Whatever you decide, you will be successful because I believe in you! I believe in having both a paid newsletter and additional digital products and services for paid members.
I make my financial education posts free and my trade ideas premium. Premium allows me to increase the value of both free and paid content. Also, the trade ideas help subscribers pay for premium.
Your breakdown of Nicolas Cole's criteria changed my view on newsletter value. The "infinitely repeatable" point caught my attention—it's like the difference between buying a single book and subscribing to an evolving knowledge system. I've gravitated toward newsletters that feel like they're building something larger over time rather than delivering isolated content.
I appreciate your honesty about the creative pressure. It's refreshing to see someone acknowledge that the "obvious" path (paid subscriptions) isn't always the best for creative work. Your point about making more through ebooks and affiliate offers while keeping the newsletter free is fascinating—you're providing more value by removing the subscription barrier.
I'm curious about the unique value proposition that would make you feel confident about charging since you mentioned potentially adding a paid tier again "if you come up with something good later." Would it be specialized how-to content or private coaching/consulting?
I'm not 100% sure what that unique value proposition would be. Coaching/consulting could be one. A library of helpful ebooks I could provide free could be another. I don't even know if that's valuable enough. It has to be something ongoing, to Nicolas's point about being infinitely repeatable.
The beauty of a resource library is that it could grow organically alongside your newsletter. Each piece builds on the last while remaining independently valuable. It's almost like creating a living handbook that evolves with your audience's needs...
I don't have a product or a service. The newsletter was started as a side hustle to promote another side hustle. Only it evolved into essays about life, aging, and whatever else I want to write about. Never mind I don't know who my audience is. It's the first thing I'm asked by every coach, consultant, or course I've purchased.
I didn't try too hard on Medium, it's an entirely different platform, and I'm not entirely sure I get it. The exposure is so much better, it might be worth trying g to explore it further. The downside to it (for me) is that apparently i need to write for a publication to get "boosted" which from what I've heard is suspect, too.
I'm glad you shared about all of this, I was feeling like the lonely stranger on this platform.
With Medium, you don't need to share in publications to get boosted. I've had 1 boosted article, and it was in my own publication. The other times I tried with articles in publications...no boosts. (I haven't tried very hard though. I gave up on trying to get boosts...)
And you don't need to get boosted to make money there. It helps, but I see people doing well without it. My earnings have gone down there, so I'm making it my mission to figure out how to pick them back up.
And I feel you on the audience thing! I don't have complete clarity on mine either.
Was just thinking this same thing. I was preparing to post my first paid post… but something was giving me pause. I DID work many years to accumulate the knowledge I’m about to share… but I about once a month and I lack the hustling drive. I’m a creative. I decided I will keep my professional Substack free (even though I’ve invested in all that I’m sharing), and amp up MY attention to my creative writing—that’s what I’d like to be recognized for. I am moving toward a more authentic presentation (by sharing my personal work), and my professional Substack remains a good value because the content is evergreen.
That sounds like a good plan. It's hard to know what to give away and what to charge for. I have to ask myself when I want to charge for something, "Would I pay for this?"
I've been recommending that people make the written content free but valuable and useful on its own. Use the paywall to offer extra stuff (access to you, books, videos, guides, courses, templates, etc). It's what I do myself and it works pretty great.
Exactly what I wanted to do, I think that's most fair.
Free content should be valuable itself, but if it's more effort on creator and less on reader then it should be paid.
So I might write about how carrots grow, what they like and tell a great story to glue it together. But if I create a step by step action plan for growing own carrots with details then I will make it paid.
I started my first Substack newsletter/publication with a view to charging for it, but it's not something I have the time to write for more than once a week, so it's difficult to see people being willing to pay for it.
And I only began this publication so I could write about topics that Medium bans.
So I think I will either remove the paid tier completely or lower the price to something much cheaper. It depends which is easier.
As for my second publication, I only ever intended that to be free.
