I get it. Believe me, I do. Everywhere you go, it seems like someone is telling you, “Like, comment, and subscribe, and be sure to hit that notification bell!” It’s almost like our AI Overlords are using the view algorithms to test us like Pavlov’s dogs. (Note to self: Add that sentence to your Future Story Ideas file).
If you’re like me, someone asking you to subscribe makes you less likely to subscribe. The content creators I am subscribed to are ones I subscribed to because I liked the stuff they were putting out enough to want to see more of it. It had nothing to do with whether they asked me to do it, or how many times they asked. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand why everyone does it. But I also get why everyone cringes at it when they do.
So, allow me to buck the trend a bit and tell you all the reasons you don’t need to subscribe to my Substack.
Reason #1 – It’s Free! Literally everything on here right now is free to access. Not only do you not need a paid subscription, you don’t need any subscription. You can come here ANY time and read ANY of my posts. There are no pay walls. You never have to worry about getting into an article and then, as soon as you scroll, your screen is blocked and the rest of the article is held hostage until you subscribe. If somewhere down the road I end up with a bunch of paid subs, I may start adding some exclusive content as a way to say thanks to them for their generous support. But at the moment it is all free and all 100% available to every unsubscribed reader.
Reason #2 – Okay, I admit it. I only had one reason, because that pretty much covers it all. But, for those of you who asking yourselves, “If everything is fully available to unsubscribed readers, why would anyone ever bother subscribing?”, let me offer the following consideration.
I have a lot of stuff going on. I have trouble keeping it all straight. There are content creators I like and am eager to see the next thing they put out. When something new is posted, I rush to view it. But in between posts I kind of forget they exist and may not remember to go back and check if they’ve posted something new.
This is the one big thing subscribing does. It lets you know when I post something new. It doesn’t pester you with ads or emails in between. It just sends you a quick email and says “Hey! Mike just posted something new. If you’re interested, you should go check it out.” (I’m paraphrasing).
And subscribing is FREE. Yes, Substack will give you the option to purchase a paid subscription. They call it pledging support. And you could do that if you really wanted to. But you absolutely don’t have to. Free subs get the same access as paid subs, because, if I failed to mention it, everyone has access to everything. So, if you want to get a friendly heads-up when I post something new, and not have to remember to randomly come back here and check, then feel free to subscribe.
Final Question: Why do I even have a paid subscription option? Well, the platform quasi-requires it, for one thing. But to be honest, publishing books is not cheap. Editors, cover designers, printers, and retailers all take their cut off the top and I get what’s left over, which if I had to guess is a lot less of the sale price than you probably expect. Any ads, promotions, or giveaways I do come out of my pocket too. I’m not complaining or trying to guilt trip anyone. But if there’s someone out there who wants to help support my writing in this way, the paid subscription option is there. Everyone else can continue to enjoy my work for free or the cost of an occasional book purchase if they so choose.
So to answer the question: To sub or not to sub? It’s really up to you. Which ever option works best for you, go for it! Whether you’re a non-sub, a free sub, or a paid sub, I’m glad you’re here and I hope you enjoy what you read!