Same here. Do what makes you feel best about seeking paid subscribers. Either works as I’ve seen on others I follow. Just keep that great news coming to us!
Echo. The only other thing I'd add is a possible higher price or tier for the Founder's level. You may be surprised at how many of us are willing to fork over a bit more to support your work.
I think the better question is which works better for you. As a subscriber the delay wall doesn’t bother me, so that would skew the results. But the requests don’t bother me either.
It is antithetical to the mission here. I don't think you'll lose one paying subscriber for eliminating the paywall. I fact, I strongly believe it will have the opposite effect. More ideas/voices are what you want.
If you want to recruit the best commentors you have to let them sample. The higher quality of commentors you have recruits more good commentors. Most good commentors aren't worried about $5/month.
You're outbound is great. But people with good ideas are more attracted by the dialogue in the comment sections. It's auto-recruiting for you. It's the lowest acquisition cost and the "stickiest" way to grow your base.
Another piece of constructive advice:
You have to find a way to bring comments "up" from the middle of the board instead of just being "top heavy" in the first 3 or 4 comments. You want to maximally capture the comments made in the first 30 minutes and you need them distrubuted because folks that open the post later will have more comments to reply to, etc.
I have all kinds of ideas if you ever need to parse over DM.
To add onto your idea about commenters, I agree. And I think it is great when the author occasionally chimes in. El Gato Malo does that nicely and I’d be willing to bet it brings people in and back again.
I have no issue at all subscribing. I think people who can afford to subscribe should and allow access for everyone. Everyone should have access to this material. It could save lives. Those of us who can afford it should be allowing access for those who can’t. Just my opinion
I once read Americans use to pay five hundred dollars on average a year to access magazines, newspapers, etc.
For those who read and can’t afford perhaps they can donate one dollar from time to time.
Some bloggers have something like "Buy me a coffee" or similar service for making spot donations. Even when I subscribe, I use those to give a blogger an extra boost. And some who can't afford a subscription may be willing to chip in a few dollars occasionally on a spot basis.
As a long time paid subscriber who does not intend to cancel I have no problem with the temporary paywalls but would prefer not to receive frequent subscription appeals. Could you not send those only to non-paying subscribers? Just segment the list?
Neither bother me. You gotta get paid. However you can reach new readers to fill their minds with Truths and charge them…I’m all about it. Thanks Alex. I’ve been here from the start and I’m damn proud of you and this community.
Alex: I recommend not allowing money to distract you from your important mission, which is way more important than financial concerns. I'd suggest other ways of monetizing your talents. Access to good information is invaluable these days, but providing it is as important as donating blood. It can be lifesaving, and is generally done in the spirit of giving, not for profit. Your work is a gift and it should remain morally unsullied by financial considerations.
Paid subscriber here; no plans to stop even if I don’t always agree with you. You’re a stellar journalist, Alex, and that is worth supporting—not a lot out there these days, at least in MSM. Do what works for you. Not bothered either way.
I've always thought there should be a way to instantly (and painlessly) charge our credit card a more minimal amount when we are reading a specific article that we want to read all the way through. I have a couple of substacks I follow that I have paid for because I really was interested in a specific article, and then after that, I'm sort of resentful because it's rare that I have the time or interest to read all the rest of their substacks. Any ideas for that?
I've long been of the opinion that Substack should sell tokens. Readers could buy 10 tokens at, say, $3 to $5 each ($30 to $50 at a shot) to spend on any writer/author they please.
I learned early on that I paid for subscriptions JUST to read one article or two. Now I by-pass subscribing almost completely. I check out writers' article titles, subscribe for a month, then decide if I want a longer-term subscription.
A token system such as the one described, would allow me to read immediately -- and immediate gratification counts here!
If I see that I'm "spending" three or more tokens over a short period on a particular writer, I'd get the TIME TO SUBSCRIBE!!! signal loud and clear.
A triple win -- for the contributors, their readers and Substack -- don't you think?
I would love this and hopefully Substack will eventually catch on to this. I simply can't afford to subscribe to everyone I want to, but would be willing to pay more per month to be able to sample.
For now, though, Alex, you do what works for you. I'm planning on staying.
Do what works best for you, sir. We all owe you an enormous debt for what you've done and continue to do.
You could send daily emails with recipes for Spam and Vegemite sandwiches and I'd gladly read it, nod my head approvingly, and think, "He might be on to something here."
I’ve paid since you started. Nothing bothers me. Do what works best for you.
Same here. Do what makes you feel best about seeking paid subscribers. Either works as I’ve seen on others I follow. Just keep that great news coming to us!
Same here.
Same
Ditto
Echo. The only other thing I'd add is a possible higher price or tier for the Founder's level. You may be surprised at how many of us are willing to fork over a bit more to support your work.
Ditto!
I think the better question is which works better for you. As a subscriber the delay wall doesn’t bother me, so that would skew the results. But the requests don’t bother me either.
Totally agree with Charles..I am with you for the long hall…gift subscription is a great idea.
Not sure how to edit..I meant long haul.
Thought the "long hall" was a bit of metaphor.
