How do I stop fans from buying content they already own?
Give each piece a code, make a fan list with the same name, and add everyone who buys that piece to the list. Every time you mass-message that piece, exclude its list, so nobody who owns it gets charged for it again.
Selling a fan something he already owns is the quickest way to lose a good spender. He notices, he asks for his money back, and next time he thinks twice before buying. It mostly happens with mass messages, when the same video goes out again a few weeks later.
The fix is one fan list per piece, kept up to date every day.
Step 1: Give every piece a code
Each piece needs its own name that never changes, like MIA-260920-L3. If you haven't set that up yet, start with how to organize your vault.
Step 2: Make a fan list with the same name
In your fan lists (not your vault), make a new list for each piece you sell in mass messages. Give it exactly the same name as the code: MIA-260920-L3.
Same name in both places means you never have to think about which list goes with which video.
Step 3: Add buyers every day
Once a day, go through that day's sales. For every fan who bought a piece, add him to that piece's list. Bought MIA-260920-L3? He goes on the list MIA-260920-L3.
It takes a few minutes. Skip a few days and the list stops protecting you.
Step 4: Exclude two lists on every send
When you choose who gets that piece in a mass message, leave out everyone on its list. Also leave out your list of fans who asked not to get mass messages. Two exclusions, every send:
- The piece's list: everyone who already owns it.
- Your no-mass-messages list: everyone who opted out.
If you aren't sure both are on, don't send. If the tool you send with can't leave a list out, don't use it for paid mass messages.
Step 5: Check before you sell in a chat
Before you offer a paid message in a one-on-one chat, check what he has already bought from you. If he's already on that piece's list, offer him the next level instead.
Why it's worth the effort
- Refund requests and complaints cost you money and time.
- A fan who got charged twice buys less afterwards.
- A clean record lets you resend old content without worrying, which is how old shoots keep earning.
When doing it by hand stops working
Keeping lists by hand works up to a few hundred fans. Past that, a tool that tracks purchases for you saves hours. Peachy keeps a record of what each fan owns and skips anyone who already has a piece when it sends.
Other questions people ask
What if a fan already paid twice for the same thing?
Make it right quickly: tell him you noticed, send him something new of the same value for free, and add him to that piece's list so it cannot happen again.
Does this matter for paid posts too?
The risk is mostly in paid messages, because the same piece goes out again and again. If you sell a piece in a paid post as well, add those buyers to the same list.
How often should I update the lists?
Once a day, at the same time every day. A list that is a week behind lets buyers slip through.