I've been exploring the idea of a paid newsletter and saw a few interesting ideas on blog design from Substack, a startup that helps people monetize newsletters:
have popup asking for email before showing blog posts, with option to skip straight to reading posts
for blog home page, have full articles (rather than links / thumbnails)
What are others thoughts on desigining blogs to optimize for signups and ultimately conversion to paid subscribers?
Write good stuff. Don’t spam people with popups, respect the reader, contextual opt ins, have a personality, content upgrades, write good stuff.
+1 on don't spam with popups but have contextual opt-ins if they are interested and want to see more content like the one they are reading through.
This. This 100%. The engagement maximizing techniques only work if you already have a name for yourself (think Tim Ferris).
Live a good life and humble thineself