If you think that organizations, companies, or other institutions might want to buy multiple subscriptions for their members, you can provide group subscriptions.
In this guide, we'll show you how to:
- Manage group subscriptions
- Create a group subscription discount
- Share group subscriptions with your readers
Managing group subscriptions
Head to your Subscribers page and click on "Manage group subscriptions". Alternatively, head directly to this link: https://your.substack.com/publish/groups
Here, you'll be able to see your current group subscriptions and the number of seats filled per group subscription.
Click on each individual Admin to see more details about the group subscription the payment history, status of invoices, and links to the invoices on Stripe.
Creating a group discount
For a target audience
On your group subscriptions page, click on "Create new group offer". On the group offers page, select whether you'd like to offer an unlimited number of seats for a fixed price or a group discount per seat.
Note: The set minimum number of seats for a discount per seat offer is 2 seats. You can enter any number higher than the set minimum. If you select Unlimited offer type, you will not see the seat or percentage off options.
After clicking on "Send offer", the group admin will automatically receive an email about the offer.
Clicking on the offer will send the group administrator to a subscription page. Here, they'll be able to enter a credit card or see the option to pay by ACH.
You can keep track of your pending group subscription offers at this link: https://your.substack.com/publish/groups
For any group
If you'd like to offer a default discount that can be used by anyone who is purchasing a group subscription, head to your publication's Settings and click on Payments in the left navigation bar. Scroll to the Group Subscriptions section and select "Add a group discount".
When a new reader subscribes to your publication and sees your plan offerings, they'll see the discount automatically applied when clicking on the Group Subscription option.
Letting your readers know about group subscriptions
For regular annual subscriptions
Group subscriptions for annual plans are available via https://your.substack.com/subscribe?group=true (replace "your" with the name of your Substack publication) and an administrator can subscribe with a single card.
You can also let readers know about group subscriptions by adding a button in a post. On the post editor, select Buttons and select Get a group subscription. Readers can then click on the button and sign up a group with the default discount.
For discounted annual subscriptions
Head to your Group Subscriptions page and create a new offer outlined in the steps above. A group administrator will automatically be emailed the offer and can subscribe their group right away.
What happens next?
Once the group subscription admin subscribes to the publication, they can enter the group's emails on their Settings page. Learn more here on the next steps of group subscriptions.
Note: Group subscription administrators can add a new seat or purchase more seats to the group subscription anytime. However, unlimited group subscriptions will not see the option to purchase additional seats.
Can individuals who already have a subscription be added to a group subscription?
If there are individuals who already have their own subscription but now want to be part of a group subscription, the group administrator can do the following:
- For a new group: Subscribe a group, keeping the number of seats in mind, and in the Group Subscription section add the individuals using the same email addresses that the individuals use for their current subscriptions.
- For an existing group: In their Group Subscription section, add the individuals as new members using the same email addresses that the individuals use for their current subscriptions.
Once added to the group, the existing individual subscriptions will automatically be canceled and refunded back to the subscribers.
