opencode-skills-collection 4.0.53 → 4.0.55

package/bundled-skills/paywall-upgrade-cro/references/detailed-guide.md

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+# Paywall and Upgrade Screen CRO - Detailed Guide
+
+> This file contains the detailed procedure and reference material extracted from `SKILL.md` for focused loading. The root skill defines activation, examples, safety constraints, and limitations.
+
+## Initial Assessment
+
+Before providing recommendations, understand:
+
+1. **Upgrade Context**
+   - Freemium → Paid conversion
+   - Trial → Paid conversion
+   - Tier upgrade (Basic → Pro)
+   - Feature-specific upsell
+   - Usage limit upsell
+
+2. **Product Model**
+   - What's free forever?
+   - What's behind the paywall?
+   - What triggers upgrade prompts?
+   - What's the current conversion rate?
+
+3. **User Journey**
+   - At what point does this appear?
+   - What have they experienced already?
+   - What are they trying to do when blocked?
+
+---
+
+
+## Core Principles
+
+### 1. Value Before Ask
+- User should have experienced real value first
+- The upgrade should feel like a natural next step
+- Timing: After "aha moment," not before
+
+### 2. Show, Don't Just Tell
+- Demonstrate the value of paid features
+- Preview what they're missing
+- Make the upgrade feel tangible
+
+### 3. Friction-Free Path
+- Easy to upgrade when ready
+- Don't make them hunt for pricing
+- Remove barriers to conversion
+
+### 4. Respect the No
+- Don't trap or pressure
+- Make it easy to continue free
+- Maintain trust for future conversion
+
+---
+
+
+## Paywall Trigger Points
+
+### Feature Gates
+When user clicks a paid-only feature:
+- Clear explanation of why it's paid
+- Show what the feature does
+- Quick path to unlock
+- Option to continue without
+
+### Usage Limits
+When user hits a limit:
+- Clear indication of what limit was reached
+- Show what upgrading provides
+- Option to buy more without full upgrade
+- Don't block abruptly
+
+### Trial Expiration
+When trial is ending:
+- Early warnings (7 days, 3 days, 1 day)
+- Clear "what happens" on expiration
+- Easy re-activation if expired
+- Summarize value received
+
+### Time-Based Prompts
+After X days/sessions of free use:
+- Gentle upgrade reminder
+- Highlight unused paid features
+- Not intrusive—banner or subtle modal
+- Easy to dismiss
+
+### Context-Triggered
+When behavior indicates upgrade fit:
+- Power users who'd benefit
+- Teams using solo features
+- Heavy usage approaching limits
+- Inviting teammates
+
+---
+
+
+## Paywall Screen Components
+
+### 1. Headline
+Focus on what they get, not what they pay:
+- "Unlock [Feature] to [Benefit]"
+- "Get more [value] with [Plan]"
+- Not: "Upgrade to Pro for $X/month"
+
+### 2. Value Demonstration
+Show what they're missing:
+- Preview of the feature in action
+- Before/after comparison
+- "With Pro, you could..." examples
+- Specific to their use case if possible
+
+### 3. Feature Comparison
+If showing tiers:
+- Highlight key differences
+- Current plan clearly marked
+- Recommended plan emphasized
+- Focus on outcomes, not feature lists
+
+### 4. Pricing
+- Clear, simple pricing
+- Annual vs. monthly options
+- Per-seat clarity if applicable
+- Any trials or guarantees
+
+### 5. Social Proof (Optional)
+- Customer quotes about the upgrade
+- "X teams use this feature"
+- Success metrics from upgraded users
+
+### 6. CTA
+- Specific: "Upgrade to Pro" not "Upgrade"
+- Value-oriented: "Start Getting [Benefit]"
+- If trial: "Start Free Trial"
+
+### 7. Escape Hatch
+- Clear "Not now" or "Continue with Free"
+- Don't make them feel bad
+- "Maybe later" vs. "No, I'll stay limited"
+
+---
+
+
+## Specific Paywall Types
+
+### Feature Lock Paywall
+When clicking a paid feature:
+
+```
+[Lock Icon]
+This feature is available on Pro
+
+[Feature preview/screenshot]
+
+[Feature name] helps you [benefit]:
+• [Specific capability]
+• [Specific capability]
+• [Specific capability]
+
+[Upgrade to Pro - $X/mo]
+[Maybe Later]
+```
+
+### Usage Limit Paywall
+When hitting a limit:
+
+```
+You've reached your free limit
+
+[Visual: Progress bar at 100%]
+
+Free plan: 3 projects
+Pro plan: Unlimited projects
+
+You're active! Upgrade to keep building.
