Interesting poll! Since you’re looking for insight, I’d also add that I am likely to unsubscribe from writers that put all comments behind a paywall. Reason being, many people on substack are obviously aspiring writers looking to grow their community. Tips suggest helpful comments are one such way to do that. Paywalling comments just feels like the big guys are squeezing the little guys. Maybe that’s not the motivation (or all of the motivation), but that’s how it feels to me. If I were ever a big guy (or most likely big woman), I would definitely want to support the little guys.
Also, many established writers come to substack and immediately put everything behind a paywall. This makes sense if they’re just trying to monetize their existing audience that they ported over. However, there are people I’d be interested in exploring, but having never been exposed to their content before, would want some time before thanking them with a payment. You are one such person in this category for me. One free article is definitely not enough.
Valuable insights, Mikaela. Especially for those who are new to this platform and excited to learn how best to show up in a way that feels good. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you for collecting this data, I’ve been wrestling with the same question. For me, I think the upgrade to paid is a gesture of gratitude and support. It’s a digital way of purchasing someone’s book to keep on my shelf, even if I already read it through the library for free. The content has to resonate and be meaningful or enjoyable to me but the payment is a gesture of appreciation vs. paying for service.
It's great to poll on what motivates you to pay. However, I would like to comment on what stops me from paying. I would love to pay for many of the wonderful people/content I follow on Substack, but I can't afford to have that many subscriptions. It would be great if one could by a package of 10 for a savings. Otherwise, the cumulative price is too much for me. Thanks for all you do!
Interesting poll. I would add a nuance here -- not more content of any kind - and not clearly a course or AMA. What inspires me is a combo of supporting someone + access to more intimate content created by the author. For instance- a singer songwriter I love has a feature of song lab (as a guitarist and fan I LOVE this and is worth the paid subscription in and of itself), another writer has deeper more personal content. That also inspires me to pay.
What I am also finding as more and more folks have a paywall.. I deeply understand and want to support writers I love. AND, there is a limit in budget and emotional/time/mental capacity to consume. So I must be a more discerning consumer and sometimes authors I love have to go on the "waitlist to subscribe sometime later".
Hope that helps you with some qualitative thoughts around the data. (I know how magical you can make that from my participation in early Sparkedtype stuff).
Fantastic additional nuance, Paula. Makes a lot of sense. Interesting to see how often an "overall cap" on supporting folks is coming up as well. Thanks!
In the case of your new community here on Substack, I’m motivated equally by two choices in the poll. 1) I want to see and read all of your new content and whatever you create to share AND 2) I want to continue to build community with the folks in your community hoping that some of our Camp Good Life Community will show up here too!
It was hard to decide between the first and the last option. Some creators are so interesting that I really want to read their back catalogue, but this is often behind the paywall. And I think that wanting more of the same content and saying thank you at the same time are not mutually exclusive.
But, as mentioned in one of the other comments, money can be a real issue (single mom here, working several jobs to keep the boat from toppling over), so paying for everyone I would wish to is not an option, unfortunately.
Entry cost is the biggest factor. I cannot support as many people as I'd like to if their first tier is $10 for example. I'd like to support all the people whose writing I get value from. I cannot easily contribute to all when the first tier is out of financial reach.
This is fascinating. I'm surprised, and delighted, by the desire to thank and appreciate writers here. Helps me keep the focus on what matters the most rather than adding more and more add-ons to make a publication more attractive to paying subscribers.
Well, I'll tell you why I just upgraded my subscription to Awake @ The Wheel to paid....because you inspire me, I've followed you for years (was first introduced via Liz Gilbert's Big Magic) and your words heal my soul. The small subscription payment is a token of my immense gratitude for you.
I´m interested in a related issue: how to present the option of becoming a paid subscriber in a gracious way. As a reader, I´m often put off by requests to go paid that feel desperate, or, I´m not sure but the vibe just doesn´t feel good somehow. Or maybe I´m just projecting my neurotic cheapness?
My thoughts lately have been about how many subscriptions are enough. Lately it seems that most of the creators I like have suddenly slid behind paywalls,and there is simply no way for me to subscribe to everyone.
While those who create content clearly need to get paid, what about those humans who could use those messages but don't have the luxury of extra cash around? It feels a lot like an income-based exclusion line, intended or not.
Our country already has a strong poverty-penalty, and it breaks my heart to see the pattern continue.
