Thank you for this post! It carries a great balance between "earning an income through writing on Substack can be hard work to accomplish, if ever" with "have fun writing on Substack and enjoy all of your subscribers who enjoy your writing as part of the journey."
I also agree with how awesome it is to receive payment for your writing. This week I've gratefully seen a little over $100 land in my checking account as payment for my writing, which I'm putting 100% in savings for now. 💯🎆 It's a combination of income from 1 paid subscriber on Substack and "royalties" for my writing on HubPages. That feels like a bit of passive income from my HP articles because I haven't written one in 3 1/2 years. My writing there still enjoys readership and still supports me to some degree. Yet, I feel a sense of community with ALL of my Substack subscribers & Patrons on Patreon. And it's lovely to receive other forms of support for those "following" me without a monetary commitment, such as "restacks" here and recommendations for my work as a coach.. I value and celebrate it all! 🎉
Congratulations on the payment Karen! Sounds like you've got appreciation & enjoyment down to a fine art. I think when we can work on this, all the rest comes... keep enjoying your time here!
This is all fantastic advice, and I hope a LOT of people see it. One of the most common questions we see on Notes, Office Hours threads, etc. is "how do I get more subscribers?" What they're often really asking is 'how can I make more money faster?'
You've nailed it here: there is no quick fix, no hacks, and one must focus on the work first. Only once that happens can writers start to experiment with what models may/may not work for them. In my own case, I "went paid" on Day 1. I'd like to be able to share some sort of glorious story behind that, but the truth is I didn't know any better-- I just thought that was part of setting up your newsletter. Since then, I've gone back and forth with adding "more" content for paid subs, having everything in front of the paywall, and a mix of both.
Right now, I (more or less) have a model similar to PBS-- a few people pay and that keeps the lights on for everyone. I share a round up of music industry links on Saturdays, but that's currently the only extra--and tbh, I just like putting it together.
That may change again, but for right now it seems to be working.
Ah, thanks Kevin. I love your Substack - seems like a great model - and your personality shines through which is, I think, also really important... it's natural to want what others have, isn't it - I have to keep reminding myself that being successful here is a combination of hard work over a long period of time and lots of luck and circumstance... which is why it's so important not to put all our eggs in the only-feels-worth-it-if-I-get-paid basket! Thanks for reading & for your comment 🙏🏻
Love this advice, thank you! I’ve been here a month and while I got 100 new subscribers in that time I am having trouble getting them to pay. I guess it’s early days but it’s good to have a reality check, and make it all about the joy of writing and helping others, even if I’m still poor, I’ll be poor and happy 🤣
Thanks Kate! And, what Kevin & Tara said. For me, subscribers have to know me for some time and really have a sense of what the value in paying might be before they pay - I never underestimate what a huge deal it is for someone to actually pay for my writing/time... it will come for you - it will come!
Thank you Satya, sometimes it’s hard to sit with uncertainty! Of course you’re right, people want to understand more about what we offer before a commitment. And yes no one wants to waste £5 an month, including me! Thank you for your reassurance! 🙏🏻✨
It's funny because I don't think it's even the amount as £5 isn't a huge amount for most people. They'll spend that on a coffee & cake without blinking. It's more what it represents - or maybe it's that it's an unusual thing to pay for words when there are SO MANY of them available for free, or... would be interested in other people's thoughts about this. So yes keep going : ) & enjoy!
I love this!!! Love the idea of saving it all for a time if possible. Elizabeth Gilbert talks about not relying on your creativity for money to early because it can squash your creativity. This post is a great reminder!
Brilliant advice here! I'm still trying to figure out the best approach to paid content but I love the idea of not touching Substack income for a year. Not easy, though!
No not at all easy and as I said I'm in a privileged position! There might be a middle way?! You could take half of it straight away - or all the monthly subs... Thanks for reading David.
I love this! I'm just starting and having this insight is truly helpful in keeping my monetization thoughts on the right track.
By looking at other people's earnings, I sometimes get myself comparing mine to theirs, though not in an envious way, but in an 'if they can, so can I' way. In any case, it's not wise to compare, we are all on different journeys and with different audiences, so results certainly won't be the same for everyone. But it's easier said than done to understand that.
Thank you for the helpful grounding advice. Truly helped me 🙏🏻
I love that feeling inspired by other people's earnings - that they light a way forwards... and yes, absolutely easier said than done! So glad Mindy, thanks for being here.
Oh yeah, I really like this approach. I think if I ever do decide to turn on paid subscriptions, it will be with something like this mental model in mind.
All good advice, Satya, as always. I’ve got no goals for my writing on here. I’m just doing it as I love it. Any paid subs are a great bonus and it feels lovely to have people value my words. Obviously the money helps too! But luckily I have other (slightly!) more reliable income streams that are also writing related that have been in place for over a decade.
Thank you for this post! It carries a great balance between "earning an income through writing on Substack can be hard work to accomplish, if ever" with "have fun writing on Substack and enjoy all of your subscribers who enjoy your writing as part of the journey."
