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How many optional paid subscription sites have been successful? How many mandatory paid subscription sites have been successful? I think those questions are i

How many optional paid subscription sites have been successful? How many mandatory paid subscription sites have been successful? I think those questions are important. I don't know the answer, but my guess is "almost none".

deleted 17y ago
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ams6110 17y ago
Mandatory paid subscriptions for content that is of value to the subscribers does work. Case in point our local newspaper, which requires a subscription to read content other than the classified ads. If you are not a subscriber, all you get are the headlines and a "teaser" sentence. Because the local news published here is not generally available on wire services or other sources, there is not really an alternative to paying for this content if you want it (other than buying a physical copy of the paper itself). It's really a question of the value of your content. If enough people are interested in it that you can make significant money with ads, you probably could also get people to pay for it directly. I think micropayments per individual piece of content would make the most sense here, i.e. I'm a lot more likely to pay $0.10 to read some interesting sounding thing than I am to commit to a much more costly paid subscription to your site.
- ErrantX 17y ago
  That works for small papers like that - especially if there is no alternative. What about national or international media/news outlets. Paywalls simply drive people away because there are alternatives - which are free (and ad supported). If enough people are interested in it that you can make significant money with ads, you probably could also get people to pay for it directly The numbers dont work out though. Look at any big website's stats and they will almost certainly make more out of advertising than subscribers. I'm a lot more likely to pay $0.10 to read some interesting sounding thing than I am to commit to a much more costly paid subscription to your site. This gets said a lot. Firstly I dont believe it is actually true; it's easy enough to say but would you really do it. Often it is just rationalisation of current behaviour. Think again to all the content you read today on blogs/media outlets that run advertising. How many would you "buy" into at $.10? How much is that adding up to? Speaking personally I could be paying about $2-5 a day for content.... that's quite a lot.
  - bricestacey 17y ago
    I think you're right about micropayments. I think most everyone's thoughts are in hindsight, using existing reading patterns to determine value. However, as soon as you actually have to pay to read an article - reading habits change. It's like free food. A lot of people will eat anything when it's free, but that doesn't mean they will actually buy it.
    - MikeCapone 17y ago
      The book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely has a chapter about "the power of free", and how even the difference betwee 1 cent and free is actually huge (based on the experiments they did).
- petercooper 17y ago
  Mandatory paid subscriptions for content that is of value to the subscribers does work. How does one let people know about one's pay-for site if you're starting from new? Don't say advertising. If someone wanted to start a competing paper in your neighborhood, how would they pick up an audience? Loud-hailers, flyers, and sponsorships would essentially be verboten in an advertising-free world.

deleted 17y ago

[deleted]

ams6110 17y ago

Mandatory paid subscriptions for content that is of value to the subscribers does work. Case in point our local newspaper, which requires a subscription to read content other than the classified ads. If you are not a subscriber, all you get are the headlines and a "teaser" sentence. Because the local news published here is not generally available on wire services or other sources, there is not really an alternative to paying for this content if you want it (other than buying a physical copy of the paper itself). It's really a question of the value of your content. If enough people are interested in it that you can make significant money with ads, you probably could also get people to pay for it directly. I think micropayments per individual piece of content would make the most sense here, i.e. I'm a lot more likely to pay $0.10 to read some interesting sounding thing than I am to commit to a much more costly paid subscription to your site.

ErrantX 17y ago
That works for small papers like that - especially if there is no alternative. What about national or international media/news outlets. Paywalls simply drive people away because there are alternatives - which are free (and ad supported). If enough people are interested in it that you can make significant money with ads, you probably could also get people to pay for it directly The numbers dont work out though. Look at any big website's stats and they will almost certainly make more out of advertising than subscribers. I'm a lot more likely to pay $0.10 to read some interesting sounding thing than I am to commit to a much more costly paid subscription to your site. This gets said a lot. Firstly I dont believe it is actually true; it's easy enough to say but would you really do it. Often it is just rationalisation of current behaviour. Think again to all the content you read today on blogs/media outlets that run advertising. How many would you "buy" into at $.10? How much is that adding up to? Speaking personally I could be paying about $2-5 a day for content.... that's quite a lot.
- bricestacey 17y ago
  I think you're right about micropayments. I think most everyone's thoughts are in hindsight, using existing reading patterns to determine value. However, as soon as you actually have to pay to read an article - reading habits change. It's like free food. A lot of people will eat anything when it's free, but that doesn't mean they will actually buy it.
  - MikeCapone 17y ago
    The book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely has a chapter about "the power of free", and how even the difference betwee 1 cent and free is actually huge (based on the experiments they did).
petercooper 17y ago
Mandatory paid subscriptions for content that is of value to the subscribers does work. How does one let people know about one's pay-for site if you're starting from new? Don't say advertising. If someone wanted to start a competing paper in your neighborhood, how would they pick up an audience? Loud-hailers, flyers, and sponsorships would essentially be verboten in an advertising-free world.