How to Boost Your Paid Memberships with Special Discounts or Mega Deals on Substack Creatively and
Money is important for freelancers and content entrepreneurs. However, this chapter isn’t just about increasing your income. It is about finding joy in the freelance journey and creating meaningful connections with your readers as a sustainable lifestyle.
If you are a beginner, in this chapter, you will discover practical and impactful strategies to expand your paid membership on Substack while delighting your audience and fostering loyalty.
While introducing fundamental techniques for using the Substack system via this book, I also aim to inspire you and contribute to your well-being.
Whether you aim to offer exclusive discounts or launch a founding membership, these proven techniques will help you engage subscribers, inspire commitment, and create lasting value.
By applying these strategies, you can not only boost your income but also cultivate a community of readers who are deeply invested in your work.
Links to Available Chapters of Substack Mastery Book
Preface of “Substack Mastery” for Beta Readers, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19…
For those interested in taking their Substack to another level, here is a link where you can buy the Substack Mastery book through multiple online bookstores globally:
Some readers asked whether there was any discounted price for this book. One of my publishers, Smashwords, offered 25% discounts until 31 December 2024.
The funds generated from this book will be donated to the management of the Substack Mastery site for the ILLUMINATION community. This education site also amplifies the newsletters of freelance writers.
Please remember to leave feedback if possible, as the purpose of sharing this book on this platform is to refine the final version of the book to make it a valuable knowledge source. I’d appreciate your review on Goodreads after completing the book.
How My Unpublished Book Hit the Best Seller Rank in Global Marketing Topic in 5 Days
The power of networking, generosity, abundance mentality, and a mailing list to reach a broad audience and build a…medium.com
Key Strategies I Will Cover in This Chapter:
- Create a Special Offer: Use time-limited discounts to drive quick conversions and attract more subscribers.
- Offer Discounts Manually: Tailor discounts to specific subscribers or groups, giving you full control over who receives them and under what conditions.
- Gift Memberships: Reward loyal subscribers by gifting them a membership, making them feel valued and more connected to your work.
- Bundle Memberships: Sweeten the deal by offering extra perks for founding members, making them feel like VIPs with exclusive access.
- Create a Mega Special Deals: Use a special occasion to reward loyal readers as I did.
The Power of Discounts: A Personal Case Study
On 1 September 2024, I received advice from a best-selling Substack author who suggested I offer a special discount for one of my newsletters.
He predicted that a 20% discount could double my paid subscribers — and he was right. In just ten days, my paid subscriptions increased by almost 200%.
Here is the special discount I created and tested from a subscriber account. I called it Substack Mastery Book Celebration after my book hit the best-seller book.
It was an excellent way to celebrate this unexpected success, provided I give my content 100% free for this book until this chapter and will continue to do so.
Here is a graphical view of this publication when I turned on the discount on the first of September.
The lesson here? Discounts work, especially when timed and targeted correctly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Offering Special Discounts on Substack
How to Create a Special Offer
- Go to your Substack publication’s dashboard.
- Click on “Settings” > “Paid Subscriptions” > “Discounts.”
- Create a time-limited discount (e.g., 20% off for one month).
- Promote this offer in your newsletters and on social media.
When you complete it, you will see this screen with a description, a link, and terms. This is a screenshot from my newsletter settings.
You can copy the link and share it as a CTA on your newsletters, blog posts, articles, or social media. You may also send it directly to your subscribers via email.
How to Offer Discounts Manually
- Select specific subscribers or groups who you think would benefit from a personalized discount.
- Craft a custom email explaining the exclusive offer just for them.
- Use the “Gift” option under “Paid Subscriptions” to apply their discount.
How to Gift Memberships to Loyal Subscribers
- Under “Settings,” go to “Subscriptions” and select the “Gift a Subscription” option.
- Choose loyal subscribers or fans you want to reward.
- Send a personalized note explaining why you’re gifting them a membership — it adds a thoughtful touch.
Create Mega Discounts for Limited Time Only
- Offer an 80% discount for your founding members (e.g., for a membership priced at $500, they would pay $100). I explain this in the next section as there is a nuance that you need to understand
- Highlight the benefits of being a founding member — exclusive content, early access, or other perks.
- Promote this special offer through your newsletters, making sure your free subscribers know they’re getting a rare opportunity.
Why Mega Discounts Matter
For those of you with a large following, plenty of free subscribers, and some paid members, mega discounts — like founding memberships with substantial discounts — can be invaluable.
They drive more paid subscriptions and make your subscribers feel special and appreciated. Offering a “Founding Member” status with exclusive content or perks creates a sense of belonging and rewards their loyalty. I see founding members as my business partners.
For me, offering a mega discount is particularly important because I don’t write to earn income from my writing for a living as I have other better income-generating streams, which I invested over the last 42 years while working in the corporate world until retiring in 2021.
I give 90% of content for free and only monetize 10% to donate it to my charity organization to support other content developers and thought leaders who can illuminate society. I encourage them to monetize their content as most of them make their living from content development or marketing.
Founding membership for this publication is $500, as I provide a comprehensive service for these members. It is not just posting articles or newsletters. I support freelance writers and content developers, offering them guidance, content boosting, and extended marketing in my network.
To make my founding member tier accessible to a broad audience, I offered a 90% discounted mega deal. This means that by paying just $51 yearly, they can get a value of $500 investment.
I would like to explain how to implement this strategy in your Substack as there is not a direct way to do it. When we give a special discount, let’s say 20%, it applies to both tiers.
My solution was to leverage a unique tool for the Founding members. Substak allows creators to give an option for this tier. It is not a discount but a bargaining deal.
