I came to Substack for the community. I don’t pay any subscriptions. Sometimes I like what people write and sometimes I don’t bother to read their work so paying a subscription makes no sense. I also read and share so many different stacks that I’d never be able to afford them all. I have no thoughts of monetizing my ideas, I would just like them to be read. Sharing is the reason I left other platforms and came to Substack. Someday this platform will follow others into oblivion, I can already see algorithms determining what I read each day, so I’ll enjoy reading and sharing while I can until it no longer makes sense to stay here.
Hi Matt, as someone who just joined Substack this month, I appreciate your perspective. There seems to be a rush here for paid subscriptions (like there is on other social platforms). “Build before you bill” is wisdom. That’s how it works in business too.
I came here to rekindle my love for writing. I think of it as a little space in the corner of my desk where there are no deadlines and no bosses—just me, an audience, and a page.
I have paid subs on with a discount so the price is low enough that I give myself space to make changes (most recently, lower frequency). The point is not to replace my full-time job but to allow Substack to earn something from my publication and to keep the kids in pizza on my writing days. :-) There’s no reason a Substack author can’t use both paid subs (optional) and products with a one-time fee.
i 1000% agree! My substack is free for all the reasons you mention. And I've started to offer pay-what-you-can bonus infographics of my articles in my Ko-Fi shop (and i'm soon going to be launching a digital product that people who subscribe to my Substack should be interested in - it's just in the beta testing stage right now and i'm waiting for feedback on it from trusted friends before i launch it as a paid product
Great stuff and insight into the subscription model. I’d rather they tip me by buying me a coffee from time to time based on the article. In that way, I feel more free.
I found this just when I needed it! I have felt stuck here on Substack for a while now. I actually did create a few digital products for my Etsy shop that I share on my Substack. I am also in the process of creating the second edition of my digital & print magazine featuring other Substack writers!!
I so agree with building trust. I see people message and ask for comments and somewhere that hurt me. Because as a writer honestly I would like people to resonate with my work and come to me. Then you know it's a soul tribe. The rest is all show.
Maybe, Matt, but those Substacker chains aren't so binding.
I feel free to write exactly what I think here. I can write as if no one cares and no one's reading.
I've given myself permission to write about masturbation, and use the f word like I never could before.
Substack may have chains, but they are looser, and they don't restrain you as they do on any other platform.
Substack is reciprocal, it gives back easy, without fuss.
Stackers help eachother up. It's a huge plus that there are no trolls about.
It's not so formal business minded as LinkedIn, as wacky-peppy as Tick-tock, or self-indulgent as instagram, as Trumpified crazy as X, or into toxic positivity, perfect families, holidays, dream come true influencer lifestyle and OTT birthday and baby likes as Facebook.
But I'm on the mild side if Substack, never having more than 60 views on anything I've posted, and lucky to get 5 basic standard replies.
Before going viral, Substack is easy as.
I can write what I like because I'm anonymous.
There's barely any others on Substack that live where I do, in inland Australia, on an isolated farm in the mountains.
That is so freeing.
It enables me to be as I am.
And, despite five years as a professional copywriter in my 20s, I hate the interruption of constant advertising breaking up the text I'm reading.
No ads, no trolls, no traction, and basically no one to admonish or unfriend me if I swear.
I offer my paying subscribers original (unique) artwork. The drawings and the photographs they get by subscribing typically sell for much more than the cost of the paid subscription.
But it is going to probably take years until readers figure this out. And that’s okay.
The whole point of this is that my blog here is a bit of a back story to the artwork anyway. So it is a deeper and better connection that is possible.
Oh I do not question your article. Or question any of your published info, which is quite valuable. I just wanted to describe my personal value exchange option for my readers. We do obviously live in a world where a lot is compared to solutions created by loss leaders or monopolists or similar. We are distracted by specifically calculated transactions that appear like a good deal because they were meticulously designed that way. 🤷♂️✨
I would subscribe to a few if I had that loose change.... I love the idea of one time donations. Selling stuff, not so much. But I have unsubscribed many writers who provide one too many "sub only posts"... I cannot afford it. If I could, I would have only a handful, due to me wanting to read many.
Great read. Honest and direct.
The last thing any creator needs is building a prison for themselves.
Building bars to restrict ourselves would be counter-productive.
you're right, T.
Thank you so much, Matt. I can't believe you replied!
It feels terrific when someone who has made it gives away free stuff.
It's like a windfall, or winning on a scratch lottery ticket.
You’ve saved me monetising too early.
I can't thank you enough. X
thanks Evan.
Glad to see you here :)
Well said!
Thx Chris
Yeah and this is before you factor in those readers who paid for an annual subscription! 😳
Yes. Thank you Matt. I'm going to turn off subscriptions now. I look forward to more of your direct content (:
"Build before you bill" just answered my question. Thanks Matt!
🫡
I love this line, Alice S. I may just have to steal it.
me too – haha
Yes, Matt's words have been restacked numerous times I believe 😊
I came to Substack for the community. I don’t pay any subscriptions. Sometimes I like what people write and sometimes I don’t bother to read their work so paying a subscription makes no sense. I also read and share so many different stacks that I’d never be able to afford them all. I have no thoughts of monetizing my ideas, I would just like them to be read. Sharing is the reason I left other platforms and came to Substack. Someday this platform will follow others into oblivion, I can already see algorithms determining what I read each day, so I’ll enjoy reading and sharing while I can until it no longer makes sense to stay here.
sad but true?
