Substack terms

Post

A single piece of content, similar to a blog post.

What is a post in Substack?

A post in Substack refers to a piece of content or article that a writer or publisher shares on their Substack newsletter. It can be a written piece, audio file, or video that is shared with subscribers of the newsletter. The post can be either public, meaning it's accessible to everyone, or it can be private, meaning only paid subscribers can access it.

Substack posts are typically used by writers to share their thoughts, ideas, or insights on a particular topic. They can also be used to share news, updates, or announcements. The platform allows for direct interaction between the writer and their audience, as subscribers can like, comment on, and share the posts.

How much does it cost to post on Substack?

Substack operates on a freemium model, meaning it's free to start a newsletter and post on the platform. They do not charge any upfront fees for creating and posting content. This allows writers to build an audience without any initial investment.

However, if you decide to monetize your newsletter by charging subscribers, Substack takes a 10% commission on those earnings. For example, if you charge $5 per month per subscriber, Substack would take $0.50. Additionally, there are credit card processing fees which are typically around 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. These costs are deducted before the earnings are transferred to the writer's account.

How do you monetize a Substack post?

Monetizing a Substack post primarily involves setting up a paid subscription model for your content. Substack allows writers to offer both free and paid content. You can choose to make some posts available to all subscribers, while reserving others for paying subscribers only. This way, you can attract a broad audience with your free content, and then monetize your most dedicated readers who are willing to pay for premium content.

To set this up, you need to enable paid subscriptions on your Substack settings. You can set your own subscription price, but Substack takes a 10% fee from your earnings. It's also important to note that to monetize your Substack, you need to provide valuable, high-quality content that people are willing to pay for. This could be exclusive articles, early access to your work, or other special benefits. Building a strong relationship with your audience is key to convincing them to become paying subscribers.

What is the average income from a Substack post?

The average income from a Substack post can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. These include the number of subscribers a writer has, the price of their subscription, and the frequency of their posts. Substack allows writers to set their own subscription prices, with the platform taking a 10% fee from the earnings.

However, it's important to note that not all Substack writers charge for subscriptions. Some choose to offer free content to build an audience before introducing paid subscriptions. For those who do charge, the average subscription price is around $5 to $10 per month. Therefore, a writer with 1,000 subscribers charging $5 per month could potentially earn $5,000 per month, or $60,000 per year, before Substack's fee. But again, this greatly depends on the writer's individual circumstances and success in attracting and retaining subscribers.

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