For me, the constant subscription-hawking also makes the space less inviting. Too much pressure to pay for a mere promise of possible good things to come. It's too much the flavor of a flea market.
The hardest part for me on discovering Substack is affordability. I have found so many wonderful writers and creators but as a non-wage earner I just cannot afford to pay the subscriptions. I currently have two paid subscriptions and was lucky enough to receive a free one for another writer. If my motivation was only to say thank you then I would be bankrupt 🤣
As another poster mentioned I really dislike the closing of comments for unpaid subscribers. That feels really sad in a way as I can’t even say thank you! It also saddens me when creators put everything behind a paywall. Please at least share enough to give me an idea of your work. I have found several great writers who share a lot on Substack and then requested books they have written from my local library.
So helpful to hear your experience, Carolyn. I think the impetus for putting comments behind a paywall for most is to keep the conversation safe and protected. It's a carryover from having spent many years building community on other platforms and, at at a certain scale, seeing vitriol or disrespect enter the conversation. The more I settle into this place, I've been wondering if that's a valid driver of the decision to paywall comments here, though, as the ethos feels very different.
Thanks Jonathan, I hadn’t thought of that but it makes perfect sense. I have no other social media (for the reasons you mention!) and I try to convince myself Substack isn’t really social media in the same way 😀 It feels a much more genuine, kind, safer and positive community. I really hope it stays that way 🤞
The thing that most often tips me over to paid is an irresistible paywall; I know the writer is sharing more personal, vulnerable material and/or a continuation of in-depth analysis on a topic I’m interested in. And I’ve read their earlier work/posts and really benefitted from them.
Interesting poll! Since you’re looking for insight, I’d also add that I am likely to unsubscribe from writers that put all comments behind a paywall. Reason being, many people on substack are obviously aspiring writers looking to grow their community. Tips suggest helpful comments are one such way to do that. Paywalling comments just feels like the big guys are squeezing the little guys. Maybe that’s not the motivation (or all of the motivation), but that’s how it feels to me. If I were ever a big guy (or most likely big woman), I would definitely want to support the little guys.
Also, many established writers come to substack and immediately put everything behind a paywall. This makes sense if they’re just trying to monetize their existing audience that they ported over. However, there are people I’d be interested in exploring, but having never been exposed to their content before, would want some time before thanking them with a payment. You are one such person in this category for me. One free article is definitely not enough.
Valuable insights, Mikaela. Especially for those who are new to this platform and excited to learn how best to show up in a way that feels good. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you for collecting this data, I’ve been wrestling with the same question. For me, I think the upgrade to paid is a gesture of gratitude and support. It’s a digital way of purchasing someone’s book to keep on my shelf, even if I already read it through the library for free. The content has to resonate and be meaningful or enjoyable to me but the payment is a gesture of appreciation vs. paying for service.
Thanks for the added context, Annie!
It's great to poll on what motivates you to pay. However, I would like to comment on what stops me from paying. I would love to pay for many of the wonderful people/content I follow on Substack, but I can't afford to have that many subscriptions. It would be great if one could by a package of 10 for a savings. Otherwise, the cumulative price is too much for me. Thanks for all you do!
Great insight. And, looking at other comments, you're not alone in this. Such an interesting idea to bundle or package, too!
Interesting poll. I would add a nuance here -- not more content of any kind - and not clearly a course or AMA. What inspires me is a combo of supporting someone + access to more intimate content created by the author. For instance- a singer songwriter I love has a feature of song lab (as a guitarist and fan I LOVE this and is worth the paid subscription in and of itself), another writer has deeper more personal content. That also inspires me to pay.
What I am also finding as more and more folks have a paywall.. I deeply understand and want to support writers I love. AND, there is a limit in budget and emotional/time/mental capacity to consume. So I must be a more discerning consumer and sometimes authors I love have to go on the "waitlist to subscribe sometime later".
Hope that helps you with some qualitative thoughts around the data. (I know how magical you can make that from my participation in early Sparkedtype stuff).
Fantastic additional nuance, Paula. Makes a lot of sense. Interesting to see how often an "overall cap" on supporting folks is coming up as well. Thanks!
In the case of your new community here on Substack, I’m motivated equally by two choices in the poll. 1) I want to see and read all of your new content and whatever you create to share AND 2) I want to continue to build community with the folks in your community hoping that some of our Camp Good Life Community will show up here too!
