What do Netflix, Amazon Prime, and a dusty old gym membership have in common? People happily pay for them every single month. So why is it so hard for brands to turn one-time buyers into recurring subscribers?

For ecommerce retailers, the prospect of getting a steady stream of revenue each month is very welcome. As well as generating a predictable income, subscriptions can strengthen customer relationships and present regular opportunities to engage with shoppers throughout the month. 

The hard part is convincing shoppers to commit to a monthly subscription. With so much competition, getting someone to buy from you once is hard, let alone make a repeat purchase.