Hi Sarah, looking for some advice about introducing extra posts for my paid subscribers. All of my posts are currently free and paid members get a Mindful Writing ebook and monthly Mindful Writing Marathons, which are 2-hour sessions on Zoom.
As of next month, I am bringing in an extra post once a month for paid subscribers that combines elements of my Year of Mindful Writing and Well Writer courses.
I’m not sure what the best way is to send these out. Should I send a free preview to free subscribers or just send only to paid subscribers? Thank you! 🙏🏼💙
I loved this post. I've never been comfortable with paywalling. It goes against the very reason why I write here, to share my experiences to help others. However, all the advice seemed to suggest that was how to make money with Substack. So thank you. I'm looking forward to learning more from you Sarah.
Hi, late to the party here. I wonder if you could explain the terminology here for me, please? I don't understand the nuance between paywalling and being paid. Surely if some of your content is for paid subscribers only then it is by definition paywalled? You can have other posts that everyone can see, and they aren't paywalled? Or am I missing something? Thanks in advance and in hope!
Maybe I'm doing something wrong--I'm interested in this thought, "the service model and the NPR model. I won’t go into all three because I cover them in-depth here. " But the link on the word "here" seems dead. Point me to the story?
I'm writing three Substacks right now and two will have endpoints so eventually I will be able to quit coming up with new material on those. I got overly ambitious and am interested in many things. Ha. But one of them has a paywall within the post and I'm still trying to understand best practices so this post from you Sarah is making me re-think. I do believe that all my time of researching and passing on information is worth something, but this isn't something I want to block some from getting the information. I'm thinking of adding extra value material at the end and keeping the rest free may be the way to go.
This is so helpful. I am struggling with paywalling because my heart is telling me to make everything free so it helps as many people as possible, but my head is reminding me I have bills to pay.
I think the addition of discussion posts, audio and Zoom meetings would work for me though, as they are clearly 'value-added' - it doesn't feel like I am short-changing my free subscribers in any way.
Thanks for this. I've been thinking about paywalls a lot, lately. I started my substack mainly as a way to have a newsletter for my YouTube channel. (I do Canva tutorials showing authors how to use Canva for book marketing). I think, if I were to have a paywall, it would give people access to Canva templates of the examples I make for the tutorials, so that they can make copies and use as their own. So the actual blog would still be free. I think I need to 'walk and ponder' some more.
For a brief week, I paywalled by posts that were older than 2 weeks. But then, I realized that felt disingenuous. I took off all the paywalls. I’m not a pro, I’m a person who loves to write. And I want relationship with my readers.
I am also writing a book, and have published the first half of the book for free on my site. I am now going to paywall the next 6 chapters. I want people to buy my book.
Just wanted to say I loved how genuine the recording is. Background noise. Sporadic giggles. Cats scratching the post. It made it a really warming listen!
Hi Sarah, looking for some advice about introducing extra posts for my paid subscribers. All of my posts are currently free and paid members get a Mindful Writing ebook and monthly Mindful Writing Marathons, which are 2-hour sessions on Zoom.
As of next month, I am bringing in an extra post once a month for paid subscribers that combines elements of my Year of Mindful Writing and Well Writer courses.
I’m not sure what the best way is to send these out. Should I send a free preview to free subscribers or just send only to paid subscribers? Thank you! 🙏🏼💙
I loved this post. I've never been comfortable with paywalling. It goes against the very reason why I write here, to share my experiences to help others. However, all the advice seemed to suggest that was how to make money with Substack. So thank you. I'm looking forward to learning more from you Sarah.
Hi, late to the party here. I wonder if you could explain the terminology here for me, please? I don't understand the nuance between paywalling and being paid. Surely if some of your content is for paid subscribers only then it is by definition paywalled? You can have other posts that everyone can see, and they aren't paywalled? Or am I missing something? Thanks in advance and in hope!
Maybe I'm doing something wrong--I'm interested in this thought, "the service model and the NPR model. I won’t go into all three because I cover them in-depth here. " But the link on the word "here" seems dead. Point me to the story?
I'm writing three Substacks right now and two will have endpoints so eventually I will be able to quit coming up with new material on those. I got overly ambitious and am interested in many things. Ha. But one of them has a paywall within the post and I'm still trying to understand best practices so this post from you Sarah is making me re-think. I do believe that all my time of researching and passing on information is worth something, but this isn't something I want to block some from getting the information. I'm thinking of adding extra value material at the end and keeping the rest free may be the way to go.
This is so helpful. I am struggling with paywalling because my heart is telling me to make everything free so it helps as many people as possible, but my head is reminding me I have bills to pay.
I think the addition of discussion posts, audio and Zoom meetings would work for me though, as they are clearly 'value-added' - it doesn't feel like I am short-changing my free subscribers in any way.
This was great. Generous. Delicious. Helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for this. I've been thinking about paywalls a lot, lately. I started my substack mainly as a way to have a newsletter for my YouTube channel. (I do Canva tutorials showing authors how to use Canva for book marketing). I think, if I were to have a paywall, it would give people access to Canva templates of the examples I make for the tutorials, so that they can make copies and use as their own. So the actual blog would still be free. I think I need to 'walk and ponder' some more.
Really really appreciated this post, thanks so much. Very generous with the workshop links. Thank yoU!
I’d love your help with mine
Thank you, Sarah, for this gem of a piece. I believe a serious "walk and ponder" is necessary!
Also looking forward to the workshop, tonight.
walking magically weaves the threads in my brain. so helpful.
beautifully put, Elizabeth.
Thanks :)
This was extremely helpful. Thank you for this goldmine of honest paywall analysis.
“Paywalling isn’t necessarily the only or best paid strategy on Substack'‘
Look, even Sarah gets it🤩
For a brief week, I paywalled by posts that were older than 2 weeks. But then, I realized that felt disingenuous. I took off all the paywalls. I’m not a pro, I’m a person who loves to write. And I want relationship with my readers.
I am also writing a book, and have published the first half of the book for free on my site. I am now going to paywall the next 6 chapters. I want people to buy my book.
awesome
Sarah - Is there a link to a different article where you write 'here' in the text below as the article doesnt seem to link:
Two others are the service model and the NPR model. I won’t go into all three because I cover them in-depth here .
I noticed the same with this
Thank you for this! It's given me a lot to think about for developing my Substack and content. And I love the voiceover and cats in the background :)
Just wanted to say I loved how genuine the recording is. Background noise. Sporadic giggles. Cats scratching the post. It made it a really warming listen!
agree!!