201 Comments

Thank you for sharing this.

It's a unique perspective by reversing things and seeing it from the giver's point of view.

Expand full comment

You're welcome!

Expand full comment

Bad ass article! Never saw a need to tip but after reading this it now makes sense to me! Thanks

Expand full comment

So glad you got some value out of this one!

Expand full comment

I'd rather be "paid" by someone telling me they saw/hopefully liked my posts than by monetizing the process. If my work has any value (and only readers know that), I don't ever want that value to be converted to $$

Expand full comment

I’ve been lucky enough to receive my first gift through Buy Me A Coffee 💕 ☕️

@Kristi Keller, how do I change the amounts on there as it says something like +$25, +$50 and +$100 in New Zealand dollars.

I feel awkward because that looks like I want too much from people. How do I change the settings to the cute coffee options? So it’s ☕️, ☕️ ☕️ or ☕️ ☕️ ☕️?

Thanks for your encouragement in setting this up!

Expand full comment

Congrats on your first tip Sam!

You will have to check the support/help docs for Buy me a Coffee. I'm not sure about the ins and outs of it. But I do know the default start amount here in Canada is one coffee = $5.00 CAD.

Expand full comment

Thanks ☺️

Expand full comment

😆

Expand full comment

Perfect! I could have looked for it but when I saw your original message I was still in pajamas on my phone 😁

Expand full comment

Is there a better place to be than in PJs on your phone? 😆

Expand full comment

I can’t think of one! Except maybe the dog park lol

Expand full comment

I definitely like the idea. It’s a generous way to thank the writer and offer support without the commitment and that’s a fair option.

Expand full comment

Ha ha, love it!

Expand full comment

This feels right! A pay it forward model. Substack is about community and quality. I shared my thoughts on why I keep all my content free but still offer paid subscriptions and the option to buy me a coffee in my post We Are The Trees. And now that I’ve cracked the book Sacred Economics, I’m gaining hope for a future where society has a completely different relationship to money and community (a more positive one!).

Expand full comment

That sounds like a society I want to live in!

Expand full comment

Excellent way to put it!

Let's not forget that tipping jars partially fill the gap for people living in countries where Stripe (the payment gateway) isn't available.

Expand full comment

Great point! I didn't think of that but you're right!

Expand full comment

I used to live in a "convenient" country so I know how it is to take some things for granted. But now that I moved to an "inconvenient" country, despite being citizen (but not resident) of the other, I cannot monetize because all these platforms use Stripe and are inflexible with cases like mine.

Expand full comment

I love that the monetization options on Sub are so diverse. I'm not comfortable pressing for paid subs yet... I want to prove to myself that I can maintain a writing practice and publishing schedule, but I did set my account to automatically switch posts older than 2 months to paid. A free subscriber can get everything in the moment. But a new fan has the option of contributing in order to binge older content.

Expand full comment

Interesting slant on this paid subscription issue. I'll have to mull it over for a while. My problem is, I don't like asking my friends for money, and if anyone takes the time to read what I wrote, I consider them a friend.

Expand full comment

Well, a tip option or an optional subscription (no paywalls) isn't asking. It's just there as an opportunity for them.

Expand full comment

Notes is full of people who want to shame us for charging a subscription, and even more so for asking for help if we don't have subscribers and need something to keep us going. Many creators don't have steady 9-5 jobs. People are looking for free content, and shame those who seek to make a living by sharing knowledge or information.

Expand full comment

All along, I have said I was not going to "charge" any thing to read what I write. I may reconsider my thoughts. God may desire me to ask for "tips" so I have extra to tip someone else somewhere along the line. My thoughts on this would be something like this: "Would I follow through and help another person who might have a need?"

Expand full comment

100% agree! And it's exactly why I have a ko-fi account linked on the bottom of my Substack posts, and I don't have the monthly subscriber thing set up. So if people feel like giving me a one off $3 if they feel so inspired, great! Without the obligation of $5/month subscription. This model just fits me better, personally 😊 thanks for writing this!

Expand full comment

You're welcome! Everyone is different in what they like and how they choose to be paid. I'm glad you've found something that works for you.

Expand full comment

Thank you for the introducation to Kristi Keller. She seems to be a refreshing alternative to the hundreds of Substack writers that hard pitch in every issue, their big success and their big numbers.

Expand full comment

Georgia, it's a pleasure to "meet" you as well. We are all here for different reasons and I guess some are better at that hard sell stuff than I am. 😁

Expand full comment

I came across this now. I would love to put in a line about it in my writings - the option to tipm But there's something in me that resists it a lot. It feels shameful. Like I'm sharing my art and like I think people should pay me for it. Like somehow that's conceited of me to even offer the option. It sounds weird to my own brain but like these are the feelings that keep me back.

Expand full comment

...absolutely true.

Expand full comment