Getting Ready To Open The Polymer Clay Tutor ‘Members Only‘ Club… Need Your Input:
I am receiving various renditions of the following question every day now… “I would like to see more of your wonderful videos but do I need to be a member to view them?” Thank you to Rachelle for sending the latest email just this morning. I really do appreciate hearing from all of you :)
First off to address you specifically Rachelle, I see that your name has been added to my Guest List. What this means is you will now receive an email every week with a link to the “full version” of a selected “members-only” video tutorial. That’s the big benefit of subscribing to this Polymer Clay Tutor Guest List.
However, there has also been an overwhelming demand from subscribers to also have access to back issues of the weekly video newsletter.
In response, I’ve been working *really* hard at putting together a new video content management system that will be opening up within the next couple of weeks. It is being set up as a very cool Video Library with a Table of Contents and search functionality.
Plus, I’m adding in a feature that I think is going to be quite popular. Each week along with the new video release, I’ll also be posting a custom clay color recipe card that you can download to your computer and print out.
On each of these weekly recipe cards will be a spot for you to glue on the actual clay color chip. You’ll end up with a collection that should become an invaluable resource to help you make lots and lots of beautiful polymer clay beads and jewelry.
In order to make this new system the best it can be, I would love to get everyone’s feedback before adding the final touches. As I’ve stated above, the main objectives are:
1) To provide a convenient method for providing access to back issues of the weekly newsletter.
2) To add in a downloadable, custom color recipe card feature.
Is there anything else you would like to see included? By the way, this new membership club is where you will be able to access the full video courses as well. As of Nov 1, I’ll be on track for releasing one new polymer clay course per month. Very excited about that!!!
So please do tell me if I am on the right track in putting these things together for all of you. And if there’s anything I’m missing, use the comments section below for letting me know your “wish-list” suggestions. Finally, if you have any questions about the new membership club, you can ask them here too. Thanks so much.
Wow, Cindy!!! This all sounds soooooo fantastic!!! Well, of course our Polymer Clay Angel would think of all of these wonderful things for us!!! You truly are amazing:)!!! I can hardly wait!
I just want to suggest that the more photos of color recipe examples, or of yours or other people’s work that includes these recipe colors, would be great too. I love any and every photo that you share with us. I am not quite sure how you might fit this idea in, but I love to “see” what is being taught. This is probably one reason that I love your videos!!! I am sure that however you do all of the above, you will make it be great for us…you always do!!!
:) Cindy E.
Love the recipie card idea,my writing’s not the best,so to be able to print them & use a filing system would be very useful.
Looking forward to all the back videos & new courses, any idea on pricing yet? We just had to fork out on a new roof,so my dream of lampworking is on hold, I’ll have to stick with the clay for a while[definitly the cheaper option].
Can’t wait! :)
Love this idea about the recipe cards….also since you have been doing this a lot longer than most of us…any additional tips such as resources would be wonderful as well.
Can’t wait to see all of this available….I am learning so much from your videos and your course!!!!
Hugz Cindy
Pamela
Hi Cindy,
I love the videos and have certainly used most of the techniques you show. Whatever you would charge per month would be worth it, can’t wait to see all that’s new.
Daisy
Hi Cindy,
I think it’s a great idea to have back issues and other things available to members. Your videos are my weekly treat every week and even as an intermediate/advanced person I generally learn something new.
For the recipe cards, would you foresee doing one for each clay brand?
In terms of pricing (I’ll bite since no one else has), I don’t want to sound cheap, but I think $2.00/month might be reasonable (though I think you’d be making much much much less than minimum wage at those prices, sorry). I’m trying to price it in terms of in a full year you’d have enough to have a book worth of items and books generally are in that sort of price range. It also wouldn’t be overwhelming for the new clayers who are probably trying to get their hands on everything they can and are spending way too much money at Michaels and other stores.
I like the idea someone posted above about having photos. And I think it would be wonderful if the recipe cards would have some kind of cohesion (i.e., this week is Bahamian beach theme, next week is desert theme). Kinda like the pallette samples you get at paint stores.
Hope I’m not writing too much, feel free to ignore anything that doesn’t ring true.
