Launching video website for power industry. Website will offer user subscriptions for $29.95/mo for access to 50+ videos. Should it be free instead?

Hi, Walter here.
Assume I am your potential customer. I see your website because I am searching for related power industry information.
I am in the searching stage, not ready to buy.
No idea about your company reputation, nor have and idea of who you are. The Know, Like and Trust factor is missing.
Hard to be your customer in the above circumstances.
If you ask me to pay a subscription fee to access the information I am looking for, I will look some place else.
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Here is my answer:
1. Need to build up you and your company to your potential customers.
a. Tell your Avatar, that's your target customer. your story on how and why you are solving their particular problem in a video, a free video story.
b. Include a call to action in the email, mostly providing more updated information on the matter by email. So you are requesting the potential customer email (Opt-in)
c. Once you received the email, send a comprehensive, value loaded email with things as: Infographic with statistics about your avatar problem and pointing toward your company on how to solve it. Add a video following up to the one on the Opt-in form where you got the email to start with. Remember it takes and average of 7 presentations for a sales conversion. So present the opportunity to take action every time you send and email along with value. You are building TRUST by stepping on the customer shoes and helping him up.
So you will have to Opt-in options on all you emails out. Once to subscribe to your videos series and one for a survey to closely identify the customer problems and desires.
Today's marketing is about story telling. Follow up with powerful value to them and build up you email list.
There, in the mailing list is where your power is. That's you sales pipe, the communication channel to build your relation to your potential customer and convert them to customers when the Know, Like and Trust is build.

My friend, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

You need a way to monetize it. Free websites can get your foot in the door and also give you their information... and there are loads of ways to ETHICALLY make a solid stream of income off that as well.

If you'd like to get my take on it and have me guide you through it step by step, feel free to set up a ten minute call. It will be the best investment you have made for your business-- Forbes and the American Business Awards aren't be wrong about me!

It depends. Can the content be found elsewhere for free? Is it unique content? I give away content for free that I believe people can find elsewhere and charge for unique content. I use the free content to grow my audience.