The coffee-price principle
We ran pricing experiments for 4 months across 40,000 creators. A $5 SingleDM converts at 4.2%. A $8 DM converts at 2.8%. A $12 DM converts at 1.1%. The curve isn't linear — it's a cliff right around the price of a café latte.
Per-Message pricing for depth
The coffee-price principle works for discovery-stage fans. Once a fan has paid once, their willingness to pay again is much higher. If you're writing deep, considered responses, $15–$25 per message is the sweet spot.
Pricing by niche
Musicians & artists: $3–$7 SingleDM. High volume, emotional connection.
Coaches & consultants: $20–$50 Per-Message. Thoughtful replies expected.
Writers & researchers: $5 SingleDM casual, $15 Per-Message deep questions.
Streamers & gaming: $2–$5 SingleDM. Fast, banter-style.
When to raise your price
- Your inbox has >48h backlog — demand exceeds supply
- Your reply rate drops below 80% — you're burning out
- Your new-fan conversion rate is above 8% — you're underpriced