Sandy
Hi Cindy,
As a newbie to PC I think your recipe card idea is interesting and a valuable asset. We’ll all learn something and you’ll have a steady income (my business is marketing/product development/graphic design so I always look at things from both sides – business/consumer). Passive income is always best!
Anyway, the person who suggested $2/month seems fair. When calculated out that equates to $24 – about the price of published PC books. So for the price, one could ultimately print out potentially 52 recipes. I’m not sure access to past videos is enough incentive. I enjoy watching your vides very much and have learned from them, but the reality is that there are loads of FREE videos on line on every subject imaginable.
My brain always tries to take things to the next step. The suggestion I have to make your idea even more of a value to the consumer – is it possible to have printed instructions that compliment your videos? This would be similar to HGTV/DIY – watch the video and print out the instructions. The only price to pay – watch the commercials in between clicks!
Hope this hasn’t been too long winded! Thanks again for your weekly e-newsletters & videos. Good luck with your idea – I’m looking forward to the outcome and would be interested in subscribing!
Hi Cindy,
I’m totally new to polymer clay, in fact, my girls and I experimented for the first time when some of my fun toys… I mean tools arrived the other day… ooooh do I have a lot to learn.
I’m truly excited about more learning videos. A a monthly membership is a fabulous idea and with the addition of color charts, access to the back list of videos and a new monthly video… WOW! So exciting.
I think about the cost of a monthly magazine subscription when considering cost, and I feel that $3 or $4 would be a reasonable cost. Perhaps a 6 month or 1 year order discount would an idea.
For future clay video ideas, I would love to learn more about cane making and the many possibilities of what to create with canes. I’d also love to learn to make creative shaped buttons.
I’m so excited about the new club!
Robin :)
This sounds great! I think a yearly membership of about $24.00 would be very reasonable. Thanks for everything you do!
I, too, enjoy your videos, and appreciate the time and effort it must take for you to put them together. However, to be completely honest, I would not pay a monthly fee. There are just too many free videos out there – if you know how to find them.
Thank you for your inspiration, and for your passion for claying! It’s definitely contagious!
HI CIndy– I Hope this is the place I am suppose to give an answer about the monthly doings.. — I have NO CLUE what to say -as- I am new here and just the fact that you are sharing your knowledge with us is priceless,..SO whatever you decide will be great JUST COUNT ME IN and thanks for the opportunity..I just lost my youngest son in August and besides hanging in there by a thread..I am determined.. to do things again.. Thanks for the lifeline and send me all the facts hugs jandee
I think 2.00 a month is fair if it includes access to back issues of the videos. I have learned something from each post and video, and can’t wait for more!
Hi Cindy, I also love to watch your tutorials. But as Kim states, there are lots of free instructions on the net. I was sharing Word 2003 tips weekly on the Tim’s Tips site and I enjoyed sharing my knowledge. It was enough for me to receive an occasional thank you or question from those who subscribed to Tim’s site. Times are tough now and being a senior on fixed income, I do not see myself paying for a subscription. Keep up the great work and good luck in your new endeavor.
Janet Allen
I thought I already paid to get information… I feel I dhould get the information for at least one year.. No more money… That’s my opinion
Hi Cindy,
I am brand new to polymer clay and have lots and lots to learn, and I have enjoyed your tutorials. I feel the comments Linda and Kim made are right on target and reflects the attitude of many. I have found many very good, and very detailed, free tutorials online, both video and still shots. I have at this point, only purchased one DVD. I think your tutorials are fantastic and I watch every one I can get my hands on. You are very talented and are an excellent teacher.
On a personal note, I am retired and on a fixed income, so my budget is tight. Plus, with the economy so shaky, people (especially like me)are being very careful with their spending.
However, I would be willing to pay a small fee a month for the convienience of having your videos available for me to watch at my convience.
I believe a smaller fee would bring more subscribers, which in turn should amount to a fair income.
I do hope your venture is successful and if your pricing is reasonable, I’ll be one that will subscribe.
Best wishes,
Louise T.
