Subscription Models

SUBSCRIPTION MODELS

LESSON CONVERSATION CLUB BALDR (B2)

WRITING TASK

START LESSON

Describe how people experienced the areas in the boxes before Internet subscription models were introduced and how the experience has changed.

TV shows and movies

newspapers and magazines

music

food and drink

Complete the company messages about subscriptions with the words from the boxes.

basis

1: Our streaming service offers subscription plans on a(n) annual/monthly ________________________________ , allowing users to enjoy unlimited access to our content in a way that works for them. 2: Try our premium software for free with a 7-day free ________________________________ and experience its benefits before committing to a subscription. 3: Purchase our e-book for just £9.99 with a one-off ________________________________ and enjoy lifetime access to the content without any additional charges. 4: Join our loyalty program today and get access to discounts, gifts and special offers as part of our membership ________________________________ program.

trial

payment

rewards

basis

cancellation

auto-renewal

rewards

recurring

payment

flat

trial

Complete the company messages about subscriptions with the words from the boxes.

cancellation

5: Please note that a £50 ________________________________ fee will be applied if you choose to end your gym membership before the agreed contract term. 6: Our ________________________________ contract means you’ll have uninterrupted access to our services all year without the need for manual renewal. 7: Instead of charging hourly rates or arranging complicated subscription plans, we prefer to offer customers a ________________________________ fee to have access to our services. 8:Our ________________________________ revenue from monthly subscriptions allows us to invest in ongoing product development and provide continuous support to our customers. program.

auto-renewal

flat

recurring

basis

cancellation

auto-renewal

rewards

recurring

payment

flat

trial

Explain the phrases in bold in your own words.

1: Our streaming service offers subscription plans on a(n) annual/monthly basis, allowing users to enjoy unlimited access to our content in a way that works for them. 2: Try our premium software for free with a 7-day free trial and experience its benefits before committing to a subscription. 3: Purchase our e-book for just £9.99 with a one-off payment and enjoy lifetime access to the content without any additional charges. 4: Join our loyalty program today and get access to discounts, gifts and special offers as part of our membership rewards program.

Explain the phrases in bold in your own words.

5: Please note that a £50 cancellation fee will be applied if you choose to end your gym membership before the agreed contract term. 6: Our auto-renewal contract means you’ll have uninterrupted access to our services all year without the need for manual renewal. 7: Instead of charging hourly rates or arranging complicated subscription plans, we prefer to offer customers a flat fee to have access to our services. 8: Our recurring revenue from monthly subscriptions allows us to invest in ongoing product development and provide continuous support to our customers.

Watch the first part of the video (to 02:03) and complete the statements with information from the video.

We’re only going to see more subscriptions, especially connected to ________________________________ . SaaS and HaaS products mean that the services and features are constantly updating, until ________________________________ . Companies don’t want to charge a flat fee because _______________________________________________________________________ .

gadgets and things around us

you stop paying

they love the idea of recurring revenue

Play the rest of the video and discuss how the things in boxes are connected to the advice in the video.

Bank account

Chatbot

Calendar

We’re only going to see more subscriptions, especially connected to ________________________________ . SaaS and HaaS products mean that the services and features are constantly updating, until ________________________________ . Companies don’t want to charge a flat fee because _______________________________________________________________________ .

gadgets and things around us

you stop paying

they love the idea of recurring revenue

Do you think you have any unnecessary subscriptions? Which ones?

Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn’t cancel a subscription? Do you think companies should be forced to make cancellation as easy as subscription?

Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn’t cancel a subscription? Do you think companies should be forced to make cancellation as easy as subscription?

Give your opinion on these subscription based companies

Patreon

Imperfect Foods

Content creators offer exclusive material to their subscribers, known as patrons, in exchange for recurring payments. Patrons choose their subscription level and receive access to special content, community engagement and other rewards, while supporting their favourite creators.

A sustainable produce company secures recurring revenue through weekly or biweekly deliveries of ‘imperfect’ organic, seasonal fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. Subscribers choose the frequency of their deliveries and customize the contents based on personal preferences.

Give your opinion on these subscription based companies

Once Upon a Book Club

LinkedIn Learning

A subscription-based service providing access to thousands of online courses taught by industry experts, covering topics such as business, technology and leadership. Professionals can develop new skills, advance their careers and stay competitive in their fields. There’s no cancellation fee so learners are free to experiment.

Once Upon a Book Club An auto-renewal contract to a subscription box offering a unique reading experience every month! Subscribers receive a newly released book, accompanied by carefully selected gifts related to specific details of the book. Readers can select from various types of subscriptions, including preferences on genre.

BACK TO INTRO PAGE

WRITING

on a(n) annual/monthly basis

payment arranged to occur every year/month

calendar

Set a calendar reminder to do this on an annual basis.

membership rewards

extra benefits available only to subscribers of a product/service

one-off payment

a single payment without any additional/future charges

auto-renewal contract

an agreement where a customer’s subscription continues unless they cancel it before the date of renewal

chatbot

Use a chatbot to help you if you are struggling to cancel your subscription.

Bank Account

Go through your bank account and make a list of your subscriptions and how much you pay.

recurring revenue

income from subscription payments ensuring a reliable money source for a company

7-day free trial

a promotional offer where potential clients use a product/service for free to see if they’d like to purchase it.

flat fee

a fixed price for a product/service, no matter how much/little of it you use

cancellation fee

a charge from a company when you cancel your subscription before the agreed date