Subscribers are a huge asset for any ecommerce brand: The typical subscriber generates 3 times the revenue of a one-time customer, with top subscribers reaching over 20 times that amount. They order more often, stay longer, and become loyal advocates for your brand. That’s why it’s so important to make subscribing easy, appealing, and the obvious choice.
Recharge’s subscription widget helps you do exactly that. It gives you the tools to highlight your subscription offering, match it to your brand, and test what works best, all right from your product page.
Here are three simple ways to convert more subscribers.
1. Make subscriptions the default decision
When people shop, especially for a new product or with a new brand, they tend to go with what’s easiest. That’s often the first option they see. That’s why setting subscriptions to the default purchase option on your product pages can make such a big difference—it takes the friction out of subscriptions and makes them the smart, simple choice.
It works: Brands that lead with subscriptions on their PDPs earn 4 times more subscribers than those that don’t.
Try this
Make subscriptions the default option on your PDPs, and make sure to highlight subscription benefits with, for example, a “Save 20%” badge. The easier you make it to subscribe, the more likely shoppers are to opt in.
2. Design for your brand, test for results
Your subscription widget shouldn’t feel like an afterthought; it should feel like an integrated, intentional part of the shopping experience. It’s often a customer’s introduction to the idea of subscribing, so it deserves the same care and intention as the rest of your site. A well-designed widget reinforces your brand and clearly communicates why subscribing is the better choice.
Try this
Make sure your widget matches your brand by adjusting fonts, colors, and tone. Integrate social proof to help customers purchase confidently. Keep the copy simple, focusing on perks like free shipping, discounts, flexible delivery, or surprise gifts.
Then test your widget’s performance to optimize it, experimenting with different aspects:
- Copy. Elevate different subscription perks to see which are the most compelling.
- Visual style. Test bold colors or quiet consistency to see what drives more engagement.
- CTAs. Test traditional discount-led CTAs like “Subscribe & save” against perk-driven options like “Subscribe for exclusive perks.”
3. Find your conversion sweet spot with testing
Not all discounts deliver the same impact. A 10% offer might not move the needle, while a 15% offer could significantly boost conversions. The key is finding the right balance between value for the customer and sustainable growth for your business. A/B testing gives you the data to make confident, performance-driven decisions, not guesses.
Try this
Run a simple, structured A/B test to optimize your discount offer.
- Set your discount offers
We recommend testing your current subscription offer against an offer 5% higher, e.g. 10% off vs. 15% off. - Run the test for at least two weeks
Give the test enough time to collect meaningful data and reduce noise - Track key metrics to find the winner
Focus on metrics like subscription opt-in rate, total revenue, and conversion rate to identify your top performer. - Set the winning variant as the default
Apply the top-performing version as the default on your PDP to drive the best results.
Start turning shoppers into subscribers
Subscriptions offer more than just convenience—they build long-term relationships between brands and customers. Subscribers stay longer, order more often, and become your most valuable customers.
Your product page plays a key role in driving subscriptions. By leading with a subscription-first experience, aligning it with your brand, and testing what performs best, you create a clear path to more subscription revenue.
Start using Recharge’s subscription widget to put these best practices into action.
