Content creation is hard, and goes unapreciated, that said, finding a tribe who want that is a niche process, and Seth Godin talks about it in most of his books. Build it and they'll come I guess.
I work in community support with people in distress, or adjacent to it at least. I stumbled over you via the birdsite, and your work with All Right, and the messaging around the pandemic. That positive quiet strategy based stuff you shared, the book of calm, and the sleep book, I bought into.
You've been great value, I've shared and re-visited the strategies with my team, and the people they support. The shots of the mornings, and the dogs, and the gentle welcome into your daily life have rounded out my idea of who you are, I've even been a little more intrigued by cricket on the periphery of all that.
I've been a patreon in the past for Mental Health bloggers, and I've subscribed to SubStack initially, but the ongoing cost, the conversion rates (and minimal payment level options) are a barrier.
The value question is always the niggle here Sarb, micro payments might work better, more focus on niche subjects (cheap pyschology) (360 cameras) (cricket) (running) might make that value proposition more likely to bridge the 'is it worth it?' question.
I know from my own time in business, I trialled a pay what it's worth invoice model, and had mixed results. As consumers we're not aware of the issues of you putting food on the plates of your family, so trusting the room to fund you is much harder as a creator. We all imagine some other part of the internet is paying for my consumption of your content.
Part of me suggests getting more niche, not more popular.
Long story short, I have no credible idea of how to solve the subscriber issue, other than to keep building stuff that people value, and await the long tail payoff.
Happy to continue the conversation offline or directly Sarb
Thanks for your persistent input, have a great summer, take care. Aroha mai.
Such a lovely, thoughtful response to my request, Adrian - thank you so much. Yes, it's a quandary. I haven't made a video on my YouTube channel for over 250 days - mainly because I was starting to find it such a lonely experience. It's somewhat ironic that writing three books has also proven to be absorbing, but ultimately a lonely and solitary experience too. It's interesting to consider the intersection of me and my interests, my lived experience (both personally and professionally), and what is going on in the world. But ultimately, it's only satisfying to a certain degree. And while my personal life is fulfilling and happy, I do need to find ways to pay the bills. The niche subjects such as running, and small tech devices like 360 cams have been fun, and I feel a pull back to those interests for sure. But I'm still not really sure about the best format or place for those. There is only one of me too, and I have commitments (like we all do).
A work in progress, but you've given me food for thought - thank you so much. And I may well pick you up on your offer to continue this conversation - thanks for that too.
One more issue of Noise Reduction next week, and then some on/off content over the holidays to. Just so that we can all keep in touch.
Check out Alastair Humphreys and his exploration of getting adventure to post the bills. I’ll send you his book : ask an adventurer (once read it) maybe there’s some insight to pollinate your process over there. He has a garden shed he creates from, you’re basically twins in different hemispheres
Content creation is hard, and goes unapreciated, that said, finding a tribe who want that is a niche process, and Seth Godin talks about it in most of his books. Build it and they'll come I guess.
I work in community support with people in distress, or adjacent to it at least. I stumbled over you via the birdsite, and your work with All Right, and the messaging around the pandemic. That positive quiet strategy based stuff you shared, the book of calm, and the sleep book, I bought into.
You've been great value, I've shared and re-visited the strategies with my team, and the people they support. The shots of the mornings, and the dogs, and the gentle welcome into your daily life have rounded out my idea of who you are, I've even been a little more intrigued by cricket on the periphery of all that.
I've been a patreon in the past for Mental Health bloggers, and I've subscribed to SubStack initially, but the ongoing cost, the conversion rates (and minimal payment level options) are a barrier.
The value question is always the niggle here Sarb, micro payments might work better, more focus on niche subjects (cheap pyschology) (360 cameras) (cricket) (running) might make that value proposition more likely to bridge the 'is it worth it?' question.
I know from my own time in business, I trialled a pay what it's worth invoice model, and had mixed results. As consumers we're not aware of the issues of you putting food on the plates of your family, so trusting the room to fund you is much harder as a creator. We all imagine some other part of the internet is paying for my consumption of your content.
Part of me suggests getting more niche, not more popular.
Long story short, I have no credible idea of how to solve the subscriber issue, other than to keep building stuff that people value, and await the long tail payoff.
Happy to continue the conversation offline or directly Sarb
Thanks for your persistent input, have a great summer, take care. Aroha mai.
Such a lovely, thoughtful response to my request, Adrian - thank you so much. Yes, it's a quandary. I haven't made a video on my YouTube channel for over 250 days - mainly because I was starting to find it such a lonely experience. It's somewhat ironic that writing three books has also proven to be absorbing, but ultimately a lonely and solitary experience too. It's interesting to consider the intersection of me and my interests, my lived experience (both personally and professionally), and what is going on in the world. But ultimately, it's only satisfying to a certain degree. And while my personal life is fulfilling and happy, I do need to find ways to pay the bills. The niche subjects such as running, and small tech devices like 360 cams have been fun, and I feel a pull back to those interests for sure. But I'm still not really sure about the best format or place for those. There is only one of me too, and I have commitments (like we all do).
A work in progress, but you've given me food for thought - thank you so much. And I may well pick you up on your offer to continue this conversation - thanks for that too.
One more issue of Noise Reduction next week, and then some on/off content over the holidays to. Just so that we can all keep in touch.
Cheers :)
Check out Alastair Humphreys and his exploration of getting adventure to post the bills. I’ll send you his book : ask an adventurer (once read it) maybe there’s some insight to pollinate your process over there. He has a garden shed he creates from, you’re basically twins in different hemispheres
This Alastair Humphreys? https://londonwriterssalon.simplecast.com/episodes/001-alastair-humphreys-make-a-living-writing-about-your-life-adventures-2icgY_FK I did listen to this a while ago, but it somehow felt unattainable I think. I'll have to give it another listen. And thank you - I'd love to borrow that to give that a read once you've finished reading it. Much appreciated!
Yes. That’s the one.
I bumped into his with via YouTube video about cycling to bothies in Scotland
And bought his books too
I always wondered how to franchise what I do, he’s cracked that system (for adventures at least) so I’m optimistic we could do that ourselves