Free software. Open-source frameworks. PodCamps and BarCamps. Free distribution, networks, sharing, media, information, knowledge. The internet is full of information and stuff that’s all FREE.
But I don’t think free is an entitlement. And there is still a place, time, and important case to be made for paying for things.
A while back, Mitch Joel discussed why PodCamp shouldn’t be free. Chris Penn and the PodCamp Boston gang started charging a nominal fee for attendance. I’m in support of this, because ascribing a monetary value to attendance at an event – even a small one – suggests a commitment on the part of the attendee to actually show up and participate. After all, that’s the real value in these events isn’t it? The participation?
I’ve also been asked several times this year why events I’ve been speaking at aren’t livestreamed free on the web for those that can’t be there.
Events cost money to produce. There is value in the time and expertise of the people who are asked to present, and some of them actually earn all or part of their living by doing speaking engagements and consulting work based on that experience and expertise. Attendees have paid money to attend and in some cases to travel to events and experience the content and the interactions that take place there. The events themselves are a business.
I suppose the question here is: Are we entitled to have free access to the content of an event that we weren’t willing to invest time, money, or presence in to be part of in person?
(There’s a separate discussion to be had about creating events that truly have valuable, meaty, and practical content. For more on that, see the conversation that Olivier Blanchard started about social media conferences and see what you think.)
And the whole “social media is free” discussion around business? Please stop it. We’re hurting the legitimacy of these technologies by harping on how “free” they are, when they’re not (business people often equate free with inferior or unnecessary, just FYI). People and time cost money. For planning, for content creation, for manning these networks. Some solid, scalable technologies still cost money. We ought to be speaking about social for business in terms of real investments for a change.
But I digress a bit. My point is…
I’m Willing to Pay for Stuff.
There’s still plenty of stuff that I think has monetary value, and that I’m more than willing to pay for. For instance:
- Curated Content: In the case of events or even some paid content projects or sites, I’m paying someone else to find the best of the best and pull it all together for me so that I don’t have to do the digging and searching and sorting.
- Community Access: Sometimes, I’m willing to pay for a professional organization or network that ensures I’m gathering around other people with like interests, experience, or problems they’re trying to solve. In some cases, that’s about gaining entry to a community I aspire to be part of (like investing $6K to go to the TED conference). Again, it’s about someone else applying filters for me.
- Expertise I Don’t Have: I could probably learn to do the coding on my blog myself, but I choose to spend my time otherwise so I pay people to do it for me. Likewise, many professionals have spent lots of years accruing the knowledge they have in their field. Some of it they’re happy to produce as free content to help others on the DIY path. But sometimes, professional input, time, and advice can and should come with a pricetag. I don’t expect my mechanic to fix my car for nothing just because I can get the manual free at the library.
- Technology: Rather self explanatory, but this is about making my life easier, giving me access to people and information, protecting and securing my information or assets, et cetera.
Those are just a few examples. I’d love to hear what you’re paying for.
But just because free is everywhere doesn’t mean that free is a given. Nor does it mean that free is always better. (Though I will say I’m all about Free Hugs.)
I’m all for investing money in some things, and I don’t think those that endeavor to make money through their content, expertise, or skills are evil. The market will tell them whether folks are willing to pay for what they have to offer, no?
So what say you? Have we gotten a little too comfortable with the notion of free? Share your experiences and perspective with me.
Addendum: Catching up in my reader after I wrote this, and Mitch Joel is on the same wavelength. He’s got some articulate points here, so go read his post on The Problem with Free.
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So true – particularly on the aspect of business’s attitude to free.
I’ve seen a weird attitude where the cost of design and build for Web1.0 is discussed and fought over, but he cost of content development is never made explicit because it tends to be part of someone’s job. This leads to a warped view that social media activities will be free because the cost of a twitter/facebook account is free. Complete nonsense, if we’re delivering value to our readers and our communities there must be a cost of producing that content.
I try to balance the “free” of the tool vs the “cost” of developing content or building a community in discussing social media with colleagues/managers.
Thanks for your post!
