Hi Kristina. This post resonates—especially about waiting too long to get paid. I’ve been guilty of the same hesitation, telling myself, “I just need to build a little more first.” But the truth is, there’s never a perfect time. At some point, you must trust that the value is there and flip the switch.
Your journey is inspiring, and I love how you framed it as not just when to go paid but what to offer. That mindset shift makes all the difference.
Hi Kristina. Thank God that I posted a note to you. I have been using a homepage that had not been formatted. Fix. As I said, I have over 50 articles that were invisible to the world. Thank you. https://curiousleaders.substack.com/
I have some ideas I’ve been kicking around for paid members but I’m not understanding where paid content sits. Can you have multiple offers in the paid tier?
as you shared "beginnings are hard" so for you it's about getting yourself out there, showing you're human, showing WHO you are, your personality, querks, your skills and WHY anyone should care about you? I do!
You can have multiple paid tier. Here there are three. Monthly, annual and founding member.
Monthyl and annual are the same, only pricing differs. Founding is something MORE or simply SUPPORT.
Hope this helps. I'll share another post on this and tag you. I'll also send you a DM so we can set up your Substack for success, my friend!
Thank you! I will definitely take a look. Appreciate any and all help!
And I know you recommended creating a posting plan that you can stick too but I feel a little on fire so do I create drafts when I feel inspired and keep them to publish bi weekly or publish more frequently in the beginning?
Thanks so much Kristina for your newsletter. It’s awesome! I’ve been shipping my newsletter for years (first on Mailchimp, then Convertkit and for the past couple years here on Substack), consistently every single Sunday. I tried Substack paid subs for a while, and then turned them off. I really do feel like my writing and my paid content is valuable. I’m considering turning paid back on. What would you recommend if no one shows up? Still make the content for that paid tier?
I love the idea of going paid. I think I am ready as well. The only thing that stops me now is not having Stripe in India. So many writers can’t go paid when they want to. The only option we have remaining involves a ton of money which many of them can’t afford to pay. I really hope Substack does something about this.
Hi Mansi 👋🏻 nice reading from you here again. Sure get this with Stripe. Talked with another writer from India today. Guess you might know the turnaround with having a bank account in America ;) maybe this helps. On Medium, many people from India are doing this.
Other options, Buy me a coffee, adding PayPal, Kofi, going with Gumroad and offering your membership there.
I have been saving up for registering an LLC in America so that I can go paid. It's a hefty amount to be honest, which makes me second guess my decision every time. Your post is really helpful and it is nudging me towards launching paid subscriptions soon.
You wrote, and it’s important - “It’s a win-win. Once you offer a paid subscription, Substack does more to promote you internally (e.g. offering 20% dicsount to your most engaged subscribers, offering free trials, many small marketing ideas to boost your paid subscribers).” So, we need to understand that Substack works to promote us when we have paid subscribers. 🙂
#1 advice :) Simon Owens added that he'd make the offer as simple and minimalist as possible. He's just goin with monthyl and annual without founding, also he's just going with the default
it’s been a while since we connected the last time. I hope you’re doing well!?
I felt like you were talking to me, because all the doubt (what do I have to offer that people would pay for), hesitancy (I’ll do it later), sounds like me.
It’s right, there is nothing to lose if I turn on monetization, only insights to gain.
Now the interesting part is what to put behind a paywall?
Question: Since you are connected with so many different people from my niche, health and fitness, can think of 1-2 people who I might reach out to and talk about this?
Yes, so far I haven’t activated anything, Pledges felt a little weird to me, but I might need to change my perspective from “this is needy” to a “voluntary act of appreciation”.
The call booking function sounds interesting, I’ll consider that
Thank you Kristina! We'll be turning on a voluntary paid subscription soon thanks to your advice :-)
So nice to read this on the exact day we were discussing the topic :) Thank you Kristina for sharing this candy!!!
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm thinking more seriously about serializing a novel.
Hi Kristina. This post resonates—especially about waiting too long to get paid. I’ve been guilty of the same hesitation, telling myself, “I just need to build a little more first.” But the truth is, there’s never a perfect time. At some point, you must trust that the value is there and flip the switch.
Your journey is inspiring, and I love how you framed it as not just when to go paid but what to offer. That mindset shift makes all the difference.
Speaking of which… since you’re now a firm believer in paying for excellent writing, I suggest you come to check out my work and see if it’s worth your support 😉. I would love to have you as part of my community! https://curiousleaders.substack.com/p/allow-yourself-to-suck-f3b24e7f8367
(Regardless, thanks for this post—exactly the push I needed.)
Asd I shared on Notes, my suggestion would be to build a library of content :) as I only saw one story. Also I'd not overuse AI.