I think you are off to a great start and I am excited for you. I’m sure it’s a lot of work! Providing access to back issues and downloadable recipe cards is a good start. I wouldn’t take on too much too fast, as quaility is important. $2.00 sounds fair or maybe a little more for month to month members, with a discounted rate for yearly membership. So, basically what some others have said… $24.00 per year. I personally wouldn’t take part because there is so much out there already for free. Actually, now that I think about it, I would probably fork over $15 bucks a year to be a member. But I think most people would be willing to pay around $24. Good Luck!
One more thought… I think beginners would be more likely to pay for content. Maybe $24 bucks or so. But for those of us that have been claying a while, probably not more than $15 or none at all. Sorry to be so blunt, just trying to be real. Good Luck!
Hi,
I am also brand new to this. I now have some brand new packages of polymer clay ready to be opened and I am trying to learn as much as I can to get started. Regarding pricing, I would say around $20.00 a year is a good price range for me. I wouldn’t want to put too much more into it at this time since I am a beginner, and am unsure if this artform is something I will pursue or not. I know how challenging pricing is. I teach other things and it is a blend of not over-pricing so you have hardly any subscribers vs. pricing so you are still being paid for your time and experience. Good luck on your decision!
Dear Cindy,
I really enjoy receiving your tutorials in video and blog form. I feel that 24-30/yr is a fair price to pay for all of this information. Thanks, keep it up!
I like your tutorials but am not in the position to pay a “fee” at this time. Also, each video would need to have more information if you were going to start charging.
As for the recipe cards, they are a good idea, but someone could easily make their own without provided formulas.
I would suggest $11.95 per month (Payable by credit card, paypal, etc,) billed quarterly, automatically renewing until notification of cancellation) That price should include access to all future complete tutorials. Maybe $99 a year if paid upfront.
I gather you may be having problems due to volume of requests for personal help. Have a policy of answering questions in your regular newsletter, or give link for previous content. I think you do need to be somewhat accessible to subscribers, but if the answer is available elsewhere on the site, put that link in the weekly newsletter.
I love the “village” approach and support you can get online for almost any art/craft. However, artists get to make a living too; and a reliable, on-going source of information is worth money.
Cindy – I think you have a superior offering.
“Build it, and they will come”…
Hi Cindy,
I am new to polymer clay as well. However it would be worth $24.00 a year to me. I don’t have much extra money, as I’m on disibility and a fixed income. Your ideas sound wonderful, and the color cards will be great.
Thanks for sharing your talent.
Peggy :)
Hi, thank you for the news letters and tutorials. Thanks for sharing your color cards, I’m sorry this is my first time blogging and don’t know a price to suggest. I agree with the other member that possibly $1 or $2 per month
I’m purposefully going to answer without reading anyone else’s comments so I can be uninfluenced.
1. Give discounts to those who have purchased courses.
2. Prorate the cost based on date we first joined or bought the first set or video courses.
3. Provide a course in cane making.
4. Branch out into other polymer clay items as well as jewlery.
5. Visit our areas and give classes in advanced clay jewlery….. and give BIG discounts to anyone who answered this blog. :)
-Lani
Hi, Cindy. I love the idea of being able to go through past tutorials. You have lots of valuable information to give. My only problem with paying for a “subscription” is I have done this type of thing before and the person making the videos gets uninformative. After so many videos the person feels they are getting repetitive. When in fact the person should have offered a place to ask questions with each video. There is always something new to learn. I think your on the right track!!!!!
I love what I’ve seen so far. I’m a beginner and need all the information I can get. Your instructions are very helpful. I also think $24.00 annually would be reasonable.
Thanks for all your hard work, The video’s are very informative. I think the idea’s about 2$ a month is OK.
As a new visitor to your wonderful site, I am still trying to find time to explore all the things I want to do. Access to tutorials 24/7 would be a great thing. Most memberships or subscriptions I pay are done on an annual basis, and to know that it has been paid for and I don’t have to bother about checking payments for a whole year works for me. Perhaps when peolpe contribute to the site and the content you could offer a credit system which would give set discounts the next year (a bit like loyalty points) i love the site and the content and when I get enough time I intend to use your suggestions.
Best wishes Johnno ;-)
Oh, and $25 a year seems reasonable x
Cindy
I’m not sure of your web set up or how many vistors/viewers you receive, but why not have ads for your pages and even pre-roll ads for your videos?
Most people will “tolerate” them when they know they are receiving something of value. This way you can earn money for your hard work and increase your fan base.
