I wasn't even able to convince anyone I knew to enter the Invitational when it was FREE to enter. The 25 people in my friends list that would be a member here already are--and I have never met any of them IRL.
Broader appeal to start Gene. Deification can come later. As your self-appointed personal influencer, my recommendation is that you up your aww game. There's already plenty of eww in the Pool. A steady stream of cute images of Lexi and a Rent-a-Toddler is what's called for, with plenty of interspecies sleeping to pluck the needed heartstrings. If you have a video of Sherman playing "Kitten on the Keys" all the better.
This is a terrific idea. I'd participate as a subject. It might be a stretch to find enough new subscribers to qualify, but I think the stretch is the point. What about subscription tiers that include a "pay for a profile" tier? I'd consider that.
Word of mouth is powerful, but leaning on friends is uncomfortable to most of us. Leaning (and successfully) on 25 of them is an enormous request (except for politicians, since that's their business). I think asking for 10 would bring rare successes, but 25 is unrealistic, even to get something better than being on TV. Having read Rachel's article that you linked to recently, it seems to me that we old men would be motivated by the offer of a date with her. And then, when you are in prison or demented..... (Don't tell my wife I said this.)
I see it as more of an offer for someone who REALLY, REALLY wants that piece written about themselves to just pony up $1,250.
Seriously, we live in a world where people pay $1000 on Cameo just to have Patrick Ewing say Happy Birthday personally... you don't think some rich, narcissistic dillweed would pay a measely $1,250 in subscription fees and sign 25 employees up in order to have a **Pulitzer Prize winner** write a piece about him? ( I just know it would be a guy)
I'd laugh my ass off if a Trump bites on this, because it's pure Trump bait. Not that Gene/ Substack would ever actually get the subscriptions paid.
Gene --- On reflection, I think getting large numbers of the ungroomed or untainted to subscribe at $50 a pop would be a stretch, especially as the Pool is presently filled. Adding some long(er) form pieces might, IMHO, up the odds a bit more. Think at least one other revenue stream is something to consider instead. More publicity wouldn't go amiss either. So, how would this work as a contribution to the Weingarten-Myers Benevolent Fund ? At least as a test. I buy a couple of annual gift subscriptions (yes, yes --- I'll finally fork over the dough for my own subscription ). You then offer them as the top prizes in two special "Payvitationals" which, in turn, require nominal entry fees. I presume you're still planning to put a paywall in place which will limit contest participation to paying subscribers, so this could be a test of a future possible additional revenue source --- a freestanding (if occasional) pay-to-enter Invitational (with attractive donated prizes like the rare, Original Weingarten Fart in a Can). Of course, you could still run the paid subscription-required contests with the dumpster-worthy top prizes.
It strikes me that once you put the paywall in place, the excellent Invitational (and Q&A/Chat) participation level you're now experiencing will naturally drop. Keeping interest up would be important not only in terms of another possible revenue stream but in attracting subscribers with fistfulls of cash. Certainly other ala carte approaches or combinations thereof should be considered. These, like the one I'm suggesting, would be more work perhaps, but also give you more chances for wider engagement which is what you're after.
Substack presumably could handle the entry fees since it already handles subscriptions. Because it and its payment platform takes a cut, maybe you can work out some kind of deal at the outset to see if the proposed model (or another) works. You could also throw in discount cards to Mary's House of Depilation. Anyway --- a thought.
(To be totally clear, I meant that as a joke. Of course it is wise to be wary of ANY sort of publicity. I would never write about a private person without their consent. If it sounded hostile, I apologize.)
I would say give it a minute to get more subscribers. Your subscriber base is everyone in style invitational devoteees fb page, presumably all your and Pat's twitter followers assuming you've posted about this there, everyone on the style invitational email list, etc. et.c It's still new, people are still getting used to to the whole thing and some of the kinks are getting worked out. people are used to chatting with you in real time, replying to your posts as they see them. As others have commented in Q&A, the format is unfamilar--you post answers to submitted questions, and we can only do the real time thing in the chat. so it has a different, more distant feel. Give potential subscribers a few weeks to determine if they are ok with the format, etc. As you say, anyone can read for free, they need to subscribe to post questions. I assume this will continue to be the case? Will there come a time where you have to subscribe to read as well? I say hold tight for another month or so now that we know you need more subscribers to be sustainable, and that might be enough incentive. Bob Levey took neologism winners out to lunch, I agree with the poster who suggested that as an incentive. And as others have mentioned, your long form journalism stories were always about someone or something inherently newsworthy. While it is possible everyone's life is interesting in their own right, I think it would be more interesting for the winner to suggest a truly newsworthy subject. My 2c, but the takeaway is hold tight before making any long term decisions.
It seems obvious to me that having my world analyzed by such a gifted writer and observer of humanity would be awesome just for my own self. No fame necessary. I am intrigued, which means a small contingent of equally weird people like me might also be drawn in. The larger group would just want the fame,IMO, so yeah, I kinda think it’d be a good draw. To note, I assume I will win or I will have my 25 people storm the Capitol and demand a recount.
I wasn't even able to convince anyone I knew to enter the Invitational when it was FREE to enter. The 25 people in my friends list that would be a member here already are--and I have never met any of them IRL.
Friends? You think I have friends that I could refer. Ha. Maybe I can refer my cats.
Hope someone wins - I don't think I could scare up 10 people I know.....
