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How would you handle this project?

by blueghoti
15 replies
Hi folks -

I would like to have your suggestions on how to approach a new project.

I am going to be selling digital content on a subscription basis. A customer will sign up to a weekly subscription, pay a very small amount (like $0.99 per week) and get a zip file. The contents of the zip file are different each time.

I'm doing this on a shoe string budget, so I am considering:

- Wordpress web site
- PayPal buy button, with micropayment capability
- Aweber or GR autoresponder

Is this sensible? It feels a bit cumbersome and I am not sure that GR will provide a solution for more than 30 days at a time.

How would you handle this?

Thanks!
Chris
#handle #project
  • Profile picture of the author iVlog
    In terms of the software you will be using, yes, that is certainlysensible, & very doable on a tight budget.
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    • Profile picture of the author blueghoti
      Originally Posted by iVlog View Post

      In terms of the software you will be using, yes, that is certainlysensible, & very doable on a tight budget.


      Thanks!! Is there a better way without breaking the bank, though?

      Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author chaotic squid
    You could use Mailchimp, which has a free plan.

    However, keep in mind that in general, the less money you spend, the more time you need to put in to get results. I hope you have a lot of free time on your hands.
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  • Profile picture of the author iwankurniawan
    yes that's sensible even if you won't using paid AR for the first time, you can use subscriber plugin wordpress for your follow up message.
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  • Profile picture of the author zuberr
    For a tight budget, I think these should be all that you need.

    Keep it simple and start as soon as possible.

    All the best.
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  • Profile picture of the author blueghoti
    awesome, thanks guys. This is very helpful.

    Just been exploring Amazon micropayments too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    Solid plan.

    Suggested refinement:

    1. Wordpress CMS.
    2. Paid Memberships Pro Plugin. (Free)
    3. PayPal Business Account. (Free)
    4. Integrate aWeber/ GR with PMP and PP
    5. Weekly subscriptions.
    6. Weekly Membership Updates.
    7. Protect Membership Downloads (ex. eJunkie).

    With you working on a budget, that would do the trick nicely. Your only expenses:

    1. aWeber or GR
    2. eJunkie

    Would take you an afternoon to set that up.

    You'd then want to devote yourself to design (with conversion and growth in mind).

    - Tom
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    • Profile picture of the author blueghoti
      Hey Tom. This info is 100% solid gold. Thank you.

      I don't quite understand how eJunkie fits in. Is that for a file repository? Wouldn't that be handled by Aweber or GR? I see there's a payment mechanism - but again, not handled by PP? Sorry - I am missing something.

      Would you recommend PP vs Amazon? I've got long established business accounts with both (but not checkout with Amazon...)

      Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!

      Chris

      Originally Posted by Tom Addams View Post

      Solid plan.

      Suggested refinement:

      1. Wordpress CMS.
      2. Paid Memberships Pro Plugin. (Free)
      3. PayPal Business Account. (Free)
      4. Integrate aWeber/ GR with PMP and PP
      5. Weekly subscriptions.
      6. Weekly Membership Updates.
      7. Protect Membership Downloads (ex. eJunkie).

      With you working on a budget, that would do the trick nicely. Your only expenses:

      1. aWeber or GR
      2. eJunkie

      Would take you an afternoon to set that up.

      You'd then want to devote yourself to design (with conversion and growth in mind).

      - Tom
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
        Originally Posted by blueghoti View Post

        Hey Tom. This info is 100% solid gold. Thank you.
        Thanks, Chris!

        Steve made some great points that I overlooked and I notice you've taken them on board. Membership pricing gets talked about quite a bit here. If you throw in some searches, you'll soon get up to speed.

        Originally Posted by blueghoti View Post

        I don't quite understand how eJunkie fits in. Is that for a file repository? Wouldn't that be handled by Aweber or GR? I see there's a payment mechanism - but again, not handled by PP? Sorry - I am missing something.
        eJunkie hosts the files, provides plenty of useful stats, and is a nice way to offer your downloads. There are better ways, but it's a nice, robust, inexpensive option. Been a while since I was a new member, but I'm pretty sure you get a lengthy trial period (sure it used to be 60 days) and the fees are peanuts.

        What you do is integrate GR/ aweber into Paid Memberships Pro with a free add-on to PMP. Nice way to collect your opt-ins and dole out memberships at the same time and you can then setup an autoresponse for new members directing them to the membership area. PMP integrates very nicely with PP. Hunt around on YT for the integration. A nice lady made a great video for it; easy to follow.