In my case, it's this rule: "Promotion of pseudoscience, disinformation, or other content that is contrary to public health or safety"
Specifically, you are not allowed to post anything that questions the safety or efficacy of vaccines.
So if you point out flaws in claims that vaccines are safe, they call that disinformation that is contrary to public health or safety, even though it's clear that vaccines do cause harm (including death).
Ah yes, the ol' "disinformation" policy. I prefer having free speech and letting people decide for themselves what's real or not. But what do I know...? 🤷🏻♀️
Following. I want to know the same thing!! A virtual friend of mine was banned and I never found out why. She was in her 70s, and made a good living writing on Medium. All she would say was that had something to do with pro-Trump. She wasn't angry combative sort of person, but delving into politics never bodes well.
It is a very divisive topic. I like to read about it, but I don't post about it much. I do appreciate free speech though, so I prefer if everyone can post what they want and not get in trouble for their thoughts. lol
I only like reading about it when I agree with what’s being written. I will shamelessly admit it. And I agree with free speech, absolutely, but when it tips to one side and the other is quieted or shadow banned it doesn’t quite seem like free speech anymore.
I get all my crazy over on X. There is truly is free speech on the platform, but it’s a dicey arena. I’ll play nice and stay quiet everywhere else, haha.
Whatever you decide, you will be successful because I believe in you! I believe in having both a paid newsletter and additional digital products and services for paid members.
Thanks so much, Hein!
And I think your way is a very good way of doing things.
I make my financial education posts free and my trade ideas premium. Premium allows me to increase the value of both free and paid content. Also, the trade ideas help subscribers pay for premium.
That makes a lot of sense, and I bet you’ll never run out of trade ideas. So your newsletter fits Nicolas’s criteria.
Your breakdown of Nicolas Cole's criteria changed my view on newsletter value. The "infinitely repeatable" point caught my attention—it's like the difference between buying a single book and subscribing to an evolving knowledge system. I've gravitated toward newsletters that feel like they're building something larger over time rather than delivering isolated content.
I appreciate your honesty about the creative pressure. It's refreshing to see someone acknowledge that the "obvious" path (paid subscriptions) isn't always the best for creative work. Your point about making more through ebooks and affiliate offers while keeping the newsletter free is fascinating—you're providing more value by removing the subscription barrier.
I'm curious about the unique value proposition that would make you feel confident about charging since you mentioned potentially adding a paid tier again "if you come up with something good later." Would it be specialized how-to content or private coaching/consulting?
I'm not 100% sure what that unique value proposition would be. Coaching/consulting could be one. A library of helpful ebooks I could provide free could be another. I don't even know if that's valuable enough. It has to be something ongoing, to Nicolas's point about being infinitely repeatable.
The beauty of a resource library is that it could grow organically alongside your newsletter. Each piece builds on the last while remaining independently valuable. It's almost like creating a living handbook that evolves with your audience's needs...
I don't have a product or a service. The newsletter was started as a side hustle to promote another side hustle. Only it evolved into essays about life, aging, and whatever else I want to write about. Never mind I don't know who my audience is. It's the first thing I'm asked by every coach, consultant, or course I've purchased.
I didn't try too hard on Medium, it's an entirely different platform, and I'm not entirely sure I get it. The exposure is so much better, it might be worth trying g to explore it further. The downside to it (for me) is that apparently i need to write for a publication to get "boosted" which from what I've heard is suspect, too.
I'm glad you shared about all of this, I was feeling like the lonely stranger on this platform.
With Medium, you don't need to share in publications to get boosted. I've had 1 boosted article, and it was in my own publication. The other times I tried with articles in publications...no boosts. (I haven't tried very hard though. I gave up on trying to get boosts...)
And you don't need to get boosted to make money there. It helps, but I see people doing well without it. My earnings have gone down there, so I'm making it my mission to figure out how to pick them back up.
