Which website format works better?
On the Home page, the current model offers paid services and a free journal. In other words, specific services are paid, while articles and materials can be read without any limits. On the Journal page, a different model is presented: services are free, but access to the journal is paid, like a subscription.
This survey is conducted to understand which format feels more convenient and fair: paying for services and reading the journal for free, or the opposite — using the services for free and paying for access to the materials. Please review both options carefully, think about how the site is actually used, and only then cast a vote.
Website development options: “like Home” and “like Journal”
Option 1: Model "like on Home"
In this version, the website remains as familiar and intuitive as possible: the magazine's core content remains free, while additional services and advanced features become paid. This approach is suitable for those who want to freely read the materials and purchase only the features they need as needed.
What remains free
- Access to the magazine's main articles in a standard format.
- View news, reviews, and basic materials with or without registration.
- Basic site search and navigation
Basic paid services
- Services for users
Important: The magazine as a source of information and news remains free—users can continue to read the main materials without paying, paying only for additional amenities and services.
Benefits for the user
- High content availability — You can read the magazine without a subscription and immediately appreciate its benefits.
- Spending flexibility — You pay only for the services you really need.
- The usual format — The site structure and usage logic remain clear and predictable
- Low entry threshold — It's easy to start using the site without having to decide to subscribe.
Possible disadvantages
- Functions "in pieces" — To get maximum convenience, you may need to purchase several separate services.
- Uneven experience — Some features are available, while others are hidden behind a fee, which can create a feeling of fragmentation in the service.
- Limited depth of work with content — Without paid services, it's harder to get the most out of materials (less personalization and tools).
Option 2: Model "as on Journal"
The second option shifts the focus: more website services and features become free, while some of the magazine's content becomes a paid service. This approach will appeal to those who value in-depth analysis and are willing to pay for truly exclusive content.
What will become free?
- Advanced website features — Convenient navigation and improved search, reading the magazine
- Reading open materials — News, short notes, announcements, reviews, and introductory articles on topics.
What will become paid in the magazine?
- Exclusive articles — In-depth materials with unique data, interviews with experts, and author columns.
- Analytics and research — Detailed trend analyses, reports, comparative reviews, and analytical materials.
- Practical cases — Real-life case studies, step-by-step scenarios, implementation examples, and detailed instructions.
- Extended versions of materials — full versions of articles, additional chapters, appendices, tables and graphs.
Benefits for the user
- More convenience for free — Many features that are usually paid for become part of the basic access.
- High value paid content — You pay not for the "shell", but for truly deep and useful materials.
- Clear separation of levels — It is clear which materials are basic and which are at a professional, advanced level.
- Support for the development of the journal — Paid access to analytics and case studies helps develop the project and improve the quality of content.
Possible disadvantages
- The need to choose a subscription — The user needs to decide whether he is willing to pay regularly for access to the full set of materials.
- Limited access if payment is refused — You can use the services, but some content will remain closed.
Comparison of approaches without imposing a choice
- Convenience
The "like at home" model is convenient because it doesn't require an immediate subscription: you can read the magazine and sign up for individual services as needed. The "like on Journal" model makes the website and its features more user-friendly out of the box, but some content becomes a paid service. - Availability
The "Like Home" option offers maximum access to articles, but additional conveniences come at a cost. The "Like Journal" option is the opposite: more services are free, but in-depth content requires payment. - Content value
With the like at "home" model, value is created through the combination of a free magazine and paid services surrounding it. With the "like a journal" model, the primary value is concentrated in paid content: exclusive articles, analytics, and case studies.
Both options can be convenient for the user—the choice depends on what's more important to you: maximum free access to articles with paid services around them, or, conversely, expanded site capabilities and an emphasis on paid, but deeper and more exclusive content.