Comments on: Competing with free by adding value https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html The small town and rural business resource Tue, 27 Sep 2016 19:00:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: Becky McCray https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4538 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:25:28 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4538 Nick, rather than worry about the negative reaction of the few, a smart entrepreneur can focus on adding value in all the ways discussed.

]]> By: Nick https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4537 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:15:38 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4537 When I was a kid we used to watch FREE TV stations and drink FREE water (basically) from the tap. No one would even think of paying for radio stations. But today we have cable TV, bottled water, and satellite radio. Hummm. How dare these greedy bastards ask us to pay for better products. Oh yeah, we live in the United States. I almost forgot. It is a free market place (mostly), and we have the freedom to choose. Freedom to buy. AND the FREEDOM to offer products and services for a profit.

Seriously? People were upset by this. WOW. Becky, you did a great job at being nice and diplomatic. I am not quite so nice.

]]> By: Becky McCray https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4536 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:19:24 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4536 Hallie, I’d rather see small business focus on building more valuable products than to focus on costs.

Paul, you are completely right. We don’t value free items nearly as much as ones we pay for.

]]> By: Paul Merrill https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4535 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:55:39 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4535 Totally agreed with all that has been said, above.

James’ point – I’d amplify – if people pay for something, they are more likely t place a greater value on it. If we had free gym memberships, we’d go less often than if we paid a monthly fee.

]]> By: Hallie Steube https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4532 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:40:46 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4532 Such a hard problem we are all dealing with! Luckily there are tools that can at least help to keep the costs down.

]]> By: Becky McCray https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4531 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:46:34 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4531 Cheryl, that’s a good point: Chris still offers long lists of blog post topics for free. He didn’t remove his free material; he added a paid component. Each of us can use the same in our business. But the reaction Chris got is one we’ll get, too. It pays to know that.

]]> By: Cheryl Lawson https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4530 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:03:01 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4530 Wow, great post Becky. How could people be upset with Chris for this? Chris already gives so much for FREE. If you pay attention to what he gives you for free, how can you question what he’ll give you for a fee? The great thing Chris is doing here is showing all of us the way out of free.

]]> By: Becky McCray https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4529 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:41:58 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4529 James, I think of it like a sample. Give away a taste, and then add a paid level. There are plenty of people perfectly willing to pay. But the clamor of those demanding everything free can make it hard to hear them.

]]> By: James Dalman https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4528 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:09:17 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4528 Becky,

I couldn’t agree more with your post and what Chris is doing. For the last two years I have had an unsettling feeling that people believed that all great content should be free.

It is understandable that the idea of “giving freely will bring back results” and at times we should impart our wisdom, advice, or insight in order to help others. However, I have seen where “free” truly devalues ones products or services (and this has been over the course of 25 years in business).

What I have also observed in my own business and in others, is that free doesn’t motivate people to take action. My computer is littered with downloads I have never read and I have more logins to BETA products than I could ever touch in a lifetime. Same for membership programs.

I am a capitalist to the core. I’ve paid by dues and worked hard and I believe that I should be paid for this. Great job Chris!

Remember. You get what you pay for!

P.S. Sorry about the reposted comment. Technology issues this morning. ;)

]]> By: James https://smallbizsurvival.com/2011/02/competing-with-free-by-adding-value.html#comment-4527 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:06:58 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=430#comment-4527 This comment has been removed by the author.

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