Comments on: Questions For Startups Killing Free Membership And Going Pay Only http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/ Helping Startups Spread The Word Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:22:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dave Schappell http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-163 Dave Schappell Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:51:01 +0000 http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-163 Another service that successfully navigated the Free-to-Pay-Only transition was Meetup.com, and they seem to be knocking it out of the park. At the time, I thought it was a terrible move, and I still haven't forked over my credit card to them, but I'm active with several meetup groups, and am happy to contribute. Kudos to them for nailing it. Another service that successfully navigated the Free-to-Pay-Only transition was Meetup.com, and they seem to be knocking it out of the park.

At the time, I thought it was a terrible move, and I still haven’t forked over my credit card to them, but I’m active with several meetup groups, and am happy to contribute.

Kudos to them for nailing it.

]]> By: Sahil Parikh http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-149 Sahil Parikh Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:31:13 +0000 http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-149 I think users upgrade because of the value that the online service provides. And sometimes, the value is realized only after using it for some time. Additionally, the free user community forms a very important part of your feedback loop that will eventually help your online service grow with new features. A lot of our free users have seen the growth of our service (DeskAway) and have eventually upgraded to the paid version even after 4-6 months. We have now built a very strong relationship with them over time. Personally, keep your 'cost to retain a free user' low and it should work out fine over the long run. Hope this helps! Regards, Sahil Parikh Founder & CEO, DeskAway.com I think users upgrade because of the value that the online service provides. And sometimes, the value is realized only after using it for some time. Additionally, the free user community forms a very important part of your feedback loop that will eventually help your online service grow with new features. A lot of our free users have seen the growth of our service (DeskAway) and have eventually upgraded to the paid version even after 4-6 months. We have now built a very strong relationship with them over time. Personally, keep your ‘cost to retain a free user’ low and it should work out fine over the long run.

Hope this helps!

Regards,
Sahil Parikh
Founder & CEO, DeskAway.com

]]> By: Rizwan http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-148 Rizwan Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:38:29 +0000 http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-148 I believe what mailchimp is doing is great, giving a 30 day trial version and letting its users judge for themselves whether the service is useful or bane - nothing but only a great product deserves to go on a pay model. I believe, if you got a kickass service/software it iwll not harm you to go paid. The minute the users see value, they are not going to mind paying a few bucks to have that service. We are planning on a SaaS based model in India, but are not too convinced looking at the market size. I believe what mailchimp is doing is great, giving a 30 day trial version and letting its users judge for themselves whether the service is useful or bane – nothing but only a great product deserves to go on a pay model.

I believe, if you got a kickass service/software it iwll not harm you to go paid. The minute the users see value, they are not going to mind paying a few bucks to have that service.

We are planning on a SaaS based model in India, but are not too convinced looking at the market size.

]]> By: Authenticity in Social Media | Scalable Intimacy http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-145 Authenticity in Social Media | Scalable Intimacy Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:23:00 +0000 http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-145 [...] Great people in attendance, including notable digerati Jim Spencer, Rachel Happe, Laura Fitton, Nathan Burke, Doug Levin, Sean Lindsay, Todd Van Hoosear (pictured at left) and others, all of whom I got some [...] [...] Great people in attendance, including notable digerati Jim Spencer, Rachel Happe, Laura Fitton, Nathan Burke, Doug Levin, Sean Lindsay, Todd Van Hoosear (pictured at left) and others, all of whom I got some [...]

]]> By: Roy Pereira http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-143 Roy Pereira Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:27:31 +0000 http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-143 What about the hybrid model of a 30 day free 'trial' without first asking for a credit card #? This way there are fewer roadblocks. What about the hybrid model of a 30 day free ‘trial’ without first asking for a credit card #? This way there are fewer roadblocks.

]]> By: JD http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-142 JD Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:32:04 +0000 http://marketingstartups.com/2009/01/22/questions-for-startups-killing-free-membership-and-going-pay-only/#comment-142 I think we'll see sub $1 transactions (some call them micro) start to gain popularity. In the internet gaming (as in fun, not gambling) industry this is all the rage. It's a good cross between freemium and premium. It doesn't cost hardly anything for the user to do something interesting and revenues are secured. I think we’ll see sub $1 transactions (some call them micro) start to gain popularity. In the internet gaming (as in fun, not gambling) industry this is all the rage. It’s a good cross between freemium and premium. It doesn’t cost hardly anything for the user to do something interesting and revenues are secured.

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