Paywall & Upgrade CRO Skill
Trigger
Design upgrade triggers and paywall experiences that convert free to paid.
Trigger phrases: "paywall design", "upgrade flow", "free to paid", "pricing page optimisation", "trial to paid", "feature gating"
Process
- Identify: Which features drive upgrade intent?
- Design gates: Hard gate vs soft gate vs usage limit
- Craft messaging: What the user gains, not what they lose
- Timing: When to show upgrade prompts
- Pricing page: Optimise for conversion
Gate Types
Usage Limits (most effective for tools)
- "You've used 8 of 10 free reports this month"
- Shows value before asking for payment
- Natural upgrade trigger
Feature Gates (best for clear tier differentiation)
- Core features free, advanced features paid
- Show locked features with preview
- "Unlock this with Pro"
Time-Limited Trial (best for full-featured products)
- 14 days free, then paywall
- Show countdown: "6 days left in your trial"
- Don't remove access abruptly — grace period
Pricing Page Principles
- 3 tiers maximum (good-better-best)
- Highlight recommended tier visually
- Annual pricing shown first (higher LTV)
- Feature comparison table with check marks
- FAQ addressing common objections
- Social proof near CTA
- Money-back guarantee reduces risk
Output
Upgrade flow specification: gate design, trigger points, messaging copy, pricing page structure, and A/B test recommendations.