!! I think I’ll try that with a new “For Tudor Fans” section, and see how that goes. ❤️
✏️So, I’ve opened paid subscriptions with a letter to my 40 or so subscribers. I’ve had a great retention rate and have close to 70% emails opened each post—roughly posting something once a week. Here’s the question: how long did it take to grow paid subscribers? What are some things that have worked for you to grow subscriptions? Is it possible to do it without social media? Feel like I can’t do much more to grow subscribers right now but growth seems stagnant...
What is considered a good paid/unpaid ratio and what is considered a good open rate? Is that published anywhere?
I just wrote a whole big piece about this, but here is the relevant section.
In the “pre-Notes” days, it seemed like roughly 1 in 10 people who followed a Substack eventually transitioned into a paid subscriber, but after Notes debuted, it seems to have been closer to 1 in 20.
Substack’s own indicates that their ideal metric is that 10% of users will eventually “go paid”. That made sense when everything was highly siloed and finding new publications was hard, but when you expose that same network to more and more creators, that number has nowhere to go down but down.
How much? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised it if ended up closer to the 1 in 100 number I discussed earlier, and more people choosing not to stick around for the long haul.
the whole thing is here. https://authorstack.substack.com/p/is-it-even-possible-to-be-a-writer
I spend time posting on Substack Notes, and commenting to help drive engagement, but I think the best thing I did was just writing better posts. The better my posts are the more new subscribers I get, and the better my comments are the more new subscribers I get, too.
Non-promotional commenting on other people's stuff is how I have gotten many of my subs as well. High quality comments make people curious about you, curious people click on your face and read your writing. If they like it, they sub. Bonus is that I would do that anyway, even if I wasn't trying to "market" myself lol
100%. There's an old expression that became popular with the rise of Airbnb. "in order to scale you must do the unscaleable", and I think it's that kind of stuff that really matters to people.
Agreed I think we must focus on the content first and foremost. I understand the need to make money but content is king!
I think it’s also just good marketing. If somebody can read a piece and say “holy heck that was great” they will subscribe and share. Most writers have a problem with voice that prevents them from being immediately shareable. If you make your work better then a higher percentage of people will subscribe when they land on your page, and you will win the battle of network effects more often.
So, yes, it is king, but there is intention behind it too.
I am in a similar situation, Christopher, with great retention and open rate. I feel I need Instagram to promote though, and today sent out an email to my free list with a special offer if they subscribe before the end of the month but... Nothing yet.
I just comped all my free subscribers a three month paid subscription, but I also added a ton of content behind the paywall. I think it's better for people to just see what they get, and then remind them it will be taken away. IDK if that will work in my situation, but it works when I'm on the other side of the equation.
Thanks Russell!
I think it's because people are inundated with emails. It's too much. I just answered an email from a subscriber from a month ago. I realize I'm a bit of a luddite but I think we can all agree that it's getting to be sensory overload. The newsletter I am working on now is about luddites. Coming soon...sabrinalabow.substack.com
Hey Sabrina, thanks for taking the time to respond. Yes, it's a funny old thing. I came to this platform for slowness but everything now feels very fast! I love the idea of slow living but wonder if it's fetishized on Substack by a whole raft of writers who are living far more quickly than their posts suggest. Do you know about the New York Luddites? Total heroes of mine!
🟧 In the latest “On Substack” Katelyn Jetelina stated that she implemented payments as donations and kept all her posts free. (Or words to that effect)
I’d like to understand what that means.
Sounds like a case of having your cake and eating it, too. Is it different than pledges? How would a writer set things up to both accept voluntary(?) paid subscriptions and keep their posts freely accessible? What would that look like to prospective subscribers encountering your Substack for the first time? How might the writer make it clear to readers that paid “donation” subscriptions are an option and are purely voluntary? And, would the donations be one-time only, or recurring?
Great question, Dave. It seems to me you're either paid or you're not. :-)
🟧 - what happens to existing paid subscribers if and when I change the pricing on the paid subscription? Do they stay on the original price point they were on? Do they move to the new one? Or does it depend on whether the price goes up or down?
