Is "Free" Inevitable?
Some thoughts on the Malcolm Gladwell / Chris Anderson / Seth Godin / Mark Cuban discussion of "Free".
The discussion is centered around the idea that information (in various forms) is trending heavily towards being free and the notion that this trend is essentially inevitable.
My take:
First, what we're calling "free" is more like "cost smooshed into nearly untraceable oblivion". For a song I've downloaded for "free", the cost of the internet connection, the playback device, even the "cost" of hearing that same song used later in a crappy TV ad, are each too far removed from my acquisition of the song that it's tempting to call the song "free". But is it?
Second, the key question when discussing an "inevitable" change: once the change has been made, will reversions pop back up? In a world where all information is free, will non-free information emerge again? If yes, then the suggestion that the trend to free information is inevitable is naive.
Information doesn't really care about being "free"; it seeks efficient distribution. It seems that making itself "apparently free" to the consumer is highly aligned with that goal.
100,000 years ago, all information was free. What we have today is far more intricate, far more interesting.
The discussion is centered around the idea that information (in various forms) is trending heavily towards being free and the notion that this trend is essentially inevitable.
My take:
First, what we're calling "free" is more like "cost smooshed into nearly untraceable oblivion". For a song I've downloaded for "free", the cost of the internet connection, the playback device, even the "cost" of hearing that same song used later in a crappy TV ad, are each too far removed from my acquisition of the song that it's tempting to call the song "free". But is it?
Second, the key question when discussing an "inevitable" change: once the change has been made, will reversions pop back up? In a world where all information is free, will non-free information emerge again? If yes, then the suggestion that the trend to free information is inevitable is naive.
Information doesn't really care about being "free"; it seeks efficient distribution. It seems that making itself "apparently free" to the consumer is highly aligned with that goal.
100,000 years ago, all information was free. What we have today is far more intricate, far more interesting.
COMMENTS
I agree with many of your points regarding "free". One major problem is the amount of options and choices available for "free" (although many are fake, redirects, etc) Consumers are now used to free stuff, however crappy much of it it. Reversing that mindset is a difficult task. I think offering a great free product and an even better premium paid option is the way to go. If people love the product and have an actual use for it to make their lives easier or better, then they expect to pay...it then has value!
I agree people will pay for things they find valuable.
I tend to distrust free web apps at least a little bit on two fronts: 1) A certain "you get what you pay for" mentality on my part. 2) A fear that the free service will not be sustainable and will phase out of existence a year or two down the road.
I'm probably in the minority. Time will tell!
I tend to distrust free web apps at least a little bit on two fronts: 1) A certain "you get what you pay for" mentality on my part. 2) A fear that the free service will not be sustainable and will phase out of existence a year or two down the road.
I'm probably in the minority. Time will tell!