This is such an overlooked part of audience building. ✨
A subscription isn't the finish line; it's the moment someone raises their hand and says, "I'm interested." What happens next often determines whether they become a loyal reader or quietly disappear.
The best welcome emails don't just say thank you, they provide clarity, direction, and connection. They help readers understand where to start, what to expect, and why they belong there.
Great content attracts people, but thoughtful onboarding helps them stay. 📚🤍
People upgrading to a paid subscription and immediately cancelling are not unsubscribing, they continue to be subscribed, even when their paid sub lapses. They're only making sure that an annual or monthly payment doesn't become automatic.
They don't immediately lose access, but on Substack it is considered an "unsubscribe" and while they'll default to a free subscription, the writer will lose the recurring income, which isn't what they're wanting if they've turned on paid subscriptions.
Yes, it's an unsubscribe, that's the only way to cancel automatic billing.
Most readers are not going to support individual writers for years to come, they'll review their preferences and reading habits on a regular basis. For the cautious, that might be monthly, for others, they'll review who and how many they pay for annually. No different to the way people subscribe to streaming services or journals, or other online platforms with paid options.
This is a good point for writers to keep in mind. I know for my publication, once people are comfortable using the platform on their own, they typically unsubscribe. Which is totally fine and expected. My reference in my post was more about people upgrading because they are attracted to the offer, then unsubscribing out of frustration because they can't find what they subscribed to.
This is such a valuable and practical post, Adrienne!
Thank you Laura! I’m glad you found it helpful.
Thank you for this important insight 💖
You're welcome, glad it was helpful!
This is such an overlooked part of audience building. ✨
A subscription isn't the finish line; it's the moment someone raises their hand and says, "I'm interested." What happens next often determines whether they become a loyal reader or quietly disappear.
The best welcome emails don't just say thank you, they provide clarity, direction, and connection. They help readers understand where to start, what to expect, and why they belong there.
Great content attracts people, but thoughtful onboarding helps them stay. 📚🤍
People upgrading to a paid subscription and immediately cancelling are not unsubscribing, they continue to be subscribed, even when their paid sub lapses. They're only making sure that an annual or monthly payment doesn't become automatic.
They don't immediately lose access, but on Substack it is considered an "unsubscribe" and while they'll default to a free subscription, the writer will lose the recurring income, which isn't what they're wanting if they've turned on paid subscriptions.
Yes, it's an unsubscribe, that's the only way to cancel automatic billing.
Most readers are not going to support individual writers for years to come, they'll review their preferences and reading habits on a regular basis. For the cautious, that might be monthly, for others, they'll review who and how many they pay for annually. No different to the way people subscribe to streaming services or journals, or other online platforms with paid options.
This is a good point for writers to keep in mind. I know for my publication, once people are comfortable using the platform on their own, they typically unsubscribe. Which is totally fine and expected. My reference in my post was more about people upgrading because they are attracted to the offer, then unsubscribing out of frustration because they can't find what they subscribed to.