I will pay even more ($30/year) if Instapaper could somehow allow for cross-browser bookmark syncing a la XMarks. It seems like once XMarks is gone, there will be a huge void in the market. Maybe Instapaper can add some more features to fill in this gap.
Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
11–20 of 39 posts
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#12I don't even see an option to pay for any kind of service (logged in or not). Did i miss the link somewhere?
Click the thread's link: http://www.instapaper.com/subscription
Then click on the Paypal 'subscribe' logo right in the middle of the screen.
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#13At $3/3mo, I just signed up without thinking about it. I love instapaper.
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#14I'd pay for Kindle synchronization to actually work. Mine hasn't in a week or so.
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#15I don't even see an option to pay for any kind of service (logged in or not). Did i miss the link somewhere?
Click the thread's link: http://www.instapaper.com/subscription Then click on the Paypal 'subscribe' logo right in the middle of the screen.
You also need to be logged in, otherwise it redirects to the home page.
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#16Excellent. I'm happy to support one of my favorite services. Instapaper is one of the few apps (on iPad for me) that have actually improved the quality of my daily life -- how often can you say that about an app?
Specifically, it's retraining my brain to slow down, go deeper, and think critically.
My only concern would be rewarding the content producer, because I often skip the web page all together.
Perhaps integrating Flattr's API for those domains that have it set up?
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#17I'm surprised Marco is billing $1/month in 3 month intervals... I'd have just billed $12/year. $12 is hardly a large payment chasm for a customer, particularly if you've already told them that they're not going to get anything particularly extra for their subscription and they're still interested. But it also makes the fixed-fee on the transaction a lower %age of the total sale and of course from a cash-flow perspect…
One of the downsides to billing $12/year is that you have to really start thinking about unearned revenue and all that fun stuff. This might be a way to avoid that mess and give him the ability to reprice in three months if that becomes necessary.
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#18Previously it would have been kind of a dick move to make alternate reader apps, but maybe now he could perhaps support an official API for subscribers
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#19I love the honesty here:
"What are the benefits?
Right now? Almost nothing, except knowing that you are supporting the Instapaper service’s operation and future feature development."
Re: Instapaper Subscriptions (beta)
#20I'm surprised Marco is billing $1/month in 3 month intervals... I'd have just billed $12/year. $12 is hardly a large payment chasm for a customer, particularly if you've already told them that they're not going to get anything particularly extra for their subscription and they're still interested. But it also makes the fixed-fee on the transaction a lower %age of the total sale and of course from a cash-flow perspect…
Don't forget, Marco is not shy to charge $4.99 for Instapaper in the App Store. I do not have the statistics right now to back it up (although I'm sure a few Google queries could), but I'm fairly confident that's above the average price for an app.
The iPhone app also has some value to it that makes it worth the $4.99, e.g., 250 article capacity, iPad compatible, and it remembers your position.
The only benefit subscribing gives to you right now is being able to hide ads, which people can already do for free, and the warm, fuzzy feeling you get from supporting Instapaper's development.