I encounter the paywall tease often. It makes me a little sad but otherwise I don't mind it--authors have the right to allow or deny access to their work as they choose.
What I do mind is Substack authors who restrict comments to paid subscribers. It's like letting beggars sit humbly on your carpet to receive your wisdom but insisting they do so silently. Seems like the pettiest way to "encourage" conversion to paid.
Dark mode is awful. Has it any actual useful point? Again, authors can do as they please, and if the content is valuable to me (as with eugyppius), I'll struggle through it. But with some reasonable irritation.
I understand why many Substackers approach this as a business. I think it's a little dangerous to one's integrity to do that. You've got to satisfy the market when you depend on it for revenue. Keeping a balance when you're not a huge name who can afford to lose even hundreds or perhaps a thousand or so subscribers will be a challenge.
And--funny thing. I pay for only two Substack subscriptions. The second one was a particular matter of honor because the author comps anyone who asks, and I'd asked last year. Felt like time to not be shabby. And right after I converted to paid, a couple of posts really irritated me. Very first time in a year's reading. But you know, this is life. It's like the last Ruth Rendell mystery I bought. It was lousy. But in a half-century of enjoying her work, should I get crabby because she wasn't perfect?
Anyway--may you grow and flourish and make me sad only on Sundays.
Not paid posts but paid subscribers to the Stack. Free subscribers can't read paid posts.
I'm a free subscriber to Alex Berenson, Freddie DeBoer and Libs of TikTok, for example. I can't read paywalled posts, but most content is free to read.
But I can't comment on those free posts.
I also subscribe to The Meddling Buddha and always commented on the posts under its previous name. Shortly after he reformatted his Stack, I tried commenting one time and encountered the pop-up window that denies that to free readers.
Then a few issues later I tried again and was able to comment, so I mentioned that to Sjoerd and asked if he was restricting comments sometimes. He replied that the default is "paid subscribers only" and he had forgotten to change that.
Also happened once with Naked Emperor and I noted that on another post and he said it was inadvertent and fixed it.
Looks like people disagree but I find getting a few paragraphs and then having it blocked as incredibly annoying. I'll be loyal to you, but I usually unsubscribe.
I find it annoying too, but sometimes those few paragraphs are pretty interesting in themselves and I've found them worth reading. But they don't tempt me none.
“ One big reason I felt this change was necessary is to give my life some structure. It’s chaotic/stressful/anxiety-inducing following a “click publish as soon as you are done writing” schedule because my mind immediately goes to the next one. I can never relax.”
This is so true. Not sure I can resist the urge to send out as soon as the piece is done though…
My problem is I follow dozens of authors so it would be ruinous to try and subscribe to them all. I wish there was a mechanism where I could pay say, $3.00 for a paywalled article I really wanted to finish. In the old print days I would buy a magazine for the one article I wanted, so it wouldn't be much different from that.
I also wish I could "tip" authors for good articles that were free. Between the two mechanisms, it could add up to more income for authors, albeit less security.
By the way, I voted "undecided" for the dark theme, but I now realize it's terrible. The dark mode is WAY to high contrast.
I was randomly reading this as a fan and realized I was in your newsletter. That's pretty cool. I do think your conversion rate is excellent, which represents a real demand for your niche content.
I have become a fan of the paywall about 60% into the article. Readets can come and go but at the end of the day we've got to eat.
Jan 2, 2023·edited Jan 2, 2023Liked by Christopher Brunet
I pay for substacks when the author communicates in the comments. I’d suggest ten minutes per day per 50 subscribers.
A mom blogger I follow supports her family of 8 with private school, international travel, and more, and pays a half dozen people as assistants. She responds to 400 IG messages a day.
Did your favorite authors respond to their fan mail?
Are you interested in educating high school homeschoolers? I love science with Dr Scott (learn with Dr Scott is his site) and Dr Shormann’s math (he’s a Christian). Both are excellent teachers. Would you have enjoyed the teaching part of being a PhD? Courses make money while you sleep.
My teen is taking a critical thinking course. Best lessons were on logical fallacies. Would like her to take an entire semester on them.
Very impressive GRE score. Wow.
Mention it on your podcast bio. That’s a fun, random fact about you.
I kind of liked downtown Cancun but there are definitely nicer towns in Mexico to chill out in. It’s not historical or particularly interesting. While you’re there visit Merida and Valladolid. Old and historic, very cool. Mexico City is a must see.
More life update articles, please! Love the wandering journo stuff.
Agreed! He should post videos too. I want to see the place. Other forms of media bring people in also.
Agreed- a full length post about expat life in Mexico would be nice.
Additionally, to Chris, I saw you mention that you are not vaccinated- has that presented any difficultly moving throughout Mexico?
