As I move from Medium, where I first found your work, to Substack, where, happily, i found you again, and as I learn more about “how it works,” while continuing the decision making process of whether to start my own ‘stack or not, I find myself wondering whether I should put up a paywall or not. That is a pretty big decision, because I have to feel confident in my own work that enough of what I write would be interesting enough to let/make a reader pay to read it.
I also have come to the conclusion that I will no longer read writers who limit their comment sections to paid subscribers, no matter how good they are; I miss out on many whose writing I really like, but somehow, not allowing comments from those of us not able to afford to support *every* writer we read tells me something important. I know why many do it, but it irks me a bit when I want to contribute, but cannot.
I would say that you should put up a paywall but offer all your work for free like I do. That way people can support you if they're inclined, but your work is available to everyone. When you start to use Substack, you'll notice that it's easy to mistakenly put your comments behind a paywall. I've had that click on a few times without my realizing it. I discovered that even if you set it to "no paywall," if you select the option to republish on your podcast feed, the paywall on comments comes back on automatically. So, that happens even if I don't want it to. Thanks James, I'm glad you're here!
Effective earnings strategy--yes! Why do I appreciate your guidance so much? Perhaps you are reinforcing what I think is right for me and tapping into the way people are rapidly changing patterns of getting and giving value. Yes, I no longer go to stores after a pandemic taught me anything worth having will be delivered to your door. Yes, I unsubscribe when someone throws up a paywall without any alternative way to support them, no matter how good their writing is.
Thanks Georgia! Yes, it's important that we adopt this new mindset to support the writes who tell the truth rather than allow ourselves to be programmed by billionaire owned media (which lies). Some paywalls come up by accident, but I agree that content should be free. Thanks for your support!
I have really been battling the concept of paywalls lately. I’ve asked many other writers and received a lot of different perspectives. Yours resonates with me. Thanks for the post!
I've seen other publications succeed through donations, but usually they are about personal opinions, politics, or maybe humor. They never publications by experts that teach something.
That’s interesting, I hadn’t considered that the type of content you publish might determine if people are willing to sponsor you or not. Here in the US, people are very frustrated with the mainstream news and just want to see some representation for their opinions. I think that’s what’s driving the support of my newsletter.
Walter - Thank you for writing this. It is encouraging. I've been writing on Substack for about 5 months, and I want my weekly newsletter (Becoming Enriched) to remain free. I would love it if I could continue writing for free, but readers occasionally decide to send me a small donation.
There are so many excellent substacks. Each asks for payment. If I paid $5 for each one I like, per month, it would be $500, $6000 per year. I am stymied.
I do read a lot of news and am also unhappy with the old mainstream newspapers.
I, too, am disappointed when there is a paywall for paying subscribers only. I have read one well known writer say that it’s the only way to keep out bots and harassment.
This substack seems excellent on first encounter. I will read more. I like the approach of a discount for paying upfront for a longer lasting subscription.
My entry tier is $20 per year, but all the content is free. I write about social justice. I'm a Boost nominator on Medium and I help writers get more visibly for important stories.
As I move from Medium, where I first found your work, to Substack, where, happily, i found you again, and as I learn more about “how it works,” while continuing the decision making process of whether to start my own ‘stack or not, I find myself wondering whether I should put up a paywall or not. That is a pretty big decision, because I have to feel confident in my own work that enough of what I write would be interesting enough to let/make a reader pay to read it.
I also have come to the conclusion that I will no longer read writers who limit their comment sections to paid subscribers, no matter how good they are; I miss out on many whose writing I really like, but somehow, not allowing comments from those of us not able to afford to support *every* writer we read tells me something important. I know why many do it, but it irks me a bit when I want to contribute, but cannot.
I would say that you should put up a paywall but offer all your work for free like I do. That way people can support you if they're inclined, but your work is available to everyone. When you start to use Substack, you'll notice that it's easy to mistakenly put your comments behind a paywall. I've had that click on a few times without my realizing it. I discovered that even if you set it to "no paywall," if you select the option to republish on your podcast feed, the paywall on comments comes back on automatically. So, that happens even if I don't want it to. Thanks James, I'm glad you're here!
Effective earnings strategy--yes! Why do I appreciate your guidance so much? Perhaps you are reinforcing what I think is right for me and tapping into the way people are rapidly changing patterns of getting and giving value. Yes, I no longer go to stores after a pandemic taught me anything worth having will be delivered to your door. Yes, I unsubscribe when someone throws up a paywall without any alternative way to support them, no matter how good their writing is.
Thanks Georgia! Yes, it's important that we adopt this new mindset to support the writes who tell the truth rather than allow ourselves to be programmed by billionaire owned media (which lies). Some paywalls come up by accident, but I agree that content should be free. Thanks for your support!
I have really been battling the concept of paywalls lately. I’ve asked many other writers and received a lot of different perspectives. Yours resonates with me. Thanks for the post!
Thanks for sharing.
I've seen other publications succeed through donations, but usually they are about personal opinions, politics, or maybe humor. They never publications by experts that teach something.
Do you see this distinction?
Do you know some counterexample?
That’s interesting, I hadn’t considered that the type of content you publish might determine if people are willing to sponsor you or not. Here in the US, people are very frustrated with the mainstream news and just want to see some representation for their opinions. I think that’s what’s driving the support of my newsletter.
Exactly, opinion pieces in general are a better match for “donations”.
Walter - Thank you for writing this. It is encouraging. I've been writing on Substack for about 5 months, and I want my weekly newsletter (Becoming Enriched) to remain free. I would love it if I could continue writing for free, but readers occasionally decide to send me a small donation.
Thanks again for such a generous wealth of advice, Walter. Congratulations also, on becoming a Substack Bestseller! 💪👏
Thank you Rebecca!
Walter, congrats on becoming a bestseller and thanks for the valuable insights!
There are so many excellent substacks. Each asks for payment. If I paid $5 for each one I like, per month, it would be $500, $6000 per year. I am stymied.
I do read a lot of news and am also unhappy with the old mainstream newspapers.
I, too, am disappointed when there is a paywall for paying subscribers only. I have read one well known writer say that it’s the only way to keep out bots and harassment.
This substack seems excellent on first encounter. I will read more. I like the approach of a discount for paying upfront for a longer lasting subscription.
What do YOU and your readers here do?
Thanks.
My entry tier is $20 per year, but all the content is free. I write about social justice. I'm a Boost nominator on Medium and I help writers get more visibly for important stories.