Dawn
hi cindy, love the tutorials, as im new to this they are going to be a great help, have loads of fimo waiting to be made into something,brought tools and lots of other things to help lol. being on a fixed income with children to provide for too does limit what i would spend on memberships, but $2.00 wouldnt break the bank, thanks for the tuts keep up the good work and good luck in the new ventures, alison
Hi Cindy,
I love you site and all the info you give, i would be willing to pay about $2.00 a month to receive this new idea you have. Wish you luck and keep on claying.
Cindy,
I am a newbie, so new I haven’t started a project yet! I am gathering facts from all available resources, your tutorials included! Thank you! I would say you should offer a per month price as well as a discounted 1 yr/ 2yr membership. Incentives to subscribe longer!
Hi Cindy,
I think the $24 price for the cards alone would be ok, depending on how many there are. You may be selling yourself short. I think you really have to take into account a lot of different things when you price. Your time and knowledge is valuable. And it’s not just your time, we are paying for your knowledge. I personally agree with the guy who said an artist has to make a living too. As a graphic designer myself, it’s not just how long it takes you to do it, For example, I may be able to do something in 3 hours and people want an hourly rate, but it’s my 17 years of experience that makes me able to do a project well in 3 hours that would take someone else 3 days. So if you looked at my hourly rate alone most people would balk at the price I charge. When you provide a service, you are providing your intellectual property as well as a finished product. Unfortunately, you can only charge what the market will bear so it’s a balancing act.
You already gives away a LOT of free content, IMO. And it’s better than anything else I’ve found out there. You answered so many of my questions before I was a subscriber that I just had to become a member. You may find free content out there but it won’t be in the depth or caliber of yours. I’ve looked.
I do also think that if you offer both a monthly payment plan and a yearly for everything price that would be attractive. I understand that people may not be able to pay a full yearly price and so keeping the monthly payment or a payment per set would still be good. I myself would just get the whole thing so I didn’t have to worry about it for a whole year.
OK now that I’ve written a novel here, I’ll be quiet. :D
Cindy. I never did take the time to say thanks for all the great information I have already gleaned from your site so first a big “Thank you”.
Luv, luv, luv the recipe card idea and REALLY look forward to it. Kudo’s if you follow the suggestion to make them theme related for all of us who are totally color challenged.
Price? I think $24.00 annual is a LITTLE low for the time and effort you are expending. (It’s hard to gauge if you would have enough subscribers to make it worthwhile.) If need be I would be willing to go up to $49.99 annual if you added more of a mix of advanced claying. There are many free elementry sites but few go past the newbie stage for those of us who have been at it awhile and it’s a sorely needed niche. Although I am also on a very tight fixed income it’s an expenditure I’d be willing to make.
I feel I’ve already spent far more money than is necessary on clay and accessories, and although I really like your videos I probably wouldn’t be able to justify a subscription to watch them.
Since my jewellery business is so new (just over a month, with a couple of sales) and I’m a student, money is tight right now.
Plus paying for video access would have to be factored into the price I charge for my pieces… and I haven’t established whether or not I’m actually going to make any money with polyclay.
Having said that, I wouldn’t mind if there were adverts. I understand you have to make money too!
Anna…x
I am so enthused with what you offer that I think I would pay just about anything to be a part of an exclusive PC ‘club’…
I am a newbie to clay but not to jewelry making…
I find that there are lots of Free sites out there but sometimes the quality is not there.
I think a fair price all around would entice more clay enthusiasts and keep the ones that are already here hanging on. Perhaps give credit to those of us who have already paid for the Video Tutorials or a price break if paid up front for the whole year as opposed to monthly. I would have both options available as some folks can only do one month at a time and it gives us a chance to see if we want to continue paying for more.
Just keep us posted…..
Can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!
First off I want to really really thank everyone above for stepping forward and sharing your opinions. You might not realize how much that means to me… so I’d like to say right now that it means A LOT!
The absolute worst thing that can happen on a blog (IMO) is to ask a question like this that ends up getting completely ignored. Obviously that has not happened here… so thank you!
To bring everyone up to speed that is not on my Guest List… I sent out an email yesterday requesting feedback as to what a fair price would be for ongoing access to the weekly video newsletter archives (including access to the new color recipe cards).
