Introducing the ‘B-Side’
The ‘B-Side’ will be the label I attach to paid content in the future. The idea is that in the main, these will be complementary pieces to the free articles (or ‘episodes’ in a series) providing additional material, notes and information about the background work. I will simply provide a link to the B-Side counterpart in the free item.
The intention is that the B-Side will be in parallel with the free content, rather than being an essential missing component, or the amputated end of something you were in the middle of reading.
Personally (and without criticising what other do), if someone has bothered to start reading something I have written, I am disinclined to put up barriers to them finishing it.
Why Not Use a Paywall?
There are many reasons why I dislike the idea of deploying paywalls mid-article, but for now, will just outline two of my reasons for trying to avoid them altogether.
Firstly, a paywall prevents free subscribers commenting, which seems like a mistake that Substack could fix. Second, part of my process is to conduct written thought experiments, play with data and test analogies to destruction in the text I am writing. Later I incorporate the conclusions and cut out most of the rough workings. That material could be made presentable in other linked episodes. I don’t know how interesting that would be to read but this will be a way to find out.
To test this, starting immediately all B-Sides will be free until March and assuming it proves to be fit for purpose, I will switch on the paid options then. Thank you for any feedback you may have.
Oh yeah, this is really an interesting structural approach to the problem! In a way, it’s like the B-sides are footnotes or long digressions, but they’re there for the people who are presumably most into it. I like it.