Subscription-based startups

Subscription based websites Services

These sites are varied in their purpose and range, the entrepreneur must know their market, the industry stats, how other companies in the space are valued, and the business models of these other companies. The next most important thing is to be able to articulate that to potential customers and investors very clearly in as few minutes and slides as possible. Never underestimate the value of a strong elevator pitch that includes a succinct positioning statement.

These sites are varied in their purpose and range. Typical examples include newspapers such as The Financial Times or the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal which employ different levels of paid for subscription such as click through headlines. But this category also includes music or games sites such as everquest.com.

Hulu unveils subscription-based service meant to bolster revenue and attract U.S. subscribers who might be unwilling to pay lofty cable fees
Netflix just passed 2 million subscribers and is worth $1.86 billion.

XM Satellite Radio reached 1 million subscribers last October, less than two years after its launch. They are projecting 2.8 million by the end of this year. Market cap: $5.2 billion.

RealNetworks reached 1 million subscribers to its content service by April 2003. Market cap: $1.1 billion.

Classmates.com had 1.6 million subscribers two years ago. (It's privately held).

American Greetings, I believe, got a million subscribers (to its $11.95 per year greeting cards subscription) in less than one year.

However, these sites all have something in common. They have tapped into specialist markets, gathered and harnessed a following and kept them coming back for more
These sites create good content that users want to read or buy as well as communities of users that exchange information. They can sometimes even generate the vast majority of the content themselves.

In order to achieve credibility, wealth and drive more traffic to your site as well as gaining additional advertising you'll have to also add your own personalised features and methods. This is something Beenz.com has found in its time as a dot com. This is a more unusual model but one which combines content, information, advertising and partnerships while at the same time rewarding it’s users.Business models should follow customers needs and expectations.

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Marisol Diaz is an experienced workshop presenter,executive editor,IA and a business facilitator. Marisol Diaz works part time as online business Implementation consultant; technology entrepreneur in Toronto. She has founded three ventures, writes a Immigrant business blog @ www.hinenicommunications.wordpress.com where
she has been also writing on Canada settlement, employment and immigration law since 2006. contact her @ hinenisyndicator@gmail.com