Is Long Haul or LH "another" normalized medical condition devised by Pharma? :)
Ditto.
I am proud to be a subscriber and to just keep reading. Being reminded of a subscription fee is not annoying.
It is antithetical to the mission here. I don't think you'll lose one paying subscriber for eliminating the paywall. I fact, I strongly believe it will have the opposite effect. More ideas/voices are what you want.
If you want to recruit the best commentors you have to let them sample. The higher quality of commentors you have recruits more good commentors. Most good commentors aren't worried about $5/month.
You're outbound is great. But people with good ideas are more attracted by the dialogue in the comment sections. It's auto-recruiting for you. It's the lowest acquisition cost and the "stickiest" way to grow your base.
Another piece of constructive advice:
You have to find a way to bring comments "up" from the middle of the board instead of just being "top heavy" in the first 3 or 4 comments. You want to maximally capture the comments made in the first 30 minutes and you need them distrubuted because folks that open the post later will have more comments to reply to, etc.
I have all kinds of ideas if you ever need to parse over DM.
To add onto your idea about commenters, I agree. And I think it is great when the author occasionally chimes in. El Gato Malo does that nicely and I’d be willing to bet it brings people in and back again.
It's not a zero sum game. Any "marketing" you do should have that as a principle
TD:DR. Just kidding.
I have no issue at all subscribing. I think people who can afford to subscribe should and allow access for everyone. Everyone should have access to this material. It could save lives. Those of us who can afford it should be allowing access for those who can’t. Just my opinion
I once read Americans use to pay five hundred dollars on average a year to access magazines, newspapers, etc.
For those who read and can’t afford perhaps they can donate one dollar from time to time.
Some bloggers have something like "Buy me a coffee" or similar service for making spot donations. Even when I subscribe, I use those to give a blogger an extra boost. And some who can't afford a subscription may be willing to chip in a few dollars occasionally on a spot basis.
As a long time paid subscriber who does not intend to cancel I have no problem with the temporary paywalls but would prefer not to receive frequent subscription appeals. Could you not send those only to non-paying subscribers? Just segment the list?
I’ve been here from the beginning. Can’t imagine ever leaving … you got me through Covid. Whatever works for you, not annoyed
Neither bother me. You gotta get paid. However you can reach new readers to fill their minds with Truths and charge them…I’m all about it. Thanks Alex. I’ve been here from the start and I’m damn proud of you and this community.
Don't like paywalls. Periodic requests to subscribe seem more appealing, and I hope work well for you.
Alex: I recommend not allowing money to distract you from your important mission, which is way more important than financial concerns. I'd suggest other ways of monetizing your talents. Access to good information is invaluable these days, but providing it is as important as donating blood. It can be lifesaving, and is generally done in the spirit of giving, not for profit. Your work is a gift and it should remain morally unsullied by financial considerations.
That's very true. But he does have bills to pay.
So do we all. But tyranny is a high price to pay, when there are other options for income.
unsullied...my new word of the day!
Have you watched Game of Thrones?
Not a big fan, but did pull the unsullied up there :)
I don’t believe Alex should be forced to earn money by donating blood.
Alex deserves to be compensated for his work, Charity doesn’t pay car payments.
Paid subscriber here; no plans to stop even if I don’t always agree with you. You’re a stellar journalist, Alex, and that is worth supporting—not a lot out there these days, at least in MSM. Do what works for you. Not bothered either way.
I've always thought there should be a way to instantly (and painlessly) charge our credit card a more minimal amount when we are reading a specific article that we want to read all the way through. I have a couple of substacks I follow that I have paid for because I really was interested in a specific article, and then after that, I'm sort of resentful because it's rare that I have the time or interest to read all the rest of their substacks. Any ideas for that?
I've long been of the opinion that Substack should sell tokens. Readers could buy 10 tokens at, say, $3 to $5 each ($30 to $50 at a shot) to spend on any writer/author they please.
I learned early on that I paid for subscriptions JUST to read one article or two. Now I by-pass subscribing almost completely. I check out writers' article titles, subscribe for a month, then decide if I want a longer-term subscription.
A token system such as the one described, would allow me to read immediately -- and immediate gratification counts here!
If I see that I'm "spending" three or more tokens over a short period on a particular writer, I'd get the TIME TO SUBSCRIBE!!! signal loud and clear.
A triple win -- for the contributors, their readers and Substack -- don't you think?
I would love this and hopefully Substack will eventually catch on to this. I simply can't afford to subscribe to everyone I want to, but would be willing to pay more per month to be able to sample.
For now, though, Alex, you do what works for you. I'm planning on staying.
Ads are annoying but do what you have to do. Don’t over think it.
Do what works best for you, sir. We all owe you an enormous debt for what you've done and continue to do.
You could send daily emails with recipes for Spam and Vegemite sandwiches and I'd gladly read it, nod my head approvingly, and think, "He might be on to something here."
Regarding the paywall, sure once in a while. But not a lot. I pay here, so it doesn’t matter to me. But elsewhere, I find regular paywalls annoying.
If the appeals for subscribers yields good results, stick with that. My opinion only, of course.