So far, prices ranging from $2 to $11.95 per month have been suggested. Obviously the majority of people are going to gravitate to the lowest price point. That’s just human nature.
One thing you all should realize is that at $2 per month or $24 per year, the cost of fulfillment becomes a stumbling block. Credit card companies take their share. Then there’s bank fees, video bandwidth costs, customer service, etc., etc. These are all standard costs of doing business that have to be addressed.
If the price point is too low, what ultimately would happen is that I burn out and disappear from your world…. which is not what I want… and I’m kind of hoping that’s not what you want either.
The main reason I started up this “Polymer Clay Tutor” service was because I saw that so many people (beginners especially) were not getting their questions answered… or worse yet, were being given wrong or incomplete information.
Learning something new can be costly if you have to make all the mistakes on your own. I think many of you would agree with this, if you actually added up all the money you have spent on wasted clay, the wrong clay, or purchased tools that you haven’t figured out how to use properly.
Also I’ve received so many comments from visual learners who just weren’t making it with books or picture tutorials. Video addresses this problem wonderfully. Many have said it’s like sitting down with me over a cup of coffee getting personalized attention.
Sure there are lots of free videos out there if you want to spend the time searching for them. Some of are good. Some bad. Some misleading. Most are small, grainy and hard to see. Plus it’s actually tough to find good teachers. Being a skilled artist does not necessarily mean you are a good instructor.
Think about how much time you have spent in the past searching for “free” answers to problems you are having… and then after several hours ending up with nothing. It happens all the time.
Finally, I want you all to realize the dedication I put into being there for you whenever questions come up. This is something that the Internet has allowed me to do. Something that in all my years as a craft instructor has not really been possible. It just would not have worked for me to give out my phone number to be able to support all of my night school students when they ran into a problem.
Anyways at this point in the conversation I’d like to let everyone know that I’m hopeful we can arrive at a price that is going to work for as many of you as possible. I personally think that with all the benefits I’ve outlined above, getting ongoing access to me for $10 per month is a reasonable expectation. Here’s a summary of the value proposition:
* Ongoing access to the quality web video tutoring in the newsletter archives library;
* Downloadable weekly recipes so you can mix up your own custom clay colors;
* I’ll be available to you through my blog to answer your questions when they come up;
* Trustable and tested information that won’t lead you astray;
* Etc., Etc.
At $10 per month I can say with certainty that many of you will actually save yourself some money based on the number of mistakes you’ll avoid making, by following what I teach. OK I’ll get off the soap box now and put it back to all of you for a second round of comments. Don’t be shy!
Hi Cindy.
I am getting more and more interested in polymer clay each day. Even though I have bought around 15 books on the subject and research a lot, I think that honest and efficient information( like yours ) is never too much!
I think that a fee of US$ 5.00 per month would work great for me!
I hope you find a breakeven very soon !
All the best for you and success.
Warm regards from Brazil ,
Monica
In all honesty the first price that popped into my mind was 9.95 a month…
That seems very fair for all you are offering…heck we spend 9.95 on all kinds of things every month that are non essential and throw away…
I for one would be very willing to pay this fee on a monthly basis and get in return all you have offered here and all you plan on offering…that is honest right from my heart!!!!
$10 a month? While that may be a fair price, what would one get for it? Would we be able to download the videos? Would you have beginners and advanced videos each month?
Have only just picked up on this blog although I have been enjoying our videos for a few weeks now.
If I am honest, I could justify spending $5 a month, $60 a year, but I guess I’ll wait and see what you decide.
Many thanks for all the help
$10 a month is more than I am willing to pay. But I do hope you are successful. -Lani
HI Cindy,
I real excited about the new color recipe cards. I a Newbie and have just started mixing colors but I’m not sure how to make the “recipe”. I’ll be looking forward to all the help I can get.
Thanks for all you do!
Suanough
BTW, I’m on a fixed income and could only afford about $5 a month as this is a real luxury for me.