Hey Stephanie, so nice to see ya over here!
Thanks Jonathan! Glad to be here 🦄
It was hard to decide between the first and the last option. Some creators are so interesting that I really want to read their back catalogue, but this is often behind the paywall. And I think that wanting more of the same content and saying thank you at the same time are not mutually exclusive.
But, as mentioned in one of the other comments, money can be a real issue (single mom here, working several jobs to keep the boat from toppling over), so paying for everyone I would wish to is not an option, unfortunately.
I hear you. I think most of these are not mutually exclusive, but it's really interesting to explore if one is more of a "main driver."
Entry cost is the biggest factor. I cannot support as many people as I'd like to if their first tier is $10 for example. I'd like to support all the people whose writing I get value from. I cannot easily contribute to all when the first tier is out of financial reach.
Great point, Laura. It's such an interesting dance that I think a lot of folks do.
This is fascinating. I'm surprised, and delighted, by the desire to thank and appreciate writers here. Helps me keep the focus on what matters the most rather than adding more and more add-ons to make a publication more attractive to paying subscribers.
Well, I'll tell you why I just upgraded my subscription to Awake @ The Wheel to paid....because you inspire me, I've followed you for years (was first introduced via Liz Gilbert's Big Magic) and your words heal my soul. The small subscription payment is a token of my immense gratitude for you.
I´m interested in a related issue: how to present the option of becoming a paid subscriber in a gracious way. As a reader, I´m often put off by requests to go paid that feel desperate, or, I´m not sure but the vibe just doesn´t feel good somehow. Or maybe I´m just projecting my neurotic cheapness?
My thoughts lately have been about how many subscriptions are enough. Lately it seems that most of the creators I like have suddenly slid behind paywalls,and there is simply no way for me to subscribe to everyone.
While those who create content clearly need to get paid, what about those humans who could use those messages but don't have the luxury of extra cash around? It feels a lot like an income-based exclusion line, intended or not.
Our country already has a strong poverty-penalty, and it breaks my heart to see the pattern continue.
Thanks so much for sharing this sentiment, Cheri. Looking at the other comments, you're absolutely not alone in feeling this crunch.
For me, the constant subscription-hawking also makes the space less inviting. Too much pressure to pay for a mere promise of possible good things to come. It's too much the flavor of a flea market.
The hardest part for me on discovering Substack is affordability. I have found so many wonderful writers and creators but as a non-wage earner I just cannot afford to pay the subscriptions. I currently have two paid subscriptions and was lucky enough to receive a free one for another writer. If my motivation was only to say thank you then I would be bankrupt 🤣
As another poster mentioned I really dislike the closing of comments for unpaid subscribers. That feels really sad in a way as I can’t even say thank you! It also saddens me when creators put everything behind a paywall. Please at least share enough to give me an idea of your work. I have found several great writers who share a lot on Substack and then requested books they have written from my local library.
So helpful to hear your experience, Carolyn. I think the impetus for putting comments behind a paywall for most is to keep the conversation safe and protected. It's a carryover from having spent many years building community on other platforms and, at at a certain scale, seeing vitriol or disrespect enter the conversation. The more I settle into this place, I've been wondering if that's a valid driver of the decision to paywall comments here, though, as the ethos feels very different.
Thanks Jonathan, I hadn’t thought of that but it makes perfect sense. I have no other social media (for the reasons you mention!) and I try to convince myself Substack isn’t really social media in the same way 😀 It feels a much more genuine, kind, safer and positive community. I really hope it stays that way 🤞
The thing that most often tips me over to paid is an irresistible paywall; I know the writer is sharing more personal, vulnerable material and/or a continuation of in-depth analysis on a topic I’m interested in. And I’ve read their earlier work/posts and really benefitted from them.
Interesting. And, it sounds like having read enough of their earlier work/posts (on and maybe even off the platform) is a bit of a "pre-condition."
I subscribed to Heather Cox Richardson a couple years ago mainly to thank her
Got it. The volume of high-quality work that Heather creates is truly stunning.
This is so interesting Johnathan, thanks for this. I love that too is the desire to support and thank the writer. 🤗
I just need more time to read the wonderful, exciting, informative, A-list creative writing on Substack! Overdue library Books pile up next to my bed.
I hear that, my library books are feeling very ignored these days!