✏️ I'm thinking of turning on paid subscriptions as a way to mark the one-year anniversary of writing the newsletter. Any tips on using the celebration of one year as way to convince readers to consider the paid subscription?
I ran a 20% off offer for the whole month and mentioned it a lot. I got 13 new paid subs.
Good idea, thanks!
It was really easy to set up but they do need to click a special link so you have to share that.
🧠 I copy and paste favourite comments from Office Hours so I can implement them later.
I am just doing the same!
Has anyone found a solution to this dilemma? I have made tons of stuff free, in the hope that some people will like it so much that they go premium (some have). On the other hand, I wonder if I'd be better off making hardly anything free, to give people more of a reason to pay. Thoughts?
Hi Terry -
I am thinking along the same lines, but right now I am split between two options
(currently only free, publishing 2/week)
1. do 1x/week free and 1x/week paid; schedule the paid post to become free after a month
2. no new posts for free; 1x/month converts to free from paid; but increase the frequency of paid posts. Maybe a mix of 2-3 short weekly posts with 1 long form essay, but all paid.
Best wishes to you!
Thanks, Naveen. That sounds good. Trouble is, I worry about uposetting existing subscribers by suddenly making articles initially inaccessible. Still, making them free after a while soulds like a good compromise. Presumably the logic is thta people who really value your stuff will want to read it sooner?
You can always do a post in which you lay these thoughts out, explain your rationale for changes, and possibly ask for feedback through comments or a poll. Being open usually works best.
Good point, Robert
Hi Terry
I have been sensitive to that as well, that is why I am leaning towards option #1. I am waiting until I hit 1000 subscribers to make sure I have a good base of articles on my website for anyone to browse for free.
I meant #2 sounds good
🟧 Am I required to offer a discounted annual subscription fee? I am concerned that if I someday decide to discontinue (or am unable to continue) writing my blog posts, I will owe a lot of people refunds.
Great point, I wonder if there is a way to do only the monthly or the annual, but not both. I know there are pros and cons to each, but I do see your point. I do wonder though, if there is a way for them to get a pro-rated refund automatically if they decide to cancel.
Hi there. If a Substack publisher decides to "turn off paid subscriptions," refunds will automatically be issued to paying subscribers for the subscription time they paid for but won't receive.
More info here: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360060408872-How-do-I-turn-off-paid-subscriptions-#
🟧 What are the terms & conditions for paid subscriptions, and is there a place for us to add our own terms upon purchase? I’d like my annual subscriptions to have a “no refunds” policy, even if I have to stop writing. And I’d like that to be clear to readers up front, that their fee is a contribution to support me and not a guarantee of a certain number of posts per year.
🟧 Substack team - is it possible to schedule article behind the paywall to automatically become "Free" after sometime? I am thinking of switching on paid soon, but want to keep offering good quality articles to free subscribers, only delayed by say a month or so.
Hey Naveen! Kevin from Substack here.
I believe the following support article should offer some assistance: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/7737934503828-How-do-I-change-a-post-from-paid-to-free-#
"Interested in scheduling a paid post to unlock automatically and be sent as a newsletter to free subscribers?
Once you're finished with the draft, click "Continue". On the Publish page, check the box next to "Schedule time to unlock post and email free subscribers". Select a date and time and your post will unlock for free readers on the web and be sent as an email to your free subscribers at the scheduled time."
Does that help?
So if free subscribers are not seeing the post when it comes out as a paid post, but receiving it for the first time when it is free, how does this incentivize them to pay? It seems they wouldn’t even realize that they missed out on seeing it sooner.
Good point Liz; I wonder if it would make sense to explain it in the description section of the subscription options...
Thank you!
I haven’t turn on Paid yet and I’m finding these insights useful, especially on what writers put behind a paywall. I have thought of making my weekly (nonfiction) essays available to all and serializing my novel behind a paywall (with a preview first chapter free). I’d love to hear other ideas! Thanks!
