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Looking for feedback on my plan to finally get started with using paid traffic

by Bkelly301
13 replies
I remember hearing in some YouTube video that once you already have a business up and running where you're making some sales on a somewhat consistent basis, then using paid traffic can be like "turning on the faucet".

Well, I've been consistently making sales for the past 2 years on my one and only product. My model is that I have a free membership to website with the option to upgrade for a one-time fee of $59.

A ton of people sign up to my site and never upgrade, but a certain percentage of people do end up upgrading since the cost is non-recurring and relatively inexpensive. This is no problem since I'm not paying for my traffic. However when paying for traffic, this may not be the best model.

I'm thinking about keeping things exactly the way they are on my site when people go to my site directly from the homepage, but then create a new landing page that I will send paid traffic to.

This new landing page will have a "free 7-day trial" for the entire site instead of the "free membership" option which I am currently offering. During those 7 days, they will have full access to the entire site and will receive helpful emails about different features. After the 7 day trial is up, they will no longer able to access anything on the site at all.

So I will essentially have 2 different "models" running at the same time. I have 2 concerns though:

1.) If someone that I picked up via paid traffic goes to the homepage of my site, they will see that they can just create a free membership that doesn't expire after 7 days.

2.) In a lot of the videos on my site I talk about this whole "free membership" and "full access membership" thing, so people may wonder what that's all about.

Maybe I'm overthinking this whole paid traffic thing, but it always seemed pretty complicated to me. I want to make sure that I'm thinking the right way before I get started.

Thanks!
#feedback #finally #paid #plan #started #traffic
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    You could always limit the free membership to limited content and upsell the full content membership. In that way a free member still has free access albeit limited access.

    I use a Wordpress membership plugin called s2member that does it nicely. When a free member upgrades to any of the paid memberships that member is assigned to a role. Same as almost all membership plugins, but I prefer s2member because the interface is fill-in-the-blanks and backups are easy.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bkelly301
      Originally Posted by Jeffery View Post

      You could always limit the free membership to limited content and upsell the full content membership. In that way a free member still has free access albeit limited access.

      I use a Wordpress membership plugin called s2member that does it nicely. When a free member upgrades to any of the paid memberships that member is assigned to a role. Same as almost all membership plugins, but I prefer s2member because the interface is fill-in-the-blanks and backups are easy.
      Ya that's the way my site is setup now. I use Memberpress. A free member has limited access, whereas a full access member has access to everything.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    Them I wouldn't be overly concerned with people from paid traffic that see the homepage offering a free membership because of the limitations. After all, when and if the paid traffic visitors decide on the free membership to see what they would get and that in itself solves any expectations that reduces refund rates and when we pay for traffic we need low refund rates (if any).

    Not to complicate it, but you always run 3 memberships:
    1. free (limited content) with your upsells

    2. monthly $7.00 (no limitations) cancel anytime.

    Both of those options solves "Tire Kickers" and for people on a budget.

    Also, I was surprised to learn that very few people would cancel a monthly membership compared to an equivalently priced annual membership.


    3. annual membership $59.00 or higher. A lower annual fee for people in the middle to upper class wage earners.

    You know better than I do about what to charge. You have to cover yourself of course and at the same time create payment fees that cover all your customers.


    In today's economy people can afford it and that is a precursor to building your income and brand. Take advantage of while it lasts.
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  • Profile picture of the author Profit Traveler
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    Congrats on going to the next level!


    I would just GO ALL IN on the Trial then Auto-Upgrade. That one model.

    Just sell those benefits on steroids.

    You are being extremely generous for full access to the entire membership in my humble.

    But either way if you are collecting email addresses that should be another great source of Rev. even if just helpful content and affiliate recommendations.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bkelly301
      Originally Posted by Jeffery View Post

      .
      ...
      Hey, thanks for the in-depth reply!

      I just wanted to clarify a few things just to make sure I'm understanding you correctly.

      So for FREE traffic, I keep things exactly as they are now. People go to my home page and see the free option (limited access) and the full access option which costs $59/lifetime.

      For PAID traffic, I send them to a landing page that gives 3 options - first is the free membership (limited access), second is $7/month, third is $59/year.

      2 questions...

