Accelerating your paid subscriptions

How do I convert my readers into loyal paying subscribers?

In this article, we'll discuss key elements to turning your casual readers into loyal paying l subscribers.

Messaging

The first area we are going to focus on is messaging. While Leaky Paywall can handle virtually any paywall setup, your messaging will be just as important as our software.

• Why should your readers pay you?
• What is your mission?
• Explain the value to you readers.
• Educate your audience on why you need their support.
• Broadcast your messaging throughout your site.

Here are a few great subscription message examples:

iPolitics:

StoneSoup:

DominionPost:

ForeignLobby:

Include custom welcome emails based on the subscription level that readers sign up to. For example, your welcome email to your free subscribers might include language around signing up for a paid premium level for more access.

Free Registration Level

Now, let's talk about creating a free registration level. We talk about this particular strategy all of the time here at Zeen101! What is a free registration level and why implement one?

A free registration level is designed to cultivate everyday readers into paid subscribers by giving away free content in exchange for an email address. Here's what your set-up might look like:

1. Give all readers on your site at least 1 article for free each month. This will ensure search engines can index your content and allows social sharing to commence.
2. Create a free subscription level in Leaky Paywall that gives readers access to 3 articles on a "forever" timeline.
3. Set up MailChimp with Leaky Paywall so these free subscription level subscribers land in MailChimp.
4. Send out your daily/weekly newsletter to your free subscription level subscribers with links to your content.
5. Your free subscription level subscribers will access your content eventually eating up their 3 free articles.
6. Once the 3 free articles used up, your free subscribers will be prompted to upgrade their plans to a paid plan to continue access.

We recommend this strategy across the board. Whether you're a news publisher, magazine publisher, or something in between, a free registration strategy can grow your paid subscribers. Learn more about setting up a free registration level with Leaky Paywall.

Give your readers multiple payment avenues

• Set-up donations
• Allow your readers to pay what they want for access (set-up a minimum if needed)
• Offer a monthly and yearly payment option
• Set-up group accounts (great for schools, clubs, etc)
• Set-up corporate accounts
• Sell individual articles, video, or live streams

Run promotions

• Offer your readers a trialing discount for their first month or first year
• Add a clock to your promotions (25% off until X date)
• Run some type of promotion all of the time

Looking for more?

Grab out 77 page Digital Subscriptions: The Ultimate Guidebook for News and Magazine Publishers