Trial Membership or Straight Monthly?
 

Which are more profitable - trial signups or straighty monthly memberships?

Since we started up our pay site three years ago, we've done well with $2.95 7-day trials, which then recur at $29.95 a month. But with affiliate traffic rising fast, our up front payments to affilates (we pay per sign up) are killing our cash flow.

So we're thinking of phasing out the trials, and going to straight $29.95 a month signups. The plan is to work hard on our conversion rate (with a conversion rate consultant) to maintain the current conversion ratio, so that affiliates don't lose out.

If we can achieve that, our cash flow will improve, and we will make a profit on every signup, instead of losing money on the cancelled trials.

Researching the adult industry, I see that while lots of people use trials, some very successful sponsors use straight monthly signups (e.g Exploited Teens - 300,000 signups at $29.95). Which do you think is the best approach?

bump, good question!

Free trials, or low cost trials aren't necessarily the key to a successful business model or success with affiliates.

Take a look at any of the Teen Revenue sites. Go through a tour as if you were a surfer. There is no trial offered up front. Only when the join page is closed does the potential member see a trial offer in front of them. It's not a standard 4.95 trial either. The price is higher, the trial longer. This method working has a lot to do with the nature of the site and it's content. In our case, the content is 100% exclusive so the method works very well.

how much are you paying out on your trials?

without trails..
stright membership is good.

50% of all monthlys and trials.