Write2Sell: How I Made More Money on Substack by Paywalling Less (Yes, Really)
The No-BS Guide to Monetizing Your Content on Substack Without Burning Out
Most people get this wrong.
They think the battle is between free and paid posts.
It’s not.
It’s between free and paid content.
A small but critical difference that separates hobbyists from serious earners.
And if you want to make money without exhausting yourself writing everything behind a paywall, you need a strategy that actually works.
My approach gets me consistent growth and an above-average conversion rate of 8.3% from Substack organic channels.
It works.
And it works not only for me.
A few days ago
, one of my paid members, told me this:
It made my day. Once again, thank you so much, Colleen!
So here’s the thing.
The Biggest Content Monetization Mistake
Most writers struggle to make money because they give away too much or too little.
Too much: They pour hours into detailed, step-by-step guides… for free. Readers love it, but there’s zero incentive to pay because they’ve already got everything they need.
Too little: They write a vague teaser, then slam the paywall down before delivering value. Readers feel baited. Trust decreases. No one upgrades.
Both approaches fail.
You need a balance.
You need to give people enough to understand why something is important and what they should focus on—then, if they want the exact steps, that’s where the paywall comes in.
How to Structure Your Free vs. Paid Content
Here’s my strategy that gets me a conversion rate that high: