Comments on: Making heavy users pay – the optimum freemium model for news? http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/ Nic Brisbourne's view from London on venture capital and exploiting change in technology and media Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: huang http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5623 huang Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:53:10 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5623 <style type="text/css"><br><!--<br>.STYLE1 {<br> font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;<br> font-size: 14px;<br>}<br>--><br></style><br><p class="STYLE1">Have you heard of <a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk" title="Uggs Boots" rel="nofollow">Uggs Boots</a>? As the famous brand from Austalia, now <a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk" title="ugg boots" rel="nofollow">ugg boots</a> sale all over the world. Now UGG boots coming a new member-----<a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk/ugg-bailey-button-c-35.html" title="UGG Bailey Button" rel="nofollow">UGG Bailey Button</a> for women. It is different from <a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk/ugg-cardy-c-17.html" title="ugg cardy boots" rel="nofollow">ugg cardy boots</a>. Like <a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk/ugg-classic-short-c-16.html" title="ugg classic short" rel="nofollow">ugg classic short</a>, it is a calf-height boot made from genuine twin-face sheepskin.The <a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk/ugg-bailey-button-c-35.html" title="Bailey Button" rel="nofollow">Bailey Button</a> can either be worn up as the <a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk/ugg-classic-tall-c-18.html" title="ugg classic tall" rel="nofollow">ugg classic tall</a> or cuffed down adding a little variety as <a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk/ugg-classic-mini-c-21.html" title="ugg classic mini" rel="nofollow">ugg classic mini</a> depending on your style. More information , welcome to look through our <a href="http://www.kissugg.co.uk" title="website" rel="nofollow">website</a>. </p> <style type=”text/css”>
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]]> By: Martin Thomas http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5617 Martin Thomas Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:43:44 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5617 Hi.. Your post got me thinking… What is more valuable for a software company (like facebook or flickr). 1,000 paying users or 100,000 non-paying users? What are your thoughts? View my blog post here: <a href="http://www.purlem.com/blog/?p=57" rel="nofollow">http://www.purlem.com/blog/?p=57</a> Hi.. Your post got me thinking… What is more valuable for a software company (like facebook or flickr). 1,000 paying users or 100,000 non-paying users? What are your thoughts? View my blog post here: http://www.purlem.com/blog/?p=57

]]> By: henryyates http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5587 henryyates Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:43:48 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5587 I think you are right re 3-5%.<br>I guess the key is transitioning from a print to digital business model. At the moment it seems to be just about maintaining its print circulation at a higher price with a small increase in digital subscription. How this will continue to transition will be fascinating to watch. I think you are right re 3-5%.
I guess the key is transitioning from a print to digital business model. At the moment it seems to be just about maintaining its print circulation at a higher price with a small increase in digital subscription. How this will continue to transition will be fascinating to watch.

]]> By: brisbourne http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5582 brisbourne Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:37:39 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5582 Thinking about it some more - 18% over a year on a small base like this isn't a very big increase. At that rate it will be a long time before they are making sufficient sub revenues to move the needle on the overall business. Thinking about it some more – 18% over a year on a small base like this isn't a very big increase. At that rate it will be a long time before they are making sufficient sub revenues to move the needle on the overall business.

]]> By: brisbourne http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5581 brisbourne Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:33:43 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5581 Thanks Henry - I think 10% would be high. I have in my mind a benchmark of 3-5% conversion to paying for freemium models. Thanks Henry – I think 10% would be high. I have in my mind a benchmark of 3-5% conversion to paying for freemium models.

]]> By: henryyates http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5580 henryyates Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:30:09 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5580 just reading the FT results - 18 per cent increase in paying online subscribers to 117,000. They have about 11m uniques, so they currently have about 1% paying. You would think this could reach at least 10% if not more.<br><a href="http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article6729606.ece" rel="nofollow">http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/...</a><br>(free link from The Times!) just reading the FT results – 18 per cent increase in paying online subscribers to 117,000. They have about 11m uniques, so they currently have about 1% paying. You would think this could reach at least 10% if not more.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/…
(free link from The Times!)

]]> By: Matt_Schofield http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5577 Matt_Schofield Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:29:15 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5577 Interesting blog item, again! <br><br>We make content providers pay. Then we deliver lots more services because they are mostly in drive time somewhere in the Greater South East (<a href="http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/docs/160709%2520Cambridge%2520Network%2520brochure_v2%2520%28matrix%29.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/docs/160709%2...</a>).<br><br>This seems to work fine for over 1,000 companies like ARM, CSR, etc. All of these companies are concerned to engage a brilliant community of technologists from around the world. I doubt 16,500+ techies from 6,500+ organizations would ALL have paid to become members - but I guess contacting those Users and figuring out how to serve them better is next. However we are always going to run some free stuff - check out <a href="http://www.cambridgebusinesslectures.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cambridgebusinesslectures.com/</a><br><br>We also do run a premium service for Founder Members, who pay quite a bit more to have the privilege of organizing Special Interest Group events for the rest. This makes for a pretty full calendar <a href="http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/docs/20%2520Jul%252009_CAMBRIDGE%2520events.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/docs/20%20Jul...</a>. I blogged on why they do that recently <a href="http://blog.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/2009/07/technology-tribes.html" rel="nofollow">http://blog.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/2009/07/tech...</a><br><br>Matt Schofield<br>CEO <br>Cambridge Network Interesting blog item, again!

We make content providers pay. Then we deliver lots more services because they are mostly in drive time somewhere in the Greater South East (http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/docs/160709%2…).

This seems to work fine for over 1,000 companies like ARM, CSR, etc. All of these companies are concerned to engage a brilliant community of technologists from around the world. I doubt 16,500+ techies from 6,500+ organizations would ALL have paid to become members – but I guess contacting those Users and figuring out how to serve them better is next. However we are always going to run some free stuff – check out http://www.cambridgebusinesslectures.com/

We also do run a premium service for Founder Members, who pay quite a bit more to have the privilege of organizing Special Interest Group events for the rest. This makes for a pretty full calendar http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/docs/20%20Jul…. I blogged on why they do that recently http://blog.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/2009/07/tech…

Matt Schofield
CEO
Cambridge Network

]]> By: brisbourne http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5576 brisbourne Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:53:53 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5576 Good point re the FT being different - I once heard someone say that people consume the FT intensively as the most efficient way to get the content they want which is totally different to the slow browse experience of most other papers. Good point re the FT being different – I once heard someone say that people consume the FT intensively as the most efficient way to get the content they want which is totally different to the slow browse experience of most other papers.

]]> By: Alex Guest http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5575 Alex Guest Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:05:16 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2009/07/27/making-heavy-users-pay-the-optimum-freemium-model-for-news/#comment-5575 The FT uses a combination of both models: some of its content is available only to paying subscribers; as well as limiting the number of monthly article views per non-paying reader. <a href="http://membership.ft.com/sitetour/index.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://membership.ft.com/sitetour/index.shtml</a><br><br>Print media needs to be careful about copying the FT because of the particular characteristics of its readership. Most readers will find its content essential to their job; and they are unlikely to find a subscription a burden on their wallets, especially those who epanse them or have corporate subscriptions. The FT uses a combination of both models: some of its content is available only to paying subscribers; as well as limiting the number of monthly article views per non-paying reader. http://membership.ft.com/sitetour/index.shtml

Print media needs to be careful about copying the FT because of the particular characteristics of its readership. Most readers will find its content essential to their job; and they are unlikely to find a subscription a burden on their wallets, especially those who epanse them or have corporate subscriptions.

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