Thank you for these insights. I'm pretty new to Substack. This week was my 13th post. I've been showing up consistently each week since I started. I've been contemplating ways to add value for paid subscribers while continuing to offer the weekly posts for free. I like the idea of a coffee chat coaching opportunity or maybe a workshop or webinar once or twice a month. I'm still thinking about what to do. I plan wait until I have 6 month of writing before trying this out. I appreciate your experience and ideas.
I have settled on a freemium approach. I didn’t realise it had a special name. I wanted to offer all the digital planning pages that I love creating so I have put them after the paywall.
100% Nadine, and we are also afraid of creating new things that people might not like. It's all about taking risks embracing that sometimes it won't work.
This has been really insightful. I have not really thought about my substack as a business or source of income until now. I have been more focus on delivering value that many can trust. I was hoping after 6 months I can turn on paid but never really thought about it than that.
While writing this, I’ve stumbled on ideas I believe can revolutionize my substack, thanks for sharing your journey!!!
The first 6 months are great to experiment, find your cadence, build your community, fine tune your settings and then, once you feel ready you can start to focus on the strategic/ monetization piece.
The most important thing is to keep enjoying what you do and never lose that little seed.
Thanks Veronica, so useful. I also launched a mini course which also resulted in 5 upgrades over a weekend. I’m in the middle of it now though have been trying to find the balance as I do still want to post for my free subscribers as totally free posts get much more engagement which I also value. It's fun to work through it all and see what works!
Congrats, Kate, that's wonderful regarding the upgrades in a weekend!
I'm totally with you regarding the balance, that's why a lot of my content remains free, and even if I add a paywall, readers can access 70-80% of the content.
I do miss the engagement when it's paid only though...
Freemium is the model used by many major media publications today. I believe the New York Times allows you 10 free articles a month before they activate the paywall. It’s tried and true, and it works.
I’m fairly new to this, but I started with the content that was more personal and unique. I write about locations I’ve explored as a day trip or as a long week, and it has photos and long descriptions of what takes place. And I do paywall that, and even so, I’m paywalling past the first paragraph. I’d like to do podcasts, possibly video behind the paywall as well.
I will definitely be posting consistently every week, and sticking to my designated day of posting. That’s something I’ve been struggling to adhere to. Reading your post most definitely reinforced this!!
Interesting strategies. I’m still just trying to figure out the best strategy for myself and I’m gonna consider some of the things you mentioned. Thanks
I think the branding and look & feel of the publications is really important to attract readers. I was thinking about writing about it with some tips of what worked for me.
I'm just getting started on Substack and I like your idea offering the weekly ecourse. I have a bit a delivery question - is the course delivered through Substack or do you use a different platform to send out the ecourse?
I love what you said that you treat all your subscribers as “paid subscribers”
That's the key, right?
If you go with that mindset, you are constantly raising your bar and innovating ways to surprise both your free AND your paid subscribers.
Me too. I love that idea too!
I do this too, you never know who will convert, and their engagement is important too!
All subscribers are equal 😀
100% treat them all like VIPs.
Thank you for these insights. I'm pretty new to Substack. This week was my 13th post. I've been showing up consistently each week since I started. I've been contemplating ways to add value for paid subscribers while continuing to offer the weekly posts for free. I like the idea of a coffee chat coaching opportunity or maybe a workshop or webinar once or twice a month. I'm still thinking about what to do. I plan wait until I have 6 month of writing before trying this out. I appreciate your experience and ideas.
That's great, Daria, it all starts with a strong foundation and consistency and then you build on top.
I love the idea of a workshop/ webinar and it's something I might host as well for my paid subscribers. I have to get over my own doubts and host it!
Cheers
I have settled on a freemium approach. I didn’t realise it had a special name. I wanted to offer all the digital planning pages that I love creating so I have put them after the paywall.
Thanks for sharing, Val!
Not sure it's the official name but freemium seems like a good term.
That sounds like a brilliant idea, leaving your digital planning pages as your add on.
Good luck!
I suspect most people get stuck at the "Beyond bread and butter" section. We all struggle to detect our own value!!
100% Nadine, and we are also afraid of creating new things that people might not like. It's all about taking risks embracing that sometimes it won't work.
This has been really insightful. I have not really thought about my substack as a business or source of income until now. I have been more focus on delivering value that many can trust. I was hoping after 6 months I can turn on paid but never really thought about it than that.
While writing this, I’ve stumbled on ideas I believe can revolutionize my substack, thanks for sharing your journey!!!
That's great and it's a process.
The first 6 months are great to experiment, find your cadence, build your community, fine tune your settings and then, once you feel ready you can start to focus on the strategic/ monetization piece.
The most important thing is to keep enjoying what you do and never lose that little seed.
Thanks Veronica, so useful. I also launched a mini course which also resulted in 5 upgrades over a weekend. I’m in the middle of it now though have been trying to find the balance as I do still want to post for my free subscribers as totally free posts get much more engagement which I also value. It's fun to work through it all and see what works!
Congrats, Kate, that's wonderful regarding the upgrades in a weekend!
I'm totally with you regarding the balance, that's why a lot of my content remains free, and even if I add a paywall, readers can access 70-80% of the content.
I do miss the engagement when it's paid only though...
Balance is the key!
Freemium is the model used by many major media publications today. I believe the New York Times allows you 10 free articles a month before they activate the paywall. It’s tried and true, and it works.
Exactly and it's a brilliant model where they hook readers.
It would be a great idea for Substack to implement something similar actually, e.g, read 3 articles for FREE before you upgrade.
My thoughts exactly!!
Great, Louis, I'm glad you liked the approach.
Is there something you offer your paid subscribers I haven't covered here?
I’m fairly new to this, but I started with the content that was more personal and unique. I write about locations I’ve explored as a day trip or as a long week, and it has photos and long descriptions of what takes place. And I do paywall that, and even so, I’m paywalling past the first paragraph. I’d like to do podcasts, possibly video behind the paywall as well.
I love this! Thank you for sharing this! I found it very insightful and helpful!!
That's great, Gina!
What are you thinking of changing/ starting?
I will definitely be posting consistently every week, and sticking to my designated day of posting. That’s something I’ve been struggling to adhere to. Reading your post most definitely reinforced this!!
Interesting strategies. I’m still just trying to figure out the best strategy for myself and I’m gonna consider some of the things you mentioned. Thanks
That's great, Yan!
I'm always reviewing my strategy and tweaking things. If it doesn't work, we keep experimenting.
Good luck and if you have any questions or want to see what others are doing, you can visit the Thread.
Thank you for the article ! It’s super helpful for me as I figure out what to do with my own Substacks.
That's great, Jodi!
If you check the Thread you will see what other writers are doing too and you can ask questions and share your own strategy.
Good luck!
Great information! Thanks for sharing your tips with us!
You are welcome, Leanna!
Anything new you are thinking to implement or change?
Thank you for the exceptional article. I took lots of notes! And I love the whole ''lemon" approach -- very innovative and, well, fresh.
Thank you! I really appreciate it.
I think the branding and look & feel of the publications is really important to attract readers. I was thinking about writing about it with some tips of what worked for me.
Thanks Veronica, this was very helpful.
I'm really glad it was useful, Jean!
I'm just getting started on Substack and I like your idea offering the weekly ecourse. I have a bit a delivery question - is the course delivered through Substack or do you use a different platform to send out the ecourse?
So many great take aways here, especially for a beginner like myself. Saving this post so that I can read it again later.