.-= Louise McGregor´s last blog ..Unexpected Beauty =-.
So true – particularly on the aspect of business’s attitude to free.
I’ve seen a weird attitude where the cost of design and build for Web1.0 is discussed and fought over, but he cost of content development is never made explicit because it tends to be part of someone’s job. This leads to a warped view that social media activities will be free because the cost of a twitter/facebook account is free. Complete nonsense, if we’re delivering value to our readers and our communities there must be a cost of producing that content.
I try to balance the “free” of the tool vs the “cost” of developing content or building a community in discussing social media with colleagues/managers.
Thanks for your post!
.-= Louise McGregor´s last blog ..Unexpected Beauty =-.
Amber,
I loved this line, ” I don’t expect my mechanic to fix my car for nothing just because I can get the manual free at the library. ”
I feel that way on many fronts, back in the day I used to fix computers for folks, but they didn’t want to pay a rate you would pay a Plumber or an Electrician. People will pay for those services but not for computer tech help nor will they for help with information / implementaion because they can get the manual elsewhere.
Not everyone has the time or the real know how in many, many areas. I’m not convinced this will ever change, IMHO Internet Users today are narcisists, they think they are smarter than everyone and know everything, hence, truckloads of snake oil are sold daily.
Keep up the great work Amber.
Amber,
I loved this line, ” I don’t expect my mechanic to fix my car for nothing just because I can get the manual free at the library. ”
I feel that way on many fronts, back in the day I used to fix computers for folks, but they didn’t want to pay a rate you would pay a Plumber or an Electrician. People will pay for those services but not for computer tech help nor will they for help with information / implementaion because they can get the manual elsewhere.
Not everyone has the time or the real know how in many, many areas. I’m not convinced this will ever change, IMHO Internet Users today are narcisists, they think they are smarter than everyone and know everything, hence, truckloads of snake oil are sold daily.
Keep up the great work Amber.
I am ok (and expect) to pay for stuff I value – for example “expect” to pay for music, TV and Movies on iTunes.
I pay for membership to trade associations. One of the major values of these associations is their advocacy work. So, many times even non-members benefit from the effort of the association. As a good “corporate” citizen I feel it is important to be a financial supporter of my trade association. My membership heightens involvement, commitment and value. It gives me the vehicle and “right” to comment and critique – to be heard.
.-= Rick Morgan´s last blog ..Merry Christmas =-.
I am ok (and expect) to pay for stuff I value – for example “expect” to pay for music, TV and Movies on iTunes.
I pay for membership to trade associations. One of the major values of these associations is their advocacy work. So, many times even non-members benefit from the effort of the association. As a good “corporate” citizen I feel it is important to be a financial supporter of my trade association. My membership heightens involvement, commitment and value. It gives me the vehicle and “right” to comment and critique – to be heard.
.-= Rick Morgan´s last blog ..Merry Christmas =-.
Amber,
I expect to pay when I am supporting my friends and family during important life events. I feel that free virtual gifts are an extreme cop-out and devalue the tradition of finding ways to share and support others in thoughtful ways.
I pay to send something of real value to those who are experiencing happy or sad times. A silly virtual flower is valueless and sends the signal that I am really to busy to care. A real flower, purchased with money, sits on the table and speaks the words “I care enough to sacrifice money for you”.
The web can facilitate real giving in many thoughtful and fun ways.
.-= Bruce Christensen´s last blog ..Trampled by a crowd and enjoying it =-.
Amber,
I expect to pay when I am supporting my friends and family during important life events. I feel that free virtual gifts are an extreme cop-out and devalue the tradition of finding ways to share and support others in thoughtful ways.
I pay to send something of real value to those who are experiencing happy or sad times. A silly virtual flower is valueless and sends the signal that I am really to busy to care. A real flower, purchased with money, sits on the table and speaks the words “I care enough to sacrifice money for you”.
The web can facilitate real giving in many thoughtful and fun ways.
.-= Bruce Christensen´s last blog ..Trampled by a crowd and enjoying it =-.
We are entitled to free.
