Recommender Use Case: Delivering Appropriate Content Based on Subscription Status

Goal

Provide appropriate content to users based on their subscription status, enhancing their experience and encouraging subscriptions.

Scenario Description

Your website offers a mix of free (open) and premium (paywalled) content. Visitors include both non-subscribed users and subscribers who have access to exclusive articles. To optimize user experience and encourage subscriptions, it’s essential to tailor content recommendations based on each user’s access level.

For Non-Subscribed Users:

  • Content Access: They can view open articles but are restricted from accessing premium content.
  • Recommendation Strategy:
    • Focus on Open Content: Recommend engaging free articles to keep them interested and encourage continued exploration of your site.
    • Highlight Premium Content Teasers: Showcase premium articles with a preview or teaser to demonstrate the value of subscribing.
  • Subscription Encouragement:
    • Call-to-Action Prompts: Use subtle prompts or banners alongside premium content teasers to encourage users to subscribe for full access.
    • Exclusive Content Highlights: Emphasize the benefits of premium content, such as in-depth analyses, exclusive interviews, or ad-free experiences.

For Subscribed Users

  • Content Access: They have full access to both open and premium articles.
  • Recommendation Strategy:
    • Include Premium Content: Provide personalized recommendations that include both open and premium articles, maximizing the value of their subscription.
    • Tailored Suggestions: Use their reading history and preferences to suggest content that aligns with their interests.
  • Enhancing Value:
    • Exclusive Recommendations: Highlight subscriber-only content that non-subscribed users don’t see, reinforcing the exclusivity of their access.

By delivering content that aligns with each user’s subscription status, you create a personalized and satisfying user experience. This strategy keeps non-subscribed users engaged with accessible content while highlighting the benefits of subscribing. For subscribers, it enhances the value of their membership by providing them with exclusive and tailored content, fostering loyalty and retention.