# Pricing strategy and page optimization Human Guide

## What This Is For
Optimize pricing pages, pricing models, and pricing strategy. It gives the agent a clearer input/output frame for go-to-market work: what context to ask for, what decisions to make, and what usable artifact to return.

Use this as a human-readable version of the Pricing strategy and page optimization agent skill. It is meant for marketers, operators, founders, and other non-coders who want the workflow without reading agent-specific implementation instructions.

## When To Use This
- Use this when you need a repeatable process for pricing strategy and page optimization.
- Use this when the task needs judgment, examples, constraints, or a clear output format rather than a one-off prompt.
- Use this when you want to hand an AI assistant enough context to produce a usable marketing artifact.

## When Not To Use This
- Do not use this when you only need a quick factual answer.
- Do not use this when the work depends on private data you cannot share with the assistant.
- Do not use this as a replacement for legal, compliance, financial, or medical review.

## What You Need Before Starting
- The goal or business outcome you want.
- The audience, customer segment, or market context.
- Any source material the assistant should respect, such as notes, briefs, examples, URLs, or brand guidance.
- Constraints such as tone, length, channel, deadline, region, or approval requirements.
- A clear definition of what a good final answer should look like.

## Step-By-Step Workflow
1. State the job clearly: "Use the Pricing strategy and page optimization guide to help me with..."
2. Add context: audience, goal, offer, channel, source material, and constraints.
3. Ask the assistant to identify missing inputs before producing the final output.
4. Have the assistant follow the skill-specific guidance below.
5. Review the result against the final checklist and ask for revisions where needed.

## Skill-Specific Guidance
- Core value in all tiers -- never gate the primary use case
- Gate on scale (seats, storage, API calls), not core features
- Gate on admin/governance (SSO, RBAC, audit logs) for enterprise
- Gate on support level (email < chat < priority < dedicated)
- Create natural upgrade triggers during normal usage
- **Headline**: Value-focused ("Simple pricing that scales with you"), not just "Pricing"
- **Billing toggle**: Monthly/Annual with savings shown as % and $
- **Tier cards**: Highlighted middle tier, checkmarks/dashes for features
- **Feature comparison table**: Expandable, grouped by category
- **Social proof**: Logos, testimonials addressing pricing objections
- **FAQ**: Can I switch plans? What happens after trial? Discounts? Refunds? Cancel anytime?
- **Final CTA**: Repeat with value message

## Decision Points And Nuance
The original skill emphasizes: Step 1: Gather Context, Step 2: Pricing Model Selection, Step 3: Pricing Psychology, Price Anchoring, Decoy Effect, Charm Pricing, Center-Stage Effect, Loss Aversion, Endowment Effect, Price-Quality Signal.

Use these questions to steer the work:
- What is the intended audience or buyer?
- What source material must be preserved?
- What should the assistant optimize for: clarity, persuasion, accuracy, speed, creativity, or conversion?
- What examples represent the desired quality bar?
- What should the assistant avoid?

## Common Mistakes
- Core value in all tiers -- never gate the primary use case
- Never gate basic security
- Never show different prices to same user on repeat visits. Only test on new visitors. Run 30+ days. Track downstream (churn, LTV). Grandfather existing customers.

## Copy-And-Paste Prompt
```text
Use the Pricing strategy and page optimization human guide.

My goal:
[Describe the business outcome]

Audience:
[Describe who this is for]

Context and source material:
[Paste notes, examples, links, or existing copy]

Constraints:
[Tone, length, channel, timeline, must-include items, must-avoid items]

Before producing the final output, ask me for any missing information that would materially improve the result.
```

## Final Checklist
- [ ] The output matches the original goal.
- [ ] The audience and context are reflected in the answer.
- [ ] Important constraints and source material were preserved.
- [ ] The assistant made the relevant decisions explicit.
- [ ] The final artifact is ready to use, review, or hand to the next person.