      1.) Were you still suggesting that my "freebie" for the paid traffic is the 7-day free trial of full access, or were you suggesting that my "freebie" is still this same limited access membership that I'm already currently offering?

      2.) When you say "free membership with upsells", the only thing I have for sale is the full access membership. So the 'upsell' you are referring to is just the upgrade?

      Just want to make sure I understand you completely. Thanks!

      Originally Posted by Profit Traveler View Post

      .....
      Hey thanks man. I'm a bit confused what you are saying here?

      The entire model that has been working for me already with no paid traffic is already "way too generous". I get about 30 to 80 people signing up to the free membership everyday, and about 3 to 8 people buying the $59/lifetime subscription.

      Although it seems like it's giving away too much for too cheap, it's working enough to make a decent living.

      I'm wondering what you are suggesting to do differently?

      Thanks!
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      • Profile picture of the author Profit Traveler
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        Originally Posted by Bkelly301 View Post

        Hey, thanks for the in-depth reply!

        I just wanted to clarify a few things just to make sure I'm understanding you correctly.

        So for FREE traffic, I keep things exactly as they are now. People go to my home page and see the free option (limited access) and the full access option which costs $59/lifetime.

        For PAID traffic, I send them to a landing page that gives 3 options - first is the free membership (limited access), second is $7/month, third is $59/year.

        2 questions...

        1.) Were you still suggesting that my "freebie" for the paid traffic is the 7-day free trial of full access, or were you suggesting that my "freebie" is still this same limited access membership that I'm already currently offering?

        2.) When you say "free membership with upsells", the only thing I have for sale is the full access membership. So the 'upsell' you are referring to is just the upgrade?

        Just want to make sure I understand you completely. Thanks!



        Hey thanks man. I'm a bit confused what you are saying here?

        The entire model that has been working for me already with no paid traffic is already "way too generous". I get about 30 to 80 people signing up to the free membership everyday, and about 3 to 8 people buying the $59/lifetime subscription.

        Although it seems like it's giving away too much for too cheap, it's working enough to make a decent living.

        I'm wondering what you are suggesting to do differently?

        Thanks!

        This new landing page will have a "free 7-day trial" for the entire site instead of the "free membership" option which I am currently offering. During those 7 days, they will have full access to the entire site and will receive helpful emails about different features. After the 7 day trial is up, they will no longer able to access anything on the site at all.

        I was just thinking that this would do fine if you still can promote to those people via email that did not upgrade after 7 days even if they lost access.
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        • Profile picture of the author Bkelly301
          Originally Posted by Profit Traveler View Post

          I was just thinking that this would do fine if you still can promote to those people via email that did not upgrade after 7 days even if they lost access.
          Oh ya for sure. Everyone who signs up for a "free membership" or a "free trial" still has to fill out a form, and therefore they end up on my list no matter what. So I can promote to them forever!
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      • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
        Originally Posted by Bkelly301 View Post

        Hey, thanks for the in-depth reply!

        I just wanted to clarify a few things just to make sure I'm understanding you correctly.

        So for FREE traffic, I keep things exactly as they are now. People go to my home page and see the free option (limited access) and the full access option which costs $59/lifetime.

        For PAID traffic, I send them to a landing page that gives 3 options - first is the free membership (limited access), second is $7/month, third is $59/year.

        2 questions...

        1.) Were you still suggesting that my "freebie" for the paid traffic is the 7-day free trial of full access, or were you suggesting that my "freebie" is still this same limited access membership that I'm already currently offering?

        2.) When you say "free membership with upsells", the only thing I have for sale is the full access membership. So the 'upsell' you are referring to is just the upgrade?

        Just want to make sure I understand you completely. Thanks!
        Your welcome.


        Added later: I am not saying you have to or must do anything. I'm just discussing and making suggestions based on my own experience.


        For FREE and PAID traffic are 3 options:
        1. First is the free membership (limited access). This is the Freebie.
        2. Second is $7/month (full access).
        3. Third is $59/year (full access).


        Note: Optional and your decision.. In your Terms & Conditions and a clear statement on your signup page the life is 1 year.


        Option 1 is for "tire kickers" and solves any "expectations" and "upsells/upgrades" i.e. option 1 or 2.
        Option 2 is for people on a budget.
        Option 3 is for people that are not on a budget and want a bebefit, i.e. savings.

