Free Models

Free models use giveaways to increase consumer awareness, develop audiences and engage current and future customers. There's considerable debate about the application and utility of these models because the paths toward revenue and sustainability are often hard to find. Advocates often point to examples where a company, band, or individual uses free material to drive customers toward other, for-pay products (e.g. a band "giving away" music to boost concert ticket sales). Detractors note that not every company has ancillary products or services, and so giving away a core product is a quick way to go out of business.

Digital distribution and piracy also factor into free discussions.

Recent TOC Stories Referencing Free

Will Magazines Go Free?

Jennifer Armor, audit manager at Verified Audit Circulation, makes the case for free magazines. From Folio: Because of the increasing price of paper and postage, Armour said, the cost of...

Using the Psychology of Free

The psychological benefits of free products can yield business opportunities for publishers and content creators.

Putting Ebook Piracy into Perspective

Adam Engst says ease of use and availability can offset piracy. His points also serve as a launching pad for a larger discussion on piracy perspectives.

Treating Ebooks Like Software

In this Q&A, Peter Kent of DNAML discusses the merits of in-book transactions, affiliate marketing, and other digital initiatives that can benefit book publishers.

Essential Points in the Free Debate

The signal to noise ratio around free models is obscuring a number of key points. Here's a few worth discussing.

Author Notes Risks and Opportunities in Free Ebooks

A post by Steven Poole looks at the arguments and counter-arguments surrounding free digital books.

"Ask a Ninja" Creators Use Web for Shot at Hollywood

The founders of the "Ask a Ninja" Web video series have turned popularity into revenue and opportunities in the movie industry.

Digital Experiments and Useful Analytics Must Go Hand-in-Hand

A recent IDPF presentation offers an important reminder about the value of hard data in digital experiments.

Profile of Hay House: "An Attitude is Not a Business Plan"

Hay House and O'Reilly differ in content, but share similar revenue paths. See how they compare.

News Roundup: Google Mobile App Taps Amazon for Data, Orphan Works and Copyright Confusion, Arguing Against "Freemium," Digital Marketing Examples for Publishers, DRM on Comeback Trail?

A Google-Amazon Mobile Application Android Scan, one of the winners from the Google Android Developer Challenge, uses cell phone cameras and barcode recognition to tap into Amazon's review database. (Continue...
Additional Free Links & Resources

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