And I feel you on the audience thing! I don't have complete clarity on mine either.
Thank you for clearing this up. Maybe I'll cross post a few more times to get a feel for where it goes.
Was just thinking this same thing. I was preparing to post my first paid post… but something was giving me pause. I DID work many years to accumulate the knowledge I’m about to share… but I about once a month and I lack the hustling drive. I’m a creative. I decided I will keep my professional Substack free (even though I’ve invested in all that I’m sharing), and amp up MY attention to my creative writing—that’s what I’d like to be recognized for. I am moving toward a more authentic presentation (by sharing my personal work), and my professional Substack remains a good value because the content is evergreen.
That sounds like a good plan. It's hard to know what to give away and what to charge for. I have to ask myself when I want to charge for something, "Would I pay for this?"
I've been recommending that people make the written content free but valuable and useful on its own. Use the paywall to offer extra stuff (access to you, books, videos, guides, courses, templates, etc). It's what I do myself and it works pretty great.
I think that's probably the best way to go. Once I have a bigger catalog of "stuff", this could work out great.
Exactly what I wanted to do, I think that's most fair.
Free content should be valuable itself, but if it's more effort on creator and less on reader then it should be paid.
So I might write about how carrots grow, what they like and tell a great story to glue it together. But if I create a step by step action plan for growing own carrots with details then I will make it paid.
Great plan!
I recently unsubscribed from a newsletter.
I don't mind them being paid. I'll probably have my own paid newsletter later and I'm paying for a couple of newsletters.
What I do mind is investing my time and energy in reading half a newsletter for then to be told it's only for paid subscribers.
THAT's why I unsubscribed from a newsletter that was otherwise good. I don't like being forced into buying.
It's either: send it to me so I can read it - or don't send it to me, only to paid subscribers.
That's an interesting thought, and I can see how that's frustrating.
I think the idea is to tease the information to free subscribers so they'll be more likely to upgrade. But sometimes that backfires.
Yes, this!!!
Yesssss! Agreed!
I agree.
I started my first Substack newsletter/publication with a view to charging for it, but it's not something I have the time to write for more than once a week, so it's difficult to see people being willing to pay for it.
And I only began this publication so I could write about topics that Medium bans.
So I think I will either remove the paid tier completely or lower the price to something much cheaper. It depends which is easier.
As for my second publication, I only ever intended that to be free.
It sounds like you have a good plan in place! What topics does Medium ban?
The full list is here:
https://policy.medium.com/medium-rules-30e5502c4eb4
In my case, it's this rule: "Promotion of pseudoscience, disinformation, or other content that is contrary to public health or safety"
Specifically, you are not allowed to post anything that questions the safety or efficacy of vaccines.
So if you point out flaws in claims that vaccines are safe, they call that disinformation that is contrary to public health or safety, even though it's clear that vaccines do cause harm (including death).
Ah yes, the ol' "disinformation" policy. I prefer having free speech and letting people decide for themselves what's real or not. But what do I know...? 🤷🏻♀️
More than most people, apparently. :-)
Following. I want to know the same thing!! A virtual friend of mine was banned and I never found out why. She was in her 70s, and made a good living writing on Medium. All she would say was that had something to do with pro-Trump. She wasn't angry combative sort of person, but delving into politics never bodes well.
Politics bodes well if you're on the other side of the aisle on Medium...
So true. I wish the topic was off limits all the way around, from both sides, haha.
It is a very divisive topic. I like to read about it, but I don't post about it much. I do appreciate free speech though, so I prefer if everyone can post what they want and not get in trouble for their thoughts. lol
I only like reading about it when I agree with what’s being written. I will shamelessly admit it. And I agree with free speech, absolutely, but when it tips to one side and the other is quieted or shadow banned it doesn’t quite seem like free speech anymore.
I get all my crazy over on X. There is truly is free speech on the platform, but it’s a dicey arena. I’ll play nice and stay quiet everywhere else, haha.