One of the biggest myths about monetization: a paid channel grows slower than a free one

Authors who launched a paid subscription on Tribute receive their first paying subscribers within 48 hours of the announcement, on average — purely from their existing audience.

Here's why:
A paid announcement creates buzz — people don't want to miss the moment.
Subscribers who have been following the author for a while see the launch as a signal: this person is serious about what they do.
Scarcity works better than any discount.

The first month is usually the most active. After that, growth becomes steady through recommendations from those already "inside" who want to see the community grow.
A free audience takes years to build. A paying one starts working from day one.