Year two: editorial shifts, growth engines, and mindset changes
Lessons from a year that grew paid subscriptions by 184%
December 13th marked another year in the window seat, and somehow the view keeps getting better.
Last December, I ended my one-year anniversary letter by saying I didn’t know how 2025 could possibly top 2024, and I truly meant it. But somehow—in every possible way—it did. The growth, the stories, the travel, the connections, the community…it all exceeded anything I thought was possible for this little corner of the internet.
Before we dive into the numbers, I want to say this: the growth you’re about to see exists because of you. This section is for paid subscribers (my most loyal readers!) who have shown up month after month and made it possible for Window Seat to grow the way it has. This is your peek behind the curtain into the milestones and the momentum that defined year two.
Read on for:
How Window Seat grew paid subscriptions by 184% in one year
The editorial changes that unlocked consistent upgrades
What I learned about paywalls, value, and reader trust
How I’m thinking about growth heading into year three