Five birdhouses (red, yellow, orange, green, blue) with the sky as the background.

Five on Friday: Growth, Waitlists and Subscription Jobs

Featuring LinkedIn, Twitter, MoviePass and Amazon

This week, we’re seeing growth, waitlists and subscription jobs. LinkedIn has grown to 900 million members, and is seeing large growth in the newsletter sector. Twitter Blue is looking at a more expensive tier that boasts an ad-free experience, and MoviePass is back with a new iteration of the waitlist. In addition, Amazon is adding a delivery fee to Fresh orders less than $150, and we’ve got top subscription jobs to share.

LinkedIn continues to grow

LinkedIn is making waves in the subscription world. They reported experiencing record levels of in-app engagement in their most recent quarter, Social Media Today reported. The site celebrated more than 900 million members on their professional social media platform.

In Microsoft’s earnings call, the parent company noted that LinkedIn revenue had increased by 10%. Alongside that statistic was the report of sessions growing 18%. LinkedIn shared that they have three new members sign up every second, and that 80% of their user base is outside the US.

Copyright © 2023 Authority Media Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Another thing to help LinkedIn stand out is their commitment to newsletters. Fifty-three million people subscribe to 213 million newsletters from Linked In, The Information shared. Subscription newsletters via LinkedIn keep people coming back, and they only continue to grow. There are currently 63,000 newsletters on LinkedIn, a figure that is 10 times higher than the prior year. The total number of subscriptions is four times higher than the previous year. LinkedIn is also working on building a feature to show users what newsletters other users are subscribed to, potentially increasing newsletter subscriptions through discoverability.

LinkedIn shared other behaviors that grew. Skills have become a currency, and the site has been able to capitalize on changing roles and industries. They currently host more than 20,000 courses to help users of all disciplines train in other areas, should they be faced with a Big Tech layoff. Their skills-based approach has helped 45% of people hiring based on the skills learned on LinkedIn.

With tens of thousands of tech layoffs (e.g., Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce, Spotify), it could be the case that more users are flocking to LinkedIn to help them find employers, and hone their skills to make them more marketable.

iPhone 13 with LinkedIn application on the screen. LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service
Source: Bigstock Photo

Twitter Blue to get ad-free subscription tier

Twitter Blue subscribers may finally get what they want: ad-free scrolling. New CEO Elon Musk tweeted, “There will be a higher priced subscription that allows zero ads.” Could this just be Twitter floundering for cash after Musk’s tirades and the mass exodus of advertisers?

The initial promise to Blue subscribers was that they would see 50% fewer ads, but that has yet to roll out. There is no confirmation when, or if, that will roll out. If there is an ad-free tier, maybe the rest of Twitter users will continue to see ads without any reduction. Twitter’s ad revenue is down 40%, so the social media platform needs all the ad revenue they can get. Some of the company’s larger advertisers have taken pause after the rise in hate speech on the platform, according to The Guardian.

Current Twitter Blue subscribers are awarded a blue “verified” checkmark, the ability to undo tweets, upload longer 1080p videos, reader mode for threads, as well as priority ranking in conversations. Depending on the price hike, paying more for an ad-free experience could be worth it to some users, but quite a few Twitter users have jumped ship since Musk took over.

Musk has had a complicated relationship with advertisers since his Twitter tirades started. In November, an email was sent to publishers stating that their relationship was ending and they would be discontinuing ad-free articles, effective that day. With the partnership, Twitter would pay publishers the equivalent amount of ad revenue from one view, TechCrunch shared. With ad relationships on the rocks, a higher paying tier could help makeup the revenue difference. There is no confirmed price on this tier, or a confirmed date on when it will roll out.

Twitter logo on black background on smartphone, lying on top of hundred dollar bills
Source: Bigstock Photo

MoviePass banks on waitlist strategy

MoviePass is baaaaaaack – this time with another waitlist, pushing on with their latest venture. The movie subscription company relaunched on Labor Day, allowing moviegoers to sign up for their waitlist. MoviePass then announced three test markets based on interest.

In the most recent iteration of the service, there are several plans for users to choose from. Prices start as low as $10 per month, but can soar as high as $60 per month in their busiest and most saturated markets, The Verge shared. With the monthly cost, a moviegoer is allotted a certain number of credits. However, the credits a subscriber needs will vary by time and location. For example, a movie in Chicago could cost less than a movie in Los Angeles, or a movie could be more expensive at 6 PM than it was at 10 AM.

With the tiered subscription system, there are four options: Basic, Standard, Premium and Pro. Basic starts at $10, and Pro goes for $40 per month. Basic subscribers are allowed 34 credits per month, which can get a subscriber access to one to three movies. Pro subscribers can get 113 credits per month, and if broken down the right way, they could see one movie per day, Collider shared. If a user still has credits left over, they will roll into the next month. However, credits left can’t double the subscription total – meaning Pro subscribers can’t accumulate 226 stacked credits.

Moviegoers who signed up on the newest waitlist are expected to get access to the subscription before the summer, Axios reported. MoviePass saw much success with the first waitlist, with 800,000 people joining. MoviePass’ homepage hints that there is a new MoviePass app for those let in on the previous waitlist.

CEO Stacy Spikes has signified the waitlist is intentional, due to wanting to better control the company’s growth. With the surge MoviePass had last time, a new iteration needs to be more fleshed out to see what the market will bear and how MoviePass can serve subscribers while reaching profitability and sustainability.

