Paving the Road to Paid Content
As attention spans continue to dwindle due to our increasing dependence on digital devices in seemingly almost every aspect of modern life, short-form content is worth experimenting with if you are a working writer—or hoping to become one.
Marketing pros define short form content as “concise pieces of digital content that are designed to capture the audience's attention quickly. Short-form content assets can come in a variety of formats including videos, podcasts, blogs, and infographics, each crafted to deliver a specific message swiftly and impactfully.”
If reading that description has you mildly panicked about needing to learn how to do ‘one more thing’ online, take a deep breath. Short form content creation is often less laborious than it appears if you start with articles, essays, blogs or poems that you have already written then repurpose into short video clips or voiceover snippets. These can then be posted on your social media platforms or even embedded into e-newsletters.
Using your existing work to script audio and video materials is an effective, inexpensive approach to amplifying your professional presence as a writer online. It can also streamline the process of monetizing digital platforms you may already be using such as Beehiiv, Substack, or Medium. For example, most folks who read my monthly e-newsletter do so because they are genuinely interested in what's going on in my professional and personal life, so my open rate is consistently near 50% every month. In order to attract “paid subscribers,” you need readers who truly look forward to receiving your newsletter at the frequency you send it.
The hope is your existing audience enjoys the content enough to share it with others—organically helping to grow your subscriber list. Even in 2025, word of mouth is still the best advertising!
For those who have yet to launch an e-newsletter and are unsure about how to begin, come up with a basic format first. Mine usually opens with a personal reflection that directly ties into recent life events I am celebrating—or navigating. That’s why, last year, my audience frequently heard about my arduous journey to becoming a homeowner.
Next, I usually make a tangible connection between how I am still working (a.k.a. teaching, writing, etc) amidst whatever personal triumphs and tribulations may be going on. This allows me to promote the next program, workshop, or course I would like folks to register for without having to make ‘selling’ the focal point.
Same goes for the ending. I usually wrap up each newsletter with a nod to at least one new obsession of mine. Ordinally, this is a food/skincare/clothing/wellness product that I have become a recent fan of since one of the perks of being a low-key content creator is getting a plethora of freebies on a rolling basis. I also typically mention a book that I am reading—or about to start—from my never-ending TBR (to-be-read) pile.
Make your digital newsletter or blog free to access, and if the ultimate goal is to monetize it in the future, keep that intention in mind while deciding on a format and host site. Additionally, here are a few other methods that can assist you in paving a path to paid content. (I suggest trying this individually rather than attempting simultaneously.)
- Launch multiple subscription tiers
- Offer flexible payment options
- Entice people to subscribe with giveaways or freebies
Want a few more creative ideas on how to increase your cash flow using your writing skills? Snag a virtual seat in How to Earn a Living as a Writer—an online workshop Rachel is facilitating on December 13.