I encounter the paywall tease often. It makes me a little sad but otherwise I don't mind it--authors have the right to allow or deny access to their work as they choose.
What I do mind is Substack authors who restrict comments to paid subscribers. It's like letting beggars sit humbly on your carpet to receive your wisdom but insisting they do so silently. Seems like the pettiest way to "encourage" conversion to paid.
Dark mode is awful. Has it any actual useful point? Again, authors can do as they please, and if the content is valuable to me (as with eugyppius), I'll struggle through it. But with some reasonable irritation.
I understand why many Substackers approach this as a business. I think it's a little dangerous to one's integrity to do that. You've got to satisfy the market when you depend on it for revenue. Keeping a balance when you're not a huge name who can afford to lose even hundreds or perhaps a thousand or so subscribers will be a challenge.
And--funny thing. I pay for only two Substack subscriptions. The second one was a particular matter of honor because the author comps anyone who asks, and I'd asked last year. Felt like time to not be shabby. And right after I converted to paid, a couple of posts really irritated me. Very first time in a year's reading. But you know, this is life. It's like the last Ruth Rendell mystery I bought. It was lousy. But in a half-century of enjoying her work, should I get crabby because she wasn't perfect?
Anyway--may you grow and flourish and make me sad only on Sundays.
Substack does not have an option to allow all subscribers to comment on paid posts.
Not paid posts but paid subscribers to the Stack. Free subscribers can't read paid posts.
I'm a free subscriber to Alex Berenson, Freddie DeBoer and Libs of TikTok, for example. I can't read paywalled posts, but most content is free to read.
But I can't comment on those free posts.
I also subscribe to The Meddling Buddha and always commented on the posts under its previous name. Shortly after he reformatted his Stack, I tried commenting one time and encountered the pop-up window that denies that to free readers.
Then a few issues later I tried again and was able to comment, so I mentioned that to Sjoerd and asked if he was restricting comments sometimes. He replied that the default is "paid subscribers only" and he had forgotten to change that.
Also happened once with Naked Emperor and I noted that on another post and he said it was inadvertent and fixed it.
Looks like people disagree but I find getting a few paragraphs and then having it blocked as incredibly annoying. I'll be loyal to you, but I usually unsubscribe.
I find it annoying too, but sometimes those few paragraphs are pretty interesting in themselves and I've found them worth reading. But they don't tempt me none.
“ One big reason I felt this change was necessary is to give my life some structure. It’s chaotic/stressful/anxiety-inducing following a “click publish as soon as you are done writing” schedule because my mind immediately goes to the next one. I can never relax.”
This is so true. Not sure I can resist the urge to send out as soon as the piece is done though…
My problem is I follow dozens of authors so it would be ruinous to try and subscribe to them all. I wish there was a mechanism where I could pay say, $3.00 for a paywalled article I really wanted to finish. In the old print days I would buy a magazine for the one article I wanted, so it wouldn't be much different from that.
I also wish I could "tip" authors for good articles that were free. Between the two mechanisms, it could add up to more income for authors, albeit less security.
By the way, I voted "undecided" for the dark theme, but I now realize it's terrible. The dark mode is WAY to high contrast.
> I also wish I could "tip" authors for good articles that were free
I think this mechanism is the whole point of https://post.news/ , not sure if it will gain any traction though. I haven't really looked into it
I was randomly reading this as a fan and realized I was in your newsletter. That's pretty cool. I do think your conversion rate is excellent, which represents a real demand for your niche content.
I have become a fan of the paywall about 60% into the article. Readets can come and go but at the end of the day we've got to eat.
I pay for substacks when the author communicates in the comments. I’d suggest ten minutes per day per 50 subscribers.
A mom blogger I follow supports her family of 8 with private school, international travel, and more, and pays a half dozen people as assistants. She responds to 400 IG messages a day.
Did your favorite authors respond to their fan mail?
Are you interested in educating high school homeschoolers? I love science with Dr Scott (learn with Dr Scott is his site) and Dr Shormann’s math (he’s a Christian). Both are excellent teachers. Would you have enjoyed the teaching part of being a PhD? Courses make money while you sleep.
My teen is taking a critical thinking course. Best lessons were on logical fallacies. Would like her to take an entire semester on them.
Very impressive GRE score. Wow.
Mention it on your podcast bio. That’s a fun, random fact about you.
I'll for sure make an effort to be more responsive!
I'm not interested in homeschooling. Not really my thing. I wouldn't even know where to start.
and it's gauche to flaunt an old GRE score. People will make fun of me :)
I kind of liked downtown Cancun but there are definitely nicer towns in Mexico to chill out in. It’s not historical or particularly interesting. While you’re there visit Merida and Valladolid. Old and historic, very cool. Mexico City is a must see.