chrisbrogan.com - Latest Comments in The Audacity of Free

Re: The Audacity of Free

Simon Salt — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:27:21 -0000

Chris, I was actually working on a similar post with a couple of others as the result of experiences we have had recently with people asking for "Free". I was asked to MC a conference for two days, expected to travel there on my own dime and get nothing for it. The conference ticket was selling for $600, even if everyone who attended (approx 200) got the discounted ticket of $400 that is still a gross profit of $80,000. Because it was a brand new conference I didnt ask for a speaker fee, just travel and accommodation. Instead of negotiating with me the conference organizers got very mad at me for asking, and told me "good luck" and then walked away. That was when I decided Free is not Me. My time, my content and my contribution is worth something, even if its only a plane ticket and a hotel room. As always great post.

Re: The Audacity of Free

Eli Reichman — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:15:15 -0000

In 2009 I wrote about giving information away for nothing. Once people become use to receiving free content (no matter what medium) it's hard to get them to pay in the future. You can read the post here if you're interested. http://eliphoto.wordpress.c...

Re: The Audacity of Free

Tammy Collins — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:07:22 -0000

Free is so difficult for exactly the reasons mentioned. I have had potential tax clients tell me they can do their taxes online for free. I smile and tell them to go ahead. When they receive the inevitable letter from the IRS, they call me to fix it, which I do for much more than their initial tax return would have cost them had I prepared it. Ah well, live and learn. Free is never really free at all. Great post!

Re: The Audacity of Free

Erika Napoletano — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:56:00 -0000

Bottom line: you get what you pay for. Do you walk into your doctor's office and haggle? Do you tell your CPA that Turbo Tax is only $59.99?

No. Professionals charge for their services. We also charge our friends. We also understand when and how to ask to bend someone's ear. We also know when people are bending the shit out of us and soon enough, we break.

Pay the man. Woman. Hamster. Doctor. Lawyer. Indian Chief. If the economy sucks so bad that you can't afford it, then you wait until you can. You don't ask someone else to make THEIR business suffer.

Hat tip, Chris. *and thanks to Dave Peck for RTing this and putting it back on my radar

Re: The Audacity of Free

yah00 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:51:15 -0000

Thanks, Chris. I'm just getting my presentation coaching business off the ground and have been going back and forth about providing "gratis" work for initial exposure

Re: The Audacity of Free

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Re: The Audacity of Free

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Re: The Audacity of Free

usb flash drive — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:13:35 -0000

Welcome to the gift economy. With the emergence of social media, business has become interested in the gift economy because of scale it's suddenly monetizable. Non profits have been working in the gift economy for many years and understand exactly that events and other things of value don't come for free. Be great if this debate moves on to discuss full cost recovery, value and the art of giving.

Re: The Audacity of Free

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Re: The Audacity of Free

Metta Zetty — Sat, 01 May 2010 10:34:34 -0000

Charles Gupton wrote: "I seldom ever hear a speaker or writer present a profoundly new idea. But I'm often amazed at how new an old idea is shaped so that I can understand and apply it in a new way. That holds great value.'

Point well taken, Charles. Reminds me of a similar insight (quotation)I heard recently on NPR:

"Genius is not a new idea. It is an idea used for a new purpose." ~ Unknown.

Re: The Audacity of Free

Guest — Sat, 01 May 2010 10:33:07 -0000

Point well taken. Reminds me of a similar insight (quotation) I heard recently on NPR:

"Genius is not a new idea. It is an idea used for a new purpose." ~ Unknown.

Re: The Audacity of Free

Scott Gould — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:32:55 -0000

Re reading this. Good stuff.

Re: The Audacity of Free

Debbie Mahler — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:40:57 -0000

I really don't think Seth meant that CL should charge, I think it was an analogy. If CL charged $1 per ad, that would stop the spammers because they don't want to spam for a fee! I think that was the point.

And for the person who said we are in a gift economy, if I had to depend on that for my living, I'd be on the street and out of business. In 14 years I received a $2 tip in my blog tip jar. I ended up taking it down and putting up Google ads. At least I get a check every year or so from them!

Thanks for the great post Chris!

