That’s really interesting - I’ve been wondering about a lot of these aspects of er Substacking(?).
I also wonder about your decision-making regarding which topics / posts go into the paid section. Do you save the better ones for that to reward paid subscribers? Or do you put the better ones in the free section to help grow your Substack (but also not giving subscribers your best content)? This question first came to me reading the “I Might Be Wrong” Substack by Jeff Maurer.
I thought about this when I first started paywalling some posts. I couldn't actually work out which strategy was better, so I go pretty close to random. I just aim for roughly one out of three to be paywalled, and for it to be a mix of the midweek and weekend posts that end up that way.
If there's any lean, it's that I try to make sure the very best midweek thinkpieces are public. But sometimes some of the best Weekly Scroll weekend roundups, the ones with really bonkers stuff going on, are paywalled.
TBH it was the Weekly Scroll paywalls that pushed me over the edge to subscribe. The thinkpieces are good- don't get me wrong- but the end-of-week recap on the goings-on of the internet is something I look forward to every week.
Yeah, I'm not saying that the data on engagement is wrong, but for me, it's much more about a writer being consistently entertaining/informative than the posting rate. I'm a quality over quantity reader.
As a paid subscriber, I've got to encourage all the free readers to support this Substack - it's easily some of the best money I spend every month. 100% worth it.
I would say merch would be good. Some ugh capitalism stuff might be funny but people would think its real and not ironic so that might not work. But merch is my rec for you.
Glad to be here as paid (I think since the very beginning), really enjoy reading and replying to your stuff, Jeremiah.
That’s really interesting - I’ve been wondering about a lot of these aspects of er Substacking(?).
I also wonder about your decision-making regarding which topics / posts go into the paid section. Do you save the better ones for that to reward paid subscribers? Or do you put the better ones in the free section to help grow your Substack (but also not giving subscribers your best content)? This question first came to me reading the “I Might Be Wrong” Substack by Jeff Maurer.
I thought about this when I first started paywalling some posts. I couldn't actually work out which strategy was better, so I go pretty close to random. I just aim for roughly one out of three to be paywalled, and for it to be a mix of the midweek and weekend posts that end up that way.
If there's any lean, it's that I try to make sure the very best midweek thinkpieces are public. But sometimes some of the best Weekly Scroll weekend roundups, the ones with really bonkers stuff going on, are paywalled.
TBH it was the Weekly Scroll paywalls that pushed me over the edge to subscribe. The thinkpieces are good- don't get me wrong- but the end-of-week recap on the goings-on of the internet is something I look forward to every week.
Although ALL of Jeff’s are great.
Personally I would like it if the Substackers I follow wrote LESS. I just don't have enough time to read all of the output.
Yeah, I'm not saying that the data on engagement is wrong, but for me, it's much more about a writer being consistently entertaining/informative than the posting rate. I'm a quality over quantity reader.
As a paid subscriber, I've got to encourage all the free readers to support this Substack - it's easily some of the best money I spend every month. 100% worth it.
I love discord and I would join. I followed this substack because of the neoliberal podcast but I stayed and paid for the internet culture roundups.
I would say merch would be good. Some ugh capitalism stuff might be funny but people would think its real and not ironic so that might not work. But merch is my rec for you.