But free is in the eyes of the beholder. When I read the NY Times online for “free” it isn’t free, it’s been paid for, but someone else. Someone is paying the writers, the researches, the builders, the editors.
I will pay for convenience, I will pay for access. I will pay for anything that I consider worthy of payment. Otherwise, I find ways to do without.
If there’s one thing the digital age has taught us, it’s that free isn’t a business model. Someone is paying, somewhere.
Now as consumers, there is a lot we may choose to pay for, and there are some areas (most web video) that we may expect to be free (to us). But make no mistake, money is changing hands. 😕 )
.-= Jon B´s last blog ..Lessons from the Fishbowl =-.
We are entitled to free.
But free is in the eyes of the beholder. When I read the NY Times online for “free” it isn’t free, it’s been paid for, but someone else. Someone is paying the writers, the researches, the builders, the editors.
I will pay for convenience, I will pay for access. I will pay for anything that I consider worthy of payment. Otherwise, I find ways to do without.
If there’s one thing the digital age has taught us, it’s that free isn’t a business model. Someone is paying, somewhere.
Now as consumers, there is a lot we may choose to pay for, and there are some areas (most web video) that we may expect to be free (to us). But make no mistake, money is changing hands. 😕 )
.-= Jon B´s last blog ..Lessons from the Fishbowl =-.
I posted about this very thing today and agree completely. Bloggers will likely still blog for free but earn via book sales and appearances. Much like musicians now earning through concerts, not CDs or downloads. Keep Radiating. Peace!
That is a bit of an off beat analogy. Musician always “earned” through concerts, they made minimal amounts off of record/cd sales, it is the label and/or retailer losing out on the sale of hard goods due to digital transition. To make money on a record release a band had to be in the negotiation stage of new record contract, when a lable would hurl obscene money at them to cover what they had already accomplished, not necessarily what they would accomplish.
I get what you are saying regarding bloggers, but that earning potential might be short lived, especially for “books”.
.-= Patrick´s last blog ..Production 3.0 (sort of) =-.
I posted about this very thing today and agree completely. Bloggers will likely still blog for free but earn via book sales and appearances. Much like musicians now earning through concerts, not CDs or downloads. Keep Radiating. Peace!
That is a bit of an off beat analogy. Musician always “earned” through concerts, they made minimal amounts off of record/cd sales, it is the label and/or retailer losing out on the sale of hard goods due to digital transition. To make money on a record release a band had to be in the negotiation stage of new record contract, when a lable would hurl obscene money at them to cover what they had already accomplished, not necessarily what they would accomplish.
I get what you are saying regarding bloggers, but that earning potential might be short lived, especially for “books”.
.-= Patrick´s last blog ..Production 3.0 (sort of) =-.
Amber,
I don’t think we are entitled to free, necessarily, but I’ll agree with Jon B that there are some things I’m willing to pay for and some I am not. Mitch Joel was right – I do value more that things I pay for. But I am more selective about them as well. I don’t download nearly as much music as I used when it was free – but I listen a lot more to that music. I don’t buy as many books now that I have a good library – but the books I buy, I read over and over. I’m not willing to pay for a newspaper subscription – I would rather deal with the ‘time cost’ that comes with ads. But if all newspapers started charging? I’d force myself to find one or two I really liked.
It’s hard though, to justify paying for something that used to be free. Less eyes, but more loyal customers.
.-= Amanda VanLente-Hatter´s last blog ..A swing and a Christmas card miss =-.
Amber,
I don’t think we are entitled to free, necessarily, but I’ll agree with Jon B that there are some things I’m willing to pay for and some I am not. Mitch Joel was right – I do value more that things I pay for. But I am more selective about them as well. I don’t download nearly as much music as I used when it was free – but I listen a lot more to that music. I don’t buy as many books now that I have a good library – but the books I buy, I read over and over. I’m not willing to pay for a newspaper subscription – I would rather deal with the ‘time cost’ that comes with ads. But if all newspapers started charging? I’d force myself to find one or two I really liked.
It’s hard though, to justify paying for something that used to be free. Less eyes, but more loyal customers.
