Launch like a pro: My 5-Point Paid Launch Playbook
How to escape the ad hamster wheel and get paid by people who actually value your work
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1: The "Free Forever" Trap is Killing Your Business
Most creators are digital sharecroppers.
They build audiences on platforms they don't own, chase algorithms they can't control, and beg advertisers for scraps.
The truth? Ad revenue is designed to keep you poor.
Meanwhile, paid subscriptions create predictable monthly revenue, direct relationships with your audience, freedom from platform dependency, and premium pricing power.
The controversial reality: Your "free" audience isn't helping you build wealth—they're helping platforms build wealth from your content.
BTW, if you enjoy this article, consider sharing it with your friends. It would mean a lot to me.
2: Start Charging on Day 1 (Yes, Really)
"But Ana, I only have 47 subscribers!"
So what?
The biggest mistake creators make is waiting until they're "big enough" to charge.
Here's what actually happens:
• You condition your audience to expect everything for free
• You attract freebie-seekers instead of value-seekers
• You build the wrong business model from the ground up
• You develop "broke creator" psychology
The uncomfortable truth: If you won't pay $5/month for your own content, why should anyone else?
Start charging immediately, even if it's just $3/month. Not because you need the money (yet), but because you need to:
• Attract the right people
• Build a paying customer mindset
• Separate browsers from buyers
• Learn what people actually value
I know creators with 100 subscribers making more than creators with 100,000 "free" followers.
3: The "Value Sandwich" Strategy
Most people get paid subscriptions backwards.
They think: "I'll give them a taste for free, then charge for the good stuff."
Wrong.
Here's what actually converts:
Free content: Give away your best strategies and frameworks
Paid content: Charge for implementation, community, and accountability
Example:
• Free: "The 5-step revenue framework that generated $2M"
• Paid: "Weekly group calls to implement the framework + private community + done-for-you templates"
Why this works:
• Free content proves you know what you're talking about
• Paid content provides the support they need to actually succeed
• You're not holding back your best stuff (builds trust)
• People pay for transformation, not information
The counterintuitive secret: The more you give away for free, the more valuable your paid tier becomes—IF you position it correctly.
4: Price Like You Mean It
Stop apologizing for your prices.
I see too many creators pricing their subscriptions like they're embarrassed to charge:
• $3/month because "I don't want to exclude anyone"
• $5/month because "that's what everyone else charges"
• $9/month because "it feels reasonable"
This is broke-person thinking.
Here's how to price like a business owner:
Step 1: Calculate the transformation value
If your advice helps someone make an extra $10K annually, what's that worth monthly? ($50? $100? $500?)
Step 2: Research alternatives
What do people currently pay for similar outcomes?
• Business coach: $500-2,000/month
• Mastermind: $300-1,500/month
• Course: $500-5,000 one-time
Step 3: Position as the premium alternative
"Get the same transformation that costs $2,000/month with a business coach, for just $97/month—plus you get a community of peers and weekly group calls."
The pricing psychology secret: Higher prices filter for better customers who get better results and create better testimonials.
I'd rather have 50 subscribers at $97/month than 500 at $9/month. Same revenue, less headache, better community.
5: Launch Like You're Sold Out
Most creators launch their paid tier like they're asking for charity:
"I'm thinking about maybe starting a paid version if anyone's interested... it would be like $5/month or something... let me know if you want it I guess?"
Pathetic.
Launch like demand already exists:
"I'm opening 100 founding member spots for the How We Grow Inner Circle at $97/month. Current waitlist is 247 people. Founding members get locked-in pricing forever, even when we raise rates to $197/month next quarter.
Includes:
• Weekly strategy breakdowns
• Monthly group calls
• Private community access
• Direct access to me via chat
• All past archives and frameworks
Applications open Monday at 9 AM EST. We'll review applications and notify accepted members within 48 hours."
Why this works:
• Creates urgency through scarcity
• Implies demand already exists
• Application process makes it feel exclusive
• Specific pricing and value proposition
• Clear next steps
The psychological truth: People want what they can't easily have. Make your paid tier feel like a privilege to access, not a plea for support.
Ready to stop being a broke creator?
These 5 strategies helped me go from giving everything away for free to building a 6-figure newsletter business.
But here's the thing: knowing the strategies isn't enough. You need to see them in action.
That's why you should subscribe to How We Grow.
Every week, I pull back the curtain on exactly how I'm building this business:
• Real revenue numbers and what's working
• Behind-the-scenes strategy decisions
• Partnerships and deals that move the needle
• Mistakes I'm making (and learning from)
• The psychology of building a profitable audience
New subscribers get 30 days of content for free so you can see if my approach resonates with your goals.
Paid subscribers get $3000+ worth of bonuses, including monthly free workshops and over 60% (worth $400) sale on my signature Money Map Bootcamp.
No fluff. No theory. Just real strategies from someone actually building what they teach.
Warning: This isn't for people who want gentle encouragement and feel-good platitudes. This is for ambitious creators who want to build real businesses and are willing to hear uncomfortable truths about what actually works.
Ready to grow?
Ana