Social Sharewall Monetization

Unroll.me developed a "sharewall" concept as an alternative to traditional paywalls for free products, requiring users to share on social media to unlock features after experiencing the product's value.

Key Points:

• Core Concept:

  • Instead of charging money, require social sharing to access features
  • Users must share on social media after experiencing initial product value
  • Provides instant gratification versus waiting for referral signups

• Implementation Strategy:

  • Let users experience product value first (5 newsletter unsubscribes)
  • Present sharewall after users "feel the magic"
  • Optimize sharing platform choice based on conversion data
    • Facebook sharing yielded 80-150 users per 100 shares
    • Twitter only yielded 1 user per 100 shares

• Results:

  • 90% of users who hit the sharewall shared
  • Increased Facebook sharing from 50% to 80% by prioritizing it in design
  • Created viral growth during PR moments (TechCrunch, Today Show)

• Key Success Factors:

  • Find social incentive that motivates sharing
  • Time the share request after gaining user trust
  • Provide instant gratification rather than delayed rewards
  • Focus on platforms with highest conversion rates

• Modern Applications:

  • Free products: Unlock features through sharing
  • Paid products: Instant discounts for sharing
  • Consider alternative platforms (WhatsApp, Messenger, text)
  • Test different incentive models based on product type