.-= Amanda VanLente-Hatter´s last blog ..A swing and a Christmas card miss =-.
thanks for the reminder…we don’t want to use the word free to manipulate as well.
.-= Jim Gray´s last blog ..Poll: To Subscribe or Follow? =-.
thanks for the reminder…we don’t want to use the word free to manipulate as well.
.-= Jim Gray´s last blog ..Poll: To Subscribe or Follow? =-.
The examples you give are gifts. People are giving stuff freely, but they have value as gifts. Sometimes giving a gift to someone else does much more for you than getting money from them would. You build a relationship. You establish trust. You create a reputation for being generous. You demonstrate that you have so much going for you that you can give really good stuff away for free.
So, are we entitled to “free”? I agree with you: no. That’s precisely why we’re grateful to receive things that are free–because we are not entitled to them.
We’re not entitled to free. That’s why I think the world of people generous enough to give good stuff away freely.
The examples you give are gifts. People are giving stuff freely, but they have value as gifts. Sometimes giving a gift to someone else does much more for you than getting money from them would. You build a relationship. You establish trust. You create a reputation for being generous. You demonstrate that you have so much going for you that you can give really good stuff away for free.
So, are we entitled to “free”? I agree with you: no. That’s precisely why we’re grateful to receive things that are free–because we are not entitled to them.
We’re not entitled to free. That’s why I think the world of people generous enough to give good stuff away freely.
Yes and Amen to all of the above, especially to Bruce Christensen’s comments about sending “Free” cards & virtual flowers. I don’t even bother to “open” them figuring in most cases they’re phishing scams. Or E-Vites, even tho it makes the sender’s job easier.
While I agree with Jon B that someone is paying somewhere, I believe most consumers don’t realize–or appreciate– that someone somewhere is paying for it. In a real world example, one of my suppliers always includes a “free gift” with my order. Invariably it is some trite, useless promotional trinket or an item that didn’t sell even after going on super-clearance-bargain status. Totally useless to me, it becomes a “burden”: throw it away & pollute the dumps or pass it on as the white elephant it is. Of more value to me is the “free” sticker attached to the tissue paper topping: inscribed on the company logo is the legend “Packed with Love.” I’m not naive enough to believe the warehouse picker feels the “love” with every order s/he packs, but it does make me feel good that the corporate intent is to express care in what they do.
In the scramble for limited resources with limited resources, our culture has been trained to expect without effort, to not comprehend or appreciate the costs or efforts of doing business successfully on any scale. As a result, it’s fostered another generation of alienated entitlement.
Yes and Amen to all of the above, especially to Bruce Christensen’s comments about sending “Free” cards & virtual flowers. I don’t even bother to “open” them figuring in most cases they’re phishing scams. Or E-Vites, even tho it makes the sender’s job easier.
While I agree with Jon B that someone is paying somewhere, I believe most consumers don’t realize–or appreciate– that someone somewhere is paying for it. In a real world example, one of my suppliers always includes a “free gift” with my order. Invariably it is some trite, useless promotional trinket or an item that didn’t sell even after going on super-clearance-bargain status. Totally useless to me, it becomes a “burden”: throw it away & pollute the dumps or pass it on as the white elephant it is. Of more value to me is the “free” sticker attached to the tissue paper topping: inscribed on the company logo is the legend “Packed with Love.” I’m not naive enough to believe the warehouse picker feels the “love” with every order s/he packs, but it does make me feel good that the corporate intent is to express care in what they do.
In the scramble for limited resources with limited resources, our culture has been trained to expect without effort, to not comprehend or appreciate the costs or efforts of doing business successfully on any scale. As a result, it’s fostered another generation of alienated entitlement.
Amber
Entitled to free? Interesting question. My answer is a very strong NO. If you or some other SM leader makes the decision to create and release something for free then that is your choice and you are being helpful to the community. Now if that same information is for a fee, you are still being helpful to the community and you feeding your family. The notion that we are entitled to free as readers/fans/enthusiasts, etc is upsurd.
