best way to launch a subscription on my website

sollutions for convinceing users to pay a subscription

[meetzah2]

Hello,

I run a small business directory and I have about 5000 listed companyes on my database. For the moment I monetize my website using Adsense and I get about 15 usd per day.

I plan to offer a subscription-based "Platinum listing" and I designed some advantages for those who will pay. Can you give me some tips on how can I aproach the users to convince them buy a subscription? Here are my ideeas:

1. send them a invitation mail (not e-mail)
2. make a discount for those who sign-up on the first 2-3 weeks
3. ?

[eljefe3]

The benefits of the "platinum listing" for the advertiser have to be worth more than what they are paying. What are you going to offer that will make someone break out their credit card.

Whether you give them a discount or not, if they are not getting value from the directory listing, then they will not pay regardless of discount or not.

Time to come up with some ideas to lure people to spend on your site.

[meetzah2]

Thank you for reply. Here are few of the advantages of premium listings:

- no ads on the page
- special design
- premium listing logo
- no related business listings on the page
- top position on search results
- contact info available on site (standard companies can be contacted by mailform only)

[radix]

Why not give prospects a free ride period (1 week or so), so that they could see/assess the benefits they would have if they went with the subscription?