+
+[Upgrade to Pro]    [Delete a project]
+```
+
+### Trial Expiration Paywall
+When trial is ending:
+
+```
+Your trial ends in 3 days
+
+What you'll lose:
+• [Feature they've used]
+• [Feature they've used]
+• [Data/work they've created]
+
+What you've accomplished:
+• Created X projects
+• [Specific value metric]
+
+[Continue with Pro - $X/mo]
+[Remind me later]    [Downgrade to Free]
+```
+
+### Soft Upgrade Prompt
+Non-blocking suggestion:
+
+```
+[Banner or subtle modal]
+
+You've been using [Product] for 2 weeks!
+Teams like yours get X% more [value] with Pro.
+
+[See Pro Features]    [Dismiss]
+```
+
+### Team/Seat Upgrade
+When adding users:
+
+```
+Invite your team
+
+Your plan: Solo (1 user)
+Team plans start at $X/user
+
+• Shared projects
+• Collaboration features
+• Admin controls
+
+[Upgrade to Team]    [Continue Solo]
+```
+
+---
+
+
+## Mobile Paywall Patterns
+
+### iOS/Android Conventions
+- System-like styling builds trust
+- Standard paywall patterns users recognize
+- Free trial emphasis common
+- Subscription terminology they expect
+
+### Mobile-Specific UX
+- Full-screen often acceptable
+- Swipe to dismiss
+- Large tap targets
+- Plan selection with clear visual state
+
+### App Store Considerations
+- Clear pricing display
+- Subscription terms visible
+- Restore purchases option
+- Meet review guidelines
+
+---
+
+
+## Timing and Frequency
+
+### When to Show
+- **Best**: After value moment, before frustration
+- After activation/aha moment
+- When hitting genuine limits
+- When using adjacent-to-paid features
+
+### When NOT to Show
+- During onboarding (too early)
+- When they're in a flow
+- Repeatedly after dismissal
+- Before they understand the product
+
+### Frequency Rules
+- Limit to X per session
+- Cool-down after dismiss (days, not hours)
+- Escalate urgency appropriately (trial end)
+- Track annoyance signals (rage clicks, churn)
+
+---
+
+
+## Upgrade Flow Optimization
+
+### From Paywall to Payment
+- Minimize steps
+- Keep them in-context if possible
+- Pre-fill known information
+- Show security signals
+
+### Plan Selection
+- Default to recommended plan
+- Annual vs. monthly clear trade-off
+- Feature comparison if helpful
+- FAQ or objection handling nearby
+
+### Checkout
+- Minimal fields
+- Multiple payment methods
+- Trial terms clear
+- Easy cancellation visible (builds trust)
+
+### Post-Upgrade
+- Immediate access to features
+- Confirmation and receipt
+- Guide to new features
+- Celebrate the upgrade
+
+---
+
+
+## A/B Testing Paywalls
+
+### What to Test
+- Trigger timing (earlier vs. later)
+- Trigger type (feature gate vs. soft prompt)
+- Headline/copy variations
+- Price presentation
+- Trial length
+- Feature emphasis
+- Social proof presence
+- Design/layout
+
+### Metrics to Track
+- Paywall impression rate
+- Click-through to upgrade
+- Upgrade completion rate
+- Revenue per user
+- Churn rate post-upgrade
+- Time to upgrade
+
+---
+
+
+## Output Format
+
+### Paywall Design
+For each paywall:
+- **Trigger**: When it appears
+- **Context**: What user was doing
+- **Type**: Feature gate, limit, trial, etc.
