Introducing a Substack Paid Subscription Tier

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.

The Substack business model is built on the premise that readers will 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.

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. 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:

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.

My primary reason form introducing a premium plan now is to create built-in structure and accountability 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: