How the freemium model helped us serve our unique client base

At CE Broker, we work with state licensing boards and healthcare professionals to track continuing education. Because we work with government agencies, the way we make money is highly scrutinized. This is where our freemium business model comes in.

Our goal for growth is to get as many free users tracking their CE with us as possible. As CEO of Evernote, Phil Libin said, “The easiest way to get 1 million people paying, is to get 1 billion people using.”

In order to make the freemium model work for CE Broker and its users, there are three priorities we continually focus on:

A comprehensive free service.

The freemium model allows us to be absolutely cost-free to boards and licensees. Many licensees are required by their state to use CE Broker, so remaining free is essential. We continually improve our product and maintain the expectation that most will use it for free.

Support that defines the experience.

We believe that great customer service makes or breaks a SaaS company. In a complex industry like licensure, offering help is critical. The small percentage who choose to subscribe to our upgraded services allow us to provide phone, chat, and email support to all of our users.

Above and beyond upgrades.

Because we give away some of our best and most helpful tools, our upgraded account options have to be stellar. Our upgraded accounts automate and simplify CE tracking and improvement of those tools is a constant endeavor.

When working with government clients, money is a touchy issue. So, we keep the mindset that whether they are paying, or using for free, the user’s experience has to be incredibly positive.

Government agencies are not the right clients for every SaaS company. You must communicate, operate, and structure yourself differently. In CE Broker’s case, however, the freemium model has been pivotal in our success.