I like free just as much as the other guy but I also respect the time and effort of the source. I think it is more than placing more value on the paid vs the free. It is no secret that the free stuff tends to be more basic and generic where the paid is the meat and potatoes. At least that is my observation. I also think we have no problem from paying for things from people we trust. Someone I have not been exposed to or am unsure about does have me hesitant as how will I know that it is not a waste of money.
I think that a challenge of paid is when those who have paid go and share the information for free to gain popularity or credibility. That cannot be controlled and on one side hey if they are willing to pay then great but on the other side they are taking info that was taught to them and giving it away for free preventing the creator from being able to make more money. Make sense? I may be off here but we know that people will get the info, rewrite it and take it as their own and that I think almost devalues the original content.
Always a great read from you and making us think more.
Amber
Entitled to free? Interesting question. My answer is a very strong NO. If you or some other SM leader makes the decision to create and release something for free then that is your choice and you are being helpful to the community. Now if that same information is for a fee, you are still being helpful to the community and you feeding your family. The notion that we are entitled to free as readers/fans/enthusiasts, etc is upsurd.
I like free just as much as the other guy but I also respect the time and effort of the source. I think it is more than placing more value on the paid vs the free. It is no secret that the free stuff tends to be more basic and generic where the paid is the meat and potatoes. At least that is my observation. I also think we have no problem from paying for things from people we trust. Someone I have not been exposed to or am unsure about does have me hesitant as how will I know that it is not a waste of money.
I think that a challenge of paid is when those who have paid go and share the information for free to gain popularity or credibility. That cannot be controlled and on one side hey if they are willing to pay then great but on the other side they are taking info that was taught to them and giving it away for free preventing the creator from being able to make more money. Make sense? I may be off here but we know that people will get the info, rewrite it and take it as their own and that I think almost devalues the original content.
Always a great read from you and making us think more.
I think the world of “free” is going to be one of the more intense debates of 2010 and 2011. I definitely believe that we are witnessing an information age in which a great many people believe that access to all information is an entitlement vs. a privelge derived of some one or things efforts. I agree with you baseline assertion, the market will determine value of services. How the individual chooses to go about pricing, promoting and evalutaing that is going to be the interesting show.
.-= Patrick´s last blog ..Production 3.0 (sort of) =-.
I think the world of “free” is going to be one of the more intense debates of 2010 and 2011. I definitely believe that we are witnessing an information age in which a great many people believe that access to all information is an entitlement vs. a privelge derived of some one or things efforts. I agree with you baseline assertion, the market will determine value of services. How the individual chooses to go about pricing, promoting and evalutaing that is going to be the interesting show.
.-= Patrick´s last blog ..Production 3.0 (sort of) =-.
My time is extremely valuable to me, and my client’s time is extremely valuable to them. As a media buyer, social media IS free (we don’t have to pay the medium the way you would buy radio airtime from the station), but it still costs a lot of time & effort and creative resources to become an expert in social media marketing.
My investment in becoming a social media consultant was at least $100,000 value in my time and money over a year+ of full-time studying and setting up my business. I give away a LOT of free advice and expertise, but still get called by people weekly who want me to give them the “Quick & Dirty training in effective social media marketing”, for the cost of a coffee and maybe an hour or two of their time.
The bottom line is that if you can’t afford the time to learn for yourself how to do it effectively & efficiently, without making embarrassing and reputation-damaging mistakes (Why would you? Social Media Marketing isn’t your business, your business is your business!), then hire an expert. Our investment and passion for social media is high, and your investment level will be reflected in the quality of what you get in return – the amount to which your campaign/activities help build your business and sales.
You wouldn’t risk the loss of money to your business for being your own lawyer, and you wouldn’t expect a lawyer to work for free. A lawyer’s rates are high ($300+/hour) – but it’s because THEY put in the time & money to become an expert in the law, to be able to provide you the expertise. Social Media is the same.
.-= Debbie Horovitch´s last blog ..Comment on 3 Key Tools to Draw Audiences to Your Blog by Tweets that mention 3 Key Tools to Draw Audiences to Your Blog – — Topsy.com =-.