Suanough
Thank you so much for your hard work, Cindy! I love coming to this site and getting the great, useful tech tips and videos. I compare my interest in polymer clay to my sons interest in computer games – for that we use a subscription website, which we got to try for free, much you gave us your three free videos to try. Their pricing is:
* $9.95/month (billed every month)
* $6.95/month ($20.85 billed once every three months)
* $4.95/month ($59.40 billed once a year)
We tried it to see how much my son would use it, and did the first month for just a month, moved to the quarterly billing plan (once), and finally went to the annual subscription for convenience and savings. Maybe a tiered subscription would allow people to budget accordingly, and still get a good value. While $2 a month is very attractive and I’d definitely subscribe, even $5 a month is quite reasonable for access to all that you’ve come up with thus far and with what you plan to do. Honestly, I’m afraid that $11.95 a month is simply out of my reach, I’d only be able to visit the blogs. But I could justify $5 a month, I’d save that much with a good Cindy-tried-it-so-you-don’t-have-to tech tip! Keep up the good work!
WOW! So many comments. Obviously your idea is a hit and the recipe cards are a incentive for so many people including me! As far as price . . . well, $10 dollars month is quite reasonable, $120 per year is not. A scale would be theway to go.
Twenty four dollars yearly sounds reasonable.
I am enjoying your videos and they have clarified some techniques for me. I think that $15.00 for a 6 month subscription would be convenient for me. If six month subscriptions would be too much bookkeeping,$25.00 for a year would work.
Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Diane
Hi Cindy:
Have enjoyed the weekly videos. Interested in miniatures-inch scale. Am a 24 hour caregiver to my husband who suffered a major stroke three years ago and has parkingson and other health problems…times are hard now. Since I am home and not working, I wanted to get involved with a hobby for a little peace and quiet time for myself. I recently started to look into clay food items for one inch dollhouse scale. I have looked on the internet for tips and I will be starting to make some tiny food items soon.
I’m sorry I don’t think I will be able to contribute monthly. Hubby and I did a lot of volunteer work before his stroke, so I do know a lot of energy goes into your videos. I do wish you the best and thank you for the ones I was able to view.
I think you have great ideas Cindy. Five dollars a month comes to mind, but don’t know if everyone would agree. That’s about $60 a year and you could get ppl to pay $50.00 if they wanted to pay by the year…is this enough? I guess it’s according to how many ppl you have suscribing….?
As an artist I know how difficult it is to price courses and teaching. I don’t think $10 per month is unreasonable but it largely depends on what people are looking for. Up to now I have only had the free weekly video and haven’t enrolled for a course as I am waiting for the cane course. As an ‘almost’ intermediate/advanced clay user I wouldn’t want videos that cover really basic stuff like using a pasta machine or storing canes etc. Would a pay per view system work? If all the videos were listed by difficulty and your $10 dollars bought you a downloadable new video and say a couple of downloadable back issues per month, along with whatever colour cards there are for that month? You could perhaps include project cards for specific pieces to print out.
Being able to download and keep the video would be important for me I don’t use clay round my computer!
Maybe a monthly package that wouldn’t involve you having to put in tons of extra work would be more attractive. You could then tell people some of what they will get next month and there will always be a small element of suprise when the link arrives!
It’s just a suggestion.
Being able to use paypal to pay for the courses and videos is helpful to those of us in other countries, but of course they take their cut too.
Someone mentioned making more than jewellery, why not have feature videos by guest clay artists for other things such as tea light holders and bigger more ambitious projects? these could be on an occasional pay per view footing.
I think offering this as a pay per month and a yearly subscription would allow the system to be more flexible and allow people to see that they aren’t going to part with a load of cash for nothing, I think this is particularly inportant for getting new subscribers.
also what about a new subscriber pack?
The ideas could keep coming, so I’ll go!!!
Thanks for all your hard work Cindy.
Cindy,
Your videos and tips are wonderful as always & I think everyone agrees that you are a very accessible resource, always willing to answer questions and provide advice. Unfortunately though, in the economic times most of us are in, people are focusing on buckling down. While I, like many, agree that paying a small fee for access to your information is fair, I cannot support a fee of $10/month or the like. I just simply can’t afford $120/year for something that would be considered a luxury as this is a hobby for me, not a business. And like others have said, as good as your advice is, there are many people that don’t utilize it all because they are not beginners and don’t need instructions on the basics.
