Posted on March 10, 2013 | In Ask the Readers
The most controversial price in the world is… free.
If you’ve ever read a blog about blogging and list building, you know that one of the very first things you do is create an awesome piece of content and give it away for free in exchange for an email address.
And the free giveaways don’t stop there. All or most of the content on your blog will be free, as well your newsletter content, and possible trials of your products and services.
These days, a lot can be got for free.
Is this the way it should be?
Look at it this way: Once a piece of content or other digital product is created, distribution costs almost nothing , it’s a matter of making something available to download through a link. You set it up once and then there is unlimited download potential. How much should an item of this nature cost?
On the other hand, bloggers and other business owners making a living online need to be compensated, and an income that accrues whether or not you’re actively spending time on something is the golden apple that bloggers are looking for.
Of course, free products and samples can be a great way to get people interested in physical products or services, for example – but when people get something for free – often they have no desire to pay for something down the line. They just want more and more for free.
So what do you think? What does giving something away for free cost you? Is it worth it? Should bloggers start charging for more of their digital giveaways?
What is information really worth today? Please leave a comment and let us know what you think!
57
READ MORE >>
Posted on March 6, 2013 | In Scavenger Hunt
We spend a lot of time on Firepole Marketing telling you how important it is to find your absolutely perfect ideal customer, and build a relationship with them.
It’s a pretty smart way to get your business going.
Finding them can be challenging – but it’s almost always worthwhile.
Social networking is one of the ways we do it, and almost everyone has at least one of the “biggies”: a Facebook account, a Twitter account, A LinkedIn profile – you know the ones – the sites you think of when you think “social media.”
They’re so big and so prevalent that maintaining a presence on them is almost a hygiene issue, that is to say, something you have to do just to be “as good as all the other options.” Having a Facebook page won’t make you special – but not having one might cause a raised eyebrow. You know what I mean.
That’s the problem with the biggest social networking sites: participating is just the price of admission, and they’re so widespread that they hardly matter in terms of differentiation or finding the people you really want to be working with.
Happily, there are other options.
If you’ve ever been sick of the major players in the social media industry, this post is for you. Let’s look at our alternatives and some new ways to use the bigger social networking sites.
22
READ MORE >>