My time is extremely valuable to me, and my client’s time is extremely valuable to them. As a media buyer, social media IS free (we don’t have to pay the medium the way you would buy radio airtime from the station), but it still costs a lot of time & effort and creative resources to become an expert in social media marketing.
My investment in becoming a social media consultant was at least $100,000 value in my time and money over a year+ of full-time studying and setting up my business. I give away a LOT of free advice and expertise, but still get called by people weekly who want me to give them the “Quick & Dirty training in effective social media marketing”, for the cost of a coffee and maybe an hour or two of their time.
The bottom line is that if you can’t afford the time to learn for yourself how to do it effectively & efficiently, without making embarrassing and reputation-damaging mistakes (Why would you? Social Media Marketing isn’t your business, your business is your business!), then hire an expert. Our investment and passion for social media is high, and your investment level will be reflected in the quality of what you get in return – the amount to which your campaign/activities help build your business and sales.
You wouldn’t risk the loss of money to your business for being your own lawyer, and you wouldn’t expect a lawyer to work for free. A lawyer’s rates are high ($300+/hour) – but it’s because THEY put in the time & money to become an expert in the law, to be able to provide you the expertise. Social Media is the same.
.-= Debbie Horovitch´s last blog ..Comment on 3 Key Tools to Draw Audiences to Your Blog by Tweets that mention 3 Key Tools to Draw Audiences to Your Blog – — Topsy.com =-.
While I definitely consume a lot of free stuff – information mostly – I absolutely will pay for the events/products/services that matter to me. I see the money transaction as the way I ‘vote’ for something – showing that I value it, and also to support the community or other individuals’ endeavors to make a living and continue to provide the service.
.-= Lucy Beer´s last blog ..Using Online Social Networking To Reinforce Offline Networking =-.
While I definitely consume a lot of free stuff – information mostly – I absolutely will pay for the events/products/services that matter to me. I see the money transaction as the way I ‘vote’ for something – showing that I value it, and also to support the community or other individuals’ endeavors to make a living and continue to provide the service.
.-= Lucy Beer´s last blog ..Using Online Social Networking To Reinforce Offline Networking =-.
Free is the “other” four-letter word. Or is this changing? The climate is certainly changing and so our expectations–but whether we feel entitled is a GREAT question. Entitlementality.
Or- is Free no longer a dirty word? Have we succeeded in changing the perception of free things? I suspect that to a limited extent, calling something free does less to cheapen it than it did before.
.-= Ian Greenleigh´s last blog ..Aweber Links and Such =-.
Free is the “other” four-letter word. Or is this changing? The climate is certainly changing and so our expectations–but whether we feel entitled is a GREAT question. Entitlementality.
Or- is Free no longer a dirty word? Have we succeeded in changing the perception of free things? I suspect that to a limited extent, calling something free does less to cheapen it than it did before.
.-= Ian Greenleigh´s last blog ..Aweber Links and Such =-.
I also really liked this line: “I don’t expect my mechanic to fix my car for nothing just because I can get the manual free at the library.”
Just because the information is available to me for free, it takes time, effort, and skill to get to the level of a real expert. If someone puts their time and energy into developing a needed service, I am more than willing to pay for their expertise because it means I don’t have to put all that time and energy into it.
I love things that are free and still have value (to me), and I never mind paying for things that have more value (again, to me) than the free equivalent.
.-= Caitlin´s last blog ..Clutter-Free Christmas Gifts =-.
I also really liked this line: “I don’t expect my mechanic to fix my car for nothing just because I can get the manual free at the library.”
Just because the information is available to me for free, it takes time, effort, and skill to get to the level of a real expert. If someone puts their time and energy into developing a needed service, I am more than willing to pay for their expertise because it means I don’t have to put all that time and energy into it.
I love things that are free and still have value (to me), and I never mind paying for things that have more value (again, to me) than the free equivalent.
.-= Caitlin´s last blog ..Clutter-Free Christmas Gifts =-.
