3 Way To Use Audio For Paid Subscribers

How can I use the Paywall feature for audio content? UPDATED with 4th way!

I'm certainly not an expert on Substack settings and setups. Like you, I'm learning as I go. But what I do learn about audio and Substack, I'll share with you. I'm better at recording great audio, but many folks want to know how to use it on Substack.

We've talked before about why adding audio to posts is good.

It's great for people who learn better by listening, gives readers more ways to enjoy your content, lets them multitask, and adds a personal touch with your own voice.

Last time, we discussed two ways to add audio: voiceover or audio embed.

Now, let's look at using audio for paid subscribers as a perk or added value.

There's no one right way to do this. Your approach will be unique to you. Some of your audio can be free, and some can be for paid subscribers only.

Here are three ideas:

1. Publish the same article twice. One version for free users without audio and another for paid users with audio, either as an embed or voiceover. Send them out at the same time to different audiences.

2. Publish some articles with free audio for everyone. Then, at another time in the week or month, publish a different article with audio only for paid subscribers.

3. Offer free text to all subscribers and audio only folks who pay.

Here’s one way to do that:

First, set the article to paid only in the settings. Write all the text you want everyone to read. Then, use the Paywall feature under More in your menu settings. Select Paywall and place it at the end of the text.

Below the Paywall line, add your audio embed (not a Voiceover, but an Audio Embed). You can label it and give it a title that says the audio is free for paid subscribers only.

Here is me reading the audio for this actual post. Hit the color triangle:

Add anything else you want to close out your article.

This way, free subscribers get the text, and paid subscribers can access the audio below the Paywall line. You can also mention in your last line that there is an audio voiceover for paid subscribers.

Food for thought. If you have any other methods you’ve seen or tried,

I can’t wait to hear👂you

Todd

PS. Have a friend who is thinking about audio?

PPS. How about getting more helps like this for yourself?

PPPS. UPDATE: A bit more research has led me to a new discovery…When you set your post to Paid Only, then the Article Voiceover is seen at the top of the page, but shaded and only available to paid subscribers.

Like this:

You may notice this page looks like that. I apologize for not including this earlier! It’s the easiest method, but the others mentioned above will also be options.

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Image by RegioTV from Pixabay

FYI: This article has not paid content below this line, this is placed here for example purposes only.