Comments on: Freetards ruining the web? http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/2008/04/04/freetards-ruining-the-web/ Thought stream from SmugMug's CEO & Chief Geek Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:22:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-hemorrhage hourly 1 By: What Kind of Software Would People Actually Pay For? » What’s In Peter’s Head http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/2008/04/04/freetards-ruining-the-web/#comment-102869 What Kind of Software Would People Actually Pay For? » What’s In Peter’s Head Mon, 05 May 2008 22:28:59 +0000 http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/?p=209#comment-102869 [...] what benefit they get out of it. Then provide a similar or better benefit. For example, photo buffs like SmugMug because it’s better, more attractive, and has better tools to make showcasing pictures [...] [...] what benefit they get out of it. Then provide a similar or better benefit. For example, photo buffs like SmugMug because it’s better, more attractive, and has better tools to make showcasing pictures [...]

]]> By: Micromicon Blog » Blog Archive » The notion of “free” http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/2008/04/04/freetards-ruining-the-web/#comment-102479 Micromicon Blog » Blog Archive » The notion of “free” Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:00:05 +0000 http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/?p=209#comment-102479 [...] Freetards ruining the web? [...] [...] Freetards ruining the web? [...]

]]> By: Rob Stoker http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/2008/04/04/freetards-ruining-the-web/#comment-102474 Rob Stoker Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:58:21 +0000 http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/?p=209#comment-102474 I'm not a regular blogger to your site. I'm not a professional photograher. In fact, from what I've seen most of you are much better photographers than I am. In reality, I probably take really crappy photos. However, part of what brought me to SmugMug was an opportunity to back up my family photos. My 3-year old son passed away 2 years ago. The photos I have of him are priceless. I would pay much more than what Smugmug charges me to ensure they are backed up in several places and I won't ever lose them. (Don, don't take that as a personal challenge to raise my rates.) However, I will pay for service. I will pay for backup in other locations. My son was born in a time of digital photographs (ones and zeros are the only photographs I have). I'll pay to back them up where I don't trust my own harddrive or other backup devices. The ~5/month is a cheap price to pay. People (I) will pay for premium service. I hope you (Don) realize what people are entrusting you with (and I feel you do). I hope that enough people realize that you don't get something for nothing, and that you stay in business for a long, long time. I’m not a regular blogger to your site. I’m not a professional photograher. In fact, from what I’ve seen most of you are much better photographers than I am. In reality, I probably take really crappy photos. However, part of what brought me to SmugMug was an opportunity to back up my family photos. My 3-year old son passed away 2 years ago. The photos I have of him are priceless. I would pay much more than what Smugmug charges me to ensure they are backed up in several places and I won’t ever lose them. (Don, don’t take that as a personal challenge to raise my rates.)

However, I will pay for service. I will pay for backup in other locations. My son was born in a time of digital photographs (ones and zeros are the only photographs I have). I’ll pay to back them up where I don’t trust my own harddrive or other backup devices. The ~5/month is a cheap price to pay.

People (I) will pay for premium service. I hope you (Don) realize what people are entrusting you with (and I feel you do). I hope that enough people realize that you don’t get something for nothing, and that you stay in business for a long, long time.

]]> By: Fact: You Can Sell Online Services | Mark Evans http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/2008/04/04/freetards-ruining-the-web/#comment-102464 Fact: You Can Sell Online Services | Mark Evans Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:12:50 +0000 http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/?p=209#comment-102464 [...] co-exist. If you’re looking for a response to the SVI post from someone who knows, check out Don MacAskill, whose family owns and operates [...] [...] co-exist. If you’re looking for a response to the SVI post from someone who knows, check out Don MacAskill, whose family owns and operates [...]

]]> By: John Treadway http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/2008/04/04/freetards-ruining-the-web/#comment-102461 John Treadway Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:59:25 +0000 http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/?p=209#comment-102461 Don - good post. Chris Anderson's Wired cover article about "FREE!!!" is a manifesto on how free sites usually beat paid sites. SmugMug is an exception, but you are after a self-selecting user that is more demanding than most. Most of the subscription photo sites failed faster than the free ones, and look at Flickr and Photobucket with their "freemium" models. Sometimes it's just not possible to charge every user and have a viable business. Don - good post. Chris Anderson’s Wired cover article about “FREE!!!” is a manifesto on how free sites usually beat paid sites. SmugMug is an exception, but you are after a self-selecting user that is more demanding than most. Most of the subscription photo sites failed faster than the free ones, and look at Flickr and Photobucket with their “freemium” models. Sometimes it’s just not possible to charge every user and have a viable business.

]]> By: Free 2.0: Don’t blame the VCs - mathewingram.com/work http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/2008/04/04/freetards-ruining-the-web/#comment-102460 Free 2.0: Don’t blame the VCs - mathewingram.com/work Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:50:59 +0000 http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/?p=209#comment-102460 [...] See Hank’s comment below. Don McAskill of SmugMug also has a thoughtful response, in which he notes that lots of industries have a stratification between commodity (i.e. free) and premium brands — [...] [...] See Hank’s comment below. Don McAskill of SmugMug also has a thoughtful response, in which he notes that lots of industries have a stratification between commodity (i.e. free) and premium brands — [...]

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