It would be difficult to quantify but I can tell you this...I have paywalled many of my older posts that have huge engagement numbers and when I published my 2024 roundup with links to my top 10 posts, my paid subscriber number drastically increased. So...there's that.
I would say if you're going to do this you'd have to find a way to guide readers to your older posts.
Yes, I received my first paid subscriber like this - started the podcast but didn’t upload any content yet. I had not even set up the account to accept payments yet, 🤣
Well your strategy makes a lot of common sense. It's in front load post that garnered the most comments in likes you would think might have just occurred to me. Instead I was thinking once I put something under free it isn't right to turn around and charge newcomers, but I wasn't really thinking when I thought that, you definitely have some Hall of Famers, I hope I can mimic a little bit of your success. Thank you very much for the tip.
Thanks James. If you think about it, ANY post we paywall at any point will always be blocking someone out. Its the nature of paid content. So at some point we have to just make the call and be brave enough to do it.
Hi, Kristi. You mentioned that you run three Substack publications. Is that from one account with different topics or did you open three separate accounts? I am thinking of expanding to another topic but do not want to stop with my current publication.
They're all under the same email address but totally separate Substacks. Makes it super easy to toggle between them if you create them all with the same email.
If you’re unsure how/where to do this, let me know and I'll fill you in. Or refer to the help docs or the chat bot in your dashboard.
The 2nd frontloading strategy particularly intrigued me. I think I'll start implementing it towards a few of my articles that have the highest level of engagement and gained subscriptions.
Good ideas, particularly the one about leaving posts free until they've accumulated some stats. That would never have occurred to me, but it makes perfect sense.
Can anyone verify that this works?
It would be difficult to quantify but I can tell you this...I have paywalled many of my older posts that have huge engagement numbers and when I published my 2024 roundup with links to my top 10 posts, my paid subscriber number drastically increased. So...there's that.
I would say if you're going to do this you'd have to find a way to guide readers to your older posts.
do you do any creative works as well or mainly Strategist posts?
So valuable! Thank you!
My pleasure, Megan!
Yep, this makes sense. Most of the other "make a million" on Substack stuff does not.
This is very useful. I feel that I rarely read concrete and easy-to-apply tips like this here on Substack. Thanks for sharing!
Nina, you’re very welcome!
Yes, I received my first paid subscriber like this - started the podcast but didn’t upload any content yet. I had not even set up the account to accept payments yet, 🤣
Bonus! It's nice when that happens 😁
What a great idea – thank you!
Too bad people don't read the archives :D
I read archives especially when someone links them at the bottom of their current post.
And I try to include the at the end of my posts...occasionally.
I have found many good reads that way :-).
Depends if you push them or not. I don't push mine much but you never know.
You’re so very clever.😊 I’m pretty sure that your readers are paying you because of this and your awesome humor!
HA! Thanks Teyani. I have surprisingly few paid subscribers but I'm treating this as one big experiment!
So interesting - I am still new but, I have been pulling over to paywall or not to paywall. Thank you for sharing your very astute and clever insight.
Well your strategy makes a lot of common sense. It's in front load post that garnered the most comments in likes you would think might have just occurred to me. Instead I was thinking once I put something under free it isn't right to turn around and charge newcomers, but I wasn't really thinking when I thought that, you definitely have some Hall of Famers, I hope I can mimic a little bit of your success. Thank you very much for the tip.
Thanks James. If you think about it, ANY post we paywall at any point will always be blocking someone out. Its the nature of paid content. So at some point we have to just make the call and be brave enough to do it.
You're right, Kristi.
Hi, Kristi. You mentioned that you run three Substack publications. Is that from one account with different topics or did you open three separate accounts? I am thinking of expanding to another topic but do not want to stop with my current publication.
They're all under the same email address but totally separate Substacks. Makes it super easy to toggle between them if you create them all with the same email.
If you’re unsure how/where to do this, let me know and I'll fill you in. Or refer to the help docs or the chat bot in your dashboard.
The 2nd frontloading strategy particularly intrigued me. I think I'll start implementing it towards a few of my articles that have the highest level of engagement and gained subscriptions.
Thanks for these tips, Kristi.
You're welcome! Best wishes on your new plan!
love these ideas!
This is full of really interesting ideas; thanks for sharing!
My pleasure!
Wicked smaht
I like this comment a lot! 😊
Good ideas, particularly the one about leaving posts free until they've accumulated some stats. That would never have occurred to me, but it makes perfect sense.
Glad you think so. It does make sense to let it hype itself up for a while so future readers can see it was a good post!