Comments on: The End of Free? http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/ Thoughts on Startups, Entrepreneurs and the Web Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:25:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeff Ward Wants My Writing — Free, #4 « Photocritic International http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-242830 Jeff Ward Wants My Writing — Free, #4 « Photocritic International Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:39:57 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-242830 [...] find hundreds of commentaries on this issue from such sources as Nick Cernis, Mark Evans, Jemima Kiss, David Crotty, and comics expert Scott McCloud (be sure to also see Part 2 of [...] [...] find hundreds of commentaries on this issue from such sources as Nick Cernis, Mark Evans, Jemima Kiss, David Crotty, and comics expert Scott McCloud (be sure to also see Part 2 of [...]

]]> By: Boyd On Business » Blog Archive » links for 2009-01-26 http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-159293 Boyd On Business » Blog Archive » links for 2009-01-26 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:05:24 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-159293 [...] The End of Free? | Mark Evans 2009 could go down as the year the Web got real when it came to embracing business models based in economic reality. (tags: web2.0 Freemium) [...] [...] The End of Free? | Mark Evans 2009 could go down as the year the Web got real when it came to embracing business models based in economic reality. (tags: web2.0 Freemium) [...]

]]> By: The end of free, also for Google? | Squio.blog http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-159117 The end of free, also for Google? | Squio.blog Sat, 24 Jan 2009 22:27:01 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-159117 [...] The End of Free? (hey, even the same title) [...] [...] The End of Free? (hey, even the same title) [...]

]]> By: AGORACOM - George http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-159048 AGORACOM - George Sat, 24 Jan 2009 07:00:10 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-159048 Mark, just remember who stood up and banged the table about this first (inaugural Mesh Conference). Halle-friggin-lujah. Finally, the Web 2.0 ecosystem figured out that Silicon Valley, VC's and TechCrunch are out to lunch when it comes to building online companies. The Greek Mark, just remember who stood up and banged the table about this first (inaugural Mesh Conference).

Halle-friggin-lujah. Finally, the Web 2.0 ecosystem figured out that Silicon Valley, VC’s and TechCrunch are out to lunch when it comes to building online companies.

The Greek

]]> By: Mark Kaufmann http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-159009 Mark Kaufmann Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:53:50 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-159009 I hope you're right! We're certainly moving in that direction. I hope you’re right! We’re certainly moving in that direction.

]]> By: Wallen's http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-158986 Wallen's Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:44:53 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-158986 There is no doubt that the number of free product will decrease with the recession. Revenues are more important for sure. But I can only agree partially to your point of "Has the Web 2.0 ecosystem finally realized that giving away your product for nothing makes little or no sense?" It all depends of the marginal cost of serving users. If that is zero (or nearly) than it is a remarkable business model coupled with premium packages (i.e., freemium). If the marginal cost is way above zero then free might be a problem indeed in those days. For more details see my post a week ago. There is no doubt that the number of free product will decrease with the recession. Revenues are more important for sure. But I can only agree partially to your point of “Has the Web 2.0 ecosystem finally realized that giving away your product for nothing makes little or no sense?” It all depends of the marginal cost of serving users. If that is zero (or nearly) than it is a remarkable business model coupled with premium packages (i.e., freemium). If the marginal cost is way above zero then free might be a problem indeed in those days. For more details see my post a week ago.

]]> By: James http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-158960 James Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:11:23 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-158960 People need to understand that these "free" services are nothing more than a means of advertising. Those who find these services valuable are probably willing to spend a few dollars to keep them, after the "promotion" period has ended. The norm today is for companies to provide online trials of their products for free in hopes that they will connect with those users who find the services valuable enough to warrant a purchase. In the case of Google, they were willing to advertise and promote their brand by providing free services. The remarkable aspect of this is the overall reduction of cost compared to the traditional software delivery and support model, which still leaves Microsoft behind the 8-ball. People need to understand that these “free” services are nothing more than a means of advertising. Those who find these services valuable are probably willing to spend a few dollars to keep them, after the “promotion” period has ended.

The norm today is for companies to provide online trials of their products for free in hopes that they will connect with those users who find the services valuable enough to warrant a purchase.

In the case of Google, they were willing to advertise and promote their brand by providing free services.

The remarkable aspect of this is the overall reduction of cost compared to the traditional software delivery and support model, which still leaves Microsoft behind the 8-ball.

]]> By: Chris Schmitt http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-158952 Chris Schmitt Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:31:57 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-158952 The "secret" to a successful start-up: Step 1. Build a Great Service Step 2. ? Step 3. Make Money What's step 2? Charge for your service. It's a technique that's worked for thousands of years. Ruthlessly stolen from: http://www.omnisio.com/startupschool08/david-heinemeier-hansson-at-startup-school-08 The “secret” to a successful start-up:

Step 1. Build a Great Service
Step 2. ?
Step 3. Make Money

What’s step 2? Charge for your service. It’s a technique that’s worked for thousands of years.

Ruthlessly stolen from:
http://www.omnisio.com/startupschool08/david-heinemeier-hansson-at-startup-school-08

]]> By: Omar http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-158950 Omar Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:11:35 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-158950 Big companies are dropping their ad spending. Which means ad-supported companies are seeing their main source of revenue dry up. Therefore, some companies have no choice but to find alternative revenue streams. That doesn't mean that advertising based models are broken. Just that you have to be smart with them... like with everything. Some companies went ad-based that shouldn't, and some companies are going to move away from ad-based when they should keep them. Ad models were never about giving anything away for free. You're selling a piece of the attention you have of the audience. Advertisers can pay good money for that. Big companies are dropping their ad spending. Which means ad-supported companies are seeing their main source of revenue dry up.

Therefore, some companies have no choice but to find alternative revenue streams.

That doesn’t mean that advertising based models are broken. Just that you have to be smart with them… like with everything. Some companies went ad-based that shouldn’t, and some companies are going to move away from ad-based when they should keep them.

Ad models were never about giving anything away for free. You’re selling a piece of the attention you have of the audience. Advertisers can pay good money for that.

]]> By: Faramarz http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/01/23/the-end-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-158949 Faramarz Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:59:20 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4449#comment-158949 Frankly I think Google can afford to be more aggressive. Google Apps. has become a necessity for it's users (for me and colleagues especially). They're slowly entertaining the price schedule, seeing where the elasticity lies. But a startup who hasn't reached ubiquity cannot afford to take this route and this route only. Frankly I think Google can afford to be more aggressive. Google Apps. has become a necessity for it’s users (for me and colleagues especially). They’re slowly entertaining the price schedule, seeing where the elasticity lies.

But a startup who hasn’t reached ubiquity cannot afford to take this route and this route only.

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