Contrary to dire predictions that people will never pay for content on
Internet, thousands of entrepreneurs are setting up successful subscription Web sites. Whether you have a content site that you plan to start charging for or are in process of creating a new site with content behind a toll gate, success comes from understanding what people will pay for online and including two key marketing ingredients to persuade them to sign up.Before committing yourself to a paid subscription site, think long and hard about value you will be offering subscribers. Be ruthless and conservative in your assumptions! Here are some general categories of things that people in a number of niches are willing to pay for:
* inside or expert information that helps them make more money or save money
* fresher or more complete data than they can get elsewhere
* something that consistently brightens their day better than anything else
* solutions to their problem right this minute, especially if it's middle of night or a deadline looms
* tools, samples, templates, plans, patterns, checklists, downloads, scripts
* access to experts or celebrities
* opportunity to interact with other members of their niche or people who share a relatively unusual interest
* interactive or personalized features not available elsewhere
* fresh information available conveniently and on a reliable schedule
* reviews, recommendations, resources, case studies
* step-by-step instruction at their level
* opportunity to feel they are making a difference and staying informed about a cause that's important to them
* information that is exactly tailored to their niche needs rather than generic
