3 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
3 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Subscription dilemma

by EmergencyMonkey
2 replies
I am creating an exam review site that provides a tremendous amount of information that my market can use to prepare for a variety of different but related exams. Other sites, and there aren't that many in my niche, offer review materials for hundreds of dollars or courses for thousands. My goal, since the material really doesn't change over the years is to create the material and offer it as a monthly subscription. Two months, three months, whatever length of time that person needs to use it for. I was really only thinking $10-$20/month. This would alleviate people from having to buy an expensive text that they just try and resell for less money, or take a really expensive course. It feels like a nice model that will benefit a lot of people but I am torn.

As I am starting, should I open the website up to everyone that comes to it as long as they sign up and login , with the knowledge that as it grows I will eventually go to a subscription based model?

This could be a good way to get people to sign up before it becomes subscription based.

Or do I start out with it as a subscription model and see what happens?

I feel with it open to everyone that "logs in" I could build a reputation and a list much quicker that I could turn into a subscription base.

I could really use some advice.
Thanks in advance.
#dilemma #subscription
  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    You can definitely start off with the free model and move to a paid subscription once you start to gain some traction, but I wouldn't then charge those initial people. Those initial people should be your beta testers and you should make it clear you will be going to a paid model and they will be grandfathered in for free. This gives them a reason to signup now and will give you a whole bunch of people who are happy to give you their real feedback so you can optimize the site for the paid model.

    Other people are more likely to want to join a community that other people are already using so use those free members to create the foundation of the community.
    Signature

    .


    .

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7974802].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Devin X
    Banned
    Sounds like your price point will actually be between $7-17/month. This is because the "info doesn't change over the years" and so the site won't be updated all that much with new info. If it was a membership site for investment bankers...well, then you could go premium just because that would require daily updates.

    You might consider the low end subscription and see if people bite. Free doesn't necessarily mean that people will sign up either. Although, none of us can really tell you because you haven't given all that much information to begin with.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7974811].message }}

Trending Topics