"FREE" - Is The Future Of Business

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by sunpoint, Feb 10, 2010.

  1. #1
    Imagine movies at the theater...being FREE. How this could change business...

    A little known company called GOOGLE. Heard of them? Have you noticed how virtually EVERYTHING they do - is FREE. How can they do this and yet still be worth billions?
    Giving away something for FREE at first -
    is a key strategy we need to understand and implement either Online or Offline.
    Delivering VALUE first - in the form of something that is FREE - is the way to grow your business as we enter the 2nd decade of the 21st century.

    FREE is the future -- this is how to create and grow a business. And you will make your money by upselling related products/services -- but you need to capture your target market's attention first.

    Happy Chinese Tiger New Year to Everyone Here.

    Kindest
    Miss Sunpoint :)
     
    sunpoint, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  2. QuackWare

    QuackWare Member

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    #2
    I agree that free is better, and sometimes earns you even more money. If you promote a free product that has advertising in it you can earn much more money then a small fixed fee, as the advertising will continue to pay over time.
     
    QuackWare, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  3. MANNSK

    MANNSK Peon

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    #3
    It seems every free e-book has an opt-in at this point, which makes sense. You give something away know to potential customers, and try to get them back later with a better product to sell.
     
    MANNSK, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  4. JimGee

    JimGee Member

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    #4
    Free is fantastic bait...proven to work.....
     
    JimGee, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  5. craig105

    craig105 Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Free is great my site is all about free and it's the way everything should be lol
     
    craig105, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  6. Johnta

    Johnta Peon

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    #6
    I like Running Business for free, free blog with free content and free backlinks... Boom
     
    Johnta, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  7. webbmaster

    webbmaster Well-Known Member

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    #7
    nicely written.. absolutely true!! offer something for free and then up sell ... talk about free movie.. one of the theaters around here actually sells ticket for $0.25 on Tuesday... can not get cheaper than that.. they make money from the popcorns and drinks I think
     
    webbmaster, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  8. bluexdragunz83

    bluexdragunz83 Peon

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    #8
    When I was selling hot dogs downtown I offered a free drink when someone bought a dog, got their cell number and added them on myspace in the same visit.

    I then got a bunch of them about 5-10% to send bullitens or texts to their friends and they all came down because the free drink and my awesome food.

    Free does work even if it is just a free bonus.
    :D
     
    bluexdragunz83, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  9. KyleWhitey

    KyleWhitey Peon

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    #9
    they are able to offer their products free because they charge for adwords etc
     
    KyleWhitey, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  10. PankajKumar

    PankajKumar Active Member

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    #10
    Google main earning is from Adwords and adsense.... infact adsense is their main weapon because of sharing of revenues.
     
    PankajKumar, Feb 10, 2010 IP
  11. wh23

    wh23 Peon

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    #11
    As long as the content that is being given away for free is good then it is THE internet business model.

    Google isn't google if their email, directories, documents etc were not any good. Skype isn't Skype without a free reliable worldwide video phone. Its much like TV where the ads are more expensive during higher volume audience programs - they will be higher volume due to public interest (superbowl) or quality content (friends/desperate housewives etc)

    Make the free content you provide quality and you've given you half a chance in this business.


    wh
     
    wh23, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  12. BusinessCoach

    BusinessCoach Well-Known Member

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    #12
    spoken by someone who has never had overhead and payroll to consider I guess.

    So please explain how the movie theatre would make money to pay its bills. Which are HEFTY

    offering something online, vs the real world are two different things..and an ad revenue model is not always the best.

    Broadcast television is still free (and they show movies)..yet people still pay for cable and satellite...why is that?

    Yes, "freebies" are a good tactic, but not a BUSINESS MODEL...when google can give away free cars then you can make the comparison, otherwise its not apples to apples.

    Information is cheap, so its easy to do free.

    If Google were to put up 10,000 retail locations to allow you to come and get on their computer...with the cost of hardware, furnishings, overhead and payroll...think they could do it? -- the answer is no
     
    BusinessCoach, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  13. wh23

    wh23 Peon

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    #13
    Hi Businesscoach

    If you read my post again you'll see I said the INTERNET business model. I was not referring to physical business such as movie theatres.

    However, my local movie theatre often does 2 for 1 promotions. No coincidence that the theatre tends to be full these particular nights. Is that not free content?

    In fact, many offline businesses tend to give something away to get business. But as you say, overheads prevent these types of business to sustain such tactics.
     
    wh23, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  14. xdhirax

    xdhirax Active Member

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    #14
    And they build brand loyalty with all their freebies... so they can sell you a droid phone later....
     
    xdhirax, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  15. br3adman

    br3adman Active Member

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    #15
    You think If us internet marketers start offering free lap dances we will sell more products?
     
    br3adman, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  16. Traffic-Bug

    Traffic-Bug Active Member

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    #16
    You are right, freemium model is being used to capture and enthrall the subject's attention these days. First build up user base using the tactic of giving away something free and then you have them in your control as they use your service and get locked in. Nice idea.
     
    Traffic-Bug, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  17. sologame

    sologame Guest

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    #17
    excellent i will be co founding a computer training center, this is a huge eye opener for me. Thanks a ton mate :)
     
    sologame, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  18. BusinessCoach

    BusinessCoach Well-Known Member

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    #18
    my response was to the OP not your post which was previous to mine

    Sorry, I should have specified

    however, it is not an ideal for all internet business models either. Could amazon give free books away with an ad supported model? no.

    Could netflix rent videos that way? No

    again, it is a good sales strategy in moderation but it is NOT a viable BUSINESS MODEL online or off
     
    BusinessCoach, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  19. xecutable

    xecutable Greenhorn

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    #19
    Firefox is another great example, how a business can be profitable yet Free.

    @BusinessCoach your opinion does not make it a fact
     
    xecutable, Feb 11, 2010 IP
  20. 7DayTrafficPlan

    7DayTrafficPlan Guest

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    #20
    Giving something awat for free makes you start by thinkng about your customers first and not your profits- that's the route to success
     
    7DayTrafficPlan, Feb 11, 2010 IP