Sparkle on Substack (Live) Should you add a 'buy me a ☕️' or donation button on your Substack?
Jun 8, 2025
Seth Werkheiser, a freelance email marketing specialist, joins Claire to explore the evolving landscape of Substack. They dive into the effectiveness of donation buttons like 'buy me a coffee,' assessing their role in audience engagement compared to paid subscriptions. The duo discusses ethical considerations around compensating creators and the delicate balance of maintaining genuine connections with subscribers. Personal anecdotes highlight the emotional journey of sharing work and building a supportive community in the digital realm.
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Email Gives Portability And Ownership
- Building an email list on Substack buys you portability and ownership of your audience.
- Claire contrasts email stability with platform loss like leaving Twitter in 2006.
Try A Donation Button As A Low-Risk Test
- Do include a donation or "buy me a coffee" button if it feels right for you and your audience.
- It won't hurt your publication and can be a gentle bridge to feeling safe about being paid.
Footer Donations Yielded Almost Nothing
- Seth placed donation links in his footer for years and only made around $20 over three years.
- He credits low visibility and placement for minimal results.