        I've setup a similar system recently for a friend of the family, which is why your post caught my eye.

        Originally Posted by blueghoti View Post

        Would you recommend PP vs Amazon? I've got long established business accounts with both (but not checkout with Amazon...)
        I often integrate Amazon with WooCommerce for a different type of site. I'd go with PP for the above. Easy to setup and the system works like clockwork. I should point out, there are better solutions, but in all honesty it works more than well enough and you can always upgrade by reinvesting your profits if you want extra features.

        Last thing to mention.

        I believe Steve also mentioned warming them up, your subscribers, first. I'm sure he did. If so, good suggestion, but it really depends on too many factors for me to totally get behind it at this point. For example, you can, as I'm now remembering he mentioned, warm them up with a free area, give them a taste, and then encourage upgrades. As a few will know here, I've used a similar system and it works nicely. The only issue with the mentioned setup is that it doesn't come with an OTO (one time offer) and this is advisable for the free - upgrade model. Depends, though. If you have some truly exceptional material and if you deliver a very strong (conversion optimized) front page, you can go straight for the kill.

        Anyway, best of luck with your venture. You're asking all the right questions and I'm sure others will chip in with their own take.

        Cheers! - Tom
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by blueghoti View Post

    A customer will sign up to a weekly subscription, pay a very small amount (like $0.99 per week) and get a zip file. The contents of the zip file are different each time.

    Hi Chris,

    To me, weekly payments of $0.99 are a hassle and will cause you more work/admin than necessary.

    If I were in your shoes, I would offer maybe 4-6 weeks for free - long enough that potential subscribers can see what your service is like and can experience your content. Then I would charge maybe $19 quarterly or $67/year. Who wants to track $0.99 payments?

    Under your plan you will only be making $4/month and if the average subscriber stays 3 months that's just $12. Charge more and offer valuable content and a quarterly or annual fee will not be a problem for the subscriber and easier for you to keep track of.

    Good luck to you,

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author blueghoti
      Thanks Steve - this is good advice and I am reworking my figures now!

      Thanks for weighing in!

      Chris

      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      Hi Chris,

      To me, weekly payments of $0.99 are a hassle and will cause you more work/admin than necessary.

      If I were in your shoes, I would offer maybe 4-6 weeks for free - long enough that potential subscribers can see what your service is like and can experience your content. Then I would charge maybe $19 quarterly or $67/year. Who wants to track $0.99 payments?

      Under your plan you will only be making $4/month and if the average subscriber stays 3 months that's just $12. Charge more and offer valuable content and a quarterly or annual fee will not be a problem for the subscriber and easier for you to keep track of.

      Good luck to you,

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author cgkoste
    99 cent's per week is a pain. After you take your pal pay fees, that is gong to cut into your profit. if it's a decent product, charge $5/month or even more.

    Courtney
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    • Profile picture of the author blueghoti
      Originally Posted by cgkoste View Post

      99 cent's per week is a pain. After you take your pal pay fees, that is gong to cut into your profit. if it's a decent product, charge $5/month or even more.

      Courtney
      Thanks Courtney! Good advice!
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  • Profile picture of the author blueghoti
    Hey Tom - great follow up / feedback, thank you. I really also appreciate that you have a recent experience which feeds into this.

    Ok, trying to avoid my best (worst?) Columbo imitation, I wanted to ask just one last thing... (well a couple of things, really ;-) )...

    - how would you handle WP security in this scenario?
    - what would you do for site wide backups? (I'm thinking, my established Google Drive account, but not sure how to make this happen...)
    - would your setup allow Customer A to buy a gift subscription for User B?
    - could I easily integrate this into a WSO or JVZoo offer?

    As a general question to all, what is your experience / view on multiple currency pricing? £0.99 to UK, Euro 0.99 to EU and USD $0.99 to rest of the world? Part of me thinks it's helpful to have local prices so that customers don't worry about cost comparison, OTOH, one isn't equal to the other (99 p does not equal 99 cents!) and it could get messy for admin.

    Thanks again, everyone.

    Chris
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    • Profile picture of the author RockStar87
      Sounds like it is a good strategy, the best way for you is to try it out and see how it works out for you, update us also on the results that you will get.
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