Paywalls have never enticed me to upgrade to paid (in my short experience here). When I stumble on an article that has the end of it paywalled, I just click away from that site. (Which is why I opted to take down all paywalls on my site). I am not totally resigned to my choice as of now. My current frame of mind points towards looking at subscriptions as patrons.
It's hard because I believe people should be supported for their work but at the same time I also click away if I see paywalls. It makes me wonder if people do the same with my posts and maybe I should just take them all down. (It's just my archive that's paywalled)
I think it’s a very tough decision. I tried it one way for a couple of weeks, then changed my mind for the past few weeks. Who knows how I’ll feel next month.
It’s always a good call to pay attention to one’s own actions as a reader and apply them to your own publication too! I do the same. Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼
Thank you for posing these interesting questions. I only have one paid subscription and it’s to Raising Myles because, the writer being my best friend aside, the sub money is going to a college fund. I feel compelled to pay when there is a heartfelt reason to do so.
That being said I regularly donate to readers that I enjoy Buy Me A Coffee simply because it’s more sustainable to hand over 5 or 10 bucks when I can as recognition of my gratitude for their writing. If I could be a paid subscriber to all my favs I would, but that’s not my reality at the moment.
Paywalls don’t turn me off because I recognize not everything is for everyone. I don’t walk up in the Gucci store because I know it’s out of my range at the moment. I see paywalled writing like that. Lovely but out of reach and that is okay.
I don’t paywall any of my writing, largely because my aim this season is to cast as wide of a net and connect with people of like interest to build a community. To do so like you said while paywalling decreases reach and conversation. If my strategy changes that might change and I will be able to plan and adapt to that.
I do give people the opportunity to buy me a coffee or gift a book for my shelf if they feel moved to do so as it is less commitment than a monthly subscription. For that reason I am eternally gratefully to my paid subscribers because they are currently paying for writing free for everyone.
I like that you don’t want writers to starve. Artists are hardly appreciated formally. Supporting writers for a social impact is as well crucial given that they see what the average don't see. They dedicate their time and energy to social causes. I write about African problems and possibilities
Elin, great article, and I am glad my perspective could add to the conversation. This is a challenging topic. I looked back over the publications I paid for. A couple were big-name publications that were offering a significant service, and I have benefited from those. One was a big name that promised something and hasn't delivered. I am frustrated by that. The rest were smaller publications (at the time I signed up) but I had come to know and respect the writers and I wanted to support their growth on the platform. Every dollar I have earned has been pumped back into the ecosystem to support other small writers. A few do have paywalls on some of their content but the vast majority of their stuff is free. Bottom line - the paywall never converted me.
On my publication, I seemed to get paid subscribers after a particularly personal essay but there hasn't been any consistency in it. I want my content to be available to everyone but I also would like to get paid for my work. There was a Note recently that garnered a lot of comments on this topic and I was a little surprised how many people felt they didn't need to pay for anything, that it should all be free. That is one extreme view. The other reality is I would love to pay for every publication I subscribe to but money is finite. I intentionally keep my prices low so that if people do want to support me, it doesn't cost much. I have also had some success using "Tip Jars" like Buy Me a Coffee.
People are so used to free content on social media that they don't think it's important to (financially) support artists. They get annoyed that we're being greedy and should just keep giving our work away. It's that thing of "if you love it, then it's not really work". It makes me so sad that this is the way. I think it will lead to more AI content, and a decrease in well-written work.
I definitely hope it won’t lead to more ai content! I’m on the side I suppose where I think the human word will become a “luxury product” which perhaps is Both a good and bad thing (good if it’s valued more, but bad because it raises the bar of who can afford it) interesting convo!
Sadly agree! I stopped writing on my main site when I saw the effects of AI bots on my ad-based bottom line and realized that I was basically contributing content to be scraped by them at this point.
I also share the same opinions you have, Matthew. I've been considering not having my archive be locked to just paid viewers since I as a reader don't like paywalled content.
I've only been on substack for just under a year and a half and don't have any paid subs. I wonder if it's just that I'm still new and in the beginning or if people are not interested. It's a hard balance.
I appreciate this post. Thank you for doing this research. Personally, I pay wall pieces that are more personal to me. Not things I hope people will be "enticed" to pay for. It's a patron model for sure where I share the more personal parts of me with people who care enough to pay.
