Choose a subscription service for entertainment, education or folly. There are a number of providers offering such services for online as well as print journals, music and myriad services. These include dating and diet services along with newsletters providing leads for job seekers and tips for gamers. There is no limit to choices in terms of product features and price. The appeal for consumers is largely centered on the significant savings and diversity in choice available. Flexibility also figures prominently among benefits. Forgot or misplaced your favorite book or journal? Don’t worry; it’s available online with a few keystrokes including username and password. Do you need to refer to a feature printed in your local newspaper six months ago? Don’t dash out to the library, simply log onto the subscription service likely offered by your paper for the full story on demand.
Subscription services may be offered by a clearinghouse, which bundles a number of services – such as magazines, movies and music- in its portfolio. Consumers enjoy the savings that volume affords. The services are also popular among media enterprises, such as those producing newspaper and other print media, and university presses. There are some downsides with subscription services. Although enthusiasts of words and information are heartened that subscription services have increased access and thus readership, there is concern about the decline of the written word. Many among this set lament the loss of the tactile experience that only comes with holding and interacting with paper and pages.
Sometimes subscription services spawn unintended consequences. Musicians and those who benefit from their artistry worry about profits diluted by piracy. There has been a great deal of effort and energy expended of late to organize music downloads into legitimate subscription services that allow musicians to benefit from their work. Early evidence show that these efforts, not a little helped by threats of lawsuits, are paying off. Membership with subscription services offering music downloads is at all time highs.
Consumers are not the only fans of subscription services. Corporations large and small understand that one of the biggest keys to success in business is relationship building. Businesses like subscription services for the opportunity to build a relationship with consumers that they afford. Generally, customers sign on for as little as 30 days or even as much as 12 months. Corporations then have a built in audience and a steady stream of income as many require a commitment and credit card number. America Online is experimenting with a no commitment pay as you go model. It’s a sure bet that they are banking on consumer reluctance to disseminate new contact information to email pals too regularly, which will likely mean they’ll stay put, even without a subscription. The trend of subscription services, along with all its incarnations, is almost certainly here to stay.