I think my interview with Michael can also help and inspire because often we don't know WHY we're doing something: https://www.onlinewritingclub.com/p/how-to-build-a-soulful-one-person
Hope this is another push for you.
Good to offer a paid susbcription right from the start. Even better to build a free library first and show WHO you are and WHY they should care.
Hi Kristina. Thank God that I posted a note to you. I have been using a homepage that had not been formatted. Fix. As I said, I have over 50 articles that were invisible to the world. Thank you. https://curiousleaders.substack.com/
I have some ideas I’ve been kicking around for paid members but I’m not understanding where paid content sits. Can you have multiple offers in the paid tier?
Hello Vanessa, nice reading from you. I think it's the first time!
as you shared "beginnings are hard" so for you it's about getting yourself out there, showing you're human, showing WHO you are, your personality, querks, your skills and WHY anyone should care about you? I do!
You can have multiple paid tier. Here there are three. Monthly, annual and founding member.
Monthyl and annual are the same, only pricing differs. Founding is something MORE or simply SUPPORT.
Hope this helps. I'll share another post on this and tag you. I'll also send you a DM so we can set up your Substack for success, my friend!
Oh and check out today's interview with Michael Lim about growing a one-person business. it'w so worthwhile: https://www.onlinewritingclub.com/p/how-to-build-a-soulful-one-person
I also have an interview with Linda Lebrun from Substack: https://youtu.be/CGmY8cB4uhE?si=WxlXkfUrDwAoW23Y
Thank you! I will definitely take a look. Appreciate any and all help!
And I know you recommended creating a posting plan that you can stick too but I feel a little on fire so do I create drafts when I feel inspired and keep them to publish bi weekly or publish more frequently in the beginning?
Thanks so much Kristina for your newsletter. It’s awesome! I’ve been shipping my newsletter for years (first on Mailchimp, then Convertkit and for the past couple years here on Substack), consistently every single Sunday. I tried Substack paid subs for a while, and then turned them off. I really do feel like my writing and my paid content is valuable. I’m considering turning paid back on. What would you recommend if no one shows up? Still make the content for that paid tier?
Hey Kristina. Really considering turning my paid subs back on. Wanted to get your take on my question above.
I love the idea of going paid. I think I am ready as well. The only thing that stops me now is not having Stripe in India. So many writers can’t go paid when they want to. The only option we have remaining involves a ton of money which many of them can’t afford to pay. I really hope Substack does something about this.
or Teachable
Hi Mansi 👋🏻 nice reading from you here again. Sure get this with Stripe. Talked with another writer from India today. Guess you might know the turnaround with having a bank account in America ;) maybe this helps. On Medium, many people from India are doing this.
Other options, Buy me a coffee, adding PayPal, Kofi, going with Gumroad and offering your membership there.
I have been saving up for registering an LLC in America so that I can go paid. It's a hefty amount to be honest, which makes me second guess my decision every time. Your post is really helpful and it is nudging me towards launching paid subscriptions soon.
Thank you Kristina!
You wrote, and it’s important - “It’s a win-win. Once you offer a paid subscription, Substack does more to promote you internally (e.g. offering 20% dicsount to your most engaged subscribers, offering free trials, many small marketing ideas to boost your paid subscribers).” So, we need to understand that Substack works to promote us when we have paid subscribers. 🙂
It does. it's called the BOOST (similar as on Medium). So in the backend many marketing and pro things happen we aren't aware of :)
Absolutely! Go paid now! Thanks for the mention and all the wonderful information Kristina!
#1 advice :) Simon Owens added that he'd make the offer as simple and minimalist as possible. He's just goin with monthyl and annual without founding, also he's just going with the default
Hey Kristina,
it’s been a while since we connected the last time. I hope you’re doing well!?
I felt like you were talking to me, because all the doubt (what do I have to offer that people would pay for), hesitancy (I’ll do it later), sounds like me.
It’s right, there is nothing to lose if I turn on monetization, only insights to gain.
Now the interesting part is what to put behind a paywall?
Question: Since you are connected with so many different people from my niche, health and fitness, can think of 1-2 people who I might reach out to and talk about this?
Hi Philip, schön von dir zu lesen und, dass du noch immer aktiv bist.
Ok, subscribed to see what's gonna happen. Apparently, you haven't enabled anything, no pledges? Not sure.
People can book a 1-2-1 with you. This could be something to offer to founding members for instance.
Great to hear from you as well!
Yes, so far I haven’t activated anything, Pledges felt a little weird to me, but I might need to change my perspective from “this is needy” to a “voluntary act of appreciation”.
The call booking function sounds interesting, I’ll consider that
Wir sehen uns am Montag! Schönes Wochenende 😚