I think this is working because I also have a clear boundary in my mind about what fits in this category and it's pieces I truly don't want to share with those who aren't somewhat invested here.
I don't really know if this is a model that will ever pay my bills. 😂 I wouldn't be mad if it did.
Clear boundaries are always helpful in any pursuit! I’ve also seen this approach of more sensitive topics being paywalled as opposed to educative posts (reflecting the nature of a newsletter too!) it’s a good one
I'm glad to read this, as mine is similar. I also am finding that with the paywalls posts I know who is reading, as opposed to anything else I put on the internet (I share a lot and have been sharing for almost 16 years!). I am liking having the paywall to finally share some of the deeper more personal work.
I need to be able to read at least a few articles to get a feel for the work and to see if what is offered is valuable to me. Why would I pay for something I haven’t gotten the chance to see? It doesn’t make sense to me. A person is more likely to convert if they’ve been impacted by someone’s work, assuming they have actually been able to read them through. One can’t do so when most of the article is blocked. People want to know what they are paying for. They want to know it adds value to them. And if someone paywalls a high quality article, how will people who are new subscribers view it (who don’t know the history of the persons great work) be able to see that it’s high quality if most of it is paywalled? Then again… I get why someone may want to paywall too. It’s a hard thing to “figure” out. Maybe it’s just up to the person. I don’t know 😭(This is my thoughts, this is not said in any tone) it’s to just answer the question about what I feel about paywalls. :)
This was such a fascinating post Elin, thank you. I have spent time thinking about paywalling/a paid strategy for my publication. I haven’t found the ideal way of doing it yet. I do spend a lot of time planning and writing my pieces here so for now I feel the most comfortable not paywalling but with paid being an option for those who wish to support me and find value in my work (and it is SO appreciated). I recently had the experience of someone upgrading after receiving an email from Substack offering them a discount on a year’s subscription (an email that apparently goes to your most engaged readers). I had nothing to do with it but it did work in this instance and I am grateful xx
Oh that’s a wonderful insight! I honestly haven’t checked at all what substack sends out separately… though the fact that they do is one of the reasons I don’t want to move my main list over here as I feel uncomfortable not having control of the wool process. that said, your testimonial of an upgrade is absolutely lovely (and so well deserved!!) xx
I know, I had no idea! You are wise to keep them separate for that reason (though I believe you can turn off the ‘boost’ setting that allows Substack to email your most engaged readers). Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate them deeply! xx
Super coverage of the paradox of being a writer and reader navigating paywalls. I’m especially keen to see data from the eco system question. My sense is that this shapes a lot of paywall decision modelling.
When I started the Parents Who Think publication here, I imagined paywalls for audio, personal essays and a chat facility to discuss hot topic debates in the podcast. I wasted hours of my life considering this. I won’t waste yours by reproducing the various ways I tried to cut that paywall model. Bottom line: I’d have been better served using that time earning in my day job and surrendering to sheer pleasure for the heck of it. I’m probably going to have ‘write what the fuck I want when I fancy’ at the ♥️
But I’m in a spot that many aren’t in. I appreciate for those for whom Substack is their income or contributes to food on the table then paywalls are critical to finesse.
Bravo for this analytic heart driven article. Right up my strasse.
We’re in the same boat of having wasted time reflecting on it haha and would’ve definitely made more money spending it on my day job too!
Though the “write whatever my heart calls me to do” aspect is a neglected part of the creative process and is perhaps more important in the overall artistic job (our day jobs are quite different so this will obviously have different importance!) but for me I’ve had a positive impact on my overall work whether it can be measured in income or not..
The aspect of connecting with others we wouldn’t otherwise have had access to is also a “non-measurable” metric of sorts that can be hugely valuable too!! Like connecting with you 💫👏💕
Elin, thanks for staying on this topic. It is a quandary to be sure. Frankly I don't have a clue what's best but pay walling everything, I would never do. I have to also mention that beautiful photograph. It perfectly illustrates my preference for black and white sometimes. Texture, shadowing mood and feel. Just a fantastic photo. Thanks again - Jim
Thanks Jim! I’ll forward this to my husband. He was a fashion photographer in Paris when we met so this is a good reminder that he should pick up his camera more (he exited the fashion industry as it didn’t feel ethically aligned on many levels) cheers!
