Hello, wonderful people!
Today, I'm excited to share some plans for the future of 'The Spark!' with all of my amazing BuyMeACoffee supporters.
When I kicked off my regular updates - be it newsletters, articles, or blogs - I had a few goals. I wanted to delve into my love for tech, uncover productivity hacks, and explore the highs and lows of being a content creator. Moreover, I aimed to nurture a community as passionate about these subjects as I am.
After giving it much thought, I've landed on a strategy that I believe will light a fire under 'The Spark!'. And I'm hopeful you'll be just as enthusiastic about it.
I've decided to make ALL MY CONTENT FREE!
Yes, you read that right. This means full access to the treasure trove of past editions and the freedom to like and comment on every piece I share. From here on out, every insight, every review, and each personal story about the rollercoaster ride, which is content creation, will be open to everyone.
And here's something IMPORTANT for you to note: I'm inviting you to join my Substack, where the same valuable content, which I've previously had to duplicate on this platform, will be shared. This move is to streamline the content publishing process, allowing you to access everything in one place. I will continue to use BuyMeACoffee for donations and, eventually, a shop.
If you didn't catch it, let me repeat: this means I will no longer be posting my long-form content on BuyMeACoffee.
*SUBSCRIBE TO MY SUBSTACK BY TAPPING HERE*
Why this change, you ask? Well, I genuinely believe in the value of what I'm creating. Having a paywall has, unfortunately, kept many from experiencing my work, which doesn't help in letting people decide if they want to become part of the 'The Spark!' community. I've also realised that building trust and authority in the tech and productivity space requires visibility, something a paywall directly opposes.
With all that said, I'm sure you can appreciate that monetising my work is ultimately necessary as a content creator to continue producing high-quality content and, hopefully, achieve the dream of doing this full-time. This might mean reintroducing some form of paid model in the future or relying on sponsorship and affiliate links rather than a paywall.
To my current financial supporters on BuyMeACoffee, this news might come as a surprise. I completely understand if you choose to withdraw your paid support in favour of popping over to Substack and enjoying the content for free. Life's full of twists and turns, and I'm just grateful for your support thus far, financial or otherwise.
If you decide to continue supporting 'The Spark!' financially over on Substack, know that it's deeply appreciated - as is any new support from readers who feel inclined to give. Your contributions are vital in helping me create engaging content for this platform and my YouTube channel - youtube.com/mark_kelly.
I'm looking forward to what's ahead and am incredibly thankful for your support and enthusiasm. Let's keep this conversation going!
What do you love about the Monday Review newsletter, the Wednesday Wisdom tech news, and the insights from Friday's blog post? What are you looking forward to seeing more of?
Email me, leave a comment (over at Substack), or even send a carrier pigeon* - whatever floats your boat.
Your thoughts and feedback are crucial - they're not just welcome, they're needed!
Mark.
*don't send a carrier pigeon