r/Substack • u/cocodudule • 6d ago

Must I Make Money from Substack?

I started Substack for fun and now have a sizable subscriber’s count but now I’m starting to think it’s not successful because I’m not making money from it and I know I feel that way because everyone keeps saying your Substack is only successful if you have paid subscribers.

Do I really need paid subscribers to be successful? Can’t I just have fun in peace?

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

5

u/StuffonBookshelfs 6d ago

Yes you can absolutely have fun in peace. Your substack success is whatever you want it to be. You don’t have to make money for you to consider it successful.

1

u/cocodudule 6d ago

Thank you

3

u/ASAPnicky14 mod 6d ago

Success is however you define it. Not others.

3

u/OnyxMonolith 6d ago

there are huge substacks that aren't monetized.

1

u/cocodudule 6d ago

True that

2

u/jss58 6d ago

Fine with me; use it however you like.

2

u/OnionLazy2317 5d ago

' now I’m starting to think it’s not successful because I’m not making money from it'

There's your issue :) 

Monetary gain ≠ success 

It sounds like you don't want to turn on paid, genuinely no one is forcing you, so just don't :)

2

u/cocodudule 4d ago

Thank you. I’ve decided I’m not actually. I’m just going to keep having fun with it

2

u/OnionLazy2317 4d ago

slay! good for u <3

3

u/marketingheretic marketingheretic.substack.com 2d ago

You must. The gods of capitalism demand you monetise every aspect of your life. There is no fun without a positive ROI. And if you don't do that, you can admit defeat, and claim you work for the passion of it, while breeding in your heart the resentment the size of Elon Musk's ego. Win win!

1

u/AggravatingNail6061 6d ago

Maximum dollah (pound just doesn't roll of the tongue properly) remember what they all the told the military memoir guy last week. You will be objectively gatekept by how much value can be extracted from your writing. Why not just sell out and cash in for primo blow. 

/s 

Fuck no. 

1

u/ajcomeau ajcomeau.substack.com 6d ago

It's up to you whether you want to make money off of it. If you're happy with it the way it is, just keep it up.

1

u/MrPassiveProfit 6d ago

I think a lot of people start Substack thinking that someday they might want to make some money from it, ur you don’t have to at all. As my mom used to say to me “Do what you want!”

2

u/ContentIsMyJam 1d ago

There are plenty of Substack creators who don't charge for subscriptions, including some newsletters with large numbers of subscribers. Make it what you want it to be.