I paywall some articles because I put a lot of work into them and know the information is valuable to people; however, I have never become a paid subscriber because of a paywall myself.
Paywalled articles have gotten me a few paid subscribers, but the majority come from people who just want to support my work.
I think paywalls might be least off-putting from writers who teach you how to sell because that's authentic to their newsletter. However, I'm starting to think that the creative energy that's put into marketing and selling (because it is creative and I respect it) takes away time and creative energy from writing my best work.
I'm not teaching people how to sell, so making everything free might seem more authentic to my newsletter. At least, that's how it feels to me sometimes.
If I do make everything free, I might write something like, "Everything on Born Without Borders is free because your financial situation shouldn't dictate what you can learn; however, my financial situation does control how much time I can put into research and writing my best work. If you find value in my work and want to support an ad-free environment, please consider becoming a paid subscriber." *Side note, I couldn't vote in the polls. I think there are some glitches with them. This often happens with Substack polls.
I had no idea about these glitches, thanks for bringing that to my attention! Seems to be more who’ve had that issue..
Spontaneously I think your short description you show here is great because it’s the most authentic to your values and your work on here and I think you’d have more success on the platform and peace of mind to stay creative here while freeing up mind space to consider other offerings off platform down the road when you’re ready. And to really look at it as one part of a larger eco system than the only thing (even if that would be the dream)
I no longer even begin to read articles that are paywalled... There have been a few times I've considered upgrading a subscription, but facing a paywall doesn't really push me into the subscribing camp. There are sometimes I read a good post from a writer I wasn't previously aware, go to their newsletter, and learn that it's their only or perhaps one of 3 free to read articles. How can I figure out if I like the writing well enough to pay for it if I can't read it?
I'd sort of like to paywall selected archives, but I'm not convinced it would bring more readers, and might deter. I think I'll wait a year to do that, if at all. I have thought about turning on a passive paid option on, not promoting it, but would prefer to start at a lower minimum, say $3. I like the choice of tip jar or cuppa coffee, but it's frowned on by Substack, I believe. Thanks for the chance to chime in, Elin.
Being a novice writer with shaky writing skills and not yet confident I have found my voice, I have no paywall on my Substack. As a reader, I only which that I were independently wealthy relative to paywalls.
I do find paywalls frustrating at times - like when they are strategically placed at the point in the essay right where I’m pulled in. I get it. I do. But I think that approach has only had me convert to a paid subscription once.
My offering to paid subscribers is a monthly gathering to be in communion on Zoom where we talk all things writerly life, bring short pieces of work to share (ours and/or others) that move us. My paid posse (that’s what I affectionately call them 🤗) is a small group of 20 so it is intimate that way. I’m also sharing behind the paywall small excerpts from a book proposal I’m working on - stuff I really only trust to pull the curtain back on with folks who I know support my writing. It’s a vulnerability factor/consideration for me.
My subscribers come (these days) mostly from recommendations. That has been way more useful a tool here than paywalling.
Thank you for putting the work into this exploration, Elin. Your content is super helpful for so many and you always add your own creative flair. 💕
Thank you Allison for sharing!! And for your sweet feedback- always a bit nervous when sharing this more data driven posts that it gets too substack-esque as Russell Nohelty would call it when really I’m just curious myself and want to spark conversations more than anything.
So I am on the model "pay to support my free content if you like", but that's because I have no strategy, I just want to explore my voice and write. But I can imagine if someday I want to focus on paid subs, paywalling may not be my go to option, though I find some here who mentioned they paywall their more sensitive/personal content and that makes a lot of sense if you want to share only with a tight-knit community of some things, else I will also ask myself how else can I give as extra to my paid subs instead of paywalling when it comes to that. For those of us not teaching or giving any obvious service besides their written word, it's not easy. Thanks for continue this current relevant topic!
It’s definitely not easy and I think the environment has made it such that if you’ve got nothing else outside it’s hard to make people sign up for the letters uniquely. I’m glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the feedback!
But I've also seen the method of supporting free content working, albeit only for selected few. Maybe we will all find another sweet spot somewhere for both free and paid subscribers.
