6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Am I Missing Something?

by BeachBumDad
5 replies
So just a question to think about.

If the largest and most successful websites on the Internet...and the most profitable...are giving everything away for free to "users", are most IMers just these company's "clients"? And are we missing something??

I've tried the "free service" idea in the past without it taking root...BUT...I wasn't focusing my energy on really building the free content/service, rather jumping the gun almost to trying to monetize the site to advertisers.

I heard that before Youtube got bought out by Google they were about to bankrupt. Is that what it takes to make it REALLY BIG? taking huge risks and providing totally free and highly quality products and services to users? And then just knowing how to leverage that for marketers?

So then I guess I wouldn't be an Internet Marketer, I'd be like the IMer's boss. lol. Just thinking out loud
#missing
  • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
    Thing is, you don't need to be the largest or most profitable site on the web to make a very decent living.

    Will
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2683210].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Free must always be anchored by some kind of monetization system... Whether adsense, affiliate programs, cpa, or generic advertising...

      Free works when you can develop a loyal audience of readers... But that can take time and effort on your part...

      But you have to have the monetization figured out so that you can get paid...

      Like Will said, you don't need to run YouTube volume to earn a decent living...
      Signature
      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2683220].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ido Jansen
    You are correct, if you do everything for free you either win the jackpot (like the Youtube example) or you spend all your resources and get broke...
    For an individual IMer, the free stuff should be only one of the marketing channels and it should have a target - examples of giving away free stuff:
    * incentive to squeeze email addresses and build a list
    * Gaining community trust (I am sending GOOD free stuff to my list from time to time just because they are my subscribers)
    * A teaser to a paid product e.g. a short report revealing some information and referring to the full product. one of the best I remember is the book about keywords from "keyword elite" as a tool for affiliates
    * giving away free stuff as a gesture to your community, best example is this forum's war room. if you are not a member yet... what are you waiting for?

    In any case, I think that if you choose to give free stuff make sure it is of a high quality otherwise you will damage your efforts.
    Signature
    Ido Jansen
    Author of the "Practical Internet Money guide"[B]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2683231].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author James Foster
    IMHO Google is trying to be involved in (and collect data about) the biggest areas of your life. Email, search, the blogs you read, the phone calls you get and make, the documents you write and store..... are you trying to collect that much data?

    I'm not.

    I do just fine with a few products.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2683251].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author BeachBumDad
      Maybe I should be that interested in collecting that much data It seems to be working out pretty well for their pocket book!

      And why not strive to be huge and take the internet by storm? Why not strive to be the next Google or Twitter or Facebook? Because I can certainly think of WHY to. Besides the money, it's exciting!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2683690].message }}

Trending Topics