        About Upsales..

        Upsales do not have to be products.


        One thing to keep in mind is people that select option 2 (monthly) may want to upgrade to option 3 after x months/years and will want you to pro-rate the fees. Some membership software has that feature and some do not. If you are already invested in a specific membership software that has that feature you can offer it inside your members area as an optional upsell. If your membership software does not support that feature and you do not want to pro-rate then I would not worry about it. However, in my experience you would want to make that clear upfront on your signup form. That solves any "transparency" issues.
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        • Profile picture of the author Bkelly301
          Ah I gotcha thanks Jeffrey.

          I have been scared to switch back over to recurring pricing, because it always seems to kill my sales when I do that. Although, every time I made the switch I always did $10/month or $99/year...

          I have not yet tried $7/month or $59/year.

          Maybe sales were declining because of the jump from $59/life to $99/year. I was assuming that it was the change from "lifetime access" to "subscription model" that was resulting in the loss of sales, but perhaps it was the price too...

          I like these suggestions a lot. I'm still hesitant to switch away from the "lifetime" offer for the free traffic though, since it's been working well for me.

          However, for the paid traffic...offering them the subscription model definitely makes sense. And yes, memberpress does have the "proration" feature too .

          Thanks for the help!
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          • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
            Originally Posted by Bkelly301 View Post

            Ah I gotcha thanks Jeffrey.

            I have been scared to switch back over to recurring pricing, because it always seems to kill my sales when I do that. Although, every time I made the switch I always did $10/month or $99/year...

            I have not yet tried $7/month or $59/year.

            Maybe sales were declining because of the jump from $59/life to $99/year. I was assuming that it was the change from "lifetime access" to "subscription model" that was resulting in the loss of sales, but perhaps it was the price too...

            I like these suggestions a lot. I'm still hesitant to switch away from the "lifetime" offer for the free traffic though, since it's been working well for me.

            However, for the paid traffic...offering them the subscription model definitely makes sense. And yes, memberpress does have the "proration" feature too .

            Thanks for the help!
            Your welcome.
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  • Profile picture of the author sendizo
    Yes, usually on the freemium model, you'd get ~2% to ~4% that would actually end up upgrading.
    To increase that you will work on a sales funnels, using email marketing and pixel targeting to convert more of your users and visitors.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bkelly301
      Originally Posted by sendizo View Post

      Yes, usually on the freemium model, you'd get ~2% to ~4% that would actually end up upgrading.
      To increase that you will work on a sales funnels, using email marketing and pixel targeting to convert more of your users and visitors.
      Hey thanks for the reply!

      So when you say a "sales funnel", you're talking about simply creating Facebook ads that re-target people that have already been onto my site before (either they landed on a random page, or they are already a free member of the site).

      The purpose of the retargeting ads would be to essentially "remind them" of what I'm offering...

      Aside from all that, basically I'd still be keeping the overall "model" the same though - the free option and the "full access option".

      Am I on the right track here?
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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    Problem with funnels always is ... what is squirtin' down the frickin' pipe.

    Without wishin' to be COARSE or SMUTTY, let's look in on what is GOWIN' DOWN on FUNNELS -- while maintainin' SRS LIPS to SPEAK.

    1) Any & all funnels got 2 ends.

    2) Joinin' a whole buncha funnels togethah don't change nuthin' bout FUNNELS. They got 2 ends. (Harvard math guys, tell me if'n I am sh*ttin' WF ass here.)

    3) So ... we got an A to B journey ... preferably don't mean we all gotta DIE before its consummate sub-FUNNEL magic teases up our hopes ... plus also sum srs shit gowin' down the funnel.

    Natchrlly, 'srs shit' is merely a phrase deployed REAL REGULAH by PLENTY PEOPLE in ways I DON'T GOTTA POINT OUT ...

    but any funnel deposits that kinda stuff on your ass ain't worth nuthin'.

    Gotta figure all funnels are conduitholes, maxed out for transmission of all kindsa srs shit or non-srs shit.

    As a copywritah person, that is why I *ahem* place great value on whatevah makes its way down whichevah funnels, pipes, interfaces, dialogs, smoochies, cusses, internexi schema (I made that one up btw) are gowin.

    What is the point of a funnel less'n high value substance floweth through it to sum purpose?
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