How much?!!!! (You tell me…)
Ok, now EVERYONE seems to be buzzing about the relaunch of the new ISCQC!
I love it! 
Our Tech Team is living on coffee and I have 10 120-watt light bulbs on 24 hours in the office to make everyone think it’s “daytime” even at 2am so we can get this new site launched ASAP!
We’re already 3 hours past the day/time I WANTED to launch (hint, hint techies!) but I’m getting hourly updates and we’re still looking at either a Wed (hopefully) or Thur (probably) launch.
But now, I have to ask you…
…how much do YOU think the new membership should cost?!
Your Input Needed On Membership Pricing:
Ok, here’s the deal…
Our goal with our Association is NOT to fund a new Lamborghini for the Anderson residence. Mini-van is the way I roll!
But frankly, when we offered pricing as low as $9.97 per month in the past, we got a bunch of lame knuckleheads joining that weren’t really serious (and were sometimes just downright obnoxious!)
Our “old” pricing used to be $19.95 per month and included the basics of “weekly videos” and “a monthly webinar” along with a new downloadable ebook each month.
Not much, but the training and interviews were top notch and we’ve had people who stayed on as members for the full 5 years we ran with that service.
But now we’ve GREATLY increased the features and I’d like your input on what you think you would be “fair” and something that would entice you to remain an ACTIVE member for years to come (which is my goal!).
First, here’s what we’re working on for training features:
- Weekly Training Videos (from our exclusive instructor network)
- Instructor Interview Access (1/Month)
- “Gun Talk” Radio Show Access (1/Month)
- “Combat Q&A” Radio Show Access (1/Month)
- “Survival Talk” Radio Show Access (1/Month)
- Member Forum
- Articles
- Member Social Network (Connect with other members)
- Event Calendar
- Local Training Listing
- Bonus Downloads
- Audio Training
As you can see, there’s something new going on EVERY SINGLE WEEK with the new site!
We’ve taken on new administrators within our organization to help with keeping the training fresh and exciting to include a whole string of new instructors we’ve found in all corners of the Earth who you’ve never heard of before.
Anyway, my question to you know is…
Given All Of These Amazing Training Features,
What Would You Say Is A “Fair” Membership Fee?
I realize I’m taking a big risk even asking this question but I’m counting on you to weigh out what you’re getting and what you can afford because yes, I have a team to pay and a site that costs a bundle, but I ALSO want you as a long time member so we can change the face of “reality training” in the future. (Yes…I truly feel this new site will do just that and I want you to say that YOU were on the front lines!)
So please leave your comment below on a “fair” monthly price.
A good gauge is to remember that our old, basic service was $19.95 per month and maybe go from there, ok? But I’ll take into account ANY reasonable suggestions.
Now’s your chance to help us yet again form how the new organization shapes up!
Thank you for your input!
Jeff Anderson
President
International Society Of Close Quarter Combatants
The price of $19.95 was acceptable to me for the “six lesson (monthly), get to see what we are about” process. As for a membership cost, what about levels? Possibly three or so that allow a person to remain in the loop and move up or down as topics appeal to the person and/or their finances allow… Each month you could have access to certain levels for say $10 to $15 and for a set price you can upgrade to another level for a time period, of course with added features. That way if the money gets tight the person can step back for a while, but if something is interesting they can obtain that benefit as they choose…
In today’s tough economic times, charging high prices for a quality product works for those who can afford those rates in good times and bad. Some of us are having to cut back on spending, unlike the Government. Snap On makes great tools, but right now, I have to buy Craftsman tools to work with, until times get better. Right now I would love to go to Nevada and attend Front Sight Training, but common sense say if I do, my bills to live on will not get paid and the house will be foreclosed. So the premier training will just have to wait.
Good training always will cost, what ever the market will stand. Price it high and yes you can say you got those who care, or as someone said weed out those who don’t care, ( in reality you will be getting, those who can afford to spend money in good times and bad). Those of us who have to watch what we spend would love to pay the high prices for the best training, or tools to work with, but Money concerns rule how much we spend, and still pay the NECESSARY bills to live on. Insurance of any kind is never cheap, but food and rent come first.
As a pilot and mechanic, I know the value of good training and bad and good tools vs, get me by stuff, but when time get tough, training slows down and get me by tools will work.
Charge high, get the cream of the crop, those who really care for the best training
( $$ those with spare money $$ ) and those of us who work, and are just getting by, but can’t afford, ( not the really worthy, NO MONEY) to spend extra money we don’t have right now, will not buy.
REALITY 101, from the working person.
33 years in the Reserves. USMC and USAF
“A Veteran – whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve – is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount of “up to and including my life.”
– Author Unknown
i KNOW WE ME IT is hard to aford things now days. I am on a fixed income and it is very hard to find training or anything else that I can aford.
I would like to see a split project for each topic with one layer going to up to folks wanting the immediate up to date availability and the other going to a book format closing off all the data in say a year.
Getting the hot information would be very important for folks on a “front line” experience.
Getting the information in a book format would allow those of us on restricted income to still support your outstanding efforts.
