Monetize your Substack: Strategies to gain paid subscribers

Описание: Proven strategies to gain paid subscribers on Substack.

Tired of hearing "just turn on paid subscriptions" and seeing zero upgrades? In this raw, no-fluff session from my Substack Live Series, I share the real truth about monetizing The Lemon Tree Mindset, a Substack Bestseller with 10K+ subscribers and growing six-figure creative business.

I open up about:

Why paid subs are usually only 2.5–3% of free readers (not the 5–10% Substack claims) — and why that's actually okay

The huge mindset shift: Stop obsessing over monthly subs → build community first

Freemium vs. fully paid vs. everything-free: what actually works in 2026 (spoiler: freemium wins for most)

When to launch your paywall: the ideal timing.

Treat your paid launch like a digital product: early bird offers, FOMO, announcements

What people pay for now: lived-experience how-to, templates, proximity (live sessions), personalization, community access, serialization (series that feel like courses)

My biggest flops (eBooks as main benefit = cancellations) and what replaced them (monthly how-to value + bonuses)

Paywall strategy that feels generous instead of frustrating: always add extra value behind it (templates, worksheets, speaker kits, audits…)

Bonus levers: LinkedIn audits, guest collabs, founding member perks, Black Friday value-adds (not crazy discounts)

This is NOT theory: it's pulled straight from my 3+ years of trial & error, wins, flops, and real revenue numbers. Whether you're at 0 paid subs, stuck at a handful, or scaling to thousands, you'll walk away with clear next steps.


Drop a comment: What's your biggest monetization struggle right now? 👇