MODULE 13: PAID TIER STRATEGY

When to Launch, What to Charge, and How to Convert

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INTRODUCTION: THE PAID SUBSCRIPTION DECISION

Launching paid subscriptions is the single biggest moment in your Substack journey. It transforms you from a writer with an audience into a business owner with customers. It changes everything about how you approach your publication, how readers perceive you, and what you are obligated to deliver.

This is not a decision to make lightly. According to Substack’s own data, publications that paywall at least some content make 5X more revenue than publications that publish everything free and hope for donations. But launching paid subscriptions poorly, too early, with unclear value, or without a strategy, can damage reader trust and stall growth for months.