Virtual content walls, commonly known as paywalls, came into existence as a revenue-based strategy that secured the survival and growth of digital publishers around the world. However, with the implementation of paywalls, you can’t simply adopt the set it and forget it approach. A paywall is a business strategy like any other, with several success factors to be aware of. In the publishing industry, in-line paywalls are one of the most common styles of paywalls and in this blog, we will discuss why.
What Are Inline Paywalls?
An in-line structured paywall or sometimes referred to as an embedded paywall is basically a paywall designed to cover the vast majority of an article or piece of content while leaving out a small enticing teaser as bait to lure readers to subscribe to gain full access.
Benefits of Putting up an Inline Structured Paywall
A) Promote your offerings with a mandatory read-through ad via the paywall banner (Refer to the “Inline Metered Paywall” example below).
B) Track conversion rates with the “Subscribe Now” buttons on your website and discover where readers are more likely to click and which CTAs are converting.
To properly reap the benefits of an in-line paywall strategy, a publication has to have skilled editors that specialize in the art of hook sentences. The first few lines visible from the gated article will determine the level of interest a reader will develop towards the article and towards taking action in general. Giving readers a teaser of what they might be missing out on has proven to drive more traffic and heavily influence conversion rates.
3 Main Types of Inline Paywalls:
Hard Inline Paywall
Below is an example of an inline structured hard paywall whereby access is denied unless a subscription has been purchased. With this option, readers are only given a small piece of the pie in the form of the first few sentences of an article. Here conversions are mainly influenced by the publication’s name, history, reputation, and whether the first few lines of the given article are enticing and unique enough to drive action.
Inline Metered Paywall
With this type of inline structure, the meter can work in one of two ways. The first is when the publication has a designated number of free articles designed to be exhausted when the meter runs out. After that, the reader is presented with only a few sentences of every article where they must subscribe to continue reading. The second is a meter whereby the publication has a set number of free articles available to the public at all times while also having a distinct selection of premium articles that are only accessible through purchasing a paid subscription.
Inline Freemium Paywalls
This type of inline soft paywall structure primarily focuses on gating content in a rather friendly and interactive way. With this structure, you can gate the majority of content while asking readers to register for a free trial. With this style of paywall, publications usually include the option to cancel at any time before the subscription begins. This approach provides a lower barrier to entry by reducing the commitment upfront.
How Pelcro Can Help Improve Your Paywall Game
Selecting the right paywall becomes increasingly important in ensuring that your readers are translating into subscribed users. At Pelcro, we offer custom paywalls designed to match your brand and convert fast with 24hr support and a dedicated account manager to help you get up and running. If you are looking for ways to implement a paywall, look no further. At Pelcro, our goal is to make your journey to a profitable subscription business, smooth and seamless. To learn more about Pelcro, Book a Demo with one of our representatives for an exclusive one-on-one product tour, or get started with your free trial right away and see for yourself.