Survey about paid Newsletters on Substack

Because we're all dying to know, right?

Hi there,

Last night I wrote a full heart-led essay with the punchy title “If only I could pay my rent with products or exposure, I’d live for free”.

I admit, I’m really stoked about it (and you can rest assured that it will be published in the near future).

But writing it also sparked further questions around how we value creative work. Not only by others, but even more so by ourselves… Because if we don’t value what we do, then who will?

This is a question that I have asked myself plenty of times through my artistic career. Especially whenever the confidence to charge dwindled and I was left with the crippling effects of self-doubt (the chronic dis-ease of every creative who ever lived on this planet…).

So, in the spirit of inquisition following my last essay “All it takes is one idea to change your life around”, I want to try the new survey feature that Substack (the newsletter-blog I use to host this publication), so timely launched this week.

This survey serves as much the curious reader as it does myself (Yes, I will write a piece reflecting the results and everyone will remain anonymous).

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I am currently less than 2 weeks away (judging from current reader growth rate) from 1000 free readers, which was the first milestone I set for myself before launching the paid option.

Inevitably, being so close to a big milestone sparks further questions and I want to invite you into the process of figuring out the way to go.

I have been fascinated by the paid newsletter business model for years, and being so close somehow puts everything on an edge… And wouldn’t it be stubbornly naive to disregard the benefit of asking potential reader’s feedback first?

If there’s anything I’ve learnt from having 500k+ across mainstream social media for my embroidery art business, it’s that there’s gold in asking your potential buyer what they think instead of guessing or assuming they think what you think they think… (wow that got thoughtfully tricky ha!).

Ps. I will most likely drag out a bit longer before actually launching my paid feature… so no stress! I’m currently in the idea to set a 25/75 ratio (25% paid, 75% free), whereas access to the archive would be the added paid perk…

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Without further ado

Fill out the survey here!

Transparency disclaimer: There are 11 questions out of which 10 are quick multiple choice and 1 asks for your handle if you want to be tagged when I release the summary.

None of the questions are mandatory to answer (except the one about being tagged), so feel free to only answer what you feel inclined to! I am grateful for any contribution and will think of ways to give back the favour as soon as my launch campaign goes live.

Pps. The whole campaign will be a transparent effort as well, all in line with the experience I’ve acquired from living off my art independently for the past 7 years. I’m really excited (and nervous)!

If you haven’t clicked the link to the Survey yet, HERE IT IS ONE LAST TIME!

Please feel free to share it, as the more responses the greater data set for the basis of analysis (and as such an even more interesting article for everyone involved!).

Elin, xx

Me “analysing” the color charts in my old studio in Sweden, while designing a new embroidery pattern… As if it wasn’t already memorised… ;)