Nice work, Karen! While celebrating your milestones and seeing the reference to Noah, I'm mindful that there are often other factors besides consistency and grit. Your series, for instance, is focused on helping others increase their own income, which seems to be the most successful lane for Substacks (some kind of business or financial advice). I wonder if the same model works for people with a more literary bent, or those who are offering content that doesn't have a direct financial benefit for their readers? Genuinely curious.
My paid newsletter is for food safety professionals and people interested in food fraud, it isn't business or financial advice (https://therottenapple.substack.com/about). (and yes, that's a different name - I use a pen name when I go 'off-topic' away from food safety out of respect for my professional food safety career).
I agree with you about topics though: the Substack pay-direct subscription model is easiest when you create content that people are motivated to pay for, like investment advice, or information they need for work.
No matter where you are on the internet, it's a struggle to get paid for stuff that people don't put a financial value on.
Having said that, there are successful Substacks where readers just love the writer and want to support them. Noahpinion is an example, since he doesn't provide actual investment or financial advice. Another example is Gray Mirror https://graymirror.substack.com/about who writes about drafts of his book and has 34,000 subscribers.
BTW I LOVE the name of your publication - it's specific, funny and defines your topic and audience in three words, brilliant!
* My paid newsletter is https://therottenapple.substack.com. And yes, I publish under a different name - I use a pen name when I go 'off-topic' away from food safety out of respect for my professional food safety career.
* You can see what I offer paid subscribers when you click the link "About paid subscriptions" on the homepage.
* I went paid after six months, when I had around 800 subscribers.
Congrats.
Talk about putting stacks to substack
Amazing. Just motivated me to take Substack more seriously !
Congratulations!! So exciting and encouraging!
Congratulations! Thanks so much for sharing your journey and advice.
Nice work, Karen! While celebrating your milestones and seeing the reference to Noah, I'm mindful that there are often other factors besides consistency and grit. Your series, for instance, is focused on helping others increase their own income, which seems to be the most successful lane for Substacks (some kind of business or financial advice). I wonder if the same model works for people with a more literary bent, or those who are offering content that doesn't have a direct financial benefit for their readers? Genuinely curious.
Hi Joshua,
My paid newsletter is for food safety professionals and people interested in food fraud, it isn't business or financial advice (https://therottenapple.substack.com/about). (and yes, that's a different name - I use a pen name when I go 'off-topic' away from food safety out of respect for my professional food safety career).
I agree with you about topics though: the Substack pay-direct subscription model is easiest when you create content that people are motivated to pay for, like investment advice, or information they need for work.
No matter where you are on the internet, it's a struggle to get paid for stuff that people don't put a financial value on.
Having said that, there are successful Substacks where readers just love the writer and want to support them. Noahpinion is an example, since he doesn't provide actual investment or financial advice. Another example is Gray Mirror https://graymirror.substack.com/about who writes about drafts of his book and has 34,000 subscribers.
BTW I LOVE the name of your publication - it's specific, funny and defines your topic and audience in three words, brilliant!
Thanks! Appreciate your insights 😊
This is inspiring Karen. Thank you for sharing your process and the results.
Congratulations, Karen.
Cool, Karen. 10k is impressive. I've crossed 2k free subs. Wanted to offer a paid offer when I reach about 3k.
My questions:
What's the name of your 'main' newsletter (with link), Karen?
What do you offer your paid subscribers?
When did you go paid?
Many thanks in advance. I'd love to feature your newsletter on Substack and Medium.
Hi Kristina, love your work on Medium!
* My paid newsletter is https://therottenapple.substack.com. And yes, I publish under a different name - I use a pen name when I go 'off-topic' away from food safety out of respect for my professional food safety career.
* You can see what I offer paid subscribers when you click the link "About paid subscriptions" on the homepage.
* I went paid after six months, when I had around 800 subscribers.