Substack: 10 Cool Ideas that Helped Me Get 100+ Paid Subscribers
Today’s newsletter starts with gratitude.
A month ago, The Lemon Tree Mindset became a Substack Bestseller. This week, I hit the milestone of 5,000 subscribers.
As someone who was unemployed 2 years ago and started a new path in her 40s, this is huge and a true reflection of my vision:
Turn your passion into your lifestyle.
Thank you.
It means a lot to me and I would love to help you do the same by sharing what I have learned and what has worked for me.
I recently launched the Substack Series, articles dedicated to helping you grow and monetize your Substack.
They are exclusive to paid subscribers but I leave a free preview to give you a taste first.
All the previous Posts can be found in the Substack Section.
The Mindset
“But I have nothing to offer.”
This is what many writers I coach object to when we address the topic of monetization and getting paid subscribers.
Then we talk about what their passions and what they are good at. Besides writing, most have other incredible skills: graphic design, self-publishing, video editing, copywriting, AI…Some are qualified coaches or authors and many have solid experience across multiple fields.
There’s a sad disconnect between people’s abilities and skillset and their level of self-knowledge.
It’s an abysm and I want to help you connect the dots.
“And do you think those skills have value?” I ask them.
“Hmmm, maybe…It’s not a big deal.”
It is a big deal.
Most people have a ton of expertise and know-how that others value and would even pay money for. But we undermine what we already know. We think it’s easy because we forget what it took us to get there.
Everything is a big deal until we do it and once we do it, it’s not a big deal anymore.
If you don’t know what to offer your paid subscribers, by the end of this article you will.
10 Ideas
Below are 10 ideas to help you think differently about what you (could) offer.
But there’s a caveat: you must get out of your comfort zone.
Think bigger than “Exclusive Articles,” be creative and take risks!
It will pay off and here you have my proof. I would love the same for you.
1. An ebook
Whether you serialize your book through chapters or send it as a welcome gift, you can use your previous published work (ebooks, digital products, courses) to make an attractive offer.
I have a dedicated Book Section for 2 of my books where I share the chapters and give a free preview.
I also send The Lemon Tree Mindset ebook as a freebie to my Paid Subscribers.
Note: You don’t need a finished book. You can publish your chapters as you write them.
2. Webinars
The most popular perk among my paid subscribers is my monthly webinars. They are interactive 45-60 minute sessions with Q&A at the end.
To make sure they are relevant, I add Polls to my Posts and ask my Paid Subscribers for feedback in the Paid Chat.
Live sessions are great if you enjoy speaking in public and feel comfortable in fron of the camera.
I only host one a month and promote it beforehand via Notes and Posts to create buzz. I launched them in April and the results were immediate.
Tip: Make sure you record the session so that your members can watch it on-demand.
Don’t miss the next one with
, top writer on Medium (80K+ followers), and online entrepreneur.
3. Pre-recorded video or interview
I get it.
You don’t like the idea of going live in front of strangers, and that’s ok. You can record the session at home without pressure and then share it after you edit it and feel good about the final product.
Tip: You can embed the video directly in your Post to avoid one extra click to an external link.
4. Group Challenges
People love challenges because they create the perfect combo of motivation, community, and accountability.
I recently launched the first Challenge in my Paid Thread and invited the members to collaborate with each other by pitching their ideas in the group:
- A Guest Post
- An interview
- A Podcast collaboration
- Featuring a few writers
Be creative and host a challenge for your community!
Tip: if you are just starting, consider doing this for your free subscribers first.