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Should I have a free & paid premium option for my membership site?

by pianokeyz
5 replies
My website PianoKeyz - Join The 160,523 Pianists Who Have Experienced PianoKeyz teaches online piano lessons. It is still in the beginning stages in terms of needing much more content. I have had 1,000 targeted unique visitors, and received 120 sign-ups for the free membership option. I'm really surprised no one has opted for a paid membership yet (especially at the price). I'm beginning to think that I shouldn't have a free option at all, and instead just take my chances to see if anyone will do a paid option first without having the option for a free membership (which only gives access to a few lessons).

Does anyone find benefit with having a free membership option with their site?
Any advice for me? :confused:

Thank you in advance.
#free #membership #option #paid #premium #site
  • Profile picture of the author barbling
    Free options allow you to build your list and do followup marketing but yep - you don't how it will take unless you try.

    Instead of free, you might also consider

    Basic Silver Premium

    and list out all the goodies included. Make the option you people to sign up to a no-brainer.

    Have you looked at what other piano sites are doing?

    Piano Lessons For Beginners | Online Piano Lessons
    Play Piano By Ear - PIANO MAGIC Online Piano Lessons By Ear
    (and heh, found your site on the first page too!)

    Now, if you're saying that folks option for the free, but NOT for the paid, then sure, schedule a time to take away the free option for a a few days and see what happens.

    Instead of

    Get Started Now With Our Free Basic Lessons

    Perhaps

    Start Becoming A Piano Master With Our Proven $1 Trial

    (assuming you have success stories/etc.etc/etc/).

    The FIRST thing folks see is free, they might not even get to the bottom where your premium goodies are.

    Best of skill!
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  • Profile picture of the author JCorp
    Have you been emailing your list for the paid membership option? How are you promoting it? Is it just as an upsell?

    First off, you're not emailing them your paid membership option, then do so immediately, in every email.

    Secondly, test, test, test.... Set up a separate funnel where you're simply collecting email subscribers only, no mention of a free membership... then provide the paid membership as a OTO or upsell immediately after opt in.
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  • Profile picture of the author pianokeyz
    Thanks guys for the input! I will try what you said!
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    • Profile picture of the author danits
      Hi,

      In addition to the great advises you got, I would try a different membership models and see how it goes:

      For example:

      I would try to give the free membership for a limited time only (like one month for free and then x amount of money every month)

      Maybe even offer the content inside the free membership in a "less convenient way" like only videos, and if people also want transcripts and more in-depth instructions, I would offer them the paid membership.

      Another thing to consider is:

      Do you offer too much value inside your free membership and that is why people are not signing in to your paid membership?

      I think you should come up with some theories of why people aren't upgrading their membership, split test and find your answer that way.

      For example, some theories can be: too expensive/ people don't see the value/ too much free information/ there's no call to action anywhere etc.

      Good luck
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  • Profile picture of the author mrgoe
    Go for a trial free membership. Then move them into the paid membership, that always works
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    Worked as a senior editor on ThePricer.org, experienced in financial topics
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