Honestly, I didnt think the “gold” membership price was worth it before and was WAY too hyped up. This seems to be following the same trend as it and ever other internet “fear no man” style of education. Look up some of the other popular defense sites and notice how they throw certain words in ALL CAPS and are so OUT OF THIS WORLD SENSATIONAL!!! Honestly I dont think this kind of training is worth anymore than 15 bucks a month of my money. Maybe more of yours but I can think of other sources of information for free and other things I can do with my hard earned money. Its being delivered online and all it takes is some guy to upload videos or links to a server and then his job is done. Lots of people pay 20 bucks a month or more to use it or lose and they make loads of money doing a bunch of nothing other than making a video themselves posting it online which probably costs little to nothing being that everyone owns a high quality video recording device whether it be a digital camera or cell phone. I like the guy. I do. I think he seems nice with good intentions but I am thinking about it in terms of training value/cost. 15 bucks is my limit and thats only if there is all these new features plus the old gold membership.
I would say charge 20.00 every 6 months. Which comes out to 40.00 a year. That way you can tell after the first 6 months how many people are going to actually stay true members.
Hi Jeff,
I’m on the NAPMA mailing list and today received the following link:
http://www.extremesuccessacademy.com/2010/attracting-the-best-students-and-a-labor-day-bonus/
I think that what Toby Milroy says between 3:14 – 4:23 is VERY relevant to the discussion here.
I’m not saying it’s ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ to price at ‘X’ or ’2X’ or ’10X’ but NAPMA’s opinion does strike a chord with me.
All the best.
Robert.
Attract a lot of visitors/members by making it free and use that visit counting to get lucrative company ads contracts!
$20.00/mo would be fair if all the above is included. Im more interested in personal training courses.
look 19.95 is fine but my big problem is giving my visa number over the computer i know you say its safe but whos to say cant we do a check or cert. i’m willing to pay all up front and even if your willing give a disscount for all up front pay ment
According to the rule of macroeconomics, the higher the price the less members will sign up, so, if you are looking to get as many members as possible, charge a low price such as 5 dollars a month. although 5 dollars a month is a small amount, the number of people who will sign up at that price will assure you a good profit.
Realistically, if you want to have the most sustainable subscribers in this economy, then keep the price just below $20 per month. If you set the price at more than $20 you will have less takers.
One point to bring up about your podcast with L Christenson; it took over 10 minutes for you to allow an answer to be broadcast. This is the same about your web site and most others of similar nature.
You put a lot of fluff before you get to the meat; but you teach a very straight forward get it done and to the point product. Why this dicotmy. {sorry for bad spelling]
Hi Jeff
I think you should hire me as your business manager, that way I could make some money, hopefully get a cut on some live training, and give you the chance to kick my ass for all the comments I posted!!!
Oh I nearly forgot make u some money too!!!
How much should it cost? Dunno. Supposedly the human body is worth like 20 bucks or so after you are dead and gone. So far I like your info, but, if you turn out to be a phoney….Well there are big buildings with metal cages for that, where they have guys that could not get real jobs too boss you around. Look forward to more info from you . So far I think it is really good stuff, informative. Interesting. Nothing but best wishes for you and yours:)
I think 9.97/month is quite fair I had no problem with that at all but 19.95 is also fair with all of the trimmings and free stuff.
Jeff,
Would you rather have ten percent of a watermelon, or 90% of a grape? Price high, limited members. Price low, watch membership expand. Your costs are about the same in either case. I suspect the price point that makes you the most profit is much lower than you think. How about $5/mo, or $35 a year, if paid up front? Try it, you might like it..!
What I would like to see most is a comprehensive program that has the cost cover everything from day one. This business of clicking on a link and having to buy more CD’s, DVD’s, books, etc. on every click just nickles and dimes us to death. I don’t care if it costs $100 to join, if it covers everything from the start.
Bob
Half the price of the lowest amount you are willing to go. That ought-a do it.
HHmmmm……radio show access? Member forum? Social network? None of that sounds like it would be worth anything at all to me. It’s all just fluff. You need to show that you have something really great to offer — if you are looking for only serious subscribers, then get serious yourself!
You should probably offer a time period of free access so everyone who is thinking of subscribing can see exactly what they would be getting. Then, figure out the price yourself. How can anyone else figure it for you without knowing all of the associated costs?? You are the only one who knows how much you need to charge!
I’m the owner and chief instructor at a “Self Protection” style school in Las Vegas NV. I believe that having a weekly training resource is great but may be too much information on a ‘weekly basis’. With teaching 100+ students all of our basic self protection techniques and your tactics as well there’s probably too much information on a weekly basis. My opinion of your proposed pricing of $9.95 per month I think is very fair but I’d like the training and information to either be encasulated so we can go through it at our own pace OR we’d like a larger version to go through once per month.
I can attest the following things;
1.) Your techniques for ‘real world’ self protection are gaining popularity and really strike a cord with people
2.) Your follow up and weekly correspondence so far are dependable and regular
3.) Your training techniques are easy to understand and are broken down nicely so that I can employ them with my own American Kenpo and BJJ skills we teach.
4.) $9.95 a month really is affordable for anyone when you consider the skills you teach could save your own life or the lives of someone you love