This is only going out to my subscribers.
Writers Note: As I proofread this, I realized its scattered and random. There’s lots of questions and few answers. It’s an update, and this is where I am in the process.
Dear Friends,
FIRST, THANK YOU for subscribing. It means a lot to me that I’ve been here since January and have gained SIXTY subscribers so far. As a former teacher, that’s more than TWO full classrooms. Disclaimer: I haven’t been in the teaching profession for 20 years, so I know class sizes have changed, but I’ll still use that as a reference point.
On May 1st, I started the 90 Day Project inspired by
.Well, I decided to do it May 1st and then really got started May 5th - HAHA!
If you missed the first update it’s here.
Today is June 5th and it’s the beginning of month 2, or days 31-60 of this experiment. Goodness, it’s hard to stay FOCUSED on one thing for 90 days but I’m making a valiant attempt!
Here’s a current Stats update:
Total Subscribers: 60
Total paid subscribers: ZERO
In the last thirty days, I’ve gained ten subscribers. I lost a few along the way, but that’s OK!
My open rate has stayed between 26-31% which I suppose is good?
My exact stat average is 28.63% which is an increase of .73%
30 days views are 479, which is also an increase.
I truly have no marketing strategy or growth strategy at this point. I’m just writing and posting weekly, writing notes daily and restacking with commentary.
In short, I just keep showing up!
I’m thankful to those of you who share, restack and comment on my posts.
Maybe that’s attributing to the growth? I assume so.
Community effort/support is a wonderful thing!
In the last thirty days, I spend a lot of time learning and my goal for this next thirty days is to start implementing what I’ve learned.
I will continue to write and post weekly, write notes daily, restack with commentary.
Here’s my writing to process out my thoughts - so this is a bit random and scattered -
One of the things I’m learning - or, seeing most commonly reiterated by people I subscribe to - is that my newsletter needs to have a “thing” that people will pay money to read. I don’t necessarily want to write to a certain niche - I’ve done that before and quit because I got bored.
I don’t have a marketing strategy yet - there’s still part of me that believes some people will read what I write weekly, feel inspired or motivated or encouraged and opt-in for a paid subscription or the buy me coffee option.
I know there are people out there who do that because I’ve done it.
BUT I also want to create a newsletter that will support my financial goal.
(That goal being at least $2,000 a month income as a writer).
I need something more sustainable than the random “Buy Me Coffee” donations if I’m going to make a “paid writer” a career option. (Thought: Does my “Buy Me Coffee” option need to be something other than a Venmo link? Does Venmo deter people from donating? If it should be something else, what should it be?)
I don’t know what my newsletter “thing” should be -
I know it will NOT be a “How to Make Money on Substack” type newsletter. It seems we have enough of those already and they are very good at what they do.
I’ve recently come across the term “essayist” and I think that best describes my writing style. Yes, I write weekly blogs, but it seems they mostly fit into the category of “essays”. I have three main categories that I write about: Life Lessons, Travel and Thoughts. My post from today, June 5th, for example, fits into the “Thoughts” category.
Currently struggling with determining how much of my writing is free and how much is behind a paywall. Ideally, I’d like to continue to write weekly - in the form of essays/blog posts - and those who can pay for it do, and those who cannot support my writing through sharing. This is what I’ve been doing here since January but so far, this strategy isn’t working in terms of meeting my financial goal.
Over twenty posts and I’m still at zero income. And yes, I have a “Buy Me Coffee” option directly on my website too.
I started blogging on my website before I found Substack so I’m not sure how to handle the logistics of a paywall on my website? My weekly blog posts are written on my website and then copied here.
OR, do I keep the blog free and write a separate newsletter for paid subscribers?
THAT seems to be a common thing - but then what do I include differently in the newsletter? Do I write weekly, twice a month or once a month?
What do I know that I can share AND people will pay a sustainable subscription for?
Is this the “Million Dollar Question?”
I’ve learned that Newsletters should solve a problem - people pay for answers.
Ok - but what problems and solutions should I write about?
There’s a seemingly endless list -
I’ve also learned that Newsletters should teach something - people pay for information.
OK - but what do I teach about? I mean, I know a lot. I’m 51 years old and have lived, and continue to live, a FULL life with a lot of life lessons, fun facts and various other trivial information.
IF YOU OFFER A PAID SUBSCRIPTION NEWSLETTER and have some insight you can share with me on how you created, marketed and sustain it, I’d love some tips!
Maybe I should write some “test” newsletters and see what is the most popular?
I’m curious to try and find out why my post entitled “The Stress of Visual Clutter” became popular. I don’t know what resonated more: talking about stress, or clutter or both together. If you read it, can you message me some feedback?
Personally, I’m on a “regulating my nervous system” journey and find small ways each day to ground myself or find moments or calm, peace and joy.
Is a weekly newsletter about THAT something people would pay for?
Like, I’ll publish each Friday or Saturday the things I’ve done during the week that help keep my nervous system regulated. Because, yes, I do something every day.
Because, yes, I didn’t for a long time and you know that book called, “The Body Keeps Score”? I haven’t even read it yet and I know this to be true.
So, those are my random processing thoughts. That’s where I am today as I begin month two of this three-month (90 days) experiment.
My month two focus is on implementing what I’ve learned so far, so I guess by means of trial and error, some marketing strategy and some writing strategy, I’ll figure out “the thing”. In the meantime, if you are looking for a specific way to help me meet my financial goal, here are some suggestions:
I’ll reiterate that the newsletter will not be “How to make money on Substack” focused newsletter. Rather, it’s more on “How to Make Money as a Writer” because I know there’s various options for me to earn that monthly goal -
1. Donate to my “Buy Me Coffee” fund - Venmo Link
2. Subscribe to one of my paid subscription options. (benefits have been updated)
*Price will most likely increase on June 1st.
UPDATE: I decided to keep the pricing the same for June.
3. Buy my book| Building My Yellow Brick Road: Life Lessons from Pursuing a Dream
4. Sponsor a blog post (these are published weekly - mostly focused on travel and life lessons, sometimes both in one post!)
5. Sponsor a newsletter - At least once a month, it may change to more at some point.
*The newsletter will eventually become for paid subscribers only.
QUESTION:
What other options do I need to add here? As, How to Make Money as a Writer?
Thanks for reading all the way through. I’ll post another update next month and I’m exciting for whatever the future holds!
~Melissa
PS: Maintaining consistency by adding the buttons…