Question - I feel guilt moving my 110+ free public audio to a pay wall...should I?

[InMyHandsAudio]

So, I have found that one of the reasons I haven't succeed in the number of subscribers to my private pages is because I have sooooo much free content. I decided to move 95% of it to a paid archive page (my Patreon)....but I feel a little guilty.
Am I doing the right thing?

 

[InMyHandsAudio]

Or maybe I just suck at this erotic audio thing and no one wants to invest in it.?

 

[Prcious1]

People still have the chance to listen to your content and figure out from there if they want to invest in more of what you got. So it's not something you need to feel guilty about or even a matter of you sucking at it. You do a pretty excellent job of it in my opinion.

 

[InMyHandsAudio]

Thank you Precious xoxoxox

 

[lunarhiccups]

I don't think you need to feel guilty at all! Most people don't put out the same level of free content as writers/performers in this space, so a small percentage public is still absolutely a lot. Definitely let us know if it helps, because it might be a great learning moment for some of us struggling with the same questions and stunted pledge growth. Wishing you the best!

 

[InMyHandsAudio]

Update:
So I have removed about 80% of all my public audios from Lit, Reddit and PornHub and archived them all on my Patreon Page.
The response has been positive thus far. I have new subscribers each day to my Patreon Page and more listeners emailing me inquiring about my removed audios which I direct them to my Patreon.

Overall I thing a valid percentage will pay for the over 150 I have there. More promotion needed.

This also allows me to add new content to Lit which I am excited about.

Another curious thing.....
I started multiple content pages recently (ManyVids, OnlyFans, Fansly, Vanilla Audio) and it has had a great affect on overall subscriber-ship across all platforms. I tough it might hinder or reduce my subscriptions but it has been great.

More updates soon.

 

[Prcious1]

Some people actually do pay to hear audios. I have been doing personal audio commissions for about 2 years now. I have flirted around with the idea of doing a website of my own and doing patreon but I'm quite comfortable where I'm at right now when it comes to creating audio content and the commissions that come my way.

 

[InMyHandsAudio]

True.
I do personal audios or commissions only twice a year due to time constraints but I wish I could do more of that. I great boost to the income flow.

 

[Xyta_Midnyte]

Update:
So I have removed about 80% of all my public audios from Lit, Reddit and PornHub and archived them all on my Patreon Page.
The response has been positive thus far. I have new subscribers each day to my Patreon Page and more listeners emailing me inquiring about my removed audios which I direct them to my Patreon.

Overall I thing a valid percentage will pay for the over 150 I have there. More promotion needed.

This also allows me to add new content to Lit which I am excited about.

Another curious thing.....
I started multiple content pages recently (ManyVids, OnlyFans, Fansly, Vanilla Audio) and it has had a great affect on overall subscriber-ship across all platforms. I tough it might hinder or reduce my subscriptions but it has been great.

More updates soon.

I've been having exactly this debate myself and I realise (with plenty of encouragement and strong words from others) that I need to value my time, talent and content far more highly than I do.
Therefore I would encourage everybody to diversify their platforms and to take advantage of paywalls. Sure, we need to have some free content somewhere, but it's worth something. And we shouldn't feel guilty about asking to be paid for our skills.
I think, personally, more of us should do as you are doing.

Xee

 

[jessIncognito]

Why feel guilty? If people love your work and they should be willing to chip in a few bucks.

 

[THoney269]

No need to feel guilty about moving most of your stuff to where you can make money.

 

[ElectricBlue]

No need to feel guilty about moving most of your stuff to where you can make money.

Provided you leave content here on Lit. It's contra to Lit policy to use this site to promote that site, if you've got no content here.

"Most of your stuff" acknowledges that, I guess, but leaving one thing here and 99 over there would be stretching a friendship with Lit, I reckon.

 

[AchtungNight]

A life conflict of mine related to this came with fellow erotica writer Nick Scipio about 14 years ago. Nick was putting the concluding chapters of his epic swinger series Summer Camp behind a paywall and since it had been free up until then, I and other readers were upset. He told us it was his work, therefore his decision. We could save up money, hold off our reading if we wanted, or even stop reading his stuff altogether. That was our decision. A friend expert in computer hacking could also get me through the paywall, I amended, or maybe I could just shrug and do as Nick asked. If he needs money, it was his decision how to seek it. I meanwhile would keep putting out my stories as entertainment charity and appreciate feedback as payment. This attitude allowed me to reconcile my conflict with Nick. Other creators I’ve known- examples include Bluedragon & KMB- have created similar mixed levels of free vs paywall content. They put stuff behind paywall at first, then release to the masses when they deem their works appropriate for that. Or they do a mix- some things behind paywalls for security and some things available in free archives. I am more in favor of these latter approaches than what Nick did, but he might change his stance on paywalls at some point too. And I can always call my hacker friend or put aside my pride if I decide I must read Nick’s work. I hope these insights into my thought processes ease your concerns.

 

[secondlullaby]

Nick was putting the concluding chapters of his epic swinger series Summer Camp behind a paywall and since it had been free up until then, I and other readers were upset. He told us it was his work, therefore his decision.

I think it's perfectly fine when writers choose to release their stories more slowly as a free version on lit or elsewhere, prioritizing their paid subscribers.

But I'd also be really disappointed if I'd been reading a story at a certain rate, keeping up with it every week or so, and then suddenly the last chapters weren't available to me without payment. I wouldn't go as far as to hack my way around it; it is, after all, the author's legitimate right. But I'd lose trust in that author and be less interested in reading their future stories, for fear of the same happening again.

Edit: It's also your prerogative to leave poor reviews for authors who have let you down in some way. Petty, sure. But your choice.