Comments on: Are your freebies scaring away new customers?

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:59:55 +0000

Maya -

Thanks! I appreciate it. And I agree that there’s something about someone offering themselves up for free that inspires confidence. Putting yourself on the line with your product and betting on success isn’t easy. Maybe that’s why so many people don’t it.

James -

I hear you. I think it’s just the nature of things that aren’t voluntary. Like, I don’t mind helping friends move into a new house, but the second someone says “Hey…you owe me, so you better get over here,” I instantly turn very unwilling.

By: James Chartrand - We

James Chartrand - We — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:24:02 +0000

Considering the number of feeds I already read as part of my job, I dont want to have more feeds.

(Okay, dammit, this apostrophe issue is chasing me around your blogs. Im gonna go nuts because not putting an apostrophe is like nails on a chalkboard for me…)

*ahem* As I was saying…

So yes. I dont want another feed in my reader. I want to choose to have the feed and not be forced into it. Subscribe to download? CLICK! Im so gone.

By: Maya Norton (The New Jew: Blogging Jewish Philanthropy)

Maya Norton (The New Jew: Blogging Jewish Philanthropy) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:45:18 +0000

I think this post is right on. I recently subscribed to some sites that I have only nominal interest in to check out their ebooks, and yes, I felt coerced.

Regardless of advertising dollars, I see the point of an ebook as a way to attract real subscribers and followers to your ideas and site. I have seen many blogs say something to the effect of, “You have to subscribe to see the ebook, but I know you’re just subscribing for that.” Of course I am. You made me. I didn’t want to subscribe and it doesn’t inspire any particular loyalty to you.

On the other hand, when ebooks or white papers are free, actually free, and I enjoy them, it inspires a lot more confidence and faith in the site than it would have otherwise. Yours is certainly an example of this.

That’s how I got here via Naomi at IttyBiz and glad I am.

Maya

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:10:49 +0000

Hey Lise! Good to hear from you again! Glad you liked the post.

I’m with you for sure. I have no problem with people making money, and lots of it. But if you’re a complete stranger and want me to take part in your business model, you better make it super easy for me. FREE to me means no expenditure of time, money, effort…

…okay, so yeah, I’m really lazy apparently. I’m just saying…

By: Lise

Lise — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:15:44 +0000

Charlie, I TOTALLY agree with your post. So often I go to download a freebie and there’s the dreaded sign in form. Crap I say, I know I can unsub if I want but its an extra effort to do and really do I want to sign on to something to get something? Sometimes I do, mostly I don’t. As I have a partner who has a sign in page for an ebook on share trading, I understand the desire for gaining lists of emails, its dollars in your pocket at some point but I would love to see the day when we do everything for the love of it, to share with others purely our creations. Am I an idealist? Absolutely. Thing is I see this is the way we are going, when we all do what we love and its not driven by money or fame, its just for the pure love of it! You Charlie are already on that track, thank you!
Lise x
PS. You know I love your ebook and it was totally free!