Articles of subscription-based business model
A freely editable Wikipedia article on the subject - Wikipedia's freely editable article on Subscription business modelDigitalEnterprise.org article on the subject - Dr. Rappa's educational site gives some good examples of subscription-based business models on the Web such as Content Services providing text, audio or video content to users who subscribe for a fee to gain access to the service, e.g. Listen.com or Netflix, Person-to-Person Networking Services with user-generated content, Trust Services, e.g. Truste, or Internet Services Providers offering network connectivity and related services on a monthly subscription, e.g. America Online
Software execs bash their industry's approach - an arcicle by Alorie Gilbert, CNET News (2004)
5 Business Models for Social Media Startups - 5 Business Models for Social Media Startups - a blog post by Jun Loayza, with good examples of online ventures succesfully applying the Subscription Model such as Label 2.0, Scrooge Strategy, Netflix (2009)
Music industry: five alternative business models - Music industry: five alternative business models an article by Steve O'Hear, recommending the subscription model as one of the possible business models that might resolve the problems of the music industry. (2007)
Why The MMORPG Subscription-Based Business Model Is Broken - Why The MMORPG Subscription-Based Business Model Is Broken a blog post by Wagner James Au
Profits, success and subscription models - Profits, success and subscription models a blog post by Nic Brisbourne, DFJ Esprit (2009)
Subscription revenue tested - This research brief will answer the following questions: 1) What are the benefits of offering pre-paid or extended-term options for potential paying subscribers? 2) What is the ideal time frame for a recurring-revenue subscription model? 3. What are the most important methods of optimizing subscription revenue via multiple price points? (2004)
The benefits of a monthly recurring revenue model in tough economic times - The benefits of a monthly recurring revenue model in tough economic times. An article by 37signals.com (2008)
Netflix business model - a collection of articles on the Netflix Business Model.
Examples of subscription-based business models on the Web
Teaching Sells - Learn how to create a subscription-based membership site on the web.SEOBook.com - one of the most successful membership sites with a subscription-based revenue model.
Academic papers on subscription business models
CRM at a Pay-TV Company: Using Analytical Models to Reduce Customer Attrition by Targeted Marketing for Subscription Services - CRM at a Pay-TV Company: Using Analytical Models to Reduce Customer Attrition by Targeted Marketing for Subscription Services: The early detection of potential churners enables companies to target these customers using specific retention actions, and subsequently increase profits. This analytical CRM (Customer Relationship Management) approach is illustrated using real-life data of a European pay-TV company. A working paper (Published in Expert Systems with Applications, 32 (2), 277-288, 2007) by Jonathan Burez and Dirk Van den Poel, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium
Other Successful Web-based Business Models
Amazon Business Model - check out the Amazon Business Model sectionCraigslist Business Model - check out the Craigslist Business Model section
eBay Business Model - check out the eBay business model section.
Google Business Model - check out the Google Business Model section.
NetFlix Business Model - check out the NetFlix Business Model section.
Skype Business Model - check out the Skype Business Model section