🟧 Not precisely relevant to this thread (sorry!)... At the moment new post emails to subscribers are going into their gmail Promotions inbox not their Primary. Any idea how I can rectify that?
We take steps on our end to try to ensure Substack emails reach the reader's main inbox, but over time, the reputation that your newsletter builds up with readers is the most important input.
Asking your readers to drag the emails back to the inbox helps. Also, you can encourage them to write to you at your @substack.com address, which helps Gmail recognize your emails.
Thanks!
Putting together my business plan and concerned by the high price point. I understand in the past Substack had a lot more flexibility on pricing. Is there any way to work around a minimum 50 per year subscription? Thanks, Clare
you can offer a coupon.
Gone up to $80 per year. :-(
What subscription fee?
The price of a paid annual substack subscription to your newsletter. It is charged to your subscribers.
I kept mine at £70 as I’ve learnt it’s harder to raise your prices further down the line. You can offer discounts which I did for a full month and lots of my subscribers joined my paid tier.
I just looked into the possibility of offering a discount. It might work. I’d like to price an annual subscription at about 25 per year!
I just reduced mine to $35/year with no problem.
✏️ How have people navigated turning on Pledges? I have an aspiration to write extra paid content at some point in the WAY distant future, but knowing that people found my work worthwhile enough to pay for with pledges would be a great sign.
Trouble is, does anyone else think pledges put people off subscribing?
I hesitated to turn on Pledges, but after a while I figured if people wanted to pay me, why was I holding myself back? I haven't gotten any new paid subscribers since turning on the monetization feature, but at least I'm getting paid by the people who want to pay me. It's also a great motivator to stay on task. My Substack is explicit that it's sort of an informal weekly writing exercise more than anything else, but some people seem to think it's worth paying for.
So some people pay you, and the rest get the same post for free?
Also, I know all the people who are pledging personally and know that it's their way of supporting my efforts. If I start to get paid subscriptions from strangers, that will be a time to get more serious about thinking about the differences between paid and unpaid benefits.
Right now, that's how it works. I'll be figuring out what kind of perks I can offer the paying people.
I have everything free for three weeks, so they can get everything for free forever if they just subscribe free, but if they want back catalog stuff they have to subscribe. Most people seem to go paid just to support great writing.
I waited mostly until I could have lots and lots of content behind the paywall, and then I comped everyone a three-month subscription so they could see everything that was available and read it. It felt low stress for me, and now I have to just get them excited about what's available before it's taken away.
Brad, if I can figure out how to turn on Pledges, you can. :-) I'm surely the least-tech-savvy person in this thread, but I've been able to figure out Substack. So far.
✏️ - when do you think a good time to activate a paid Substack is?
Does it take a percentage?
10% of the payment goes to Substack!
✏️ Fellow (serial) fiction writers, what's your stance on offering bonus content as a paid incentive? Like extra non vital chapters, side stories, behind the scenes stuff, etc. It seems like one of the more natural paid incentives for me, but looking to get insight from those with hands on experience.
It seems to be popular with fiction. I have found most people just want access. I did a free webinar with Author Learning Center about subscriptions last month and I have one coming up at the end of the month, but Early Access and bonus material are two very good ways to do paid.
I have been doing that (write mostly non-fiction though), since I did not want to wall off content that I want everyone to read. My idea is to have main content, then extra content on top of that that offers related or personal content.
🟧 I am developing my paid model and noticed some high volume users are selling ads in their articles (like studio "for your consideration" movie ads. Yet, when I reviews your substack rules I believe this practice is not encouraged...Is it allowed or not?
And secondly, what about offering affiliate deals to encourage friends and other writers to share our paid membership opportunities
https://jonfitzgerald.substack.com/
Ooh that’s an interesting idea, being an affiliate for writers you recommend! And creating our own affiliate programs... 🤔
🟧- Are substack newsletters visible through google search? Could be really silly question but I am reading these posts where writers are showing how to link substack to google analytics. But does it work? Can someone google my posts?
I’ve also been wondering how this works! I have a Google alert set for myself, and it just picked up one of my Substack articles after five months of publishing.
Ohhhh that is new. Yeah it is confusing. If you search Austin Kleon, a lot of his posts are there in google search but for so many others, it is not there. Its a mystery
🤷♀️
I keep catching these at the end. I'm a real beginner. How do I add new tabs under my title, other than the standard Home, Archive, and About?
SETTINGS>WEBSITE>+ NEW LINK
When I try doing that, I have to put in a "Group." How do I do that? I see "Create," but I can't seem to type anything into the box.
It seems like you are going to WEBSITE>HOMEPAGE LINKS>EDIT, that's not right. It's the way I said above. Go to website, scroll to + new link, and you put in the title and link.
It worked! Thank you so much!
yay!
Here's my next question if you have the time. How do I add multiple articles under one heading?
I don't work for substack, but I can try to help. So, either you can add tags, or you can add them to a section. The section this is not very hard, but there's a lot of possible things to choose. Substack has a guide for it. https://on.substack.com/p/a-guide-to-publication-sections
However, I'm also about to release a big explainer post about Sections and how I use them. If you subscribe you'll get that one probably next or within the next week.
Once you have the section, then I would just make a link to it on the menu.
Thank you. I originally tried looking through those pages, but I didn't know the correct search terms to describe what I wanted.
There are all my sections: https://authorstack.substack.com/newsletters
And the link in my top menu is Bonus Stories that gets you here.
And you can just link directly to a section, too.
🟧 How do we create more than one Substack? I currently post my personal essays about infertility, mental health, and adventure at www.lizexplores.com, but I’m interested in starting a separate Substack with a separate audience for my UNperfectionism coaching business. I tried to set it up from my account, but it shows up as a “section” of Liz Explores, which is not what I want. Do I have to start a whole new Substack account with a different email address in order for UNperfectionism to have its own home?
Hey! It's a little hidden but if you want to start another distinct publication you can do so from settings.
https://substack.com/settings?utm_source=signup§ion=publications
You can go to https://substack.com/settings and under Publications click "Create publication".
Thank you! I wonder why I didn’t see that several months ago when I was trying to create UNperfectionism? Is that a new feature?
It was always possible to create multiple publications, but the options could have been on a different page.
✏ Just curious as to how everyone manages to keep themselves on track and posting regularly as I have have been having issues with it and am thinking of relaunching my Substack. Is that a good or bad thing to do or should I just start posting after an extended time away?
Hi Christine - I am currently publishing 2x/week, and that is taking up pretty much all my time. I just try not to give myself an option to slip on this commitment, even though I know it probably is not a big deal to readers. It will probably matter more if you have paid subscribers, which currently I don't.
In any case, if you are going to take a break, maybe send them an email (not publish on your blog) that you will be out and let them know when they can expect to start receiving your articles again.
🟧So, this idea came to my mind now - I wonder if you could setup an "out of office" email on Substack that will go out to your subscribers automatically?
An Out of office email is a great idea!! It would be helpful for holidays, emergencies and time off. It could keep readers in the loop and maybe put a pause on membership payments if you're out for more than two weeks with a date option of when payments will start again for paid subscribers.
I have a lot of old content, so it was easy for me to do 1 post a month, but when I thought about coming back to Substack I was just going to do what I wanted when I wanted. Underleverage yourself is my best advice.
Very interesting newsletter that you write! Well, my thing is I really do need to be an almost everyday writer otherwise I feel like I'm not challenging myself if that makes any sense. I like to be working on a project consistently, I'm a workaholic is the best way to put it, although you wouldn't know it by looking at my Substack posts etc. I have been working harder at my day job and for others and not working hard for myself and what I want, especially in the case of my writing, which has led to a bit of a writers anxiety and lack of motivation, and I've also used having a health issue as an excuse for putting off doing the hard work of writing. I just really want to get back into it consistently and get readers engaged and interested to get my newsletter off the ground and for this to be my fulltime gig along with maybe selling my photography. My day job isn't bad at all, but I want something outside of technical editing, it pays the bills but not what I want to continue to do for the long haul.
