Bizarrely the edited free version of the new Chris Anderson book
Free seems to have disappeared from the link below. Which is a
pity as I was rather enjoying it. And then it struck me that as it was
in fact only 'free' for a short period of time - it was sort of going
against some points he had made about 'Freemium' (actually
coined by someone else entirely in 2006). And probably indicates
that his stance on giving it all away free and not really caring
where his IP ends up or that his was most pirated book on stalls
in China but he didn't care was actually bollocks. Which all rather
undermines the whole thing surely?
And another thing - when I saw him at the ICA he basically went
through chapters 1 and 2 which were about how the old razor King
gave the handles away free so he could charge for the razor - and
of course the old color printer Vs replacement cartridges etc. Yep
got all that - its called a 'loss leader' or is certainly used to be when
I was being slapped around the head with a wet Kotler and Armstrong.
And - his book was on sale in the lobby - not even free - which made
me chuckle at the sheer sort of Emperors new attire moment being
played out.
And I wanted to ask him the question about the loss leader strategy -
which I sort of thought was actually the whole point of his book but
cleverly re appropriated as 'Freemium' - giving something away for
free or below the profit line in order to make a sale somewhere else -
but felt awkward in case I wasn't thinking straight. But on reflection
perhaps I was and the whole Longtail meme has actually just
been exhausted.
I doubt I will be buying a copy of the book in future because it is a one
trick pony - got the bit about Freemium then you've kinda got it really.
Oh, and I had to delete the original link as it kept jumping to the top.
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