As people have increasingly turned to the internet to find information, newspapers, and magazines have seen their circulations decline. One way that many companies have been able to make money in the internet age is by setting up paywalls.
A paywall is a system that requires users to pay to access online content. It can be configured in a variety of ways to allow users varying levels of access. Companies decide which type of paywall to use based on the type and quality of the content they offer and the goals they hope to achieve.
Why Set-up a Paywall?
The main reason to use a paywall is to generate revenue. With fewer people subscribing to newspapers and magazines, publishers can earn money by requiring users to pay to access their content online.
Having users pay for access to content instantly raises the value of that content in readers’ eyes. People assume that the content they need to pay for will be worth the money. Of course, that means that writers need to deliver, or people won’t pay.
Some companies allow users who have paid for access to their content to share it on social media. This is free advertising for the company that created it. If someone sees quality content that a friend posted on social media, he or she may go to the source and subscribe to get access to more content.
Types of Paywalls
The simplest type of paywall is a membership. Users pay a monthly or annual fee to access content on the website. A company can have an all-access membership or levels that offer different amounts of access at various prices. Using memberships can help businesses develop long-term relationships with readers.
A pay-per-view model requires users to pay to access individual pieces of content. This works best for content that is in high demand by a limited number of people, such as a scientific research paper or medical journal.
Some companies make their content free for a time to allow users to get a taste of what they have to offer. After the trial period is over, users can pay for a subscription. The goal is to give users enough time to get hooked on a site’s content and then generate revenue through subscriptions.
A metered paywall allows users to access a limited number of articles before needing to subscribe. As is the case with a free limited-time trial, a metered paywall is designed to get users hooked so they will be willing to pay to continue to have access to content on a regular basis.
Set-up a Paywall
With so many companies publishing content online and in print, businesses need to compete to capture people’s attention. A paywall can help your company attract and retain readers and generate income. Subscription DNA can help you set up a paywall to control access to your content and boost revenue. Contact us today to learn more.