How I Offered a Mega Discount for Founding Members
The following screenshot shows my founding membership.
My solution for a mega discount was to check the box that says, ‘Allow readers to enter an amount lower than the suggested price.’ This arrangement will allow interested subscribers to upgrade it by paying $51 instead of $500 annually.
This means that for a limited time, only my current subscribers paying already $50 for basic membership will upgrade to founding membership with just an extra $1. I wish I could cut off this $1, but Substack does not allow me to do so for good reasons.
Why do we need a workaround to achieve such a mega deal?
It is because Substack does not allow memberships for less than $50. I had to stick with that minimum, which makes sense because Substack needs to earn from creators’ income. On our own websites, we can allocate any amount, but on Substack, we cannot.
This is understandable because, unlike platforms like Medium, which charge $5 or $15 in membership fees, Substack gives creators free access to their tools and only earns money when creators start earning. It is a fair model that aligns their success with ours.
I’d like to briefly explain my goals and aspirations as a content developer, marketing strategist, and community builder.
Currently, according to my recent review of stats, there are around 115 founding members across multiple publications who are reaping the benefits of early support. I am immensely grateful for these early adopters and I will reward them in multiple ways.
My goal is to grow this number to 1,000 in the next 12 months and my aspiration is to get one million founding members in the next 3 to 5 years to expand our Substack Mastery community to empower freelancers and content entrepreneurs.
I believe my humble contributions, with the support of my philanthropic sponsors to this community, will create a ripple effect, helping new freelancers and entrepreneurs thrive.
I am fully committed to their success by offering my support as a thought leader and community builder, using my skills and innovative techniques to help them grow, enjoy their lives, and help improve their readers’ lives.
Conclusions and Key Takeaways
Freelancers and content entrepreneurs depend on income to survive and thrive, but true success is about more than just money — it is about the lasting satisfaction of serving and empowering others.
By addressing your readers’ needs, solving their challenges, and guiding them toward a better life, you not only increase your revenue but also find deeper meaning and joy in your work.
The discount strategies I have introduced in this chapter are not just about boosting sales — they are about building long-term relationships.
By offering value, exclusivity, and personalized offers, you can transform free subscribers into loyal, paying members who become your strongest supporters for a lifetime.
Whether you use special offers or mega discounts occasionally to celebrate unique wins like mine, these tactics give you the opportunity to create a sense of belonging and commitment with your readers, encouraging them to stay engaged and invested in your content.
Take action today — experiment with a small discount or launch a founding membership tier that resonates with your audience’s values and needs.
As you do, you will grow your paid subscribers and cultivate a community that supports your vision. The potential is limitless, and it starts with one bold step today.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
About the Substack Mastery Book for Review and Purchase
As I shared in a previous post, this book has already hit the top 100 bestseller list in multiple categories in various Amazon marketplaces. Thank you, my loyal readers, for making this book a success and a valuable knowledge source for the community.
Many thanks to beta readers who started leaving honest feedback on this evolving book on Goodreads today. If you enjoy and benefit from this book, I’d appreciate leaving honest feedback on Goodreads, as the Amazon version is not ready for review yet.
If you want to purchase the book at a reasonable price or gift it to someone you care about, you may preorder it multiple online bookstores. If the editing process is complete on time, I can get it published faster. The funds generated from this book will be donated to the management of the Substack Mastery site for the ILLUMINATION community. This education site also amplifies the newsletters of freelance writers.
Community Building on Substack Bridging with Other Platforms
Integrating Substack with Medium is a great idea. To this end, as a community builder, I created a philanthropic organization that will empower creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs with a commercial arm. I documented the strategy and high-level plan in a story. Please feel free to ask questions and provide feedback. Refraining from perfection, I choose a progressive path.
Here are our draft service definitions for creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs. We will explain the details in our upcoming newsletter. Here is an invitation from a founding member.
If you are a writer on Medium and Substack, we have a new publication called Substack Mastery. You are welcome to join and share your Substack experience with your fellow writers and discerning readers. ILLUMINATION-Curators curate, feature, and promote newsletters of our contributors in collections like this one. Being part of a community can bring many benefits, such as a fast-growing audience.
Substack Mastery Featured Newsletters: Episode 12
Curated newsletters of writers contributing to the Substack Mastery publication on Medium for joyful collaboration and…medium.com
For advanced writers, we also have a publication called Curated Newsletters, which replaced the former ILLUMINATION-Curated. As I withdraw from the boost program, I now allocate more time to support writers in extending their services to Substack or other platforms.
If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 32K writers who contribute to my publications on this platform. You can contact me via my website. I also have another profile to write and curate tech stories. Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium.
New Submission Guidelines for ILLUMINATION and Curated Newsletters
You are welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack and our education tool, Substack Mastery, curated by ILLUMINATION-Curators. Here is the Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers
Join me on Substack, where I offer experience-based content on health, content strategy, and technology topics to inform and inspire my readers.
Get an email whenever Dr Mehmet Yildiz publishes. He is a top writer and editor on Medium. dr-mehmet-yildiz.medium.com
This story was initially published at DigitalMehmet.com. My blogs and website offer free access to inspiring and educational stories for freelancers and content entrepreneurs. Membership Tiers and Benefits of ILLUMINATION Substack Mastery Community. Please use this portal to contact me with inquiries and feedback. You can also read this chapter on Substack too.
Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics, Stay Motivated, Grow Your Subscribers, Earn Money, & Thrive with the Support of Community by Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Substack Mastery Version 2 is not available on Amazon and via other bookstores through Books2Read
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