Why do you subscribe?

Wherein I answer why I subscribe.

Photo by Laurin Steffens on Unsplash

While I was waiting for a magic genie to make my wishes for new code to come true, I got a chat request from a random (nonsubscriber) newbie. I usually ignore those. It’s not personal. But I gave this one the benefit of the doubt. And because it made me think, I figured I’d share it with you.

Context Is Everything

This is what the input to this random post was:

Hey Dave!! I’m new to the platform and I have a couple of questions

Would really love to get your insight

I chose not to judge the young (based on the profile picture) requester’s lack of Chicago Manual of Style 18 compliance. See how open-minded I am? 😏

I usually make people pay me for my insight. About their novels anyway. That’s literally the business I’m in…

But I’m not sure why I decided to bite, since most of these turn out to be sex bot refugees from Tumblr who want to know how lonely and horny I am. Not lonely. Only horny for Mrs. Wonderful (who will be home soon). Sorry. I’m just sitting here multitasking while I wait for the magic genie to figure out how to make all my code wishes come true. 🤞 [We really need an Aladdin’s Lamp emoji.]

But I responded with minimal effort just to see what would happen (I guess I like to live dangerously):

Howdy, [NAME REDACTED]. ‘sup?

The follow up was crisp and specific (but generic enough that they could easily send the backhanded “subs plz!1!” note to anyone):

Yes thank you so much for your response!! I’m currently trying to grow my paid subscriber count. I was just curious (we have a mutual and she brought you up)..what makes you feel like an authors work is worth paying for? I’m trying to attract support readers/a loyal audience

So, I made sure the magic genie was still coding in circles (as per usual) and put on my thinking cap.

Which is where YOU come in.

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My Reasons for Subscribing to You

What follows is a gently modified version of what I sent OP. The changes were mostly made so I could work in a reference to Satanism. Heh.

When a writer produces something as part of their free sub that I find to be uniquely moving and I want to encourage more of, I subscribe because I think of them as micro grants. The author will see which post triggered me to subscribe. Sometimes I send them a note to let them know why, but usually not. Their content should speak for itself. I usually don’t even remember why I did for any given stack. 🤷‍♂️

When the annual renewal reminder pops, I think about whether I’ve read anything from them recently that I cared about enough to like or restack. If not, I cancel.

There are a few that I follow because I find them essential/entertaining/moving or because I know them personally. Those I just let renew without consideration.

If I’ve been a paid sub for more than a year, I’ll just usually let it ride.

Last year, I dropped a bunch because I was quitting my day job in big tech. This year, there was one specific cancellation that I made because I learned some things about the author that I have fundamental disagreements with, but I’m usually very much a “you do you as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody” sort.

The Book Shaman, the Wiccans, and the Satanists all agree:

So long as it harm none, do what thou wilt.

I don’t optimize for paid subs because that’s not the business I’m in, so I can’t really tell you how to do that. I tell everyone that all of my Book Shaman posts will always be free. The benefits of being a paid sub are not “bonus content”—they’re samples of what I do professionally to give people a low cost/low friction way to try me out. HTH!

😉

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Why do you subscribe?

Either free or paid (to me or other people), I’m curious what triggers other people to click “buy” or not.

Drop a comment let me know.