Broader appeal to start Gene. Deification can come later. As your self-appointed personal influencer, my recommendation is that you up your aww game. There's already plenty of eww in the Pool. A steady stream of cute images of Lexi and a Rent-a-Toddler is what's called for, with plenty of interspecies sleeping to pluck the needed heartstrings. If you have a video of Sherman playing "Kitten on the Keys" all the better.
Gene, jokes should be funny.
This is a terrific idea. I'd participate as a subject. It might be a stretch to find enough new subscribers to qualify, but I think the stretch is the point. What about subscription tiers that include a "pay for a profile" tier? I'd consider that.
Word of mouth is powerful, but leaning on friends is uncomfortable to most of us. Leaning (and successfully) on 25 of them is an enormous request (except for politicians, since that's their business). I think asking for 10 would bring rare successes, but 25 is unrealistic, even to get something better than being on TV. Having read Rachel's article that you linked to recently, it seems to me that we old men would be motivated by the offer of a date with her. And then, when you are in prison or demented..... (Don't tell my wife I said this.)
I see it as more of an offer for someone who REALLY, REALLY wants that piece written about themselves to just pony up $1,250.
Seriously, we live in a world where people pay $1000 on Cameo just to have Patrick Ewing say Happy Birthday personally... you don't think some rich, narcissistic dillweed would pay a measely $1,250 in subscription fees and sign 25 employees up in order to have a **Pulitzer Prize winner** write a piece about him? ( I just know it would be a guy)
I'd laugh my ass off if a Trump bites on this, because it's pure Trump bait. Not that Gene/ Substack would ever actually get the subscriptions paid.
Gene --- On reflection, I think getting large numbers of the ungroomed or untainted to subscribe at $50 a pop would be a stretch, especially as the Pool is presently filled. Adding some long(er) form pieces might, IMHO, up the odds a bit more. Think at least one other revenue stream is something to consider instead. More publicity wouldn't go amiss either. So, how would this work as a contribution to the Weingarten-Myers Benevolent Fund ? At least as a test. I buy a couple of annual gift subscriptions (yes, yes --- I'll finally fork over the dough for my own subscription ). You then offer them as the top prizes in two special "Payvitationals" which, in turn, require nominal entry fees. I presume you're still planning to put a paywall in place which will limit contest participation to paying subscribers, so this could be a test of a future possible additional revenue source --- a freestanding (if occasional) pay-to-enter Invitational (with attractive donated prizes like the rare, Original Weingarten Fart in a Can). Of course, you could still run the paid subscription-required contests with the dumpster-worthy top prizes.
It strikes me that once you put the paywall in place, the excellent Invitational (and Q&A/Chat) participation level you're now experiencing will naturally drop. Keeping interest up would be important not only in terms of another possible revenue stream but in attracting subscribers with fistfulls of cash. Certainly other ala carte approaches or combinations thereof should be considered. These, like the one I'm suggesting, would be more work perhaps, but also give you more chances for wider engagement which is what you're after.
Substack presumably could handle the entry fees since it already handles subscriptions. Because it and its payment platform takes a cut, maybe you can work out some kind of deal at the outset to see if the proposed model (or another) works. You could also throw in discount cards to Mary's House of Depilation. Anyway --- a thought.
Not a paid one…yet.
Sorry if that was not clear!
I totally understand not wanting such a thing!
No, it's a joke!
Although I would love for the reborn Invite to get 25 more subscribers, I would rather die than be profiled. Hard pass.
I'm already working on your profile, kid.
That sounds like a threat.
(To be totally clear, I meant that as a joke. Of course it is wise to be wary of ANY sort of publicity. I would never write about a private person without their consent. If it sounded hostile, I apologize.)
It seemed really, really clear that was a joke. Do they not know the Gene Ways?
I dunno. But these days you can't take a chance. "A threat" seems bad, on social media. You don't want those two words associated with you.
Truth.
Sounds like a good idea to me, but personally I probably should pass. I'll spread the word, but not enough to win; you know too much about me already.
I would say give it a minute to get more subscribers. Your subscriber base is everyone in style invitational devoteees fb page, presumably all your and Pat's twitter followers assuming you've posted about this there, everyone on the style invitational email list, etc. et.c It's still new, people are still getting used to to the whole thing and some of the kinks are getting worked out. people are used to chatting with you in real time, replying to your posts as they see them. As others have commented in Q&A, the format is unfamilar--you post answers to submitted questions, and we can only do the real time thing in the chat. so it has a different, more distant feel. Give potential subscribers a few weeks to determine if they are ok with the format, etc. As you say, anyone can read for free, they need to subscribe to post questions. I assume this will continue to be the case? Will there come a time where you have to subscribe to read as well? I say hold tight for another month or so now that we know you need more subscribers to be sustainable, and that might be enough incentive. Bob Levey took neologism winners out to lunch, I agree with the poster who suggested that as an incentive. And as others have mentioned, your long form journalism stories were always about someone or something inherently newsworthy. While it is possible everyone's life is interesting in their own right, I think it would be more interesting for the winner to suggest a truly newsworthy subject. My 2c, but the takeaway is hold tight before making any long term decisions.
It seems obvious to me that having my world analyzed by such a gifted writer and observer of humanity would be awesome just for my own self. No fame necessary. I am intrigued, which means a small contingent of equally weird people like me might also be drawn in. The larger group would just want the fame,IMO, so yeah, I kinda think it’d be a good draw. To note, I assume I will win or I will have my 25 people storm the Capitol and demand a recount.