## Source
This guide was generated from the openclaudia/openclaudia-skills skill entry for `pricing-strategy`.

## Source Skill Notes
These notes preserve the nuance from the original skill. Use them as supporting reference when the workflow above feels too generic.

# Pricing Strategy and Page Optimization

You are an expert pricing strategist. When the user asks you to design pricing, optimize a pricing page, or advise on pricing decisions, follow this framework.

## Step 1: Gather Context

Establish: product/service, target market (B2B/B2C/SMB/enterprise), current pricing, cost structure (COGS, marginal cost), value delivered, competitive pricing, current conversion metrics, revenue model, stage (pre-launch/early/growth/scale).

## Step 2: Pricing Model Selection

| Model | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Freemium** | Viral/network effects, low marginal cost | Large funnel, PLG | Low conversion (2-5%) |
| **Free Trial** (time) | Products needing time to show value | Creates urgency, 10-25% conversion | Requires strong onboarding |
| **Flat Rate** | Simple products, single persona | Easy to understand | Leaves money on table |
| **Per-Seat** | Collaboration tools | Scales with adoption | Discourages spreading |
| **Usage-Based** | API, infrastructure | Aligns with value | Unpredictable revenue |
| **Tiered** | Most SaaS, distinct segments | Captures different WTP | Can overwhelm |
| **Hybrid** | Mature platforms | Predictable + upside | Complex |

**Decision tree**: Low marginal cost + viral -> Freemium. Needs demo time -> Free trial (14d simple, 30d complex). Scales with team -> Per-seat. Scales with consumption -> Usage-based. Distinct segments -> Tiered (3 tiers).

## Step 3: Pricing Psychology

### 1. Price Anchoring
Show highest tier first, compare to alternatives ("vs. hiring at $80K/year"), compare to outcome value ("Generates $10K savings. Costs $99/month").

### 2. Decoy Effect
Add a plan that makes the target plan look obviously better. Example: Basic $9 (5 users), Plus $25 (10 users, DECOY), Pro $29 (25 users, TARGET).

### 3. Charm Pricing
$99 feels cheaper than $100. Use .99 for consumer/SMB, round numbers for enterprise/premium.

### 4. Center-Stage Effect
People choose the middle of 3 options. Make your target plan the middle tier and highlight it.

### 5. Loss Aversion
Frame around what they lose without your product. Use "downgrade" language. Show features they would lose.

### 6. Endowment Effect
Full-featured trials, then keep. Show personalized data that makes leaving painful.

### 7. Price-Quality Signal
Premium products should not underprice. Own higher prices: "We cost more because we deliver more."

## Step 4: Tier Design

### 3-Tier Framework

```
TIER 1 (STARTER): Acquisition. Low/no cost. Enough value to demonstrate product.
  Natural upgrade triggers (usage limits, feature gates).

TIER 2 (PRO - TARGET): Revenue engine. Everything most customers need.
  Best value perception. Highlight "Most Popular." Price: 2-4x Tier 1.

TIER 3 (ENTERPRISE): Capture high WTP. SSO, audit logs, SLAs, dedicated support.
  Custom pricing, sales-assisted. Price: 2-5x Tier 2.
```

### Feature Gating Rules

1. Core value in all tiers -- never gate the primary use case
2. Gate on scale (seats, storage, API calls), not core features
3. Gate on admin/governance (SSO, RBAC, audit logs) for enterprise
4. Gate on support level (email < chat < priority < dedicated)
5. Never gate basic security
6. Create natural upgrade triggers during normal usage

## Step 5: Pricing Page Design

### 3-Column Layout

```
+------------------+---------------------+------------------+
|    STARTER       |    PROFESSIONAL     |    ENTERPRISE    |
|    $19/mo        |    $49/mo           |    Contact Sales |
|                  |   * MOST POPULAR *  |                  |
|  [Start Free]    |  [Start Free Trial] |  [Talk to Sales] |
|  Feature list    |  Everything in      |  Everything in   |