It’s true – I’m going paid.
This has been part of the plan all along, as I get into below. Still, it wasn’t an easy choice to pull the trigger now. Susan Cain, the author of Quiet, pushed me over the edge with her own experience.
In recent live stream, Cain said:
“It feels uncomfortable, but at the same time, I put so much time, so much effort into each post… It’s a lot of work.” -Susan Cain
The exact reason why writers are terrible at self-marketing is a huge topic in itself that I should probably examine one day. But I can tell you that:
On one hand, like Susan, I feel icky about putting a payment button on this Substack
On the other, like Susan – I feel like there’s nothing inherently wrong about getting paid for my writing
Best of all, I think I found a loophole in this seeming paradox…
Upgrade to Paid! Hit the Subscribe Button (even if you’re already a free subscriber).
When Should a Substack Writer Go Paid?
I am coming up on five years of this Substack – this November, to be precise. I came into this with a solid vision and a loose plan:
Write quality posts on a consistent basis (check)
Don’t worry about marketing too much – let it spread word of mouth (check – though not as successful as I would have hoped)
Hit a tipping point of subscribers, and then go paid in some fashion (erm…)
I’m very happy with Point #1 of the plan. I’ve been (mostly) consistent, and the feedback on my posts has been encouraging!
Point #2 though, somewhat predictably, did not go to plan. There are two ways to be heard without marketing: have a platform already (George Saunders, the Kardashians, Taylor Swift) or go viral. Bee tee dubs, viral is a lottery I lost.
Point #3 – I didn’t hit that tipping point. The failings of Point #2 are part of it, but I also think Substack’s platform changes and policies over the years contributed.
For one, Substack allowed readers to Follow instead of Subscribe. That splits the audience, forcing writers to connect with some (or maybe most…) of their audience through the Substack Notes social media feed. Great for Substack; not ideal for writers who don’t really get into the whole social media facet of Substack.
However, I’m close to that magic tipping point number I had in my head when you combine Subscribers and Followers. So maybe that’s a sign to go for it?
Also, I’m hoping that going paid will increase my reach. I suspect Substack favours writers in its algorithms who charge subscriptions. I mean, it would make good business sense. If you owned a business and you received 10% of $5 from X and 10% of $0 from Y, you’d probably push X more, right? I don’t think it was always this way. I think in the growing stages, Substack tried to promote everyone, but their business model shifted. Again, I have no proof. Just a marketer’s nose…
Regardless, one thing was clear: it is time to change my plan.
What This Means for You
So where’s the common ground in this paradox? Initially, the “Go Paid” button will be like a voluntary support jar. Everyone will get the same free posts with the option to buy a paid subscription if you like. My hope is that:
I’ll be able to generate another revenue stream
I’ll get on Substack’s alogorithm’s good side and start getting more Subscribers
It will be business as usual, otherwise
In other words, nothing will change for you except:
You have the option to go paid if you see value in this newsletter and would like to support it
Substack may try to push people to purchase a paid subscription, now that I’ve enabled it. I’m hoping not, and I’ll do everything I can to avoid that, but I don’t have full control over it…! (Please let me know if and where you get unsolicited solicitations aside from buttons in posts, and I’ll look into fixing it.)
I’m starting off at what I believe is a reasonable $5 CDN per month, or $50 CDN per year. If you live in a different country, it should change the price for you into another (major) currency.
In the future, I may start doing paid exclusive posts as a special thank you. But that’s a ways down the road.
I’m hoping some of you will hit that “Go Paid” button, but no worries if that’s not you. I’m so appreciative to all those who visit this space every week. I am still so glad to have you aboard!
Until next time, keep writing with wild abandon!
~Graham
PS - if you happen to be at the St. Lawrence Writers Festival in Brockville, Ont. this weekend, I’ll see you there! (I believe tickets are still available.)
email me if you get lost.