Comments on: “Free” Market Freefall: The End of Free?

By: Jesse Hopkins

Jesse Hopkins — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:51:32 +0000

Encouraging news for those of us providing custom high quality services online, and need to get paid up front and on the backend too.

By: Petros

Petros — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:22:57 +0000

I could not disagree with you more. Free content actually reflects a more capitalistic approach to the market due to the fact that promotes maximazation of demand and findig alternative routes to generate income. If you can’t find alternative ways, tough luck, this the playing feild now and if you do not adopt you will not surpass.
Having said that, I think that free will grow and grow and business will gain more and more understand of this model and how it applies to their businesses respectively. Google seems to be doing pretty well, with the free model and other businesses too. I think as a marketing professional yourself to support the notion that free does not work, would shortsighted on your part. I enjoy all the free services out there, in fact if something is not free I don’t dance with it. If it is really a useful service and offers a premium service that would benefit me and/or my business I would be all for it. So bottom line is Free is King and I believe it will always be. Good luck with your marketing career, but I suggest that you don’t bet against free.

Freddy’s Comment: Oh, do tell — what exactly are these magical “alternative routes to generate income”? Because if you start charging your users for anything, you’re not exactly “free” now, are you?

You know, Petros, since you adore free services so much, how about investing in them? I know they could sure use the money. If you do, be sure to acquaint yourself with the TechCrunch Deadpool, because that’s where most of them are heading if they don’t have some big sugar daddy (like Google) paying their bills.

Speaking of Google, they’re the exception, not the rule. Let me know when you personally adopt the “Google model” and start offering all your business services for free.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:14:57 +0000

Really enjoyed your post – thanks!

By: Ana

Ana — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:34:28 +0000

You are the most brilliant writer i know!!!

Freddy’s Comment: Oh shucks, stop. If my head gets any bigger, I’ll have trouble pulling my T-shirts on.

By: Luis Guajardo

Luis Guajardo — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:31:00 +0000

this is a great article. well articulated and you hit the nail on the head. banner ads and video pre-roll is just not gonna cut it. advertisers are more interested in integration these days because not enough people click on ads. and with this flopping economy they are very particular where and how they spend their advertising dollars.

so they are going to the source of the polished content out there to integrate their brands. advertising is evolving as the internet evolves.