I started with no paywall and all archive available until I was advised to keep my archive under a paywall.
It is a tricky one! I know for myself there are publications I truly value and supporting them goes beyond a paywall. Perhaps it is the same for some of my readers. The results have not been great with paywalls though.
I think adding additional exclusive video and audio tutorials or workshops on paywalls could be my incentive.
I don’t know if reaching a certain subscriber milestone gives authors a certain credit to using paywall. At the same time leaving the publication grow as a freemium is it relevant enough without any real conversion behind.
If the perceived value is not high for the readers, some of our works could become a community in their inbox. Always available but not triggering real engagement.
I agree that the most relevant step is to bring in new offers like external courses, workshops etc. I am thinking of such moves for my Substack.
Each one of us have to test and adapt to the diversity of readers we have, yet also identify those real fan readers and what they could need as extra support from our publications.
I think that I've identified three different things that have made me want to start paying to read, (putting aside the pricing aspect for a moment).
One is the patronage model: just wanting to support the writing.
The second is the writing-for-sale model: there is something I want to read, the writer has paywalled it to indicate that they require to be paid for it, and it seems like a fair bargain.
The third is a bit more complicated: I asked a question on a non-paywalled substack that would have drawn on the writer's professional expertise (in publishing). A moment after I posted, I thought about how we're largely socialized to bother women for help more than we bother men (this plays out in universities, where students are, or at least were, more likely to approach female faculty members for advice and so forth.). It seemed to me that I had been possibly guilty of that, and I switched to paid so as to feel comfortable about the question I had asked and about any I might ask in the future.
Beyond that, the pricing does make a big difference. I suspect that I would pay for many more substacks if the annual fees were considerably lower. And I'd feel more ready to turn on a pay option on mine (I guess it would be on the patronage model) if I could set a really low annual fee.
Right now I read (and love) many substacks, way too many to pay for at the current fees that I think are the minimums, but I'd gladly pay a smaller annual fee for many of them, including on the patronage model.
Paywalls have never enticed me to upgrade to paid (in my short experience here). When I stumble on an article that has the end of it paywalled, I just click away from that site. (Which is why I opted to take down all paywalls on my site). I am not totally resigned to my choice as of now. My current frame of mind points towards looking at subscriptions as patrons.
I feel the same.
It's hard because I believe people should be supported for their work but at the same time I also click away if I see paywalls. It makes me wonder if people do the same with my posts and maybe I should just take them all down. (It's just my archive that's paywalled)
I think it’s a very tough decision. I tried it one way for a couple of weeks, then changed my mind for the past few weeks. Who knows how I’ll feel next month.
I support those I am able to.
It’s always a good call to pay attention to one’s own actions as a reader and apply them to your own publication too! I do the same. Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼
Thank you for posing these interesting questions. I only have one paid subscription and it’s to Raising Myles because, the writer being my best friend aside, the sub money is going to a college fund. I feel compelled to pay when there is a heartfelt reason to do so.
That being said I regularly donate to readers that I enjoy Buy Me A Coffee simply because it’s more sustainable to hand over 5 or 10 bucks when I can as recognition of my gratitude for their writing. If I could be a paid subscriber to all my favs I would, but that’s not my reality at the moment.
Paywalls don’t turn me off because I recognize not everything is for everyone. I don’t walk up in the Gucci store because I know it’s out of my range at the moment. I see paywalled writing like that. Lovely but out of reach and that is okay.
I don’t paywall any of my writing, largely because my aim this season is to cast as wide of a net and connect with people of like interest to build a community. To do so like you said while paywalling decreases reach and conversation. If my strategy changes that might change and I will be able to plan and adapt to that.
I do give people the opportunity to buy me a coffee or gift a book for my shelf if they feel moved to do so as it is less commitment than a monthly subscription. For that reason I am eternally gratefully to my paid subscribers because they are currently paying for writing free for everyone.
Thanks for the read.
