Where is the border between offering something for free vs. offering it for payment?
Business Marketing with Nika
15 replies
This is the question asked from the perspective of someone who shares the knowledge.
To what extent is it okay to share something for free (on social media) and then start asking for money?
Replies
André J@sentry_co
🍬 Sweeteners are free. 💊 Painkillers are not.
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Launching soon!
I faced this question with my iOS app, which is free but has a subscription for Pro features. Ultimately, I erred on the side of making the free version as rich as possible. I'd rather have more users who stick around longer, because they may eventually convert. As I add new features, they will mostly be Pro/paid features, so hopefully the Pro version only gets more attractive over time.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@bensyverson I think that when you somehow limit a feature, e.g. you can use it maybe 2 or 3 times per month maximum, people start being frustrated from lack of usage and will be more likely to pre-pay for that.
I'm battling this dilemma right now. My wish was to have a freemium modal on launch; unfortunately, I made an unnecessary and costly decision earlier this year :/ I have learnt my lesson, sink or swim, will press the button next week.
My current strategy is to offer a 50% product hunt promotion from launch day for a few weeks and steer towards my long-term plan to a freemium modal.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@donnie_suazo what will be pricing options?
@busmark_w_nika The promo code will be shared here on launch day. The app will be free for the first 28 days (appears to be the standard on the app store) and then £3.99 until I achieve the short and long-term milestones I've set.
The price options when long-term milestones are achieved:
- Premium Bundles: Additional features like effects, motion, and editing styles for £3.99 per bundle.
- Rolling Subscription: Premium access to all bundles and pro features for £9.99 monthly.
- Annual Subscription: Save with a yearly plan for £59.99.
Is the right shape? who knows! I'll be debating it with smarter people this weekend :)
Lancepilot
I think it really comes down to the value you're providing and the context. Offering free content helps build trust and establish your expertise, but as you grow your audience, it’s natural to start offering paid options whether that's premium content, courses, or services.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@priyankamandal the thing is – you do not know the exact numbers of followers when you can start sell. Because you can sell when you are 10,000 or 100 (when you have a loyal community).
Launching soon!
It's all about establishing credibility first, whether the product/service is offered by individual or organization.
Coming to the border, I feel what's widely available and someone can find with little research should be given free.
It's the experience that one can't get or find (without actually putting in the efforts & time). So, charge for that.
In terms of product, charge for the USPs. If someone is using a competitor or alternative, you have to create an impression that yours is better, so let them use it (and find it out themselves how it's better in terms of experience and results), and then show them what more they can do (USPs). That's where you should charge.
Thoughts?
minimalist phone: creating folders
@adeeb_malik I received a good reply on twitter: agitate a problem and show 1 solution with the free stuff. Then for more, ask for payment
and I liked it but also feel aligned with what you said: Easily searchable things for free and something that requires more effort (not free) – but maybe that differentiator – when you reveal a little bit more from "restricted" sources makes you stand out.
The border between offering something for free vs. charging for it usually comes down to value and sustainability.
When it’s free, you’re providing something that offers enough value to attract users and build trust. It could be a tool, a resource, or a service that helps users solve a problem without expecting anything in return initially.
However, once the offering grows in value, scope, or requires more resources to maintain – like advanced features, premium support, or more personalized experiences – that’s when it makes sense to start charging.
It's all about ensuring that the value users get justifies the cost, while still providing enough free features to keep people engaged.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@felix_sattler I meant more content creation. Sometimes I see how people share such good things that I am like: "Do they still have any information left to share with me in some premium content?" :D
@busmark_w_nika Ahhh, now I get it! I actually think so called "lead magnets" often rely heavily on data. For example, when we launched our previous business, MoBerries (an automation solution for Active Sourcing), we released a recruiting report based on current market data and trends. People would sign up for the report, and we’d then offer them access to real-time recruiting analytics in our premium model.
The key is that when you base content like this on data, you create a foundation for ongoing value. Free data becomes outdated quickly, but premium real-time data retains its value – especially when presented effectively.