Introducing a Substack Paid Subscription Tier
Celebrating Dose of SarNDipity's tenth post with expansion into premium content
Today I’m excited to share two big milestones for Dose of SarNDipity: I’m currently writing my tenth post, and, to celebrate, I’ll be launching a paid subscription tier!
Following is everything you need to know about Substack’s business model, my vision for a premium plan and a personal commitment to you.
Adopting Substack’s Paid Media Model
The Substack business model is built on the premise that readers will be willing to pay for content they value, and in doing so, empower writers to create that content. Since their 2018 launch, the company has expanded this framework to podcasts, livestreams and other continually evolving formats, leading millions of paid publications on the site.
Substack offers creators a suite of resources to guide them in launching a paid tier, including a breakdown of potential pricing strategies with successful examples. Ultimately, the company provides the individual with control over whether, when and how to charge for their work. While this freedom is empowering, it places decision-making on the creator to justify their approach and belief that their work has intrinsic value worthy of not only readers’ attention, but also their finances. This is a responsibility I take seriously. Following is my rationale, promise to you and an invitation to continue reading however you wish to do so.
A Systemic Approach to Growth
I launched Dose of SarNDipity last November, making March my fifth month on Substack. During that time, I’ve crafted eight articles that have built on one another and aligned around themes like A Founder’s Lens, The Creative Process and Personal Reflections (FYI, you can subscribe to any of these sections individually in addition to the full set). Along the way, I’ve shifted from an experimental to systemic approach, laying the groundwork for series like A Founder’s Lens for aspiring entrepreneurs. My audience is steady and growing thanks to cross-promotion on platforms like Medium and LinkedIn (If you’re interested in adopting a similar multi-platform strategy, Burk offers helpful guidelines on how to do so.)
Writing a Dose of SarNDipity post can take anywhere from several hours to several weeks. Often, I’m developing multiple pieces simultaneously, such as now when crafting this paid launch post in conjunction with my first paywalled article. Steps within my publishing process include:
Identifying an article idea/topic
Mapping the idea into a standalone piece aligned with previous content and themes
Curating accompanying post elements like titles and featured images
Adapting material for cross-publication on Medium and LinkedIn
Updating supporting infrastructure including About pages, email templates and anchor posts as needed
As you might imagine, all this work requires a great deal of time and energy. I do most of my writing during evenings and weekends in order to maintain my commitment to projects like Publio and ChargedUp!, for which I support publication of six weekly stories, social media posts and an email newsletter during the work week. I’ll often begin tinkering with a Dose of SarNDipity post after work on Friday, only to find myself devoting my entire weekend to writing, frequently sacrificing leisure and social time along the way.
Despite the challenges of writing, having a platform around which to centralize my focus has led to enhanced self-confidence, better time management and greater optimism toward my future. These are critical gains I’ve sought for many years, some for my entire life. Recognizing these benefits and seeing my work come together motivate to keep going even when I doubt myself or need to pause to eat, sleep, or do laundry (none of which we’ve determined how to offload to A.I., at least yet).
It’s taken me a long road to get here. Now that I finally see a horizon, I don’t plan to quit anytime soon.
Why Your Support Matters Now
While the joy of articulating my ideas has always been writing’s greatest reward, I can’t continue at my current course and speed indefinitely. Here’s why I’m asking for your support, the impact you’ll have and what I promise to you in return.
I write for a range of reasons, the first of which will always be personal fulfillment. The act of writing helps me process thoughts and emotions, discover my values and beliefs and experience connection with the greater world.
Throughout my life, writing has provided me many opportunities. I was editor of my high school newspaper and started my career in publishing, witnessing the field’s real-time evolution into the digital space. Writing has served as a path to job offers, network recognition and my ability to articulate my professional value in an ever-changing economy. Substack not only allows me to bring my work to an even larger audience, it also offers the chance to earn direct compensation from my creative output through paid subscriptions.
Outlining My Approach to Paid Content
The primary reason I’m introducing a premium plan now is to create a built-in structure and accountability for myself that will incentivize me to keep writing. In exchange for your readership, I’m committed to providing value on a monthly basis, which will motivate me to maintain the consistency required to grow Dose of SarNDipity and expand into offers like ebooks, online courses and personal coaching and advising.
To start, I’ve decided on an initial commitment of at least one premium article each month, in addition to the free content I’ll continue to create for a wider audience. Along the way, I promise transparency into my capability to deliver and share updates on progress toward the goals I’ve established for myself as a creator.
To keep things simple, I’m adopting Substack’s suggested pricing of $5 for a monthly plan and $50 for an annual plan. Now through the end of March, I’ll be offering 25% off of these rates:
Even if you choose not to upgrade, know how much I value and appreciate your continued readership and participation in this community. Here are two additional ways to access premium content:
Medium Membership Option
In addition to publishing on Substack, I’ll be posting premium content on Medium as member-only stories. For the same price as my premium Substack plan ($5/month), a Medium membership provides access to work by an unlimited catalog of writers. Through your membership, you’ll be supporting these writers directly through the company’s Partner Program. If you’re interested in exploring this option, you can sign up and access my stories at Medium.com/@bysarahnoonan.
Get Rewarded for Referrals
If you know any readers who would enjoy Dose of SarNDipity, earn premium benefits for referring them here. When more friends use your referral link to subscribe to a free or paid plan, you’ll receive special the following special offers:
1 month comp for 3 referrals
3 months comp for 5 referrals
6 months comp for 10 referrals
Use the referral link below, or the click the “Share” button on any post and earn credit for any new subscribers:
Ready for This Week’s Paid Launch?
My tenth Dose of SarNDipity post, Inside My Journey to Ten Substack Posts, lands this week as a paid subscriber exclusive. Subscribe today to ensure you’re on the list to receive when it lands. I hope you’re as excited as I am!