The future of Nick's Kōrero.

A day in the life, and an offer.

This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.

Let’s start with a typical day.

Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be quite early. Sometimes I’m starting from scratch, perhaps working out what to write about or responding to something that just happened - those come later in the day.

The first hour after I send a newsletter out is interesting. Will people like it? What are folks saying in the comments? Have I missed a glaring typo that my now tired brain just didn’t see?

As you might imagine subscriptions are a big part of it. The thrill and happiness I feel when a new paid one comes through is out of all proportion to the actual money involved, although that is good too. Conversely when someone unsubscribes it feels like a bit of a kick in the guts, a gloomy situation ensues.

By and large though if there are more pluses than minuses it’s a good day. I feel like I’m making progress and there is reward for my labours.

There are bad days of course but I’ve generally learned not to let them bother me too much. Earlier on they’d set me off thinking “what on earth am I doing with my life?”

Truth is though there is literally nothing I would rather be doing, this is me.

So the odd bad day with subscriptions is ok, but the problem is I’ve encountered a whole series of those bad ones in a row and I’m not sure why.

The number of people reading continues to increase, and based on the comments being made, and the number of people sharing them, people seem to like what they’re reading. Yet for some reason subscriber numbers are going in the wrong direction, and that’s concerning me.

This subscriber model works if many people pay a little but my first thought was - maybe I’m making it too easy for folks just to read it for free?

You’re all good people, the best, if earning money wasn’t necessary I’d happily do this without any paywall. But the reality is that it’s human nature not to pay for something if you can get it for free.

I wondered if I needed to move more of the content behind the paywall, give people more of a reason to pay for it? As in if you don’t pay you can’t read. Probably quite a few people would subscribe, but that really isn’t what I want to do.

Please note the the following request is not aimed at those already paying for a subscription, thank you so much for your support - it means an incredible amount to me, far more than any other money I’ve earned in my life. Please go about your day. 🙂

It’s also not aimed at those who can’t afford a subscription. I do not want to take money from anyone that cannot afford it, I’d feel far worse causing someone financial difficulty. Please don’t.

This is aimed at the vast majority of readers in between who enjoy my writing, could afford a small amount, but haven’t yet subscribed. I’ve got an offer for you that I’m hoping you’ll find attractive.

If you subscribe to Nick’s Kōrero, in May, you’ll get 30% off for the first 12 months. With no obligation to continue.

That would cost you $59.50 for a whole year, or $5.59 per month if you choose that option. Slightly more than $1 per week, or one cup of that cliched coffee a month.

That’s a pretty good deal, if you’re enjoying my writing, I reckon. I hope you will too and join the paid subscribers of Nick’s Kōrero.

I’d really like to keep the balance between free/paid content as it is, and would prefer not to move more behind the paywall. If you can subscribe at this discounted rate that enables me to keep bringing it to you.

Clears away those clouds too. 🙂

Thanks very much for reading,
Nick.

It wouldn’t be Nick’s Kōrero without a song, this is my favourite one of all.