Allow readers the option of making one-off payments. Suggest a tip size - at FN we suggest £3 - but let readers decide the amount - many of ours choose to pay much more. You’d have to do it outside of Substack which only allows regular payments. We use the basic Stripe payment link which has a very low fee.
Hi Michael, I subscribed on May 15, this year as soon as I found you! I value your London Minute! I'm shocked more do not pay for it! It's crazy.
I have two thoughts: Team up with someone like Katie Wignall // Look up London (she is a blue badge tour guide for Londoners to know their city! She is fabulous and you two could partner? ) https://lookup.london/
Also, I subscribed because we would like to move to London. I wonder if Reddit threads would be helpful. Your London Minute has given me a flavor I would never be able to get.
I hope enough folks stop trying to get something for nothing. It's a sad commentary on our times that so many folks will take and take and not engage in equitable exchange of energy. It's clearly a lot of work and I hope you hang in there.
I paid up after your last appeal. Yours is the only Substack that I pay for and the first email that I read in the morning. I'd really miss it if you decide to stop, but can understand why you might need to. Can't count the number of times that an item crops up on TV/radio/digital newspaper and I say to my partner "Oh, I already know all about that from London Minute". BBC should be paying you for the number of stories they get from you and the number of links you supply to their website.
Sorry, I don't have any suggestions, so come on everyone else PAY UP!
I'm so sorry continuing this really useful and interesting London newsletter looks difficult to sustain Michael. I switched to being a paid subscriber in May and love this update and the links to the original news articles. The curation is valuable - much better than a web search on London news - and the links give something back to the journalists and publications who produced the articles, as well as building trust with readers through this transparency. The idea from a poster below about having a roll of sponsors, who each get to sponsor one (or a certain number) of editions seems good and would mean you were not overly-dependent on one. That looks to be something Press Gazette is doing. Also, you must have a good reason for not running this as a website, but doing so could allow a kind of listings section, full of entertainment/events news, which many Londoners are interested in, plus adverts to bring in revenue, if you could find a way to run those in a way you are happy with.
I just clicked "upgrade" and was surprised to be told I have to go to the substack website to do it, as it's not possible through the app. It didn't even take me to the website. I wonder how many people do the same and never follow through to the website to actually subscribe.
Hello, paid subscriber here. Thank you for all your work to deliver a brilliant newsletter. I wonder if a hybrid commercial model is the answer comprising, for example:
*Paying subscribers and one off donations, as currently
*Limited sponsorship opportunities - a bit like Politico Playbook which has a sponsor most days/every day but is not beholden to any one sponsor. This would take time to build up but - factoring in the editorial independence contract that another poster mentions - the property firm could be a good start.
*A version of a paywall
*Other ancillary services
You don't have to do all this all at once straight away - it's a lot of additional work. But bit by bit.
If you haven't done this previously maybe it's worth considering some sort of market research exercise. Who actually *are* your London readers, why are they reading and what are they getting from it? (And are they different from the Edinburgh ones? ie the same readership group and assumptions don't necessarily apply.) I bet loads of PRs and journalists use LM for work purposes. Just for example you might be able to sell a business subscription model for PRs.
Would be interested in knowing how many councils and NHS trusts subscribe - much cheaper than media monitoring and really useful! Will try to get my organisation to subscribe…
I've just paid up as a monthly subscriber, sadly I don't have the resources to commit to an annual subscription up front.
I haven't thought this through but might there be something in linking up with one or more of the other new London based newsletters in some way? Londoner, On London, The Fence, London Spy, London Centric, etc.?
Are there no grants available from government (GLA/DCMS/boroughs) or charities, foundations, etc. that have an interest in public interest and/or regional journalism?
If you do decide to close it down then thank you for your service to Londoners!
As a paying subscriber I am always a little disappointed to see that there is no incentive for others to help support your excellent news briefing and makes me feel that you are being taken advantage of. I think you should put a reasonable proportion of your content behind the paywall ( which would flush out the organisations using you for media monitoring) and also look for sponsorship on the basis of full editorial independence.
I certainly enjoy the London focus. You could try angling the newsletter as a resource for journalists: click a link for contact details & web resources (where appropriate). You could invite journalists to contact you which might be a good angle for sponsorship.
Many thanks Michael. I pay for the Edinburgh Minute and the London is an indulgence. Good luck. I understand completely if you feel you cannot continue.
Allow readers the option of making one-off payments. Suggest a tip size - at FN we suggest £3 - but let readers decide the amount - many of ours choose to pay much more. You’d have to do it outside of Substack which only allows regular payments. We use the basic Stripe payment link which has a very low fee.
I do! Thanks for the suggestion though 👍 And keep up the great work. Big FN fan!
Ah, my bad. Missed the tip jar.
Hope you can get through this… I am a paid subscriber and for the cost I think it’s brilliant
Hi Michael, I subscribed on May 15, this year as soon as I found you! I value your London Minute! I'm shocked more do not pay for it! It's crazy.
I have two thoughts: Team up with someone like Katie Wignall // Look up London (she is a blue badge tour guide for Londoners to know their city! She is fabulous and you two could partner? ) https://lookup.london/
Also, I subscribed because we would like to move to London. I wonder if Reddit threads would be helpful. Your London Minute has given me a flavor I would never be able to get.
I hope enough folks stop trying to get something for nothing. It's a sad commentary on our times that so many folks will take and take and not engage in equitable exchange of energy. It's clearly a lot of work and I hope you hang in there.
Kind Regards,
K
I paid up after your last appeal. Yours is the only Substack that I pay for and the first email that I read in the morning. I'd really miss it if you decide to stop, but can understand why you might need to. Can't count the number of times that an item crops up on TV/radio/digital newspaper and I say to my partner "Oh, I already know all about that from London Minute". BBC should be paying you for the number of stories they get from you and the number of links you supply to their website.
Sorry, I don't have any suggestions, so come on everyone else PAY UP!
I'm so sorry continuing this really useful and interesting London newsletter looks difficult to sustain Michael. I switched to being a paid subscriber in May and love this update and the links to the original news articles. The curation is valuable - much better than a web search on London news - and the links give something back to the journalists and publications who produced the articles, as well as building trust with readers through this transparency. The idea from a poster below about having a roll of sponsors, who each get to sponsor one (or a certain number) of editions seems good and would mean you were not overly-dependent on one. That looks to be something Press Gazette is doing. Also, you must have a good reason for not running this as a website, but doing so could allow a kind of listings section, full of entertainment/events news, which many Londoners are interested in, plus adverts to bring in revenue, if you could find a way to run those in a way you are happy with.
I just clicked "upgrade" and was surprised to be told I have to go to the substack website to do it, as it's not possible through the app. It didn't even take me to the website. I wonder how many people do the same and never follow through to the website to actually subscribe.
Hello, paid subscriber here. Thank you for all your work to deliver a brilliant newsletter. I wonder if a hybrid commercial model is the answer comprising, for example:
*Paying subscribers and one off donations, as currently
*Limited sponsorship opportunities - a bit like Politico Playbook which has a sponsor most days/every day but is not beholden to any one sponsor. This would take time to build up but - factoring in the editorial independence contract that another poster mentions - the property firm could be a good start.
*A version of a paywall
*Other ancillary services
You don't have to do all this all at once straight away - it's a lot of additional work. But bit by bit.
If you haven't done this previously maybe it's worth considering some sort of market research exercise. Who actually *are* your London readers, why are they reading and what are they getting from it? (And are they different from the Edinburgh ones? ie the same readership group and assumptions don't necessarily apply.) I bet loads of PRs and journalists use LM for work purposes. Just for example you might be able to sell a business subscription model for PRs.
I would pay if my financial situation was a bit more stable. I really hope it will be soon
Subscribed
Would be interested in knowing how many councils and NHS trusts subscribe - much cheaper than media monitoring and really useful! Will try to get my organisation to subscribe…
Just subscribed, and was very happy to—should've done it before now.
Would a paywall for just some days of the week feel a bit better than limiting all access? If Monday's post was always free, for example.
I've just paid up as a monthly subscriber, sadly I don't have the resources to commit to an annual subscription up front.
I haven't thought this through but might there be something in linking up with one or more of the other new London based newsletters in some way? Londoner, On London, The Fence, London Spy, London Centric, etc.?
Are there no grants available from government (GLA/DCMS/boroughs) or charities, foundations, etc. that have an interest in public interest and/or regional journalism?
If you do decide to close it down then thank you for your service to Londoners!
I'm already a (happy) subscriber so really hope you're able to attract enough paying folks to continue. A sponsor also sounds like a fine idea.
As a paying subscriber I am always a little disappointed to see that there is no incentive for others to help support your excellent news briefing and makes me feel that you are being taken advantage of. I think you should put a reasonable proportion of your content behind the paywall ( which would flush out the organisations using you for media monitoring) and also look for sponsorship on the basis of full editorial independence.
I certainly enjoy the London focus. You could try angling the newsletter as a resource for journalists: click a link for contact details & web resources (where appropriate). You could invite journalists to contact you which might be a good angle for sponsorship.
Many thanks Michael. I pay for the Edinburgh Minute and the London is an indulgence. Good luck. I understand completely if you feel you cannot continue.