What is Post+
(rewritten ((more elegantly)) from my posts Monday because I didn't realize the NDA I was under about this ran until Wednesday at 10am)
So as part of the tumblr beta program, I was able to get an early look at a feature that launches today, Post+. It's basically a subscription feature that allows users to make paid exclusive content. A user sets up a monthly price ($4, $6, or $10) and in return, people that become supporters of that blog get access to exclusive posts which could range from anything to extra art, video content, or in my case written pieces.
In order to subscribe you simply click on a blog with the Post+ feature enabled (indicated by a blue seal shown below) and click support:
Which will bring you to a page that looks like this:
Which will then take you to a billing page. Cancel any time.
I've mentioned previously that tumblr has had an on-blog-advertising feature 'in the works' for the past few years, but as it's yet to release, this is the only option creators really have at the moment for making revenue. I know paying for things like this tends to rub people the wrong way but hey. I just got out of rehab. I have medical bills. I just had to quit one of my jobs. This way, instead of making donation posts, I can offer content in return.
My non exclusive content will not change in any way. I will still make you look at my shitposts.
Bonus content from me, specifically, would look like educational articles, probably on the topic of astronomy or whatever random rabbit hole I've gone down recently.
The reactions to this are uh…..interesting
Almost no one is a fan of this model, but there are some people who understand that OP is trying to find ways to pay bills, just like the rest of us. There are some people who also understand that but wonder if long term success is even possible (Tumblr posts live and die by shares and if most people can’t see the content, it probably won’t have as much reach - then again, people opting to monetize their work would probably wait to have a significant following first, but it seems like a delicate and complex game to play).
And then there are people in the replies just being straight up violent to an entirely disproportionate degree, so that’s a little terrifying. I don’t think this has been very good rollout when I haven’t seen an official announcement yet but one of the first people to be verified now has the angry focus of every single Tumblr user on them. We all know Tumblr’s moderation kind of sucks (remember when blocking people meant they could still easily see your blog??) so we’ll see what happens when this site tries to catch up to everyone else (when no one actually wanted it to).
I’ve been told to kill myself approximately 23 times today when I’m just trying to pay medical bills in a way that’s not just me begging for money and the fact that staff has pretty much left me out here alone on this is more than a little annoying
