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Last Updated:
Apr 16th, 2008 - 07:45:01 |
Is it REALLY free?
By Wendy Shepherd
Oct 12, 2005, 23:11
I really want to vent, but I realize that I have to understand that some people either get confused, or simply don't "GET IT" when it comes to getting something for free. Is it REALLY free? Think about it. SOMEONE is paying for it to become available to you for "FREE" somehow!
Let's look at newspapers or magazines that you receive for "FREE." These publications are supported by advertising that is built around the content. The more advertising dollars the publications gain, the more they can grow. Some publications will charge you AND place advertising around their content. So, you should feel lucky that SOMEONE is paying for you to get the "FREE" version, which isn't really free because they are "BUYING" space for your eyeballs to see their products or services. Same with television.
Now, why would I vent about this? Perhaps it is because I offer free printables on a website that is built upon the same premise. Chart Jungle has printable charts, schedules, checklists, etc. available for free. Let me tell you, it isn't free for me to run the site and it isn't free for me to send out a newsletter to let my subscribers know that there are more free printables, articles, etc. available. Every time that someone loads each printable image, my bandwidth gets used and the price for it is paid for by me. I use a third party host to send out my newsletter and they charge me too.
To offset the costs that I have to pay each month, I build advertising around the content areas, just like I mentioned the newspapers and magazines do. I get TONS of nice letters from thankful individuals and families each month. However, I get a few of the selfish and mean messages too, which I don't understand. For heaven's sake, these printables are free!
I received messages like:
" I don't want the advertising, I just want the free printables "
" I feel like I was duped into signing up for what I thought were charts and helpful tips and stuff. What I got from your site is advertisements "
" Remove me from your "Club". I joined by lure of "free printables". However, it's a scam like everything else. You should be ashamed of yourselves luring in desperate parents. "
Hmmm... wow. A scam, they were duped, they don't want advertising. Those types of messages make me think about charging subscribers a monthly cost and remove the advertising. However, that wouldn't be fair to the parents who can't afford it and really rely on the charts that I provide. I use these charts myself, and found that sharing them helped others.
So, maybe they just misunderstand, or got confused. I am not sure. But, one thing is for sure... NOTHING is REALLY free. SOMEONE is paying for it and for a reason.
I am sure that my fellow friends in the media online and offline understand this view. - Send a comment
---~Wendy Shepherd ( http://www.wendyshepherd.com )
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