I am thinking of giving out free prizes (something like a Visa Gift Certificate of $200) or so to the top 2 or 3 winners each month of a contest as a way to get more traffic. Here are two options I have... 1) Give out invites to a ton of people. These invites are basically free Premium Memberships (it would've cost them $20, but they get it for free). With a premium membership, they are allowed to win prizes monthly. (Those with regular membership can't win prizes) Each of these people will also have 100 invites of their own to give to their friends. If their friend wins a prize, they also win the exact same one. (like Blingo) 2) Enable everyone to win prizes. There is no such thing as a premium membership. But for each person they refer to the site, they win a prize if their friend wins a prize too (like Blingo too). I'm thinking of #1 because people would be seduced by the notion of a Premium Membership. They would be eager to sign up and tell their friends as well. After awhile, I envision enabling everyone to win prizes, but just create a Premium Membership to seduce a ton of people initially.
There is definitely a benefit to offering and having a premium membership method. I use it on a couple of my sites and it works quite well. I would go that route.
I would suggest not just giving away free platinum memberships. But using a type of tell-a-friend option in order to have access to the free platinum membership. Where they enter two friends that they think would benefit from your service into your form, and your site emails them an email from their friend. Thus way not only are you giving away your platinum membership. But you are building a viral service that will definately help you with more traffic and subscriptions. I know you have 100 invites for people once they join, but if you make it so they have to tell 2 people first. I think you may have a better responce. But it is something that only you can test. Brad
I like the the first one in that case you will have a bigger number of target on membership. Good luck('',)
Premium membership is a must for that kind of prizes. However, it depends on your target audience. If its mostly teenagers dont expect a whole load of signups.