[MGP-Forum Announce] Boston researcher thinks TimesSelect experience shows a market for content service charging

[Robin 'Roblimo' Miller]

J Fox wrote:
>
> Why is no one mentioning the fact that Consumer Reports (for whom I
> happen to work) has 3 million paying subscribers without any outside
> advertising…We’re the largest web-based subscription site in the
> world, I believe.
>
> Is it possible that if you offer unique, quality content, people will
> pay for it?
>

They sure will, as long as that material (I don't like using the word
"content") is not only unique, but offers unique value and information
that can make subscribers' lives better in some way.

Another example of a site that makes money charging subscription fees is
Dave's Garden -- http://davesgarden.com/ -- which is operated by
original LinuxToday founder Dave Whitinger.

Subscriptions are $5 for two months, $19.95 per year. DG is an
*extremely* valuable resource for gardeners, forum-based and run by
someone who is a passionate plant-grower himself. Which reminds me.... I
need to find some sort of non-grass (no mowing, can survive drought)
ground cover that will flourish in the shade of my rear yard area, so I
need to post a question in the Florida Gardening area.

I love Dave's Garden. The help I've gotten there (and referrals to
merchants trusted by other members) were invaluable when I was getting
my pond going some years back. Now I'm on the other end of the equation:
helping new pond people make things work right.

Consumer Reports is good, too, but I now own pretty much everything
major I need so I let my subscription lapse.... :)

Robin 'Roblimo' Miller
Editor in Chief,
SourceForge, Inc.
Bradenton, FL