I like that you don’t want writers to starve. Artists are hardly appreciated formally. Supporting writers for a social impact is as well crucial given that they see what the average don't see. They dedicate their time and energy to social causes. I write about African problems and possibilities
I’d like to believe most people want to support how they can. Thank you for seeing me. You’re correct, I like to show gratitude the best I can
Elin, great article, and I am glad my perspective could add to the conversation. This is a challenging topic. I looked back over the publications I paid for. A couple were big-name publications that were offering a significant service, and I have benefited from those. One was a big name that promised something and hasn't delivered. I am frustrated by that. The rest were smaller publications (at the time I signed up) but I had come to know and respect the writers and I wanted to support their growth on the platform. Every dollar I have earned has been pumped back into the ecosystem to support other small writers. A few do have paywalls on some of their content but the vast majority of their stuff is free. Bottom line - the paywall never converted me.
On my publication, I seemed to get paid subscribers after a particularly personal essay but there hasn't been any consistency in it. I want my content to be available to everyone but I also would like to get paid for my work. There was a Note recently that garnered a lot of comments on this topic and I was a little surprised how many people felt they didn't need to pay for anything, that it should all be free. That is one extreme view. The other reality is I would love to pay for every publication I subscribe to but money is finite. I intentionally keep my prices low so that if people do want to support me, it doesn't cost much. I have also had some success using "Tip Jars" like Buy Me a Coffee.
People are so used to free content on social media that they don't think it's important to (financially) support artists. They get annoyed that we're being greedy and should just keep giving our work away. It's that thing of "if you love it, then it's not really work". It makes me so sad that this is the way. I think it will lead to more AI content, and a decrease in well-written work.
I definitely hope it won’t lead to more ai content! I’m on the side I suppose where I think the human word will become a “luxury product” which perhaps is Both a good and bad thing (good if it’s valued more, but bad because it raises the bar of who can afford it) interesting convo!
Sadly agree! I stopped writing on my main site when I saw the effects of AI bots on my ad-based bottom line and realized that I was basically contributing content to be scraped by them at this point.
I also share the same opinions you have, Matthew. I've been considering not having my archive be locked to just paid viewers since I as a reader don't like paywalled content.
I've only been on substack for just under a year and a half and don't have any paid subs. I wonder if it's just that I'm still new and in the beginning or if people are not interested. It's a hard balance.
I appreciate this post. Thank you for doing this research. Personally, I pay wall pieces that are more personal to me. Not things I hope people will be "enticed" to pay for. It's a patron model for sure where I share the more personal parts of me with people who care enough to pay.
I think this is working because I also have a clear boundary in my mind about what fits in this category and it's pieces I truly don't want to share with those who aren't somewhat invested here.
I don't really know if this is a model that will ever pay my bills. 😂 I wouldn't be mad if it did.
Clear boundaries are always helpful in any pursuit! I’ve also seen this approach of more sensitive topics being paywalled as opposed to educative posts (reflecting the nature of a newsletter too!) it’s a good one
I'm glad to read this, as mine is similar. I also am finding that with the paywalls posts I know who is reading, as opposed to anything else I put on the internet (I share a lot and have been sharing for almost 16 years!). I am liking having the paywall to finally share some of the deeper more personal work.
I need to be able to read at least a few articles to get a feel for the work and to see if what is offered is valuable to me. Why would I pay for something I haven’t gotten the chance to see? It doesn’t make sense to me. A person is more likely to convert if they’ve been impacted by someone’s work, assuming they have actually been able to read them through. One can’t do so when most of the article is blocked. People want to know what they are paying for. They want to know it adds value to them. And if someone paywalls a high quality article, how will people who are new subscribers view it (who don’t know the history of the persons great work) be able to see that it’s high quality if most of it is paywalled? Then again… I get why someone may want to paywall too. It’s a hard thing to “figure” out. Maybe it’s just up to the person. I don’t know 😭(This is my thoughts, this is not said in any tone) it’s to just answer the question about what I feel about paywalls. :)
This was such a fascinating post Elin, thank you. I have spent time thinking about paywalling/a paid strategy for my publication. I haven’t found the ideal way of doing it yet. I do spend a lot of time planning and writing my pieces here so for now I feel the most comfortable not paywalling but with paid being an option for those who wish to support me and find value in my work (and it is SO appreciated). I recently had the experience of someone upgrading after receiving an email from Substack offering them a discount on a year’s subscription (an email that apparently goes to your most engaged readers). I had nothing to do with it but it did work in this instance and I am grateful xx
Oh that’s a wonderful insight! I honestly haven’t checked at all what substack sends out separately… though the fact that they do is one of the reasons I don’t want to move my main list over here as I feel uncomfortable not having control of the wool process. that said, your testimonial of an upgrade is absolutely lovely (and so well deserved!!) xx
I know, I had no idea! You are wise to keep them separate for that reason (though I believe you can turn off the ‘boost’ setting that allows Substack to email your most engaged readers). Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate them deeply! xx
You know I’m into this topic 😉👯♀️
Super coverage of the paradox of being a writer and reader navigating paywalls. I’m especially keen to see data from the eco system question. My sense is that this shapes a lot of paywall decision modelling.
