How to Be the One Well-Loved Substack People Pay For

Your behind-the-scenes look at what’s really happening and really working on Substack right now—with the platform’s leading Growth Strategist Sarah Fay.Part 2 of the 2026 Pathway to Earning an Income on SubstackOkay, so I did some digging to see if there really is a crisis in paid subscriptions on Substack (and newsletters generally). ICYMI, someone wrote a viral article that stoked a lot of fear about the future of paid subscriptions on Substack.The feelings are real—the worry—but the reality…might surprise you:* It has always been hard to get paid subscribers.* The rhetoric that Substack’s subscription model will never work has been around for half a decade, possibly since the platform’s inception in 2017. It might not, but the talk is nothing new.* The data doesn’t support the idea that something has suddenly happened foretelling a grim reality and terrible future with paid subscriptions on Substack.The worry just fosters assumptions that aren’t supported by the data:* The economy is terrible, and people won’t pay.* Subscription fatigue is driving a downturn in paid subscriptions.* There’s a “subscription pie” we have to compete for a slice of.* Bundling newsletters is the solution.* Making Substack into a platform of Dollar Stores is the answer.Today, I show you the flaws in these five (deadly) assumptions and five things you can do right now to be the one well-loved Substack people pay for.SW@W homepage | Premier homepage | Substack Starter Pack | 24/7 Community Chat | Manage your subscription | Book a 3-Month Substack Growth Package 1:1 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe