The Fastest Way to Grow Subscriptions Isn’t Retention (Here’s Why)

In this episode of Subscription Prescription, I break down a question that comes up constantly when auditing subscription brands. Most teams instinctively focus on retention, trying to squeeze incremental gains out of month-to-month renewal rates. But what if the biggest lever is actually before the first order ever happens?

Using a simple, real-world math example, I walk through:

• Why cutting churn in half is often harder than it sounds
• How small improvements to conversion rate and subscription opt-in can drive the same growth as major retention overhauls
• The tradeoffs between retention optimization and offer testing
• Why acquisition and retention cannot be treated as separate strategies in subscriptions
• How things like default subscribe-and-save, bulk subscriptions, and offer positioning can make retention easier downstream

If you’re trying to grow subscription LTV, improve renewal rates, or decide where to invest your time this year, this episode will help you think about subscriptions more holistically.

For visuals and the full math breakdown, check out the newsletter or watch the episode on YouTube. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe to stay notified.

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