New MoviePass logo displayed on a movie theater screen
Source: Bigstock Photo

Amazon adds delivery fees to Fresh orders under $150

Amazon is making waves with their latest announcement to Prime subscribers. After axing their Amazon Smile program last week, Amazon still has the need to tighten their belts, slashing costs and raising more revenue. In an email sent to Prime subscribers, the company shared they would be adding delivery fees to Amazon Fresh orders under $150.

There is already barrier to entry to shop with Amazon Fresh. The service is exclusive to Amazon Prime members, which most users pay $139 per year to join. Starting February 28, Fresh orders will include a delivery fee, CNBC shared.

The delivery fees stack up as follows:

  • Orders under $50: $9.95 delivery fee
  • Orders between $50 and $100: $6.95 delivery fee
  • Orders between $100 and $150: $3.95 delivery fee

“This service fee will help keep prices low in our online and physical grocery stores as we better cover grocery delivery costs and continue to enable offering a consistent, fast, and high-quality delivery experience,” the email to customers said. The company also shared that they would continue to commit to two-hour delivery windows for all orders, but there would be a new option for a six-hour delivery window for a reduced fee, Business Insider shared.

Copyright © 2023 Authority Media Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

This move is to help Amazon keep prices low in their grocery stores, but some subscribers feel it’s a cash grab from Amazon. Previously, free delivery had a $35 threshold, or $50 in New York. Amazon has also paused the rollout of more Amazon Fresh physical storefronts due to disappointing sales.

This new fee drives up subscriber costs, making a trip to the grocery store more attractive. Say, for example, a subscriber orders $80 dollars in groceries. They would pay a $6.95 fee per order, plus the tip. For this calculation, let’s say the tip is a flat $10. An $80 grocery order is now $96.95. If a household orders four times a month, that’s an extra $67.80 for the luxury of delivery. While the convenience is necessary for some consumers who can’t get out to shop, grocery prices are skyrocketing. It makes more sense to spend that extra $67.80 for food at your local store.

Amazon fresh application of supermarket and grocery store in a smartphone. A man is holding a smartphone with app for shopping and laptop on the background.
Source: Bigstock Photo

Top Subscription Jobs

Senior Director, YouTube TV and Premium
Google
San Bruno, CA (on-site)

You will work cross-functionally with partners across product, engineering, content partnerships, finance, marketing, regional leadership, policy and communications, and more. You will be responsible for overseeing the overall YouTube TV and Primetime business including P&L (profit and loss) stewardship and building a scalable and sustainable business. You will define and drive the product goal and roadmap for YouTubeTV and Primetime and will serve as the cross-functional lead for the business in coordination with partner teams across partnerships, engineering, UX (user experience), marketing, strategy, finance, and more. Read more.

Vice President, Automotive Connectivity
SiriusXM
Boulder, CO (hybrid)

This position will lead the technical roadmap and implementation for wireless connectivity required to ensure delivery of SiriusXM’s 360L (satellite & terrestrial IP) automotive streaming services through commercial and partner networks. In addition to strong technical skills, this person will have strong business acumen and work cross functionally with internal stakeholders, automotive OEMs, and wireless / technology partners to develop business models that achieve the best outcome for our subscribers, OEM partners, and SiriusXM business. This role will engage with automotive OEMs and wireless providers to develop technical solutions and negotiate technical contract requirements. The ideal candidate will have experience in the wireless industry, automotive connectivity, and leading cross functional teams. Read more.

Chief Revenue Officer
NewsWhip
New York, NY (hybrid)

The company has grown to eight figures of ARR with strong unit economics, new funding, and a large market opportunity ahead. We’re looking for the right CRO to lead our commercial functions through our next growth phase. As our Chief Revenue Officer, you will be a key member of our executive team, reporting to the CEO and working alongside our People, Product and Finance leaders. You will play a pivotal role in the company’s growth by developing and implementing a joined up framework encompassing our marketing, sales and customer success functions, and be the key person responsible for leading our revenue function, managing and enabling our commercial managers, particularly our VPs of Sales, CS and Marketing. Read more.

VP of Software Engineering
Bloomberg Industry Group
Arlington, VA

The VP of Engineering will lead our team of talented engineers and work with Bloomberg IDNG’s product managers, business stakeholders, and internal engineering teams to create and optimize our products. This position will be responsible for the engineering and product development processes as well as achieving financial business goals. As a key Engineering leader, you will be responsible for cultivating an environment that motivates, attracts, and retains great engineers while encouraging collaboration, innovation, and execution. Read more.

Executive Editor, Detroit Free Press
Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK
Michigan (hybrid)

The Detroit Free Press/ freep.com, the largest metro publication within the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a strong, strategic, experienced and innovative executive editor. The editor also will oversee other publications across Michigan, including Lansing, Monroe, Port Huron, Holland and more. The ideal candidate must have a track record of leading and producing powerful journalism that changes lives and consistently turns occasional readers into loyal subscribers. We are looking for fora transformational leader –– someone passionate about watchdog and enterprise reporting who also possesses a deep knowledge of audience. This editor must see and show daily why diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of what we do and how we operate. We want someone who challenges the status quo, builds teams and innovates. Read more.

Job seeker and applicant writing his resume and CV with laptop. Modern and visual electronic curriculum vitae in social media. Work experience document in computer screen. Job search and unemployment.
Source: Bigstock Photo

Copyright © 2023 Authority Media Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Up Next

Register Now For Email Subscription News Updates!

Search this site

You May Be Interested in: