How to Raise Your Prices Without Angering Legacy Users
Never surprise users. Give notice. And most importantly, "Legacy" (Grandfather) your early adopters. They took a bet on you; reward them.
What is Grandfathering?
Grandfathering is The practice of effectively freezing the price for existing customers while raising it for new customers.
The 3 Core Benefits
Immediate Revenue Bump
Raising prices on NEW users instantly increases your ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) and extends your runway.
Urgency for Fence-Sitters
Announcing "Prices go up in 7 days" is the best marketing campaign ever. Fence-sitters will rush to lock in the old rate.
Repositioning
Higher prices signal a more premium product. It allows you to move up-market away from "cheap" customers who complain the most.
The Price Hike Protocol
The "Grandfather" Decision
Option A: Keep them on old price forever (High Loyalty). Option B: Give them a discount on new price (High Risk). We recommend A for early stage.
The Announcement
Email everyone: "On [Date], our prices are increasing to $X. As a thank you for being early, your price will NOT change."
The Promotion
Tell your free users: "Upgrade now to lock in the legacy rate forever." This triggers massive conversion from free -> paid.
Update the Website
Change the pricing page. If you have "Starting at Free" messaging, update it to "Start for Free" (Mesh language).
Mesh Pricing Power
Use your Mesh network presence to justify the value. "We now connect you to 500+ founders." More network value = Higher willingness to pay.
Silent Increase vs. Transparent Legacy
| Feature | Silent Increase | Transparent Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Reaction | Anger / Churn | Gratitude / Loaylty |
| Revenue Impact | Short term dip | Long term gain |
| Trust | Broken | Strengthened |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the right time to raise prices?
When you have added significant value since the last price set. Or if you haven't raised them in 2 years.
What if new users complain?
They won't know the old price. To them, the new price is just "The Price."
Should I explain why (Inflation)?
No. Explain "Value Added." "We added AI, Dark Mode, and API access." Customers pay for value, not your AWS bill.
What makes a launch channel high intent?
High-intent channels have users actively searching for solutions, not just browsing a feed.
How many channels should I launch on?
Start with 3-5 strong channels, measure conversions, then expand to 10-12 over time.
How do I avoid launch fatigue?
Stagger your launches and reuse assets so each channel gets a focused push.
What should I measure after launch?
Track qualified signups, backlinks, and demo requests, not just raw traffic.
How does Mesh of Growth fit with other platforms?
Use Mesh for compounding reviews and backlinks while other platforms provide short-term spikes.
Ready to get instant traffic from trusted founders?
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