Why would a writer focus on an audience as flippant and temporary as this?
Hi Matt, as someone who just joined Substack this month, I appreciate your perspective. There seems to be a rush here for paid subscriptions (like there is on other social platforms). “Build before you bill” is wisdom. That’s how it works in business too.
I came here to rekindle my love for writing. I think of it as a little space in the corner of my desk where there are no deadlines and no bosses—just me, an audience, and a page.
writing is indeed a great way to gain clarity :)
I have paid subs on with a discount so the price is low enough that I give myself space to make changes (most recently, lower frequency). The point is not to replace my full-time job but to allow Substack to earn something from my publication and to keep the kids in pizza on my writing days. :-) There’s no reason a Substack author can’t use both paid subs (optional) and products with a one-time fee.
if this works for you, great!
I’ve put myself in the low priced content membership prison before. It’s no fun.
Unless you have access to a large audience in a short space of time (eg via paid ads, existing subs, etc) it’s almost always a mistake.
But it’s tempting to do - flick the paid switch and you’ve got a product. Just write more. Feels easy. Until it’s not.
Yeah, and that's when "no fun" turns into "disgusting"
Thx for your honest words, Paul
i 1000% agree! My substack is free for all the reasons you mention. And I've started to offer pay-what-you-can bonus infographics of my articles in my Ko-Fi shop (and i'm soon going to be launching a digital product that people who subscribe to my Substack should be interested in - it's just in the beta testing stage right now and i'm waiting for feedback on it from trusted friends before i launch it as a paid product
🫡
Great stuff and insight into the subscription model. I’d rather they tip me by buying me a coffee from time to time based on the article. In that way, I feel more free.
glad it resonated. BUT I don't agree on the buying a coffee thing.
Just doesn't make sense to me.
But if it works for you, that's great
care to share the insight as to why you don’t think Buy me a coffee is a good idea?
I found this just when I needed it! I have felt stuck here on Substack for a while now. I actually did create a few digital products for my Etsy shop that I share on my Substack. I am also in the process of creating the second edition of my digital & print magazine featuring other Substack writers!!
One of the most sensible perspectives on writing a newsletter I’ve ever read. I’m on team “free the newsletter”.
🫡
Yeah, I'm in for your "free the newsletter now" push too. What a fab idea.
I so agree with building trust. I see people message and ask for comments and somewhere that hurt me. Because as a writer honestly I would like people to resonate with my work and come to me. Then you know it's a soul tribe. The rest is all show.
Thank you for this genuine piece.
This is a place where it is safe to be genuine, where we give respect to genuine, high-interest writing.
I don't like people here pleading for likes and comments, or subs either.
Like you, I just thought people might want to read what I have to offer, because we are worth it.
glad it helped, A.
This post has helped me a lot. Thanks, Matt. I see a lot clearer now.
Glad it helped!
I love this, especially your brutal honesty. I came to Substack to get away from the chains of the algorithm.
truth is, there are still chains.
Maybe, Matt, but those Substacker chains aren't so binding.
I feel free to write exactly what I think here. I can write as if no one cares and no one's reading.
I've given myself permission to write about masturbation, and use the f word like I never could before.
Substack may have chains, but they are looser, and they don't restrain you as they do on any other platform.
Substack is reciprocal, it gives back easy, without fuss.
Stackers help eachother up. It's a huge plus that there are no trolls about.
It's not so formal business minded as LinkedIn, as wacky-peppy as Tick-tock, or self-indulgent as instagram, as Trumpified crazy as X, or into toxic positivity, perfect families, holidays, dream come true influencer lifestyle and OTT birthday and baby likes as Facebook.
But I'm on the mild side if Substack, never having more than 60 views on anything I've posted, and lucky to get 5 basic standard replies.
Before going viral, Substack is easy as.
I can write what I like because I'm anonymous.
There's barely any others on Substack that live where I do, in inland Australia, on an isolated farm in the mountains.
That is so freeing.
It enables me to be as I am.
And, despite five years as a professional copywriter in my 20s, I hate the interruption of constant advertising breaking up the text I'm reading.
No ads, no trolls, no traction, and basically no one to admonish or unfriend me if I swear.
I mean, how bloody lucky am I?
I offer my paying subscribers original (unique) artwork. The drawings and the photographs they get by subscribing typically sell for much more than the cost of the paid subscription.
But it is going to probably take years until readers figure this out. And that’s okay.
The whole point of this is that my blog here is a bit of a back story to the artwork anyway. So it is a deeper and better connection that is possible.
But again, it will take years. No?
Truth be told, my article was written for experts who have a solution to sell.
Not artists. Does that make sense now?
Oh I do not question your article. Or question any of your published info, which is quite valuable. I just wanted to describe my personal value exchange option for my readers. We do obviously live in a world where a lot is compared to solutions created by loss leaders or monopolists or similar. We are distracted by specifically calculated transactions that appear like a good deal because they were meticulously designed that way. 🤷♂️✨
I would subscribe to a few if I had that loose change.... I love the idea of one time donations. Selling stuff, not so much. But I have unsubscribed many writers who provide one too many "sub only posts"... I cannot afford it. If I could, I would have only a handful, due to me wanting to read many.
Agreed, although your numbers are off.
It’s 1% conversion for most, perhaps less than that.
The keep writing because you now have to - that’s real.
The issue: not all topics lend themselves to conversion for courses, consulting, etc.
Ask me how I know…
Agreed on the issue.
Perhaps getting more clarity on your goals will help