Whatever the setbacks, maybe the decimation of the Times, UK’s readership in their paywalls trials, it is paywall which will finally gain, may be even flourish, but the amount of sacrifices and the number of difficult moves required to allow this may not happen over night. Consumers are hesitant of paying for online content simply because they are aware it can be obtained for free somewhere else.
Even special topic can be made available. All publishers and content providers are struggling to maintain their positions as news-breakers and shrewd inventors, something which really is worth the money. But unfortunately things cannot remain the same and new rules for distribution bring about change. Ultimately it may be available for free, but initially someone has to pay for it.
You need to make sure that the convenient electronic wallet system is absolutely safe and dependable. Huge wireless carriers in the US work with one mobile ISIS, but it is something totally different in the web system and PayPal is not helping any more. It is yet to be seen if PayPal and Apple will narrow down and make themselves more omnipresent, or a new one will spring up giving the present ones a hard time, is something only time can tell. Yes, a few couple of years down, a single- click safe payment system with low overheads is going to be available, where you can easily charge a nickel, and people wouldn’t mind paying for it.
But that again is something of the future which cannot be easily predicted. A doubt arises of the constant database that you own, say an electronic bookcase or locker. Here arises the question of how it is maintained and who will be able to reach. I may not be very practical because people naturally like to flip back into earlier pages and if they cannot view the pages of a year old, then there is no use. Therefore, an absolute research of the consumer of very necessary to set up this simple pay structure. Today, we have only arrived at something similar to determine the nature of light.
Let’s assume that people will pay for our content, we therefore try it out by making site pay for a month only. But that can result in people not paying up at all. Therefore our assumption is proved wrong. All this is most probably because we do not possess the right set of tools, or our methods are insufficient. If tools are reachable, well established publishing companies are sure to test it and may even charge for each article.
It is because people do not like to pay, even if it is a small amount that the problems start. Few others may charge on a daily basis. This again may prove to be disadvantageous, as many people not like what is revealed to them, preferring other sites. Then there are companies who think of monthly or yearly charges. Then how do you charge the people? Since there is an always a change in the market, people definitely will not like to pay as they do not like fluctuations.
The most ideal proposal then would be o offer them all options, but stick to one right proposition where everyone can save money. Keep the price low but not so very low so as to incur heavy losses.
SINGLE ARTICLE PURCHASE – 10 CENTS TO 50 CENTS.
Some articles, especially those by well known authors, doctors, etc attract a large crowd, so people wouldn’t mind paying a small amount, which would not burden their pockets. They should be satisfied for their payments as could make best use of the information from the articles. So it should not be a problem paying 50 cents.
DAILY PASS – 50 CENTS TO $1.
People often would not like to shell down more than a 1 dollar for an article. This is quite a challenge for you as your content must be truly worth the money. The competition is very tough as some sites like iTunes are easily available for practically nothing. Buying one article at a time may not seem much, but when accumulated works out expensive. It is like buying newspapers out in the markets. If you are not a regular subscriber, then you pick out only the ones you want, which is economical, but if you wait for the papers of the whole month, then it is expensive.
MONTHLY PASS – $1-$10.
Whoever heard of a monthly pass at $1? It is collected to a single yearly fees or single entry fee like Metafilter. Few sites are planning to charge$10 / month, but that is a bit too high. Users get to save a lot and the content designers get their assured income. Users can do with the extra benefits too.
REGULAR NEWS ARTICLES – FREE.
These fall under the editor’s choice or front page news. As most publishers like to be good source providers. Here paywall is more of a pay fence. The pricing system mentioned earlier will not suffice for a publication to run well. The reach of publications will be greater but costing will be far less, thereby forcing the old ink and paper companies to change over into something more innovative and successful.
Of course, premium content will command premium charges. Bargains, special deals, licensing issues etc, all fall under one category. If your reader is a sports lover, he will naturally be interested in that field alone and in this way you get to slim down potential ads and purchases by almost 80%. There is also the instant sponsored purchases of songs of famous artistes, buying of movie tickets, etc. indirect money making will let the content providers mint money in a very short period.
It’s only a supposition that things will work out well. But reality is something totally different. There are heartless companies out there in whose eyes these publications are mere puppets making things more difficult. Very soon paid internet will turn out to be a group of walled towns or city states. News Corporation holding one fort, Warner in another, and Aol in a third sector etc.
Internet speaks about sharing connectivity and a rare backroom deal. A subscription to one site may allow you access to another connected site. You should also keep in mind that real content wars do happen to tell those apart from coverage point of view at the same time provide flavour to the site. It goes without saying that superior content attracts many more people. Honestly, convenient payment system along with pretty reasonable prices will negate piracy to a certain extent only though it cannot be eradicated totally. When you pay for a thing, it also means you are a part of a bigger group, with a certain responsibility binding you. The readers too have a say in matters and the powers of the content providers can be challenged!
[via CrunchGear]