Good for anyone who receives paid subscriptions. I have a different approach. I don't need the income so what I offer instead, besides always free subscriptions, is an opportunity for anyone to make a pledge n any amount, one time or recurring, which I contribute to a non-profit scholarship fund. The AMS Scholarship for Underserved Communitiesl awards funding to minority students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, especially Hispanic, Native American, and Black/African American students. The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is committed to, and benefits from the full and equitable participation of a diverse community, advancing core values of diversity, inclusion, and equity across all aspects of the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences.
Thus far, only through Substack. I made a personal contribution of $100 in honor of my 100th subscriber. Good idea about making another source available and will consider that. Thanks!
This is a very good idea. 💡 so glad you are doing this. Helping others to study if their family cannot afford it is very honourable. Education here in Europe is super affordable but I know we cannot say the same for US. Thank you 🙏🏻
Very true, Annalisa. The inequities in education in the U.S. has a long history and there are still wide gaps between the privileged and the underprivileged. We do what we can with what we have where we are.
Congrats on going paid, Mika! And thank you for your generous resources as always 🥰🧚♀️ I juuuust wrote a note about how good it feels to tip. Not many of us can afford to subscribe to more than 3-5 publications but a one-off tip feels empowering and so nurturing for my spirit!
That’s great feedback. It’s nice to hear from your side how good it feels to tip. I agree, there are a lot of times that you’re not in a position to do reoccurring payments, but you want to let the writer know that you appreciate their writing.
I love this post. I’m playing around with the idea of making my digital downloads free to everyone. They take so long to make and are so fun that I want everyone to enjoy them! More and more, I like the idea of making everything free with the option of subscriptions and Buy Me a Coffee - way easier on everyone! We’ll see how it goes.
I think I got so excited to upgrade to paid that I forgot to leave an actual comment lol.
Mika, thank you so much for the shout out here. Someone just bought me 3 coffees...maybe it's because of your mention of my post here. 😊 Everything works for the greater good!
Love this roundup. Thanks for sharing. As a new writer still trying to find her footing and niche (and who can’t commit to an ultra regular schedule), I’ve decided to wait to turn on any payment. In the future, I’m thinking about the Buy Me a Coffee tip option. It’s nice to see that others have had success and that this doesn’t have to be so crazy daunting 😊
Congratulations on going paid, Mika! I’ve used the tip option on one of my substacks, and it’s always a pleasure to see the tips come in. I’ve been thinking about turning on paid, but I’m still not sure about it.
Love this post, gonna save it. I feel like I'm gonna need to do some more digging on how to get ahead with the paid offers the moment I'm gonna put something behind the paywall!
I love this idea of no paywall!! I’m so curious. And it does feel like something I could really get behind. More good=more good. You have my wheels turning here. Thanks Mika🙏🏼💛
From the comments so far, it seems like there is a lot to think about and I guess we can just experiment and decide what feels aligned with what we do.
Mary Beth, I have optional paid subscription on two of my three publications and I'm always surprised and pleased when someone decides to pay me when they don't have to. People just like to support people! On my brand new pub about dogs...I haven't even launched yet (zero posts!) and I already have 3 paid subs! It's a beautiful thing.
Wow, this is incredibly inspiring! This feels so much more aligned for me. I'm going to explore how to turn this option on. Sometimes I get tripped up learning the backend of things on Substack. Thank you so much for the encouragement!!
I have turned on pledges but not paid because I don’t know what extra value I could give for payment … yet. I also struggle to always create a weekly post so I would like to get more consistent first. This post did prompt me to become a paid subscriber to your SS though!
About your post, it took me 8 months before I was ready to be consistent. The month before I did, I deleted Instagram off my phone and was really intentional about my time, and I realised I really wanted to write. I came up with a rough plan (then changed it multiple times since then 😉) and thought I could do twice a week, quickly realised I could do once! 😄
I started to safe guard Wed for writing and then posting on Friday - with proofing and editing between. I may not always keep to that schedule, but that’s part of the flexibility that has helped me to stay consistent.
If I had more commitments, I may only do once every two weeks or monthly.
Hope this helps.
Also, I would just turn on paid and have it there as an option. It doesn’t hurt. 😊
You never know what will resonate with a reader to prompt them to want to support your writing. 😉
Thank you Mika, I really value the time you take to come back to me & how you nurture the community you're building. I like the idea of safeguarding time to write, I will block out some time in my diary and see what happens. As to turning on paid, maybe...! 😉
Well done on going paid! And thank you for putting this all together. I'm still finding my feet and place on Substack, but in the back of my mind I'd like to turn on paid eventually. But the paywall has never felt quite right to me, so it's really helpful to read about different options.
Wow! The spreadsheet was so eye-opening. I also like the idea of a "tip" that can be used across multiple platforms, instead of trying to hook subscribers to an app that they might be unfamiliar with. I've found that as much as we all love and use Substack, it's not as universally known, so people don't know how to navigate it well, yet. A lot of food for thought here: thank you!
