Love the new reporting layout! The view comparison to average post views will be super helpful.
One thing I’d LOVE to be able to do is put up a “free wall” which would work just like a pay wall, except instead of preventing all but paid subscribers from reading a post, it would prevent anyone who is not a subscriber at all from reading a post. This would be great for fiction writers who want to keep certain content exclusive for actual subscribers as opposed to making everything that’s not behind a paywall available to anyone on the internet.
I still think you guys need to take a step back from your focus on subscriptions and implement a tip jar, where readers can make one-time contributions. It's not just a matter of benefiting us writers, but you're going to lose a cut of the transaction to Buy Me a Coffee and such as writers figure out that they can just insert a link or a bit of script for readers who want to show their appreciation without committing to a subscription. As a small-time blogger who writes for a niche audience, I am increasingly convinced that a base of paid monthly subscribers at $5/month is a steep hurdle to clear, and that I would make more money if there was a clearly-defined one-time tip option. Substack would make more money, too, if they raked from those tips instead of another platform.
I think it's a great idea but I'd be surprised if we see it. Substack wants to drive subscriptions, and I'm sure the concern is that something like this would ultimately decrease paid subs.
But maybe it wouldn't. Maybe it'd do the opposite. Or maybe it'd drive enough extra revenue from the whatever% cut that would be implemented.
Would love to hear thoughts from the Substack team on this great idea.
Good to see this idea getting an airing. As for this “threatening” subscriptions I just don’t get it - for authors I regularly/always read a regular subscription makes good sense (for both reader and writer). At the moment I solve the problem by subscribing and then immediately cancelling ie I pay a 1 month fee, typically $/€ 5, but that is only worth it for exceptional articles and authors. I simply cannot afford more than one or two regular subs.
I'd like the option of paying for specific posts - and allowing readers to pay for a specific post of mine - rather than pushing them to subscribe on a monthly or annual basis. Or being able to set up a paywall similar to what other media outlets use, where your readers get a few posts for free each month, then they are offered a special rate to subscribe.
I really like this idea! Encourage people to get a real taste of ideas without the constant reminder (somewhat guilt suggesting) that a reader should subscribe. When I peruse a bookstore, I scout many books - and usually leave. However, I ALWAYS return to purchase the books that make a distinct impression that I "need" to follow up. Allow the ideas themselves to be the driver of actual subscriptions AND tips!
Totally agree with you. For me, I’m really small time and have a small circle of friends and acquaintances so I’m not looking to get “rich”. Ways to spread my wisdom would be very helpful.
I wish Substack would add a virtual tip jar for readers who want to give some $ when they like a post but don’t want to commit to a paid subscription. I am planning to add the “buy me a cup of coffee“ plug-in for this purpose to my newsletter.
Someone said this to me recently: "I wish there were some kind of group subscription on Substack - say, pick 5 journalists for one price. No doubt It's more problematic than I think it is, but hey, I can dream!"
I’m thinking of a slight alternative: Give money to our local food bank. I’m 80 and while I love commenting and participating I don’t need the money. At least not yet 😳
Thanks for the info and all you do to make Substack the best platform for independent writers. I’m new here, and have been really impressed by this community.
This is epic. I just reached out to the gal who's shared my work the most and offered her a 6 month paid subscription as a gift. A total blessing for her. Thank you so much~
Some great improvements here, thanks Lads! Loving the new stats and sharing features! I used the video promotion tool and recorded my own voiceover for it, even though I dislike my own voice 😅 and shared it on Insta. I was impressed at how easy it is to use, and how professional it looked, so I will defo be using it on all my new posts from now on. Honestly, the speed at which you guys are rolling out imorovements is nothing short of astonishing! 💕
I’m not sure about the potential drawbacks of adding PayPal as a payment method but if there aren’t many cons I think allowing people to pay with PayPal would increase the amount of paid subscribers
Amazing developments. And thanks for starting to roll out in French as well, it really helps. Would be great to have some "forums" or equivalent for various regions (ie: France) in order to support each other.
Wow. You guys seem really down for writers, except of course when it comes to helping paid subscribers with tech issues. When it comes to those, you don’t even answer inquiries. You do, however, follow up with the colossally obtuse and pathetically corporate “How did we do?”
