The All-You-Can-Eat Library model provides unlimited access to a large content warehouse
The All-You-Can-Eat Library model provides unlimited access to a large content warehouse
The All-You-Can-Eat Library model is a subscription business that offers customers unlimited access to a large and varied collection of content for a flat recurring fee. The value proposition is not that a customer will consume everything, but that the sheer breadth of the library guarantees there will always be something of interest to them.
This model has been used to disrupt numerous industries, including:
- Music: Services like Spotify and Apple Music have shifted the industry from owning individual tracks to accessing vast music libraries.
- Movies and TV: Netflix disrupted the video rental and traditional TV markets by offering a massive, on-demand library of content.
- Books and Courses: Services like Scribd and Lynda.com provide access to extensive collections of e-books and educational courses.
Key characteristics of this model include:
- A Large Content Warehouse: The foundation of the model is a substantial library of content. This often requires a significant upfront investment or creative content acquisition strategies.
- Focus on "Evergreen" Content: The library is typically built on a foundation of timeless, evergreen content that remains valuable for years.
- Constant Refresh: A small amount of new content is regularly added to keep the offering fresh and give subscribers a reason to stay.
To succeed, this model often requires a large base of subscribers to spread the high cost of content acquisition across. It also relies on having a pre-existing audience to convert into paying members.