5 ways to give access to content and attract more subscribers - Prenly
Here are five effective ways to provide access to content while supporting audience growth and subscription conversion - find the ones that fit best for you:
1. Make a specific publication public for everyone
Even if your content is normally protected by a paywall, you can choose to make a single edition freely available to all readers.
This can be particularly effective for special editions, seasonal publications, breaking news coverage, or content that showcases the value of your publication to new audiences.
To maximize visibility, feature the public edition prominently on your homepage using the Editor’s Pick component. This ensures visitors immediately see the publication you want to promote.
By making selected content publicly accessible, you also increase the chances of being discovered through search engines and content recommendations.
Learn how to make a publication public →
2. Share a specific publication via link
Sometimes you might want to promote a particular edition by opening it for a specific audience.
With a shareable publication link, you can grant access to a specific edition and distribute it through:
- Social media campaigns
- Email newsletters
- Partner collaborations
- Events and conferences
- Print advertisements
- QR code campaigns
Anyone with the link can access the publication, even without a subscription.
This approach is especially useful when measuring campaign performance, since you can track engagement from individual marketing activities and better understand which channels drive the most interest.
Learn how to create a marketing link →
3. Make older publications public automatically
Your archive can be one of your most valuable marketing assets.
Instead of keeping every publication behind a paywall indefinitely, you can automatically make older editions publicly available after a defined period, such as 30, 60, or 90 days. This approach allows readers to experience the quality of your publication while keeping your newest content exclusive to subscribers.
Many publishers use archive access as a way to balance subscription revenue with content discoverability.
Why archive access improves discoverability
Publicly available content can help your publication:
- Appear in Google search results
- Be discovered through AI-powered search experiences
- Build authority around specific topics
- Generate long-term organic traffic
- Reach readers who are researching a topic months or years later
By combining premium content with accessible archive content, publishers can improve both visibility and subscriber growth.
Learn how to configure archive access →
4. Offer free access to your entire application for a limited time
Sometimes the best way to convert readers is to let them experience everything your app has to offer.
With Free Days Access, readers can download your app and enjoy full access for a predefined number of days. Once the trial period ends, an active subscription is required to continue accessing content.
This is an effective way to increase app downloads and reduce barriers for first-time users.
For publishers focused on audience development, free trial campaigns can be an effective part of a long-term subscriber acquisition strategy.
Learn how to set up Free Days Access →
5. Give temporary access using voucher codes
Voucher codes are a flexible and measurable way to grant access to a specific title for a limited period.
Option 1: Generic Voucher codes
Running a marketing campaign?
Create a simple voucher code such as SUMMER26 and promote it through:
- Social media
- Print campaigns
- Newsletters
- Partner organizations
- Your website
Anyone who enters the code receives access according to the rules you define.
Option 2: Unique Voucher Codes
If you need more control, you can generate unique voucher codes and distribute one code per recipient.
This allows you to:
- Track redemptions individually
- Limit access to specific users
- Measure campaign effectiveness
- Control distribution more precisely
Voucher campaigns can be particularly useful for partnerships, membership organizations, event attendees and targeted acquisition campaigns.
Learn how to create and manage vouchers →
Measure the results of your campaigns
Whichever access strategy you choose, measuring the results is essential.
Basic metrics such as link clicks, voucher redemptions, or app downloads provide valuable insights. However, a statistics integration can help you understand the complete reader journey.
With analytics in place, you can also see:
- How readers interact with your publications
- Which publications generate the most interest
- How long readers stay engaged
- Which pages receive the most attention
- Whether readers return after their first visit
- Which acquisition channels perform best
- How many readers eventually become subscribers
These insights help you identify which campaigns are driving engagement, improving discoverability and generating subscription growth.