3 paywall formats that grow your income without eroding reader trust
Write For Revenue #3
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Have you ever found yourself staring at your publish button and thinking things like:
“Is this too good to give away for free?”
“Will people unsubscribe if I paywall this post?”
You’re not alone there, my friend.
Every creator wrestles with the fine line between generosity and strategy. I know I have for years, anyway.
And nowhere have we wrestled with that fine line more than when it comes to paywalling content.
You see, paywalls can be a contentious issue on Substack, or on any platform where some content can be made available to paying subscribers only.
Some people hate the sight of them and will instantly click away from any article where they’re present. They find them annoying, obstructive, even symbolic of the writer of the article reneging on their headline’s promise.
Most people, though, don’t really mind them one way or the other. A paywall’s a paywall. You can tell straight away whether or not a Substack post contains one before reading it, so it really shouldn’t come as a surprise when you run into one.
But I do understand the frustration. Paywalls can be annoying when they aren’t done right.
What do I mean by that?
Well, to be clear, a smart paywall isn’t a blockade - it’s a signpost. A temporary pause. A call-to-action for your readers.
Smart paywalls grow your income without chipping away at the trust offered by your free subscribers
In this post, I’ll show you how to use paywalls in ways that actually build trust and revenue rather than just hide your best content.
By the end, you’ll walk away with:
3 proven paywall formats
A mini-framework to test your strategy
Templates for your first 3 paid-only posts
So let’s get into it.
First, shift your mindset
Before we dive into the tactical stuff, here’s a simple truth worth addressing:
A paywall isn’t supposed to be a fence, or a barrier - it’s a path for your most engaged readers to go deeper with you.
You’re not “hiding” your best ideas. You’re just reserving your highest-leverage work for people who’ve raised their hand and said, “I’m in.”
And, when used right, a paywall can actually make your free content feel more valuable, not less.
3 paywall formats that convert (without alienating)
Here are three paywall structures that work well for creators across all niches on Substack.
They’re super easy to replicate and adapt to fit the style of your publication.
This post is part of my ‘Write For Revenue’ series for paid subscribers. Upgrade now to read every new and previous instalment. 👇