How to Turn Free Followers into Buyers with Paid Previews
Why a Paid Preview Works So Well
If someone’s been hanging out in your free world for a while, they might like you, trust you, and binge your content — but they still haven’t bought anything.
It’s not always because they don’t want to.
Sometimes, they just haven’t experienced what it’s like to be your customer yet.
A paid preview bridges that gap. It’s their low-risk, “test drive” moment — the thing that lets them feel the value of your paid work without the big commitment.
What a Paid Preview Can Look Like
You don’t need to overthink this. A paid preview can be something small, simple, and easy for them to say yes to:
A low-cost live workshop — Teach something valuable in 60–90 minutes, and give them an actual result they can use immediately.
A $10–$20 guide — Solve a small, urgent problem in a neat, downloadable format.
A discounted trial of your membership — Let them inside for a short period at a lower price so they can see the value for themselves.
The Squarespace Shortcut
If you’re using Squarespace for your site (like I recommend in this program), you can set previews for your paid content or member areas.
That means someone can:
Read or watch part of your premium content for free.
See your lesson titles and first few minutes of a video.
Get a “peek” into your members-only pages.
It’s an easy way to give them a taste of what’s inside without giving away the whole thing — and it’s built right in, no extra tools required.
The Psychology Behind It
Once someone experiences your paid world — the clarity, the depth, the way you overdeliver — buying again feels natural.
It’s like eating the sample at the bakery. Once they’ve had a taste, it’s much easier for them to say, “I’ll take the whole cake.”
How to Make Your Paid Preview Irresistible
Keep it specific — Focus on solving one problem, not everything at once.
Keep it accessible — Low price, easy to join or download.
Keep it fast — They should be able to take action and feel progress in hours, not weeks.
Keep it controlled — On Squarespace, set just enough preview content to spark curiosity, not satisfy it completely.
The Long Game
A paid preview isn’t just about the money you make from it. It’s about building a track record with your audience.
The more times they buy and walk away happy, the easier it is to lead them into your signature offer later.
Wrap-Up
Think of a paid preview as your “open house” — a chance for people to walk through, see the quality, and imagine what it’s like to work with you long-term.
Once they’ve had that experience, saying yes again won’t be a leap… it’ll be the obvious next step.
