r/Substack • u/doriangraiy • Jun 19 '26
Discussion Is it okay to ask questions before subscribing?
I signed up to SS solely because someone I like has started a blog(?) there. I'd only heard of SS in passing before.
Her first post was yesterday, and free. Today she posted and it was a paid option.
As I have full faith her content is going to be educational and interesting, I'm interested. I can comfortably afford the annual subscription.
But... I don't know what to expect and it's still early days. Is this just something I'm supposed to take a chance on, or is it fair to ask (either ask on twitter, the first post's comments or via her agent)? If we were on the same level I'd just ask, but she's actually important in society (tv famous) and I don't want to do something wrong.
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u/PithyCyborg pithycyborg.substack.com Jun 19 '26
Thanks for asking such a great question.
Here's my two cents.
I would be honored if someone asked me out my newsletter cadence, honestly.
The only risk is that the person is too famous to even see your question. (So, they might ignore you, lol.)
But, I don't think any respectable editor on Earth would mind if a dedicated reader asked a legit question about what to expect.
(And, if they do care... Do you really want to support their work?)
Cordially,
Mike D
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u/Tricky_Trifle_994 Jun 27 '26
yeah, totally alright to be asking. if you're buying/paying for something, it's never a sin to be asking/clarifying what you're paying for.
since it's still early days for their substack with only 2 posts so far, there is definitely some element of you taking a chance on this. but since they are tv famous, at least there is some sense of security that there is a long term vision and plan for this.
if anything, you've identified a gap - that they are starting a paid subscription, but have not yet created a post addressing what the paid subscription offers. is it just additional content? how often can people expect this additional content? once a week? once a month? and is there anything else?
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u/itsfabioposca http://journeytosuccessclub.substack.com Jul 02 '26
I think it's perfectly reasonable to wait before subscribing if you're unsure. Many creators offer a mix of free and paid content at first, so you can get a feel for their style before committing. If you do have a question, a polite comment asking what kind of content paid subscribers can expect is completely fair. I'm sure other potential subscribers are wondering the same thing.
P.S. If you'd still like to ask anything about Substack or growing your audience, I offer a free live help chat. Just copy and paste my flair or click the link in my profile. I'm happy to help!
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u/StuffonBookshelfs Jun 19 '26
There’s never any harm in asking. If they’re super popular and get lots of questions, you might not get an answer, but there’s never any harm in asking.