Taster Subscription

I would like to offer a one or two day subscription as a kind of trial for most but not all of my site (say, for $5), with an option at the conclusion for taking out an annual subscription for the full site (say, for $30) with the initial $5 payment deducted, so an additional $25 to pay for the $30 dollar subscription.

Is there a simple way to do this through amember?

Andy

Also, use the product_id fields so both only the product you want shows up in the signup form.

David

Thanks.
I must try this after Christmas.

So I need to have:-
- a subscription for two or three days for $5 that can be my "taster"
- then I need to have another subscription for an additional $25 that can be my "annual" subscription - and there must be a condition for taking out this subscription that the user must have an "active or expired" "taster" subscription.
Is that right?

A couple of questions I have are:-

1. What happens at renewal after one year? Will the person still be able to take up again the $25 dollar annual subscription even though their "taster" expired a year previously. I would want them to take out a full $30 dollar subscription rather than have the $5 dollar discount in subsequent years.

2. Can something similar be achieved by using "coupons"?

Andy

I think I will look into trying with coupons.
Before I attempt to set up I would value some clarification about how the coupons system works.

1. When coupons are generated is there a single code for each batch of coupons, or does each user receiving a coupon get a different code? If there is only a single code then is there anything to stop codes being emailed around and different people using the same coupon code even if they are not entitled to it?

2. At what point in the process would people receive an "individual" coupon code? I want people to receive a $5 coupon (individual and once only use) code when they sign up for a $5 dollar taster 3 day subscription which can then be applied by the receiving individual to a $30 dollar annual subscription.

3. If I can create such coupons what is the procedure on the $5 taster product settings page for setting up receipt of the coupon in the first place?

Andy

Larry has a coupon plugin that allows you to issue coupons to users when they sign up.

David

Here's what I did in the end, which I think should work! The idea is to have a coupon code that can be used only once (ever) by an individual who takes out a 3 day trial subscription. The coupon code is to be applied to a $30 annual subscription product but only within a limited period. There are two $30 dollar annual subscription products - one to be used for renewal (not automated) at the conclusion of the year and another to which the $5 discount code can be applied for the first year's subscription (the discount offer being clearly indicated in the title.)

1. I created a 1 year subscription product for $30 but indicated in the product title that actually it would be $25 with coupon code.

2. I generated one (yes just 1) coupon with high number for "times can be used".

3. "Member Coupons Usage Count" was set to "1"

4. "Discount" was set to $5

5. I made it valid for a month. Perhaps this is not necessary and could be left indefinite. But I am thinking I will generate fresh coupons each month about ten days ahead of expiry. This is a bit more of a fiddle, but means that coupons will have a limited life.

6. Under "Products" I applied it to the one product to which I want to link it - i.e. the product described at number 1. above. (The product name was edited as described under number 1. to make this clear).

7. I created a 3 day "trial subscription" product costing $5 and entered in the body of the signup email the relevant coupon code indicating that it could be applied to the product descibed at number 1 above and also indicating the coupon expiry date.

8. I then returned to edit the product described at number 1 above ($30 dollar subscription but $25 with coupon code) and under "Require another subscription to order this product" I entered Active or Expired 3 day trial subscription (product described at 7. above).

9. The additional automated emails I created which are linked to the "trial subscription" (7. above) have a reminder about the $5 discount coupon offer and a link to the membership signup page. (Email settings under "Manage Products/Edit".) These are sent 1 day prior to expiry and 1 day after.

10. Each month a new coupon must be created and its number must be entered in the body of the email sent after signup for the "trial" product (as described under 7. above) together with information about its expiry date. This should be done about 10 days prior to the expiry of the current coupon (so, according to the point in the cycle, giving a minimum of a week and a maximum of about 3 weeks for the coupon code to be used.)

I have tested it out and it seems to work fine. I have described the setup in detail in case if it is of help to others wanting to do something similar and in case anybody can spot any flaws in the system or can say that the same thing can be achieved much more simply!

So a new member:-
-gets the chance to have an "economic" trial subscription.
-For a limited period the cost of this can then be taken off an annual subscription.
- The offer can only be used once and not for subsequent year's subscriptions. (That is the reason the coupons were made of limited time duration).

One downside is that every month I will need to generate a new coupon and enter the code in the signup email with an indication of expiry date (10. above), but that is relatively quick and straightforward. Also the system can't be used for automated renewals, but I don't currently want to go down that route.

Andy