As long-time readers know, this place has slogged on for 15 years now and could well do for another 15, health and the state of the world permitting. And everything that has appeared here is free to view, and always will be. But what do folks think about the introduction of pay-what-you-like, as seen on other blogs and left media? And if I did attach a Patreon to this place, what additional features or topics might you like to see? For example, one thing I would think about doing, following a suggestion from James of The Popular Show, would be making verbal recordings of blog posts available via the Patreon (these would not be paywalled). As for using a paywall, this is probably something I would not ever use. Information yearns to be free, man. Maybe if I'd written a large piece I might have it on early access for a week before reposting it here. Not sure yet. And as far as the Patreon's supporter tiers are concerned, there's a debate to be had about what perks to offer - perhaps requesting an article on a particular topic, or asking a question that requires a post-length response, my opinion on such-and-such, or something else entirely? Nothing is set in stone.
To grift or not to grift, that is the question. Monies raised would go to the need-a-new-computer fund, and if wildly successful I might be able to step back from some work responsibilities and devote more time to writerly pursuits.
None of this is decided so I'd be interested in hearing people's views. Got to love me some feedback. But if you like the stuff I do, there is one concrete way to help out already and get something other than a good feeling in return. And that's by buying the book!
19 comments:
I do donate to my sources occasionally but couldn't afford to subscribe. I wouldn't call it grifting.
Please don't do this Paywalls of any kind are an impediment to the free exchange of information and opinion; Patreon in particular is corrosive of (what's left of) the blogosphere.
NO PAYWALL
Bought the book- very good read. Would buy another from the author. Don't want to pay for anything online- links or otherwise sorry.
Problem with Patreon is consumers have to be invested enough to pay, which means you may need to write to please your audience rather than write what is going to genuinely engage or challenge your audience. I've long suspected that professional media 'opinionists' phone in the same repetitive, poorly thought through crap because that's what their audience buys. This happens right across the political spectrum, and they can't stress test their own ideas because the punters might not like the results.
Personally I don't subscribe to Patreon content because I dip in and out of far too many providers for it to be viable. Even if I gave everyone a £1 a month I'd soon be spending £50+ a month, which isn't viable. But I do buy stuff like books or merchandise from time to time.
I think its an excellent idea, for all the obvious reasons (you have published for free for years, will continue to do so - although I would never condemn anyone for asking for payment for their work - and are only asking for voluntary contributions from your supporters, according to their means, if they choose to do so: who could object?).
I currently support Novara and New Socialist on a monthly basis and Jacobin, Momentum and Tribune on a yearly basis (although I think momentum may be dead now - I've cancelled my labour membership). Not bragging: I'm retired, house paid for etc, I can afford it. I reconnected to politics when Corbyn was on the leadship ballot. I vastly enjoyed the neighbours incredulity when my labour posters went up in 2017 (I'd been indifferent to politics for decades - with any doorstep conversations I just adopted the smile and nod model of response).
So I've disconnected from the labour party again, which will probably be for good (I'm 69, all too late for me) but salve my conscience by supporting various media. I've been reading you for years - and following you daily on twitter - and would welcome the chance to give a bit of financial support.
Sorry for the bio, I rarely comment online, when I do it turns into a pensioners ramble - but yes, go for it!
(oh, and I'm neutral on the "extras" side of patreon: I don't think it should be necessary, people should support you without that, but as you wish; I'm getting into grind-my-teeth mode, having read some of the other comments, so I'll stop here).
Social media was supposed to bring free speech to the masses, it has actually resulted in woke hysteria.
This is for the same reason that hard drugs are banned. When hard drugs are only consumed by the upper classes this is not an issue, but as soon as the people who actually create value start partaking parliament must get involved.
It is the same with free speech, when free speech was the preserve of the middle classes in the billionaire media, or some left sect paper no one ever read this was all fine and dandy. But as soon as the people who actually create value start partaking parliament must get involved!
Normally I would never ever subscribe to a Tory of any stripe (Tory Tory, labour Tory or Liberal Tory) but I do take my hat off to your moderation policy, and for that reason I might ignore you being a Tory and invest in someone who genuinely allows free speech.
£5.70p what a bargain. Excellent read BTW.
Thanks Mick, Mike, and BCFG(!) for your kind comments!
"there is one concrete way to help out already and get something other than a good feeling in return. And that's by buying the book!"
Well, you've convinced me! I ordered your book from Verso, along with several others.
Seriously and genuinely, what sort of brain worms do you have to actually believe our esteemed host is a TORY???
I simply can't begin to even process such a mindset.
I'd support if you did a patreon.
If its not too late to add another comment: if you do create a Patreon, I believe yearly payments are an option that you can tick (on setup, as Patreon owner i.e. you can specify monthly or yearly as a supporter choice), although I might be wrong. I do prefer yearly subs, purely for obscure psychological reasons.
Those are pretty obscure, Mike!
The problem with any paid for content - even if its voluntary contributions - is that you can't help but start to make demands. Rather than just be grateful for whatever you write, psychology dictates that we will start to expect you to write what we want to read. It's a subtle switch, but inevitable. If you don't cover a particular topic, we'll resent it, or feel short-changed. That said, if you choose to offer an extra level to those who do support you financially, I have no problem with it. It's your time and effort and I don't see why you shouldn't get some reward for it.
I have bought your book, so I am not against paying for things. But you know what you are getting with a book - it literally says what it its about on the cover. Expectations are managed, as you pay for something knowing what it is in advance. We can't load our demands onto it or influence its content.
I'd be happy to send you a few quid a month, Phil. I bought your book and am enjoying it thus far, but I've been reading your blog regularly for a few years now and would be happy to offer a little financial support to keep you going.
I appreciate the no-paywalls stance. And personally I'm not that bothered about 'patron extras'. :)
I looked at this over the Xmas and decided not to use Patreon. I am curious about what Dr Zoltan said. I think with Patreon you have to do it on a freemium level and I couldn't work out what to make the additional offers.
I don't want to put my stuff behind a paywall and don't want to let those who subscribe to my blog down by delaying the content.
You could put a pay what you like paypal button on the blog, or and/or on each article and ask people to make a regular paypal donation.
I have been persuaded to try more seriously with Medium, I am fortunate that I am an acceptable partner for them.
WRT to other monetisation strategies, I am looking at offering designer Mugs, but probably won't.
"I think with Patreon you have to do it on a freemium level and I couldn't work out what to make the additional offers."
Which is where the 'no paywall' stance falls down. Any Patreon extras are paywalled for the rest of the world.
Monetising your relationship with your readers just seems like turning yourself from a writer into a producer and turning comrades reading the blog into customers. But if you really want to go down that route there's always Ko-fi.
If you wish to go ahead with the monthly sub idea, make it very clear, if you are concerned that the nature of the blog may change for the worse if you are concerned there is a demanding customer base suddenly contrived into being, that it would all be on the basis that nothing significant will change. Subscribers ought not to have magically acquired the entitlement to editorial input
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