+- **Copy**: Full copy with headline, body, CTA
+- **Design notes**: Layout, visual elements
+- **Mobile**: Mobile-specific considerations
+- **Frequency**: How often shown
+- **Exit path**: How to dismiss
+
+### Upgrade Flow
+- Step-by-step screens
+- Copy for each step
+- Decision points
+- Success state
+
+### Metrics Plan
+What to measure and expected benchmarks
+
+---
+
+
+## Common Patterns by Business Model
+
+### Freemium SaaS
+- Generous free tier to build habit
+- Feature gates for power features
+- Usage limits for volume
+- Soft prompts for heavy free users
+
+### Free Trial
+- Trial countdown prominent
+- Value summary at expiration
+- Grace period or easy restart
+- Win-back for expired trials
+
+### Usage-Based
+- Clear usage tracking
+- Alerts at thresholds (75%, 100%)
+- Easy to add more without plan change
+- Volume discounts visible
+
+### Per-Seat
+- Friction at invitation
+- Team feature highlights
+- Volume pricing clear
+- Admin value proposition
+
+---
+
+
+## Anti-Patterns to Avoid
+
+### Dark Patterns
+- Hiding the close button
+- Confusing plan selection
+- Buried downgrade option
+- Misleading urgency
+- Guilt-trip copy
+
+### Conversion Killers
+- Asking before value delivered
+- Too frequent prompts
+- Blocking critical flows
+- Unclear pricing
+- Complicated upgrade process
+
+### Trust Destroyers
+- Surprise charges
+- Hard-to-cancel subscriptions
+- Bait and switch
+- Data hostage tactics
+
+---
+
+
+## Experiment Ideas
+
+### Trigger & Timing Experiments
+
+**When to Show**
+- Test trigger timing: after aha moment vs. at feature attempt
+- Early trial reminder (7 days) vs. late reminder (1 day before)
+- Show after X actions completed vs. after X days
+- Test soft prompts at different engagement thresholds
+- Trigger based on usage patterns vs. time-based only
+
+**Trigger Type**
+- Hard gate (can't proceed) vs. soft gate (preview + prompt)
+- Feature lock vs. usage limit as primary trigger
+- In-context modal vs. dedicated upgrade page
+- Banner reminder vs. modal prompt
+- Exit-intent on free plan pages
+
+---
+
+### Paywall Design Experiments
+
+**Layout & Format**
+- Full-screen paywall vs. modal overlay
+- Minimal paywall (CTA-focused) vs. feature-rich paywall
+- Single plan display vs. plan comparison
+- Image/preview included vs. text-only
+- Vertical layout vs. horizontal layout on desktop
+
+**Value Presentation**
+- Feature list vs. benefit statements
+- Show what they'll lose (loss aversion) vs. what they'll gain
+- Personalized value summary based on usage
+- Before/after demonstration
+- ROI calculator or value quantification
+
+**Visual Elements**
+- Add product screenshots or previews
+- Include short demo video or GIF
+- Test illustration vs. product imagery
+- Animated vs. static paywall
+- Progress visualization (what they've accomplished)
+
+---
+
+### Pricing Presentation Experiments
+
+**Price Display**
+- Show monthly vs. annual vs. both with toggle
+- Highlight savings for annual ($ amount vs. % off)
+- Price per day framing ("Less than a coffee")
+- Show price after trial vs. emphasize "Start Free"
+- Display price prominently vs. de-emphasize until click
+
+**Plan Options**
+- Single recommended plan vs. multiple tiers
+- Add "Most Popular" badge to target plan
+- Test number of visible plans (2 vs. 3)
+- Show enterprise/custom tier vs. hide it
+- Include one-time purchase option alongside subscription
+
+**Discounts & Offers**
+- First month/year discount for conversion
+- Limited-time upgrade offer with countdown
+- Loyalty discount based on free usage duration
+- Bundle discount for annual commitment
+- Referral discount for social proof
+
+---
+
+### Copy & Messaging Experiments
+
+**Headlines**
+- Benefit-focused ("Unlock unlimited projects") vs. feature-focused ("Get Pro features")
+- Question format ("Ready to do more?") vs. statement format
+- Urgency-based ("Don't lose your work") vs. value-based
+- Personalized headline with user's name or usage data
+- Social proof headline ("Join 10,000+ Pro users")
+
+**CTAs**
+- "Start Free Trial" vs. "Upgrade Now" vs. "Continue with Pro"
+- First person ("Start My Trial") vs. second person ("Start Your Trial")
+- Value-specific ("Unlock Unlimited") vs. generic ("Upgrade")
+- Add urgency ("Upgrade Today") vs. no pressure
+- Include price in CTA vs. separate price display
+
+**Objection Handling**
+- Add money-back guarantee messaging
+- Show "Cancel anytime" prominently
+- Include FAQ on paywall
+- Address specific objections based on feature gated
+- Add chat/support option on paywall
+
+---
+
+### Trial & Conversion Experiments
+
+**Trial Structure**
+- 7-day vs. 14-day vs. 30-day trial length
+- Credit card required vs. not required for trial
+- Full-access trial vs. limited feature trial
+- Trial extension offer for engaged users
+- Second trial offer for expired/churned users
+
+**Trial Expiration**
+- Countdown timer visibility (always vs. near end)
+- Email reminders: frequency and timing
+- Grace period after expiration vs. immediate downgrade
+- "Last chance" offer with discount
+- Pause option vs. immediate cancellation
+
+**Upgrade Path**
+- One-click upgrade from paywall vs. separate checkout
+- Pre-filled payment info for returning users
+- Multiple payment methods offered
+- Quarterly plan option alongside monthly/annual
+- Team invite flow for solo-to-team conversion
+
+---
+
+### Personalization Experiments
+
+**Usage-Based**
+- Personalize paywall copy based on features used
+- Highlight most-used premium features
+- Show usage stats ("You've created 50 projects")
+- Recommend plan based on behavior patterns
+- Dynamic feature emphasis based on user segment
+
+**Segment-Specific**
+- Different paywall for power users vs. casual users
+- B2B vs. B2C messaging variations
+- Industry-specific value propositions
+- Role-based feature highlighting
+- Traffic source-based messaging
+
+---
+
+### Frequency & UX Experiments
+
+**Frequency Capping**
+- Test number of prompts per session
+- Cool-down period after dismiss (hours vs. days)
+- Escalating urgency over time vs. consistent messaging
+- Once per feature vs. consolidated prompts
+- Re-show rules after major engagement
+
+**Dismiss Behavior**
+- "Maybe later" vs. "No thanks" vs. "Remind me tomorrow"
+- Ask reason for declining
+- Offer alternative (lower tier, annual discount)
+- Exit survey on dismiss
+- Friendly vs. neutral decline copy
+
+---
+
+
+## Questions to Ask
+
+If you need more context:
+1. What's your current free → paid conversion rate?
+2. What triggers upgrade prompts today?
+3. What features are behind the paywall?
+4. What's your "aha moment" for users?
+5. What pricing model? (per seat, usage, flat)
+6. Mobile app, web app, or both?
+
+---
+
+
+## Related Skills
+
+- **page-cro**: For public pricing page optimization
+- **onboarding-cro**: For driving to aha moment before upgrade
+- **ab-test-setup**: For testing paywall variations
+- **analytics-tracking**: For measuring upgrade funnel