film_girl

I think in most cases this is absolutely true. I do, however, think there is and can be a benefit in releasing a product as free and then a better, more robust follow-up as paid. This has been a not-uncommon tactic in the indie software world and one that I know as a software user, I’m certainly more amenable to swallowing than seeing a once-free product become paid, despite almost no feature enhancements. Even if there are enhancements, name it something else, just to take the sting of now charging.

I will say, however, that what is worse, for me as a user, is when a product I paid for becomes free and I’m not even tacitly compensated with a “thank you.” And God help you if you pull a NewsGator, make a product free (after people already paid — oh, and then you want to get into a pissing match with someone who bought a subscription like 2-weeks before your free announcement) and then make it paid again two years later. That is a great example of how NOT to migrate to a free path or to migrate to a paid path.

This is a good read, however, because I think it addresses many of the chief complaints I had with Anderson’s book Free when I read it two years ago. The idea that everything can be commoditized is obviously unsettling for someone who wants to believe that their work is original and special. Yes, yes, you are not a beautiful and unique snowflake, granted, but I think that those of us that make their livings creating something — be software, music, film or even online news posts about tech and culture — want to believe that our work has an intrinsic level of value.

The fastest way to negate that value is to offer the work for free. To answer a quick criticism, my work may be visible and accessible freely by others — however, I do not work for free. I get paid. I might do personal writings for myself and my own social channels, but I don’t work for free. Figuring out how to monetize my content isn’t my job, that’s the job of my employer (and they do a damn good job).

The price of “Free” | Serious Simplicity

via Chartier