Congratulations on going paid, Mika! 🎉 Can I just say, you inspired me to quietly turn on a paid option as well. I have been thinking about it for a while now, but I kept telling myself, "let's have a few more subscribers, a few more posts, more engagement..." The truth is, it would never be the right time! So there it is—my Substack now has a low-priced paid option, which matches the frequency and limited offering (I am just writing articles!). Thank you for this post; I needed the Universe to send it to my inbox to nudge me into action! 😊
Hi Mika! I was wondering why the note I posted four months ago was getting so much attention again and now mystery solved! Thanks for the mention! And congrats on going paid!!
Surprise! It was such a helpful Note, I’m glad that it has been given life again! 😊 It still kind of boggles my mind that you can not offer anything extra and people pay. How has things been 4 months on?
I am up to 390 paids now, so I am adding a net average of about 15 additional paid subscriptions a month. I wish it were growing faster! But when I reflect that it is PURE generosity motivating these paying subscribers it feels so great. Plus I am also getting additional support through Venmo and Paypal and folks who pay for classified ads. I have no intention of changing my "biz" model!
Wonderful resources! Your people pleaser Monkey 🐒 is so very helpful. You’ve turned her into a superpower!! I was nervous too, but turned on pledges as part of a Mostly Brave re-brand 🙌🏽Will set up paid and tip jar too. It feels really good! I run a daily co-working zoom for creatives, so I’m excited to offer extra connection for paid Support Crew. More to come! 💗
Really informative post! I have many of the same thoughts on this subject. Interestingly, Substack has been the first media platform I have felt the motivation to give as a pledge to support the community members 👏🏻 I feel it's part of contributing not only its community but also that ethos so evident!
Congratulations!👏I believe so many are hesitant to charge for their excellent work as they have doubts about whether or not their work is "good enough" when actually, it is! We often have so many limiting beliefs that are unnecessary. Your work is great, Mika!
Good for anyone who receives paid subscriptions. I have a different approach. I don't need the income so what I offer instead, besides always free subscriptions, is an opportunity for anyone to make a pledge n any amount, one time or recurring, which I contribute to a non-profit scholarship fund. The AMS Scholarship for Underserved Communitiesl awards funding to minority students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, especially Hispanic, Native American, and Black/African American students. The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is committed to, and benefits from the full and equitable participation of a diverse community, advancing core values of diversity, inclusion, and equity across all aspects of the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences.
I love that and what a great cause. Do you get your pledges only through Substack or use another source to receive the pledge?
Thus far, only through Substack. I made a personal contribution of $100 in honor of my 100th subscriber. Good idea about making another source available and will consider that. Thanks!
This is a very good idea. 💡 so glad you are doing this. Helping others to study if their family cannot afford it is very honourable. Education here in Europe is super affordable but I know we cannot say the same for US. Thank you 🙏🏻
Very true, Annalisa. The inequities in education in the U.S. has a long history and there are still wide gaps between the privileged and the underprivileged. We do what we can with what we have where we are.
Small actions but if everyone did it, it would make a huge difference 🥰
Congrats on going paid, Mika! And thank you for your generous resources as always 🥰🧚♀️ I juuuust wrote a note about how good it feels to tip. Not many of us can afford to subscribe to more than 3-5 publications but a one-off tip feels empowering and so nurturing for my spirit!
That’s great feedback. It’s nice to hear from your side how good it feels to tip. I agree, there are a lot of times that you’re not in a position to do reoccurring payments, but you want to let the writer know that you appreciate their writing.
I agree with you! I just added mine in but me a coffee, I am curious to see how that will turn up as I just started sitting here 2 months ago ✨
I love this post. I’m playing around with the idea of making my digital downloads free to everyone. They take so long to make and are so fun that I want everyone to enjoy them! More and more, I like the idea of making everything free with the option of subscriptions and Buy Me a Coffee - way easier on everyone! We’ll see how it goes.
Enjoy having a play! I’m excited to see what you land on. 😊
Not there yet, but I tend towards a similar approach!
I think I got so excited to upgrade to paid that I forgot to leave an actual comment lol.
Mika, thank you so much for the shout out here. Someone just bought me 3 coffees...maybe it's because of your mention of my post here. 😊 Everything works for the greater good!
Awww you’re the sweetest. Thank you so much for your support!
That’s so cool that you got some coffees ☕️☕️☕️💕
You're welcome!
Love this roundup. Thanks for sharing. As a new writer still trying to find her footing and niche (and who can’t commit to an ultra regular schedule), I’ve decided to wait to turn on any payment. In the future, I’m thinking about the Buy Me a Coffee tip option. It’s nice to see that others have had success and that this doesn’t have to be so crazy daunting 😊
I love that there are lots of options for everyone writer. If this roundup has taught me anything, it’s that there are LOTS of ways to do it! 😊
Congratulations on going paid, Mika! I’ve used the tip option on one of my substacks, and it’s always a pleasure to see the tips come in. I’ve been thinking about turning on paid, but I’m still not sure about it.
It’s nice to see the tip option working for you! Who do you use for your tips?
I use a simple PayPal.me link.
Love this post, gonna save it. I feel like I'm gonna need to do some more digging on how to get ahead with the paid offers the moment I'm gonna put something behind the paywall!