Damn; I got all excited there thinking that you had introduced a new payment system, but no. :-(. So, as I can't/won't use Stripe I still can't get any paid subscriptions. Please, please, please introduce another payment system.
It does work with banks elsewhere and I used to use it when I had a stable base in Europe. Now I don't have a stable base anywhere and live between three different countries in Asia, but I still have my bank accounts in Europe (in two different countries). Stripe can't cope with any of this and now won't accept any of the documentation I send them. Earlier this year they drove me mad with a deluge of emails. They wanted me to open a new account linked to another country, but I can't imagine ever being able to provide the documentation they want, in exactly the format they want, relating to the time frame they specify; and their requirements keep changing. They nearly drove me nuts earlier this year, so I've given up.
Yes, I spent several hours trying to get through the photo requirements, and finally gave up. The Stripe process is for me a technical conundrum. If anyone can, I would appreciate the guidance.
YAY! That’s the win and update! Incredible Substack Fam! Thanks for this progress! Definitely will help us as writers so much more, and for the readers, they’ll have more opportunities to embrace each piece of the craft!
Love the new reporting layout! The view comparison to average post views will be super helpful.
One thing I’d LOVE to be able to do is put up a “free wall” which would work just like a pay wall, except instead of preventing all but paid subscribers from reading a post, it would prevent anyone who is not a subscriber at all from reading a post. This would be great for fiction writers who want to keep certain content exclusive for actual subscribers as opposed to making everything that’s not behind a paywall available to anyone on the internet.
I like this idea!
Me too! Haha, wouldn’t it be such a great way to boost the exclusivity factor of our newsletters, too? 🤷♀️💃🏻
I agree—great idea!
Awesome idea!
Thank you!
👋👋👋😎
Not bad, for a Giggler! 😁
I still think you guys need to take a step back from your focus on subscriptions and implement a tip jar, where readers can make one-time contributions. It's not just a matter of benefiting us writers, but you're going to lose a cut of the transaction to Buy Me a Coffee and such as writers figure out that they can just insert a link or a bit of script for readers who want to show their appreciation without committing to a subscription. As a small-time blogger who writes for a niche audience, I am increasingly convinced that a base of paid monthly subscribers at $5/month is a steep hurdle to clear, and that I would make more money if there was a clearly-defined one-time tip option. Substack would make more money, too, if they raked from those tips instead of another platform.
I think it's a great idea but I'd be surprised if we see it. Substack wants to drive subscriptions, and I'm sure the concern is that something like this would ultimately decrease paid subs.
But maybe it wouldn't. Maybe it'd do the opposite. Or maybe it'd drive enough extra revenue from the whatever% cut that would be implemented.
Would love to hear thoughts from the Substack team on this great idea.
Good to see this idea getting an airing. As for this “threatening” subscriptions I just don’t get it - for authors I regularly/always read a regular subscription makes good sense (for both reader and writer). At the moment I solve the problem by subscribing and then immediately cancelling ie I pay a 1 month fee, typically $/€ 5, but that is only worth it for exceptional articles and authors. I simply cannot afford more than one or two regular subs.
I keep getting pitched from authors I’ve already subscribed to. Need to have a means of stopping the pitching and increase the bitching.
This is a phenomenal idea - seconded!
That’s a great idea!
I'd like the option of paying for specific posts - and allowing readers to pay for a specific post of mine - rather than pushing them to subscribe on a monthly or annual basis. Or being able to set up a paywall similar to what other media outlets use, where your readers get a few posts for free each month, then they are offered a special rate to subscribe.
I really like this idea! Encourage people to get a real taste of ideas without the constant reminder (somewhat guilt suggesting) that a reader should subscribe. When I peruse a bookstore, I scout many books - and usually leave. However, I ALWAYS return to purchase the books that make a distinct impression that I "need" to follow up. Allow the ideas themselves to be the driver of actual subscriptions AND tips!
Totally agree with you. For me, I’m really small time and have a small circle of friends and acquaintances so I’m not looking to get “rich”. Ways to spread my wisdom would be very helpful.
