# (Live) Should you add external links like buy me a coffee to your Substack

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/sparkle-on-substack-6621999/live-should-you-add-external-links-like-buy-me-a-coffee-to-your-substack
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/sparkle-on-substack-6621999/live-should-you-add-external-links-like-buy-me-a-coffee-to-your-substack.md
Podcast: [Sparkle on Substack](https://stenobird.com/podcast/sparkle-on-substack-6621999)
Published: 2026-02-26T11:54:30+00:00
Episode link: https://sparkleon.substack.com/p/should-you-add-external-links-like
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/189241116/73cbb4892a5515e79cc4428837713c4f.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sparkle-on-substack-6621999/episodes/live-should-you-add-external-links-like-buy-me-a-coffee-to-your-substack
Duration seconds: 1421

## Resource

AI summary, thanks chat. Substack Live: External Links, Affiliate Income & Clean Monetisation In this Substack Live, Claire explored the evolving question many writers and creators are asking: How should we monetise on Substack — and what actually feels aligned? She unpacked the rise of external links such as Buy Me a Coffee and Ko-fi, affiliate income, patron-style models, and paid subscriptions — not just from a tactical perspective, but from a values-led one. This wasn’t just about buttons and links.It was about power, positioning, nervous systems, and long-term sustainability. Key Themes Covered ☕ Buy Me a Coffee & Donation Links Claire discussed the growing popularity of “coffee economy” links and why, personally, she chooses not to use them. While acknowledging that these tools can feel like a softer step than paid subscriptions, she reflected on her own journey around being paid for creative work — and why she prefers cleaner, clearer value exchanges such as: * Paid subscriptions * Affiliate partnerships * Ebooks * Courses * Off-platform offers She encouraged listeners to read Substack’s terms carefully and make informed, embodied decisions. 🔗 Affiliate Income (Aligned & Strategic) Claire shared how she has used affiliate income for over five years — not through random low-value links, but through partnerships fully aligned with her business. She spoke about affiliate income as: * A background drip income stream * A strategic layer inside a wider ecosystem * A way to compound income over time She also introduced her class: Anyone Can Be An Affiliate (Currently half price until Saturday.) 💛 Patron Models & Paid Subscriptions The conversation moved into the patron-style model — where readers choose to support work even if everything remains open. Claire highlighte…

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## Transcript

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