As always, you are on point. I was on the same wavelength, already writing on the same topic (sort of one of those “revisiting how things get done as we approach a new year” posts) and there you are.
Are we “entitled” to free? Absolutely not. But, do many people “expect” free? Oh yeah. Free consulting, webinars, conferences, ebooks, etc. Still, we on the content creation side aren’t always helping our cause, either.
It is a tough balancing act for many, in an effort to try to stand out and gain some traction, we offer ourselves and our content up for free. Often, if we’ve been successful in establishing that traction, we find ourselves asking if this approach continues to make practical sense. In the meantime, though, there are a zillion other folks offering up something presumably similar for free. This has definitely become an expectation of many, especially among the “social media is free” crowd.
When I watch a live stream of an event, I’m very well aware of the fact that had I been sitting in one of those seats, instead of home in my jammies, it would have cost me a lot of money. While I’m very grateful for the opportunity to hear the content being shared, I can’t help but wonder if more tickets would have been sold had the stream not been made available.
I understand expertise has value and that value should be compensated. Much of the time I can’t afford to do what I’d like to do, but that’s life. That’s my problem to figure out, not a reason I’m entitled to get it for free.
Thanks for another great post! (which I read and enjoyed for free!)
As always, you are on point. I was on the same wavelength, already writing on the same topic (sort of one of those “revisiting how things get done as we approach a new year” posts) and there you are.
Are we “entitled” to free? Absolutely not. But, do many people “expect” free? Oh yeah. Free consulting, webinars, conferences, ebooks, etc. Still, we on the content creation side aren’t always helping our cause, either.
It is a tough balancing act for many, in an effort to try to stand out and gain some traction, we offer ourselves and our content up for free. Often, if we’ve been successful in establishing that traction, we find ourselves asking if this approach continues to make practical sense. In the meantime, though, there are a zillion other folks offering up something presumably similar for free. This has definitely become an expectation of many, especially among the “social media is free” crowd.
When I watch a live stream of an event, I’m very well aware of the fact that had I been sitting in one of those seats, instead of home in my jammies, it would have cost me a lot of money. While I’m very grateful for the opportunity to hear the content being shared, I can’t help but wonder if more tickets would have been sold had the stream not been made available.
I understand expertise has value and that value should be compensated. Much of the time I can’t afford to do what I’d like to do, but that’s life. That’s my problem to figure out, not a reason I’m entitled to get it for free.
Thanks for another great post! (which I read and enjoyed for free!)
I think we are not entitled to free, but that sometimes getting something for free will be good for the community. For example, getting knowledge out for free will make more people aware or capable of doing a job and therefore having money to afford other products or services. Now I think that paying has to be done for a lot of stuff learning, reading, etc.
The only problem I see is when someone really wants to attend a course or seminar (to give an example) but can’t afford it because of the country they are in or any other reason. In that case free or a scholarship model can work so we need to think that free or payed doesn’t work for everybody. It’s like what Radian 6 is doing with letting college grad students use their tool for a period they’re (or you’re) helping people who probably have limited funding to get the tool and provide some results. But you make a special case for giving it for free, not just give it openly to everybody.
Things have to paid for, but we need to know when making some stuff free is also a good idea.
.-= Jorge´s last blog ..Bye Bye 2000s =-.
I think we are not entitled to free, but that sometimes getting something for free will be good for the community. For example, getting knowledge out for free will make more people aware or capable of doing a job and therefore having money to afford other products or services. Now I think that paying has to be done for a lot of stuff learning, reading, etc.
The only problem I see is when someone really wants to attend a course or seminar (to give an example) but can’t afford it because of the country they are in or any other reason. In that case free or a scholarship model can work so we need to think that free or payed doesn’t work for everybody. It’s like what Radian 6 is doing with letting college grad students use their tool for a period they’re (or you’re) helping people who probably have limited funding to get the tool and provide some results. But you make a special case for giving it for free, not just give it openly to everybody.
Things have to paid for, but we need to know when making some stuff free is also a good idea.
.-= Jorge´s last blog ..Bye Bye 2000s =-.