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To Free or Not To Free?

by MysteryBoxMan
24 replies
I'm getting ready to launch a website built around the idea of teaching "How To Create Successful Websites". The problem i'm having is deciding if I should charge for my info/knowledge/products or run a "free info" model and just promote affiliates for income....?

Your input would be appreciated.
#free #website
  • Profile picture of the author Eric Lovelace
    Hey Mystery Box Man,

    What I would do is test. I have seen though offering stuff for free really brings down the value perceived by others.

    When I did release my first product, it was free and my profits didn't really move, so then I started charging and it all fell into place.

    My advice, charge a little if you are thinking of going the free route. Maybe try $1 or $4 something. I know it may seem a bit low the $1 one, but it has been proven that even if a prospect that only paid a $1 is more likely to purchase from you again rather than if you gave the info for free.

    Rock On!

    Eric "The Las Vegas Ninja" Lovelace
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    • Profile picture of the author MysteryBoxMan
      Originally Posted by Eric Lovelace View Post

      Hey Mystery Box Man,

      What I would do is test. I have seen though offering stuff for free really brings down the value perceived by others.

      When I did release my first product, it was free and my profits didn't really move, so then I started charging and it all fell into place.

      My advice, charge a little if you are thinking of going the free route. Maybe try $1 or $4 something. I know it may seem a bit low the $1 one, but it has been proven that even if a prospect that only paid a $1 is more likely to purchase from you again rather than if you gave the info for free.

      Rock On!

      Eric "The Las Vegas Ninja" Lovelace
      Thats not a bad idea...
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      • Profile picture of the author John Krone
        Paid traffic will also require someone to "Pay". So in order to use that model there would be no choice but to have some paid offers. I think it's more of question of how much you want to be for free and how much for fee.
        John
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  • Profile picture of the author brutecky
    Why not have both?

    Make it freemium. First course or two is free. (you get their email) .. more advanced courses are paid (you get sales income).
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
      The Power of Free!

      Get ready to take notes because a bunch of ideas will pop into your mind.


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      • Profile picture of the author gruss
        Hi MysteryBoxMan,

        I went with free on a website I launched a few weeks ago and the list is building quite nicely, however in the background I am adding premium content and will begin offering that to list members.

        Maybe thinking long term, rather than short term gains is an option also.

        Best of luck
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    • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
      Originally Posted by brutecky View Post

      Why not have both?

      Make it freemium. First course or two is free. (you get their email) .. more advanced courses are paid (you get sales income).
      Yes, that is exactly what I would suggest.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Krone
    Originally Posted by MysteryBoxMan View Post

    I'm getting ready to launch a website built around the idea of teaching "How To Create Successful Websites". The problem i'm having is deciding if I should charge for my info/knowledge/products or run a "free info" model and just promote affiliates for income....?

    Your input would be appreciated.
    Most successful models start out free, and slowly provide an ever higher choice for those that are looking for it. Usually behind the curtain feeling.

    Branding yourself as generous is a key trust element. So I think the free things build a strong bridge of trust, that leads to the "for Fee" side of the stream.
    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Marco Moeschter
    Think about to give valuable content for free to your list and build a membership site for the premium content. This way you can let's say presell your subscribers with real good content and guide them to your premium paid content.
    This way you can also use the membership site as a high value bonus if you promote high ticket offers.
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  • Profile picture of the author HelpingYouBeAnExpert
    The only things that matters is what your visitors say not the gurus, so my vote is to test.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    The "loss leader" is as old as marketing itself.

    You see the guy in the grocery store offering samples of this or that food item. If you like the sample hopefully you will buy more. The loss of the samples is more then made up for on the back end...providing people like the sample.

    Structure your freebie so people will want more to the point they will seek it out and pay for it.
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  • Profile picture of the author dana67
    If you are not going to split test, I'd vote for the free model. I'm a big believer in free and there are other ways to monetize a site if you get the traffic.
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  • Profile picture of the author traderfx
    I think you have to decide how valuable your time is.
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    • Profile picture of the author mikeu1
      I would do the free to build a list and start the branding proses
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  • Profile picture of the author Assignmentwriter
    Option free is best for your branding and great for reach
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  • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Bagley
    I think that first you have to build your brand. Why should I buy what you're selling? First make sure that your product actually does what you're saying it does, give it for free, build you audience, make a few customers happy, grab their testimonials and then you can put a price tag on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author davidaclark
    It does depend on the products you are offering. If you don't have the rights to give it away for free it has to be paid. If you do have the rights to give it away for free is it worth having. The best way would be to create your own product. a simple Ebook would do and give that away for free. It should also promote your paid products.
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  • Profile picture of the author KattyHowells
    When you're far from being an authority, you have little chances to make people pay for what you provide. Even if you charge a symbolic amount, like someone suggested above, people will be suspicious, wondering what kind of quality service is it if I can purchase it for less than 5 bucks?
    First you need to be more generous and show people what you have for free. Once you gain a certain reputation you can offer more, for a cost. Being greedy from the start doesn't seem the best approach to me.
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  • Profile picture of the author dejaone
    Start as a free info site first, and move to membership based for premium content once you have a larger reader base.
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  • Profile picture of the author cyberzolo
    Start free then monetize if you see potebtial and make sure the info your giving out is worth being paid for.
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  • Profile picture of the author bmoore62
    The freemium model works like gangbusters. Just get people through the door. Once they know what you have to offer and how you do business, you can upsell them to a paid membership. There are tons of scripts available (both free and Paid) that will allow you to do this. For example, you could offer ebooks for free. After they join, you could offer MP3s as a silver level upsell and videos as a gold level upsell. You get the idea. Just be creative.

    Best of luck to you. I hope it all works out.
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  • Profile picture of the author Karol Z
    It depends on whether you already have some kind of following. Judging by the content of this post I'm going to assume that this is not the case. Me personally, I would include some kind of free trial or preview after which the method would cost an x amount of dollars. Than again it all depends on the quality of the product and what your goals are.
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  • Profile picture of the author dougb
    Free model, your first priority is to get them on your list
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