Don't Paywall Your Best Content (Do This Instead)
How I make daily sales without charging for subscriptions
I just went through my Analytics from December 2024. I was a little shocked.
My Substack generated $5,400 last month alone. Not bad for a “side business” I run solo with part-time hours each week.
But here’s the thing, earlier 2024 was a totally different story. I was burnt out from 1on1 client work and not sure how I was going to get out of that treadmill.
When I decided to restart my Substack mid-year, I knew the “paywall method” wasn’t going to be realistic. Charging $5 a month for my content would take hundreds to thousands of subscribers to make it worth it.
I was calculating how many paid subscribers I'd need to replace my income. At $5 per month, I'd need 2,000 paid subscribers just to hit $10K monthly. With typical conversion rates, that meant I needed 20,000-40,000 free subscribers first.
My heart sank. I had been writing consistently for months and barely had 150 subscribers.
The reality of newsletter monetization isn't pretty:
Most newsletters convert 5-10% of free subscribers to paid
Building a substantial free base takes years
Subscription fatigue is getting worse every day
Inflation means $5/month feels like a bigger ask
But here's the interesting part.
While I was stressing about paid subscriptions, something unexpected was happening in my comments and DMs. People weren't asking for more content – they were asking for specific solutions to specific problems.
A Simpler Path Forward
One Friday evening, I noticed three different people had asked about my LinkedIn content system. Instead of writing another post explaining it, I spent the weekend creating a simple 50-minute masterclass and recorded it.
Price point: $47 (nothing crazy)
I sent a few posts out through LinkedIn and Substack mentioning my new digital product.
First week: 43 sales
Total revenue: $1,591
More than I would have made from paid subscriptions in months.
What Changed?
I stopped thinking about monetization in terms of content and started thinking about it in terms of solutions.
The truth is people happily pay for solutions to their problems. The price resistance you get with subscriptions disappears when you're solving a specific pain point.
Now I make 5-10 sales daily without pushing paid subscriptions. Some buyers want more help and upgrade to coaching or courses. But it all starts with that first simple product.
Here's what makes this approach work:
Lower barrier to entry ($27-47 price point)
One-time purchase feels easier than a subscription
Instant gratification (they get the solution immediately)
No pressure to constantly create "premium" content
Creating Your First Product
Last week, one of my students noticed her readers kept asking about her morning routine framework. Instead of writing another detailed post, she packaged her exact system into a simple template.
Price: $27
First week sales: $437
She didn't need thousands of subscribers. She just needed the right solution for the right problem.
For her this is just the start. Once you realize you can earn with a simple digital product you made over the weekend, the sky’s the limit.
Here’s a Quick Win You Can Use Today
Open your last 3 newsletter posts
List every question from the comments
Look for patterns – what do people keep asking about?
Write down one specific solution you could create this weekend
For example, if you write about productivity and people keep asking about your task management system, you could create a simple template. If you write about business and people ask about your pitch process, package your email templates.
The key is starting small and solving one specific problem.
I read a Note today that hit home - “Don’t underestimate the power of repeating the same idea every day for one year.”
What that means for you is:
Find one problem to solve with a digital product
Talk about it every day in your notes and posts
Don’t reinvent the wheel every month with new products. Solve 2-3 problems with 2-3 digital products and set them up to easily sell. I personally use Stan Store for this.
Let’s not complicate things. It’s actually a very simple process. I’m nobody special; I simply took a leap of faith and did the thing.
Breaking Through the Noise
I'm opening my Digital Product Masterclass next week where I'll share my complete system for creating and selling digital products. But whether you join us or not, remember this:
Your expertise is valuable. People will pay for solutions to their problems. Don't get caught in the subscription trap when there's a simpler path forward.
More details are coming this weekend about the masterclass. Until then, do the quick win exercise above. You might be surprised how many product opportunities are hiding in your comments.
Need help NOW to get started? The Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass
If you need help TODAY, I get it. I have a solution for you: I’ve reopened doors to my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass for the next few days only.
In the masterclass, I break down the exact strategy and roadmap I’ve used to grow from Zero to 3,800+ subscribers in less than 6 months. I also explain the monetization strategy I mentioned in this post that’s bringing in $3K to $5K+ per month (with daily sales).
Taking this class will give you a good foundation on Substack growth and better prepare you for taking the Digital Product Class next week.
If you’d like to get access to the masterclass before it’s taken down, just click the button below, and I’ll see you on the other side 👇
The Path Forward
Here's what I know for sure: 2025 is going to separate the creators who stay stuck in the subscription trap from those who build real, sustainable businesses.
You don't need thousands of paid subscribers to make good money from your newsletter. You just need one solution to one specific problem.
Start small. Solve real problems. The rest will follow.
Man, Wes, this was super smart, informative and helpful. You rewired my brain in one article.
Thanks for sharing, it’s amazingly obvious once you realise that there’s often an easier way. 💯 in the work smarter not harder camp 👍