Ok so fool on me, I thought I'd found a nice little niche market that needed to be fulfilled which I could do easily. You know, something small and simple. So I built it, and launched the site looking for Beta Members to try it out, of course offering those that qualify free access. That was last Friday. Today, Monday I have over 13000 hits and 4000 beta applications and growing at about 1000 a day. So what the heck do I do with the other beta applicants to entice them to become clients? What kind of buy-in can I expect? 30%, 5%? And does anyone have any ideas on how I can suggest this to the other applicants without turning them all away or insulting them?<p>Usually I just do what I would want done for me but I have never had this kind of momentum before.<p>Help.
First, what's your site's url? There could be many more beta testers here that would be valuable. Also, what you're selling certainly guides how you want to go about handling this issue.<p>With that stated, generally, I'd say close the beta application process and let in the first x number of applications you got. Send each application a thank you note and tell them that you'll let them know once you've moved out of beta. You may piss off a few people here, but 100% of zero is still zero, so you're better off with the money.<p>That's my take, but again, background information would be nice.
I think a "Jolly good going", a pint at the pub and a pat on the back is in order here. Those are great numbers - it really seems like you made something people want.<p>It's really hard for us to judge what kind of buy-in, etc. you'll have without knowing what you're offering. For porn it's 0,1% or less - for Rolls Royce engines it's 50%.<p>I would use the momentum you have and compose a mail telling your beta applicants, and potential customers, that everything is going much better than you could ever hope to excpect, and that you're happy that you can solve so many problems for so many people yada yada, and that you don't have space for more betatesters but will soon be offfering the real deal, and will send them an e-mail when this happens. And don't wait too long, they'll have forgotten about it in a month.
can you invite them in waves? send 500 invites, see how many join on day 1, maybe assume 50% more will join over the next week. Repeat to get to the number you want in the beta.<p>also, many will sign in once or twice and never come back. not all beta members will be active members.<p>Be open & honest with those you turn down. until you can invite them, keep them in the loop with a periodic newsletter. maybe even poll them if you need customer input.
Tell the people who are signing up that the premium service is free for 30 days, after which they can either keep on using the free service or join the premium service for 25% off. Put everything in big fonts with no small print or ambiguity and probably 5% will be up-sold.
We had a similar situation with one of our apps–although not with the numbers you quoted.<p>If it's a monthly service, I'd say offer a 30 day free trial (if you don't already) and possibly a small ongoing discount.