The lower the price, the more people you will get to purchase, particularly because they will see a great value for little money. My guess is that anything over about $40/year will drastically affect the amount of subscriptions you sell, given that there are other free alternatives out there. Granted, those free sites may not be as centrally organized, however they are still free, and you will probably see people head toward them if you charge a high rate.
I know you have worked hard to build up a network of interested parties and make a comprehensive website. Perhaps you could consider other ways to recoup your costs. Maybe offering payment via ProPay, Paypal or Authorize.net etc., to avoid the higher % fees of credit cards? Maybe offering topic-specific ‘tip sheets’ or those color recipe cards that people may purchase separately? Just some suggestions off the top of my head, but I wish you well in whatever you decide and hope there is some way to come to a reasonable solution.
At the UK exchange rate of aprox £5 mth/£60 yr, I also would not be able to take this on. I, like a lot of others have welcomed the free content with open arms & are greatfull for the time it takes you to produce everything. Some of us have allready purchased your beginners course [39 videos]how is this going to fit into the pricing bracket? The idea of being able to download is a good one.
I am new to clay and have enjoyed the tutorials I have received. The one I signed up to get, I could not get as it was a past one and I was unable to access that area.
During the charm bracelet craze, I owned my own gift shop. My thoughts were that I would rather sell 50 charms at $4 than 10 at $8. If you can keep the price down, I believe you will have plenty of subscribers. With the economy the way it is right now it will be hard for many people if the price is too high. However, I would not go with a monthly charge, but maybe a 6 or 12 month charge, as this will make less work for you keeping track of subscribers. Say $12 for 6 months, $20 for 12 months. This would be a big incentive to subscribe for a year, and again, less bookwork for you.
I have given this some thought since I posted a few days ago.
I think Jodi is right, I too have usually felt it was better to sell lots of items at what is preceived to be a very good value (ie relatively low) price rather than one or two much more expensively – and if people think they are getting very good value for money they are more likely to recommend you to their friends (advertising which costs you nothing).
Again now I’ve thought more about it, I am also in favour of $12 for 6 months, $20 for 12 months – you’ll tempt a lot of people that way
Cindy: Here are my second thoughts after reading your posting.
When I suggested $59.95 yearly I wasn’t aware of all the actual costs on your end, only of your time involved, so the $120.00 yearly is justified. HOWEVER, as much as I would like to be able to pay that much I simply couldn’t,(plain and simple), and think that there are a lot of other people in the same leaky boat
that I am in. Unless something drastic happens to improve our finances you will lose a large portion of what would be your base, which is something to consider.
Luv ya whatever your decision is.
I am new to your cite but have been working with polymer clay for about a year and have been through many books from the library and ones I have purchased. Your videos have helped me significantly. It is a hobby that I would like to develop to a greater degree. The cost of $10.00 a month would be a bit pricy for me but I would agree that having different packages for beginners, intermediates, and advanced would be good. Thanks so much for all of the time and work you have put into your videos and it is really appreciated so much.
Hi, Cindy
I have joined other pattern sites (in a different medium) and the subscriptions to those sites ran $24 or $25 per year, so that is my suggestion as far as pricing. That seems to be what others are suggesting, also.
Linda
Hi Cindy,
With all the hard work that you put into all of this I think 10.00 a month is more than fair. I am one that has searched the internet for help for hours on end. I drive a truck and not home as often as I would like, so I for one would be more than happy to pay 10.00 a month to be able to go to just one place for help and stop wasting my time off searching. Thank you so much,
Cheryl
Cindy, I have loved getting your videos and have tired to watch most of them. The ones I have seen are good. But I can not afford to pay for them, at the price you would need to charge or are thinking about charging. I have to agree with some of the other peoples comments like some of the videos are for beginners and I don’t want to pay for something that I already know.
You do a great job and I will miss seeing your videos but I will still check in on your blog.
Good luck in this.
Again… thank you so much to everyone for all the above comments, opinions, feedback and support. You gals and guys mean the world to me.
Rather than posting another lengthy response like I did earlier in this thread, I published a new article instead. Click on the “Free Polymer Clay Tutorials” link by name to go there. It’s Good News… let me know you think over in the comments section of the new post.
Thanks, Cindy Lietz.