Comments on: ‘Free’ is here to stay. http://squaredpeg.com/index.php/2008/03/25/free-is-here-to-stay/ Brad J Ward's Thoughts on Higher Education Recruitment Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:23:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rob S. http://squaredpeg.com/index.php/2008/03/25/free-is-here-to-stay/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Rob S. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:09:03 +0000 http://squaredpeg.com/index.php/2008/03/25/free-is-here-to-stay/#comment-386 There is a lot of great "free" Web technology out there. IM, social networks, etc. Interesting blog post about free offering an alternative viewpoint, specifically referencing Chris Anderson: http://blogs.mediapost.com/spin/?p=1271 There is a lot of great “free” Web technology out there. IM, social networks, etc.

Interesting blog post about free offering an alternative viewpoint, specifically referencing Chris Anderson:

http://blogs.mediapost.com/spin/?p=1271

]]> By: Kevin Prentiss http://squaredpeg.com/index.php/2008/03/25/free-is-here-to-stay/comment-page-1/#comment-309 Kevin Prentiss Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:40:11 +0000 http://squaredpeg.com/index.php/2008/03/25/free-is-here-to-stay/#comment-309 Brad - thanks for getting it. Other dynamics at play: If it's simple, it's more likely to be adopted - it's easier to try and easier to get. If you aren't charging, you have to make it pretty simple (unless you are google already) or else you will kill yourself in upfront costs. Being simple means you have to clearly do something of value. This forces focus. Companies that charge lead other companies that charge to compete (chum in the water) and they often compete over who has more features which makes them all more complicated and -less likely to be used - So free is less likely to be a waste of your money : ) It is extremely important to understand your free vendors motivations. There's a big difference between SPAM factories, maybe google will buy, altruism, cross selling, and adoption requirements. Great post! Brad – thanks for getting it.

Other dynamics at play:

If it’s simple, it’s more likely to be adopted – it’s easier to try and easier to get.

If you aren’t charging, you have to make it pretty simple (unless you are google already) or else you will kill yourself in upfront costs.

Being simple means you have to clearly do something of value. This forces focus.

Companies that charge lead other companies that charge to compete (chum in the water) and they often compete over who has more features which makes them all more complicated and -less likely to be used –

So free is less likely to be a waste of your money : )

It is extremely important to understand your free vendors motivations. There’s a big difference between SPAM factories, maybe google will buy, altruism, cross selling, and adoption requirements.

Great post!

]]> By: Jeremy Wilburn http://squaredpeg.com/index.php/2008/03/25/free-is-here-to-stay/comment-page-1/#comment-298 Jeremy Wilburn Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:56:34 +0000 http://squaredpeg.com/index.php/2008/03/25/free-is-here-to-stay/#comment-298 I actually tried using Google Talk and that will work for one-on-one (which we might implement) anytime conversation, but we are looking for more of a group feature and I don't think Google Talk can do that. I have found quite a few open source solutions that I can customize and design however I want them to be, but it will take time. That was what was nice about GT is that it took about 5 minutes. Very good insight though, and I get asked that same question all the time. I actually tried using Google Talk and that will work for one-on-one (which we might implement) anytime conversation, but we are looking for more of a group feature and I don’t think Google Talk can do that. I have found quite a few open source solutions that I can customize and design however I want them to be, but it will take time. That was what was nice about GT is that it took about 5 minutes. Very good insight though, and I get asked that same question all the time.

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