The 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Launching My Paid Offer
“What should my paid offer include” is probably one of the most asked questions I get from my readers.
And I get why.
I still remember the moment I launched my first paid offer on Substack.
It was exciting, terrifying, and a little chaotic. I had just enough of an idea to offer it, but not enough of a structure to know what would actually convert.
And that’s the thing.
Most of us think: “If I just turn on my paid subscription, people will come.”
Spoiler: they don’t. Not unless there’s real, clear value in what you're offering—and in how you communicate it.
So today, I want to share the 3 things I wish I knew before launching my first paid offer on Substack, and the 3 things I would do if I were starting again from scratch.
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What I Wish I Knew
1. People expect something in return
And rightly so. If someone is paying for your work, they’re not just paying for more words. They’re investing in a transformation, a tool, a shift, a feeling. Make sure your offer makes that crystal clear.
2. Only posting behind a paywall won’t cut it
Just gating posts won’t make your offer stand out. It needs to feel like a no-brainer. Like they’re unlocking something meaningful and different that only paid subs get.
3. Structure is everything
A scattered offer is easy to ignore. But one that’s clear, precise, and actually useful? That sticks. That sells. That builds trust.
When I built my offer, I made sure it focused on real outcomes.
I made it actionable—using words like “Learn”, “Grow”, and “Turn”...
I focused on the outcome people will get when they subscribe
And I made the annual substantially cheaper than the monthly
I also made the annual plan a no-brainer—cheaper than monthly, with immediate value upfront.
If you're creating your own paid offer, think about how to do the same:
→ What will people gain the moment they subscribe?
→ How can you make your offer feel like progress, not just content?
→ Can you price it in a way that rewards commitment?
That’s what makes a paid offer stand out.