It's mad how much good stuff you folk roll out, at the speed you do it. MAD, I say.
I wish Substack would add a virtual tip jar for readers who want to give some $ when they like a post but don’t want to commit to a paid subscription. I am planning to add the “buy me a cup of coffee“ plug-in for this purpose to my newsletter.
Great idea!
Someone said this to me recently: "I wish there were some kind of group subscription on Substack - say, pick 5 journalists for one price. No doubt It's more problematic than I think it is, but hey, I can dream!"
Great Idea! In my own experience, I consistently read a number of particular SubStacks, while also perusing more!
I’m thinking of a slight alternative: Give money to our local food bank. I’m 80 and while I love commenting and participating I don’t need the money. At least not yet 😳
Thanks for the info and all you do to make Substack the best platform for independent writers. I’m new here, and have been really impressed by this community.
It’s good isn’t it?
Same. I've met some great people!
I have a request:
Can you STOP GETTING BETTER PLEASE?
This is just getting silly now.
This is epic. I just reached out to the gal who's shared my work the most and offered her a 6 month paid subscription as a gift. A total blessing for her. Thank you so much~
Thank you for this, but please, please add PayPal support to Substack. It will empower writers all over Africa. ✌️🙏
Yes Paypal please!! Chile writers missing out too
Thanks! I really hoped that "new payment methods" means also having other services other than Stripe. Is that planned? 🙏
Me too, pretty misleading header. I should say "new payment currencies". We need Paypal
Some great improvements here, thanks Lads! Loving the new stats and sharing features! I used the video promotion tool and recorded my own voiceover for it, even though I dislike my own voice 😅 and shared it on Insta. I was impressed at how easy it is to use, and how professional it looked, so I will defo be using it on all my new posts from now on. Honestly, the speed at which you guys are rolling out imorovements is nothing short of astonishing! 💕
I'm going to have to try this 😊
It's really cool, Nathan! A great example of how much Substack are implementing to help writers maximise their work on this platform...
Awesome. I just need to grow my Instagram now too 😆
🤣🤣🤣 Same! It's never ending, is it!
I’m not sure about the potential drawbacks of adding PayPal as a payment method but if there aren’t many cons I think allowing people to pay with PayPal would increase the amount of paid subscribers
Amazing developments. And thanks for starting to roll out in French as well, it really helps. Would be great to have some "forums" or equivalent for various regions (ie: France) in order to support each other.
Wow. You guys seem really down for writers, except of course when it comes to helping paid subscribers with tech issues. When it comes to those, you don’t even answer inquiries. You do, however, follow up with the colossally obtuse and pathetically corporate “How did we do?”
I love that idea and shared it with our team 🙏
Also, what do you mean about the "roll out in French"?
Thanks
they've released a version in "french", meaning that buttons are getting translated etc. (which is already something...) :)
Ok, merci
Would be great to be able to have a forum for each Substack!
Damn; I got all excited there thinking that you had introduced a new payment system, but no. :-(. So, as I can't/won't use Stripe I still can't get any paid subscriptions. Please, please, please introduce another payment system.
Stripe only works with US banks. Incredibly frustrating for someone outside the US
It does work with banks elsewhere and I used to use it when I had a stable base in Europe. Now I don't have a stable base anywhere and live between three different countries in Asia, but I still have my bank accounts in Europe (in two different countries). Stripe can't cope with any of this and now won't accept any of the documentation I send them. Earlier this year they drove me mad with a deluge of emails. They wanted me to open a new account linked to another country, but I can't imagine ever being able to provide the documentation they want, in exactly the format they want, relating to the time frame they specify; and their requirements keep changing. They nearly drove me nuts earlier this year, so I've given up.
Yes, I spent several hours trying to get through the photo requirements, and finally gave up. The Stripe process is for me a technical conundrum. If anyone can, I would appreciate the guidance.
I appreciate how you try to work to make money for us as much, if not more, than just yourselves.
YAY! That’s the win and update! Incredible Substack Fam! Thanks for this progress! Definitely will help us as writers so much more, and for the readers, they’ll have more opportunities to embrace each piece of the craft!
Substack is making the life of writers easy.
Writers can focus on what they do best - writing