When I started the Parents Who Think publication here, I imagined paywalls for audio, personal essays and a chat facility to discuss hot topic debates in the podcast. I wasted hours of my life considering this. I won’t waste yours by reproducing the various ways I tried to cut that paywall model. Bottom line: I’d have been better served using that time earning in my day job and surrendering to sheer pleasure for the heck of it. I’m probably going to have ‘write what the fuck I want when I fancy’ at the ♥️
But I’m in a spot that many aren’t in. I appreciate for those for whom Substack is their income or contributes to food on the table then paywalls are critical to finesse.
Bravo for this analytic heart driven article. Right up my strasse.
We’re in the same boat of having wasted time reflecting on it haha and would’ve definitely made more money spending it on my day job too!
Though the “write whatever my heart calls me to do” aspect is a neglected part of the creative process and is perhaps more important in the overall artistic job (our day jobs are quite different so this will obviously have different importance!) but for me I’ve had a positive impact on my overall work whether it can be measured in income or not..
The aspect of connecting with others we wouldn’t otherwise have had access to is also a “non-measurable” metric of sorts that can be hugely valuable too!! Like connecting with you 💫👏💕
Elin, thanks for staying on this topic. It is a quandary to be sure. Frankly I don't have a clue what's best but pay walling everything, I would never do. I have to also mention that beautiful photograph. It perfectly illustrates my preference for black and white sometimes. Texture, shadowing mood and feel. Just a fantastic photo. Thanks again - Jim
Thanks Jim! I’ll forward this to my husband. He was a fashion photographer in Paris when we met so this is a good reminder that he should pick up his camera more (he exited the fashion industry as it didn’t feel ethically aligned on many levels) cheers!
I paywall some articles because I put a lot of work into them and know the information is valuable to people; however, I have never become a paid subscriber because of a paywall myself.
Paywalled articles have gotten me a few paid subscribers, but the majority come from people who just want to support my work.
I think paywalls might be least off-putting from writers who teach you how to sell because that's authentic to their newsletter. However, I'm starting to think that the creative energy that's put into marketing and selling (because it is creative and I respect it) takes away time and creative energy from writing my best work.
I'm not teaching people how to sell, so making everything free might seem more authentic to my newsletter. At least, that's how it feels to me sometimes.
If I do make everything free, I might write something like, "Everything on Born Without Borders is free because your financial situation shouldn't dictate what you can learn; however, my financial situation does control how much time I can put into research and writing my best work. If you find value in my work and want to support an ad-free environment, please consider becoming a paid subscriber." *Side note, I couldn't vote in the polls. I think there are some glitches with them. This often happens with Substack polls.
I had no idea about these glitches, thanks for bringing that to my attention! Seems to be more who’ve had that issue..
Spontaneously I think your short description you show here is great because it’s the most authentic to your values and your work on here and I think you’d have more success on the platform and peace of mind to stay creative here while freeing up mind space to consider other offerings off platform down the road when you’re ready. And to really look at it as one part of a larger eco system than the only thing (even if that would be the dream)
I no longer even begin to read articles that are paywalled... There have been a few times I've considered upgrading a subscription, but facing a paywall doesn't really push me into the subscribing camp. There are sometimes I read a good post from a writer I wasn't previously aware, go to their newsletter, and learn that it's their only or perhaps one of 3 free to read articles. How can I figure out if I like the writing well enough to pay for it if I can't read it?
I'd sort of like to paywall selected archives, but I'm not convinced it would bring more readers, and might deter. I think I'll wait a year to do that, if at all. I have thought about turning on a passive paid option on, not promoting it, but would prefer to start at a lower minimum, say $3. I like the choice of tip jar or cuppa coffee, but it's frowned on by Substack, I believe. Thanks for the chance to chime in, Elin.
Appreciate your time Mary Ellen!!
Being a novice writer with shaky writing skills and not yet confident I have found my voice, I have no paywall on my Substack. As a reader, I only which that I were independently wealthy relative to paywalls.
We’re more that wish that haha
I do find paywalls frustrating at times - like when they are strategically placed at the point in the essay right where I’m pulled in. I get it. I do. But I think that approach has only had me convert to a paid subscription once.
My offering to paid subscribers is a monthly gathering to be in communion on Zoom where we talk all things writerly life, bring short pieces of work to share (ours and/or others) that move us. My paid posse (that’s what I affectionately call them 🤗) is a small group of 20 so it is intimate that way. I’m also sharing behind the paywall small excerpts from a book proposal I’m working on - stuff I really only trust to pull the curtain back on with folks who I know support my writing. It’s a vulnerability factor/consideration for me.
My subscribers come (these days) mostly from recommendations. That has been way more useful a tool here than paywalling.
Thank you for putting the work into this exploration, Elin. Your content is super helpful for so many and you always add your own creative flair. 💕
Thank you Allison for sharing!! And for your sweet feedback- always a bit nervous when sharing this more data driven posts that it gets too substack-esque as Russell Nohelty would call it when really I’m just curious myself and want to spark conversations more than anything.
Conversations fascinate me 🙏🏼 thanks for joining!
So I am on the model "pay to support my free content if you like", but that's because I have no strategy, I just want to explore my voice and write. But I can imagine if someday I want to focus on paid subs, paywalling may not be my go to option, though I find some here who mentioned they paywall their more sensitive/personal content and that makes a lot of sense if you want to share only with a tight-knit community of some things, else I will also ask myself how else can I give as extra to my paid subs instead of paywalling when it comes to that. For those of us not teaching or giving any obvious service besides their written word, it's not easy. Thanks for continue this current relevant topic!
It’s definitely not easy and I think the environment has made it such that if you’ve got nothing else outside it’s hard to make people sign up for the letters uniquely. I’m glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the feedback!
But I've also seen the method of supporting free content working, albeit only for selected few. Maybe we will all find another sweet spot somewhere for both free and paid subscribers.
I started with no paywall and all archive available until I was advised to keep my archive under a paywall.
It is a tricky one! I know for myself there are publications I truly value and supporting them goes beyond a paywall. Perhaps it is the same for some of my readers. The results have not been great with paywalls though.
I think adding additional exclusive video and audio tutorials or workshops on paywalls could be my incentive.
I don’t know if reaching a certain subscriber milestone gives authors a certain credit to using paywall. At the same time leaving the publication grow as a freemium is it relevant enough without any real conversion behind.
If the perceived value is not high for the readers, some of our works could become a community in their inbox. Always available but not triggering real engagement.
I agree that the most relevant step is to bring in new offers like external courses, workshops etc. I am thinking of such moves for my Substack.
Each one of us have to test and adapt to the diversity of readers we have, yet also identify those real fan readers and what they could need as extra support from our publications.
I think that I've identified three different things that have made me want to start paying to read, (putting aside the pricing aspect for a moment).
One is the patronage model: just wanting to support the writing.
The second is the writing-for-sale model: there is something I want to read, the writer has paywalled it to indicate that they require to be paid for it, and it seems like a fair bargain.
The third is a bit more complicated: I asked a question on a non-paywalled substack that would have drawn on the writer's professional expertise (in publishing). A moment after I posted, I thought about how we're largely socialized to bother women for help more than we bother men (this plays out in universities, where students are, or at least were, more likely to approach female faculty members for advice and so forth.). It seemed to me that I had been possibly guilty of that, and I switched to paid so as to feel comfortable about the question I had asked and about any I might ask in the future.
Beyond that, the pricing does make a big difference. I suspect that I would pay for many more substacks if the annual fees were considerably lower. And I'd feel more ready to turn on a pay option on mine (I guess it would be on the patronage model) if I could set a really low annual fee.
Right now I read (and love) many substacks, way too many to pay for at the current fees that I think are the minimums, but I'd gladly pay a smaller annual fee for many of them, including on the patronage model.