Thank you. I have just started a service for paid subscribers. Free subscribers will continue to receive my weekly Positive Mindset Newsletter and paid subscribers withh have access to my Empowered Accountability Zone and emails too.
Great post. I turned on my paid subscriptions some time ago. Wish I had had the benefit of your wisdom back then. I've learned some of these lessons the hard way, like writing a (now cringe-worthy) email about why I was going to turn on paid subscriptions, lol. Live and learn. I've picked up a few great suggestions here that I can use now, so thank you. 💜
Hello! Love your Substack. It's very helpful to newbies, which I am. Have only been posting for a month so do not yet have the gumption to go paid. I brought along my email list and for now am planning to tiptoe in. Until I get more posts under my belt and more nerve. Thanks again!
Thanks for all this advice. It confirms what I've already done and let's others know how simple this platform can be. I do find people tend to overthink and over-complicate things.
And yes, definitely turn off unsubscribe notifications!!! Best peace of mind ever 😌
Some good and timely points made, thanks! Definitely agree with the no justification email / essay, let the subscribers decide for themselves. Similar to keeping quiet during a negotiation rather than babbling on and killing the deal. Let’s go!
This is solid advice! I turned off unsubscribe notifications because they are a creative killer! But when I get the alert of a new subscriber, free or paid, it boosts my drive to create more!
Karen, thank you so much for sharing these tips! Thinking of going paid on my first substack pub, ‘state of the art,’ this year and am starting another publication on a different topic (product design) that I’m going to kick off with paid turned on from the get go. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙌
Hi Fulfillment, have you heard of Stripe Atlas, which allows you to circumvent the Stripe country problem? It looks a bit paper-work heavy but it might be worth a look.
The paper work isn't the problem but the cost, it's expensive. The last time I checked I was told to pay 500 dollars that's equivalent to 500,000 Nigerian Naira, I don't have money plus I'm just starting out so I'll definitely not make enough money on substack to cover for this fee.
If it was a one time fee, I'd have tried to raise the money but it's a reoccurring fee.
So it's just so unrealistic and difficult and expensive all at the same time.
This is all wonderful advice! I began my Substack in August of this year, and went paid a month ago. It still feels surreal that I am putting myself out there as a writer and have the confidence to know I am worth being compensated.
Hey Christine! I have had 5 people upgrade in the past month. My intention in going paid was to offer a new monthly video workshop for paid subscribers as well as paywalled posts. I will say, I have struggled with actually putting the pay wall in to my posts as I want everyone to be able to read it... but moving forward I am placing paywall on ideally every other post so people have more reason to upgrade to paid. I have only had 2 people unsubscribe since going paid. I think as long as you keep offering some valuable free writing, then people who enjoy your work will stay.
That’s amazing to hear! I have that same fear, but feels great to know people subscribe for the value you’re providing. I’ll try that as well :) do you send your subscribers emails with every post, or just post on substack?
I send my subscribers emails with every post. You should definitely go for it! You can always pivot and adjust how you do things as you go :) keep me updated!
Thanks, Paul, great to hear from you. Have a lovely Christmas!
Nice advice, especially regarding justification
This is great advice for our fellow Substackers, Karen. As usual!
Thank you. I have just started a service for paid subscribers. Free subscribers will continue to receive my weekly Positive Mindset Newsletter and paid subscribers withh have access to my Empowered Accountability Zone and emails too.
Great post. I turned on my paid subscriptions some time ago. Wish I had had the benefit of your wisdom back then. I've learned some of these lessons the hard way, like writing a (now cringe-worthy) email about why I was going to turn on paid subscriptions, lol. Live and learn. I've picked up a few great suggestions here that I can use now, so thank you. 💜
Hello! Love your Substack. It's very helpful to newbies, which I am. Have only been posting for a month so do not yet have the gumption to go paid. I brought along my email list and for now am planning to tiptoe in. Until I get more posts under my belt and more nerve. Thanks again!
Thanks for all this advice. It confirms what I've already done and let's others know how simple this platform can be. I do find people tend to overthink and over-complicate things.
And yes, definitely turn off unsubscribe notifications!!! Best peace of mind ever 😌
Some good and timely points made, thanks! Definitely agree with the no justification email / essay, let the subscribers decide for themselves. Similar to keeping quiet during a negotiation rather than babbling on and killing the deal. Let’s go!
This is solid advice! I turned off unsubscribe notifications because they are a creative killer! But when I get the alert of a new subscriber, free or paid, it boosts my drive to create more!
Great advice thanks. Definitely turn off the unsubscribe notifications.
I also recently wrote about how to set out a paid strategy to tailor to your specific Substack. This is not a one size fits all exercise.
https://open.substack.com/pub/neverstoplearning1/p/crucial-lessons-to-learn-as-you-consider?r=1nyz10&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
Karen, thank you so much for sharing these tips! Thinking of going paid on my first substack pub, ‘state of the art,’ this year and am starting another publication on a different topic (product design) that I’m going to kick off with paid turned on from the get go. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙌
Love these as I’ve just turned on paid! I am definitely going to turn off the unsubscribe email alert - good idea 👍🏼 x
I'd love to go paid but I don't even have a choice because of 2 reasons
1. Stripe payment isn't supported in my country
2. My goal is to create impact and build of Legacy builders going paid might become a hindrance.
But still I put in so much effort and generating bits of revenue wouldn't hurt.
The only way I can make any money our of SUBSTACK are through donations
Hi Fulfillment, have you heard of Stripe Atlas, which allows you to circumvent the Stripe country problem? It looks a bit paper-work heavy but it might be worth a look.
https://stripe.com/atlas
The paper work isn't the problem but the cost, it's expensive. The last time I checked I was told to pay 500 dollars that's equivalent to 500,000 Nigerian Naira, I don't have money plus I'm just starting out so I'll definitely not make enough money on substack to cover for this fee.
If it was a one time fee, I'd have tried to raise the money but it's a reoccurring fee.
So it's just so unrealistic and difficult and expensive all at the same time.
This is all wonderful advice! I began my Substack in August of this year, and went paid a month ago. It still feels surreal that I am putting myself out there as a writer and have the confidence to know I am worth being compensated.
Hi Reid! I’m curious how going paid has been for you? Have people upgraded? Unsubscribed more? I’d love to hear 🙏🏼
Hey Christine! I have had 5 people upgrade in the past month. My intention in going paid was to offer a new monthly video workshop for paid subscribers as well as paywalled posts. I will say, I have struggled with actually putting the pay wall in to my posts as I want everyone to be able to read it... but moving forward I am placing paywall on ideally every other post so people have more reason to upgrade to paid. I have only had 2 people unsubscribe since going paid. I think as long as you keep offering some valuable free writing, then people who enjoy your work will stay.
That’s amazing to hear! I have that same fear, but feels great to know people subscribe for the value you’re providing. I’ll try that as well :) do you send your subscribers emails with every post, or just post on substack?
I send my subscribers emails with every post. You should definitely go for it! You can always pivot and adjust how you do things as you go :) keep me updated!
Yay, I do as well. Thank you so much for the encouragement 🧡✨
Thank you for the great advice. If I stay on Substack and decide one day to go paid, I'll take it!
Awesome, thank you - simple, actionable, good advice :)