Metalabel shouldn't re-create monthly subscriptions—here's an alternative

Hi, I'm Elle Griffin, and I earn my living from subscriptions to my Substack newsletter.

But with the debut of DFOS and the opportunity to move my Substack/Slack here to this space, I'd like to propose a better model than a re-creation of monthly and annual subscriptions.

I'd like to propose cumulative subscriptions.

Right now, I have Substack subscribers who pay $1,000 year because they like what I am doing, some that pay the normal $70/year, and some that pay just $10/month. I also have Metalabel subscribers spend $4 for a pamphlet or $150 for a book set. Right now, on any given month, they are all getting the same benefit: The ability to unlock a paid post that month. If they stop paying, the next month they have no benefits whatsoever.

This is odd. Some subscribers have contributed $5,000+ to my Substack over the years. Some just $10. Shouldn't those who have been with me the longest and invested in what I'm doing the most get benefits far above and beyond what the most recent monthly subscriber is getting?

With cumulative subscriptions, people could still pay all those varying amounts—$10/month, $50/month, or even just purchase one pamphlet for $4—but unlock benefits once they hit total spending thresholds. For instance, once they reach $500 in total spend, or $1000 in total spend, or even $5000 in total spend, they could earn benefits like floating to the top of comment sections, unlocking channels and board meetings, triggering merch and book shipments—even in-person events or the ability to join me on research trips.

I'm tired of earning subscriptions that require me to provide different tiers of value depending on how much someone spent in one month. But I would love to provide different tiers of value depending on how much someone has spent over the years, rewarding those who have been with us the longest, purchased the most pamphlets, and contributed to our community the most.

In fact, in my ideal world, it wouldn't be just money that could get subscribers to certain thresholds, but comments and engagement. I'd love it if members could earn benefits the more they contribute to the community, whether financially or through engagement, and unlock benefits as they do!

But I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments....