I have subscribed to way too many newsletters. I love that you have a spreadsheet!! I may have to do that - I know which my few favorites are, and I usually try to read them when I see a notification of a new one from those (this one included!). There were a couple of others that I was enjoying, but once I subscribed to a few too many, I lost track of them! So, I need to go through my subscriptions and pinpoint those.
I don’t have the bandwidth! I also don’t have the financial resources to pay for any subscriptions, so unless they are offering comped subscriptions…
I haven't looked into this but I wonder if the reason Substack doesn't offer a tip jar option is because most people would prefer to occasionally tip than to pay for ongoing content.
I think for some newsletters, having an annual fee to access some or all content that involves a lot of research, interviews to create written/illustrated and recorded content--all of which ideally includes paying a professional editor--etc. makes sense. And from what I've read, offering content with "teasers" converts readers into paid subscribers. I expect the same is for keeping some content paywalled just for paid subscribers.
For newsletters like mine, for now I plan to keep everything public and to accept payment as a form of "I respect the work you put into creating this weird dumb beautiful thing." For this iteration of NTMP, I think a tip jar makes sense, though of course I'm thrilled that people have also opted in to pay.
For people who can't afford subscriptions, I know many writers offer sliding scales, pay-what-you-can, or just outright comped subscriptions. Worth looking into, assuming you haven't already.
I know Substack just rolled out a referral model that I honestly haven't investigated yet, but that might be another idea for you - I think it works so that writers can set up rewards for referrals that include free subscriptions. Again, I haven't looked into it but maybe it would apply.
Last but not least, I value readers regardless of whether they pay. You're an NTMP superfan and I appreciate that SO much! If there's a newsletter you'd LOVE to get a subscription to, let me know and I'd be happy to spot you as a way of saying thanks. xo
I will definitely check into some of these things!
I too wish there was a tip jar! At one point I tried to embed a thing from “Buy Me a Coffee,” but couldn’t get it embedded. I write too sporadically to ever charge 😂 Plus, my newsletter is more like blog posts.
I absolutely agree that the ones who are creating well researched content should absolutely be compensated!
The big newsletters that I love state that they will comp for people who can’t afford it - one of them I did pay for the first year before I read that (Culture Study) and have since received a comp subscription, and there have been a couple that I have emailed the creator to ask, and those have graciously given me comp subscriptions. If I come across one that I really would love to read more of and won’t comp, I will remember this!!! That’s very generous of you and I appreciate you 🥰🥰🥰
Kristin, to clarify - I think anyone writing a newsletter should set up a subscription. I think the more complex Substacks are ideal for paywalled content, whereas ones like mine and yours could do the subscription model AND a tip jar. Hope that makes sense! And of course Anne Helen does a comp; I'm not at all surprised. She's just such a gem on the Internet. And yes, lmk if you find one you'd like comped for a year!
I have subscribed to way too many newsletters. I love that you have a spreadsheet!! I may have to do that - I know which my few favorites are, and I usually try to read them when I see a notification of a new one from those (this one included!). There were a couple of others that I was enjoying, but once I subscribed to a few too many, I lost track of them! So, I need to go through my subscriptions and pinpoint those.
I don’t have the bandwidth! I also don’t have the financial resources to pay for any subscriptions, so unless they are offering comped subscriptions…
I haven't looked into this but I wonder if the reason Substack doesn't offer a tip jar option is because most people would prefer to occasionally tip than to pay for ongoing content.
I think for some newsletters, having an annual fee to access some or all content that involves a lot of research, interviews to create written/illustrated and recorded content--all of which ideally includes paying a professional editor--etc. makes sense. And from what I've read, offering content with "teasers" converts readers into paid subscribers. I expect the same is for keeping some content paywalled just for paid subscribers.
For newsletters like mine, for now I plan to keep everything public and to accept payment as a form of "I respect the work you put into creating this weird dumb beautiful thing." For this iteration of NTMP, I think a tip jar makes sense, though of course I'm thrilled that people have also opted in to pay.
For people who can't afford subscriptions, I know many writers offer sliding scales, pay-what-you-can, or just outright comped subscriptions. Worth looking into, assuming you haven't already.
I know Substack just rolled out a referral model that I honestly haven't investigated yet, but that might be another idea for you - I think it works so that writers can set up rewards for referrals that include free subscriptions. Again, I haven't looked into it but maybe it would apply.
Last but not least, I value readers regardless of whether they pay. You're an NTMP superfan and I appreciate that SO much! If there's a newsletter you'd LOVE to get a subscription to, let me know and I'd be happy to spot you as a way of saying thanks. xo
I will definitely check into some of these things!
I too wish there was a tip jar! At one point I tried to embed a thing from “Buy Me a Coffee,” but couldn’t get it embedded. I write too sporadically to ever charge 😂 Plus, my newsletter is more like blog posts.
I absolutely agree that the ones who are creating well researched content should absolutely be compensated!
The big newsletters that I love state that they will comp for people who can’t afford it - one of them I did pay for the first year before I read that (Culture Study) and have since received a comp subscription, and there have been a couple that I have emailed the creator to ask, and those have graciously given me comp subscriptions. If I come across one that I really would love to read more of and won’t comp, I will remember this!!! That’s very generous of you and I appreciate you 🥰🥰🥰
Kristin, to clarify - I think anyone writing a newsletter should set up a subscription. I think the more complex Substacks are ideal for paywalled content, whereas ones like mine and yours could do the subscription model AND a tip jar. Hope that makes sense! And of course Anne Helen does a comp; I'm not at all surprised. She's just such a gem on the Internet. And yes, lmk if you find one you'd like comped for a year!
Omg these are all so funny!!! Love the manure tornado!!
Thanks for reading, Kristin - glad you liked it!
Literally sitting here LMAO at this so hard my tea came out of my nose. This is everything I didn't know I needed this Sunday! <3
Jade, this is *exactly* a core goal of NTMP, so I'm overjoyed that I made you laugh. Thanks for reading! <3
I couldn't be happier that you included Reed Timmer's manure tornado intercept. 🤣
I had to google Reed Timmer and one of the questions people ask is "Did Reed Timmer survive?" LOL