Is 'free' ever really free?

I guess we have all asked ourselves that question - and if we haven't then we should!

When we are offered a free gift we generally jump at it because there is an emotional response to 'something for nothing', a 'gift' offered in friendship, or even the less honourable notion that we now have some advantage over the next person, because we have stumbled across a find or a valuable that he has not, and finally the all powerful, greed.

Nevertheless our reason or good sense tells us that the 'freebie' is not truly free and without obligation.

In intenet marketing we have been taught to use 'free' as a powerful way to attract people to our offer.
Marketers, punters, anyone it seems can't refuse to look at an offer if it will cost them nothing.

Let's examine two current offers that claim to be free.
OFFER ONE: Free Software. Your choice from several top selling software products.
This offer promises that a $97 product will be given away for free.

The 'catch'or price to be paid was a post and handling fee and an ongoing subscription to a paid membership newsletter at about $30 per month.

I am not commenting on the value of the product or the newsletter one way or the other, I am examining the tactic of the 'free' offer to show you the thinking behind such offers.

For your acceptance of his 'free' offer, the marketer received:
*Your name and email address
*Your credit card details to permit him rebilling you monthly
*Your postal/home address.

Let me stress, there is nothing illegal or wrong with the transaction. You gave your information in return for a
product and service.

Did you respond to the ad solely on the basis of the product? No. You were not looking to buy it today.
You did not search for it. You were on someone's list and you were offered a freebie.
Do you now want the product? Yes, it's free!

From the marketer's position it was a great deal. He found a product he could offer at a discount to his list, and
he also used those affiliates who want to promote his brand, in return for a commission, to increase his list.

For a few dollars he is able to attract more to his list (ie his ongoing newlsetter) so he can sell more items to them in the future.
He offered a digital product 'worth' around $100, but as we all know once the initial production cost has been made,
the item costs nothing to reproduce, especially when the buyer/subscriber pays for distribution.
The average punter stays on a list for three months so he will end up spending $100 for his free product anyway.

Is this good business? Yes!
Is it a con? Well....Yes and no.
In the sense that the subscriber thought from the initial ad they were getting a zero cost download of valuable
software and ended up paying $7 shipping and an idefinite $30 per month, they were stung.

No doubt the product works and has value and the newlsetter will be potentially worth a lot to those who act on the
information it provides, so they will have gained.

OFFER TWO: A fully featured autoresponder service.
This offer promises the use of an autoresponder that you can use to build a list, schedule and send email messages,
manage subscribers, import and export leads, build capture forms, collect stats and track advertising. All at no cost
to you. Sraightforward, no sting in the tail.

SO how good is this offer and where is the catch?
The marketer receives your name and email and in return allows you to set up your a/r on his server.
You are now on his list. It has cost you nothing, he has offered something of real value and not 'stung' you for set
up costs, hosting cost or membership fees. What is the value of this offer? In the current market for similar services, around $20 per month.

What does he get out of it?
This marketer builds trust over time, that he is a man of his word. He can show you through future emails that he is a

good and ethical marketer, he can show you his track record and can teach you how to replicate what he is doing.

Will it ever 'cost' you?
If you choose to join his team, yes! Indirectly he will share in commissions you generate in your business.
Will you get value for money? Yes.
You know he is not ripping you off with something you do not want.
Are you forced to spend money to join him? NO! Whether you join his businesses or not, you still get to use the
service at no cost.

Will you have something of value to use at no cost into the future? Yes!And you can use the same offer to your prospects.

To me this is a much better 'free' offer than number one.
But let us not kid ourselves that anything in internet marketing is "free".
"There is no free lunch". Buyers must always beware and read the fine print, it is just that some freebies are better than others.