That's nice, but there are actually five archetypes to have author success that we have identified, and if you're not working to grow your ideal author/writing ecosystem, then you're probably not going to succeed. So, saying "I just need to write everyday" is fine...but to what end? Your writer anxiety probably comes from working in an unhealthy ecosystem. There's a good chance you're a grassland based on what you have said, but you can learn more about them all in this post. https://authorstack.substack.com/p/the-era-of-personalized-marketing
I'd say just start posting again. You could include a little note at the top of your first post about why you weren't posting or just to say "Hi, I'm back!"
What works for me and other writers I know is to set yourself a deadline and commit to it--say, every Wednesday at noon you post, or every second Friday of the month, whatever works for you. Then schedule your writing process with that date as the end goal. It takes some trial an error, but it keeps you consistent and accountable. :)
🟧 Is price ever going to come down for monthly/yearly minimum?
Thanks
This has been my question as well! $50/year seems high, especially when you want to subscribe to a lot of great writers.
✏️ Would it make sense to create a new and separate newsletter as a paid subscription and letting one's current subscribers know about it, perhaps by way of "links" in the current free newsletter that everyone is subscribing to? Reason being that the new newsletter has slightly different content and target audience. Thanks in advance!
I've been wondering this myself as I run three different newsletters on one page.
You can do that in sections.
✏️ How did you decide on your pricing? And did you ever change it?
I kept mine at £70 a year which Substack set it at and I made my work to fit that. A fair few people in my industry set it lower but for me £70 makes sense and I’ve just put my monthly up to £10 a month. Part of the reason for this is I spend a long time writing comments back and forth with my paid subs (members) and I couldn’t do that if it grew at a lower price.
Thanks for the response Claire. I have just enabled paid on one of my newsletters. I'have priced it at the minimum $5, let's see how it goes.
When you increased your monthly price, did you lose some of the subscribers?
This is a good question but I just did it today so I’m not sure... I might change it back but ideally I’d have people join me for a year...
Yeah, having more yearly subscriptions is a much better place to be in.
✏️ For writers who’ve gone paid, what percentage of your total audience are paid versus free? I just opened up pledges last month at www.lizexplores.com, where I write about infertility, mental health, and adventure. So far I have about a 10% subscription rate of readers who’ve pledged a yearly subscription (though the data are skewed because they are mostly people who know me personally and want to support me). I’m curious how much I’ll need to grow my subscriber list to reach my target income. What are you all seeing for paid-subscriber conversion rates?
I wrote about this in a recent post. https://authorstack.substack.com/p/is-it-even-possible-to-be-a-writer
Here's the relevant part. In the “pre-Notes” days, it seemed like roughly 1 in 10 people who followed a Substack eventually transitioned into a paid subscriber, but after Notes debuted, it seems to have been closer to 1 in 20.
Substack’s own indicates that their ideal metric is that 10% of users will eventually “go paid”. That made sense when everything was highly siloed and finding new publications was hard, but when you expose that same network to more and more creators, that number has nowhere to go down but down.
How much? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised it if ended up closer to the 1 in 100 number I discussed earlier, and more people choosing not to stick around for the long haul.
Excellent points, Russell! I shared more thoughts in a comment on your piece.
Hi Liz - I have heard a 5-10% conversion rate; but I think it might be lower than that in the long run as you grow your free base. I would not expect more than 2-3% to be honest.
I don't yet understand the difference between "pledge" and a subscription. Does it mean that they promise to sign up for a subscription when you switch it on? If so, can you really count on that? Thanks
I believe it's a promise to subscribe and will be converted to a paid subscription automatically once you turn that option on.
Thanks Theresa - now I am learning that they have to give their CC at the time of pledging. I think this would be a huge mental barrier to overcome. Not sure how I feel about this right now...
Here is the link to Pledge article Substack team shared with me
https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/11463706473108-What-are-Substack-Pledges-