Before Publishing Labs, there was Pivot Hour — a lightly structured AMA-style experiment in reader strategy. These replays are less polished but offer some gems from my earlier work with paid members.
In this month’s Pivot Hour, we announced a brand new Quarterly Data Audit feature and shared best practices around growth, monetization, publishing strategy, paywalls, live events and more. We covered how to:
Use data without getting overwhelmed
Write from the deepest part of your voice
Encourage free subscribers to upgrade with meaningful calls to action
Build trust before implementing paywalls
Use Substack features (like Chat, Notes and Livestreams) strategically
If you're ready to grow intentionally while staying connected to your creative spark — this one’s for you.
Key Takeaways
🎉 New Feature Launch: Quarterly Data Audits For Paid Members
Helping you build a healthier relationship with data — it's feedback, not judgment.
Audits will cover 4 key areas: Dashboard, Email Stats, Subscriber Retention, and Audience Segments.
Why we’re doing this quarterly, not daily — and how it protects your creativity.
Enjoyed Today’s Pivot Hour? Tell us 1 Takeaway Here
How to Use Livestreams to Build Community
20:00 – 30:30
Scheduling livestreams in advance and creating companion posts
When to keep livestream content free (especially under 300 subs)
Growing trust through regularity and intentional experiences
Paywalls vs. Free: When & Why to Use Each
30:30 – 39:00
Why creators under 1,000 subs should keep their best work free
How free content builds the trust that leads to conversions
The strategic downside of using paywalls too early