Re: The Audacity of Free

webspider20 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:33:26 -0000

It is really true how much less crap would be on craigslist if they charged $1. I love the site but there is too much spamming and scams going on right now. I love this post, thanks for the great read

Re: The Audacity of Free

Lesley — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:26:34 -0000

I get where you are coming from, but I do know there is a growing interest in free. from where it comes I haven't a clue. However, where someone is trying to make their mark, free has its place. A young graduate looking to gain expereince in an industry that doesnt do graduates, may use the concept of free to market what they offer the world.

Obviously, there are many situations you have covered that I agree with. But I would not use the concept of charging for everything as a blanket philosophy myself.

Re: The Audacity of Free

terryreagan — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:26:15 -0000

In Chile, where I live, there is a saying : "that which costs nothing is worth nothing." Take note

Re: The Audacity of Free

xmas presents — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:12:31 -0000

use Audacity to do something very similar with radio programs that I record from FM. Once I've ripped the recording to disk, I use Audacity to trim any extraneous material from before the start of the actual program, and any extraneous material after the end of the program. This way I don't have to worry about starting/stopping the recording at the precise moment that the show starts/ends. Very quick and easy to do.

Re: The Audacity of Free

Stephen Meltzer — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:27:53 -0000

I guess you've made my point a bit. Pro bono is not "in exchange" for anything. You should not have any expectation of remuneration for pro bono work other than the benefit you bring to others. Make the gift - you pay the price to bring your service to the non-profit - the "gain" needs to be measured differently in a give of this nature. Don't try to put a price on this type of free and you may find it is more worth it.

Re: The Audacity of Free

Guest — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:47:12 -0000

I do pro bono for two clients --- I barter their services for mine; but only services I really need. Why not "get something in return"?

When I do "free" it costs the NFP advertising space, newsletter ads, BOR sales, a hotel room, etc.

We have to put a price on free when it comes to business.

I do volunteer personally -- but NOT for business. And everytime I go against my own rule, even giving deep discounts to folks, I end up with "clients from hell" -- not worth it.

Re: The Audacity of Free

Guest — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:40:48 -0000

Hip hip to you. Great article, I passed it along as the tip of the day to my clients.

I say "stamp out freebie seekers!" Wrote this article when I got tired of folks asking me if they can pick my brain. Well, my brain pays my bills and gives me the life I want to lead....

Now I say -- you have 5 mintues, then we're on the clock.

Wrote an article on the 10 ways to say no to freebie seekers; if you want the other 13 ways and additional information on pricing.... you guessed it --- You have to pay for it!

http://www.coachmaria.com/a...

Re: The Audacity of Free

Timberland shoes — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:09:46 -0000

I like what you said.

Re: The Audacity of Free

Timberland shoes — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:07:37 -0000

I like what you said.

Re: The Audacity of Free

ThistleCoveFarm — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:27:30 -0000

I don't do free. The least I'll do is expenses and that's only if the speaking engagement is local.
In my experience, the worst offenders to ask for free are government and 501.c.3 employees. When I've pointed out to them they are being paid to be there so why should I do it for free, the return look is a blank stare.
A few years ago a farmer in the next county called me and asked if I would "look over his farm and give him some ideas". I told him a minimum of two eight hour days resulting in a written report would cost $400. His response, "I can get the extension service to do it for free". I told him to call the extension service. It's true he didn't hire me but it's also true he's not using tourism on his farm to increase farm income.
I make $500 in one morning conducting farm tours; that experience and information is worth a lot more than the $400 I charge.
Those with eyes to see...see. Those with ears to hear...hear.
The rest whine about how they aren't getting anywhere...fast.
My husband tells me, frequently, if I'm not getting as many jobs as I want...raise my prices. People's perception of free is "it's worthless"; their perception of expensive is "it must be really good".

Your post is excellent and timely, especially in this economy.

Re: The Audacity of Free

zionaetzion — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:31:44 -0000

The "cow" bit did it for me too.

My husband was born on a kibbutz and his English was not good at one point.

That did not stop him from doing and auction and for lack of better language skills he told a bidder that getting money out of her was like milking a COW!

Re: The Audacity of Free

zionaetzion — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:28:48 -0000

I worked on a company as a founding partner for free (believing that I would start getting compensated in the future.)

This is also problematic because the others did not value the time or skills that I acquired and did far less than myself.

I gave value over the expected and they did not meet goals that they themselves set!