Yes, lots to think about! Do you have any idea of what you will put behind the paywall?
For sure, the AI course when it’s ready, and then I also think about my eBook. But that’s it for now. You?
I love this idea of no paywall!! I’m so curious. And it does feel like something I could really get behind. More good=more good. You have my wheels turning here. Thanks Mika🙏🏼💛
From the comments so far, it seems like there is a lot to think about and I guess we can just experiment and decide what feels aligned with what we do.
Mary Beth, I have optional paid subscription on two of my three publications and I'm always surprised and pleased when someone decides to pay me when they don't have to. People just like to support people! On my brand new pub about dogs...I haven't even launched yet (zero posts!) and I already have 3 paid subs! It's a beautiful thing.
Wow, this is incredibly inspiring! This feels so much more aligned for me. I'm going to explore how to turn this option on. Sometimes I get tripped up learning the backend of things on Substack. Thank you so much for the encouragement!!
I have turned on pledges but not paid because I don’t know what extra value I could give for payment … yet. I also struggle to always create a weekly post so I would like to get more consistent first. This post did prompt me to become a paid subscriber to your SS though!
Wow thank you so much Han!! 🙏🏻🥰
It means a lot to have your support!
About your post, it took me 8 months before I was ready to be consistent. The month before I did, I deleted Instagram off my phone and was really intentional about my time, and I realised I really wanted to write. I came up with a rough plan (then changed it multiple times since then 😉) and thought I could do twice a week, quickly realised I could do once! 😄
I started to safe guard Wed for writing and then posting on Friday - with proofing and editing between. I may not always keep to that schedule, but that’s part of the flexibility that has helped me to stay consistent.
If I had more commitments, I may only do once every two weeks or monthly.
Hope this helps.
Also, I would just turn on paid and have it there as an option. It doesn’t hurt. 😊
You never know what will resonate with a reader to prompt them to want to support your writing. 😉
Thank you Mika, I really value the time you take to come back to me & how you nurture the community you're building. I like the idea of safeguarding time to write, I will block out some time in my diary and see what happens. As to turning on paid, maybe...! 😉
One thing I did like about not turning on paid was having a writing holiday if I wanted to. 😆
Well done on going paid! And thank you for putting this all together. I'm still finding my feet and place on Substack, but in the back of my mind I'd like to turn on paid eventually. But the paywall has never felt quite right to me, so it's really helpful to read about different options.
I really wanted to find my footing on Substack before I turned on paid, then I kind of stalled. I hope you don’t take as long as I did. 😄
Wow! The spreadsheet was so eye-opening. I also like the idea of a "tip" that can be used across multiple platforms, instead of trying to hook subscribers to an app that they might be unfamiliar with. I've found that as much as we all love and use Substack, it's not as universally known, so people don't know how to navigate it well, yet. A lot of food for thought here: thank you!
I'm glad it was helpful Leanne. I agree the spreadsheet was incredibly eye-opening!
Congratulations on going paid, Mika! 🎉 Can I just say, you inspired me to quietly turn on a paid option as well. I have been thinking about it for a while now, but I kept telling myself, "let's have a few more subscribers, a few more posts, more engagement..." The truth is, it would never be the right time! So there it is—my Substack now has a low-priced paid option, which matches the frequency and limited offering (I am just writing articles!). Thank you for this post; I needed the Universe to send it to my inbox to nudge me into action! 😊
Wooohooo!! Celebrating you! 👏 That’s amazing Aleks. 🥰
Hi Mika! I was wondering why the note I posted four months ago was getting so much attention again and now mystery solved! Thanks for the mention! And congrats on going paid!!
Surprise! It was such a helpful Note, I’m glad that it has been given life again! 😊 It still kind of boggles my mind that you can not offer anything extra and people pay. How has things been 4 months on?
I am up to 390 paids now, so I am adding a net average of about 15 additional paid subscriptions a month. I wish it were growing faster! But when I reflect that it is PURE generosity motivating these paying subscribers it feels so great. Plus I am also getting additional support through Venmo and Paypal and folks who pay for classified ads. I have no intention of changing my "biz" model!
That’s epic! Thanks so much for the update!
Wonderful resources! Your people pleaser Monkey 🐒 is so very helpful. You’ve turned her into a superpower!! I was nervous too, but turned on pledges as part of a Mostly Brave re-brand 🙌🏽Will set up paid and tip jar too. It feels really good! I run a daily co-working zoom for creatives, so I’m excited to offer extra connection for paid Support Crew. More to come! 💗
Looks like you have a wonderful trajectory ahead Christine!
Really informative post! I have many of the same thoughts on this subject. Interestingly, Substack has been the first media platform I have felt the motivation to give as a pledge to support the community members 👏🏻 I feel it's part of contributing not only its community but also that ethos so evident!
It really is unlike any platform I’ve been a part of. I wonder how it compares to patreon.
Congratulations!👏I believe so many are hesitant to charge for their excellent work as they have doubts about whether or not their work is "good enough" when actually, it is! We often have so many limiting beliefs that are unnecessary. Your work is great, Mika!
Well said Katharina. I wonder when this thought comes into our mind??