I also agree with how awesome it is to receive payment for your writing. This week I've gratefully seen a little over $100 land in my checking account as payment for my writing, which I'm putting 100% in savings for now. 💯🎆 It's a combination of income from 1 paid subscriber on Substack and "royalties" for my writing on HubPages. That feels like a bit of passive income from my HP articles because I haven't written one in 3 1/2 years. My writing there still enjoys readership and still supports me to some degree. Yet, I feel a sense of community with ALL of my Substack subscribers & Patrons on Patreon. And it's lovely to receive other forms of support for those "following" me without a monetary commitment, such as "restacks" here and recommendations for my work as a coach.. I value and celebrate it all! 🎉
Congratulations on the payment Karen! Sounds like you've got appreciation & enjoyment down to a fine art. I think when we can work on this, all the rest comes... keep enjoying your time here!
Thank you, Satya Robyn. 🎇
This is all fantastic advice, and I hope a LOT of people see it. One of the most common questions we see on Notes, Office Hours threads, etc. is "how do I get more subscribers?" What they're often really asking is 'how can I make more money faster?'
You've nailed it here: there is no quick fix, no hacks, and one must focus on the work first. Only once that happens can writers start to experiment with what models may/may not work for them. In my own case, I "went paid" on Day 1. I'd like to be able to share some sort of glorious story behind that, but the truth is I didn't know any better-- I just thought that was part of setting up your newsletter. Since then, I've gone back and forth with adding "more" content for paid subs, having everything in front of the paywall, and a mix of both.
Right now, I (more or less) have a model similar to PBS-- a few people pay and that keeps the lights on for everyone. I share a round up of music industry links on Saturdays, but that's currently the only extra--and tbh, I just like putting it together.
That may change again, but for right now it seems to be working.
Ah, thanks Kevin. I love your Substack - seems like a great model - and your personality shines through which is, I think, also really important... it's natural to want what others have, isn't it - I have to keep reminding myself that being successful here is a combination of hard work over a long period of time and lots of luck and circumstance... which is why it's so important not to put all our eggs in the only-feels-worth-it-if-I-get-paid basket! Thanks for reading & for your comment 🙏🏻
Love this advice, thank you! I’ve been here a month and while I got 100 new subscribers in that time I am having trouble getting them to pay. I guess it’s early days but it’s good to have a reality check, and make it all about the joy of writing and helping others, even if I’m still poor, I’ll be poor and happy 🤣
Thanks Kate! And, what Kevin & Tara said. For me, subscribers have to know me for some time and really have a sense of what the value in paying might be before they pay - I never underestimate what a huge deal it is for someone to actually pay for my writing/time... it will come for you - it will come!
Thank you Satya, sometimes it’s hard to sit with uncertainty! Of course you’re right, people want to understand more about what we offer before a commitment. And yes no one wants to waste £5 an month, including me! Thank you for your reassurance! 🙏🏻✨
It's funny because I don't think it's even the amount as £5 isn't a huge amount for most people. They'll spend that on a coffee & cake without blinking. It's more what it represents - or maybe it's that it's an unusual thing to pay for words when there are SO MANY of them available for free, or... would be interested in other people's thoughts about this. So yes keep going : ) & enjoy!
From 0-to-100 in your first month is pretty awesome!
Agreed!
Thanks Tara, I’m relieved it’s not tumbleweed! 😅
Thanks Kevin, I’m pretty happy with that!
I love this!!! Love the idea of saving it all for a time if possible. Elizabeth Gilbert talks about not relying on your creativity for money to early because it can squash your creativity. This post is a great reminder!
Thanks McKenzie. Money and creativity are such a bad combo in so many ways! But we live in the world.....
I love the idea of "gentle monetization." I think that is a good description of my approach to it.
Brilliant advice here! I'm still trying to figure out the best approach to paid content but I love the idea of not touching Substack income for a year. Not easy, though!
No not at all easy and as I said I'm in a privileged position! There might be a middle way?! You could take half of it straight away - or all the monthly subs... Thanks for reading David.
Great advice.
My monetization journey is meh but it makes my day when a reader says, “I laughed out loud at this piece.”
That's gold isn't it??
You had me at ‘gentle’ ❤️
✨
I enjoyed reading this very much Satya. It is cool that people read my writing and some even pay me. Thanks for sharing this gentle reality check.
So glad to hear this Emily - thanks for reading!
Great advice, thank you.
I love this! I'm just starting and having this insight is truly helpful in keeping my monetization thoughts on the right track.
By looking at other people's earnings, I sometimes get myself comparing mine to theirs, though not in an envious way, but in an 'if they can, so can I' way. In any case, it's not wise to compare, we are all on different journeys and with different audiences, so results certainly won't be the same for everyone. But it's easier said than done to understand that.
Thank you for the helpful grounding advice. Truly helped me 🙏🏻
I love that feeling inspired by other people's earnings - that they light a way forwards... and yes, absolutely easier said than done! So glad Mindy, thanks for being here.
Oh yeah, I really like this approach. I think if I ever do decide to turn on paid subscriptions, it will be with something like this mental model in mind.
Glad it resonated Tom. And not going paid ever is also a totally valid thing to do - I think ecosystems need a mix!!
All good advice, Satya, as always. I’ve got no goals for my writing on here. I’m just doing it as I love it. Any paid subs are a great bonus and it feels lovely to have people value my words. Obviously the money helps too! But luckily I have other (slightly!) more reliable income streams that are also writing related that have been in place for over a decade.
Yes, good to have some money that's more reliable than other. For me anyway - I can't handle too much insecurity!! Good to see you here : )