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Sharing free stuffs for download. How do they make money?

by almirla
8 replies
I tried to google it, but I couldn't find any proper answer. How do sites earn money that's providing free stuffs for download? I mean on legal way, like a free software's, games, apps, e-books etc. I know that you can make money if you share it on one of those PPD Networks, but what is with those sites who offer free download direct from their own hosting, they are not using any additional upload network to redirect you there?
#download #free #make #money #sharing #stuffs
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    Advertisement. Adsense. Most of those download sites have "false" download buttons
    that are really hidden advertisement. I'm surprised that Google allows this. You have to
    look really carefully to make sure you are downloading the intended file.

    -Ray Edwards
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan S
    As Raydal has mentioned, ADVERTISEMENT... and it's true some sites are so cheeky that they put false download button to trick visitors to click and bingo! another adsense income.
    One of the best examples of a site that made millions giving items for free is the whateverlife.com of the then 14 years old Ashley Qualls, a school dropout girl who is now a millionaire. She used to give free items for Myspace users and along with it the big Google Adsense program.
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    • Profile picture of the author almirla
      I know about those fake button that you click on it and download something completely different that you want to.

      I'm interested to know how those site earn money who allow you to download from their site product that you need.
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  • Profile picture of the author EPoltrack77
    They are providing value first! The idea is to lead you into a paid product without even selling you on it.

    Something like a free app download the app owner makes money from the advertising space on their app. I can charge a advertising a fee for them to place a banner or ad on my app that people download for free. Then when they are using their free app these advertising spots will be all around.

    Like for us affiliate marketers you hear that you need to give away a free gift.

    Another way to look at it is as a bribe! I will give you if you give me.

    Once the bribe has been done the idea here is to through your free offer is to lead them over to the paid product. Your not really even selling at that point. The system is moving your prospect through. Like a no brainer that they have to purchase. You like this free content I just gave you when you use the full version your results are going to be ten, twenty fold.

    Also and the bigger pitchure here is we are building our own instant on demand traffic source but not just any old traffic source but one that we can take care of and build trust with so then when we ask our list will be good back to us.
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    • Profile picture of the author almirla
      Originally Posted by EPoltrack77 View Post

      They are providing value first! The idea is to lead you into a paid product without even selling you on it.

      Something like a free app download the app owner makes money from the advertising space on their app. I can charge a advertising a fee for them to place a banner or ad on my app that people download for free. Then when they are using their free app these advertising spots will be all around.
      I downloaded free software that I needed couple days ago, it's completely free and there is no trial period, so I don't have to buy anything. All I can see is the Adsense on that site. So my guess is only you can earn with Google Adsense?
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Yes, their is a lot of money in giving away Free stuff, if you do it right. The money is made on the back-end or follow up products/ads.

      But the bar is raising, Free is not what it used to be to consumers.

      It has to be useful, related to your brand and not cheap - or you've pretty much defeated your purpose as a marketer.

      I just hate the free offers that vary from the above standards or use fake a#@s buttons or cowardly redirects. It makes the legit ones look bad and cause more skepticism in the marketplace for every marketer in general. That's part of the Internet trash that needs to be cleaned-up, somehow.
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      • Profile picture of the author webmarketer
        They ask for your email. The download is a bribe. They build a list. You, then, are bombarded with offers from their autoresponder sequence when you opted-in, knowingly or not.

        If you download an ebook, there are affiliate links or CPA offers on the pages.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan S
    EPoltrack77, there's another cheeky method that advertisers are using nowadays - i.e. giving away FREE Software but along with it an "automatically selected radio button" as consent to allow installation of adwares or any unwanted third party software into your system if you're not careful during installation of the software you want to install.
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