Re: Will They Pay? was RE: Salon.com and taller ads

From: John Gaskill <gm_at_info-central-usa.com>
Date: Mon 07 May 2001 13:12:51 -0500

MICHAEL MARTINEZ <Michael_at_xenite.org> WROTE:

>If anyone on this list thinks that the business community
>can just CHARGE FOR CONTENT, forget it! Wash that nonsense

TO WHICH JUSTIN W. HITT <Justin.Hitt_at_hittpansophism.com> REPLIED:

>People buy magazines. Why wouldn't they pay for content
>online in a particular service that provided them high
>quality articles and other services for a fee?
<snip >

MICHAEL MARTINEZ ANSWERED:

>But, to answer your question directly: Most people
>don't want to pay for views of Web sites. It's hard
>enough to get them to pay for files to download (such
>as electronic books -- people will, of course, buy
>software). Getting people to pay for the privilege of
>viewing a Web page, that takes some really fine content.

<example of Michael's payment for content snipped>

>Am I typical? I can't say. But all the news reports
>I've read about marketing studies indicate most people
>are not willing to pay yet. So, if the business
>community wants people to pay, it's got some work
>ahead of it.

The fact that people don't want to pay is nothing new.
People around the world would prefer to get things
free if they could.

The reality is that people ARE paying for content on
the web delivered through web sites. The WSJ Interactive
version is only one example. You hit the nail on the
head in your own self-conflicted statements, first alleging
that people will not pay, then conceding that they will
and admitting that you do. You pay for the NYT by
giving them your name and e-mail address.

The secret is to provide something that people want,
are willing to pay for, and is priced attractively enough
to generate a large audience. To get subscribers
who pay, advertise widely and provide free, but limited
sampling. If the content is news before anyone else,
provide a list of the articles you have broken, etc.

The secret to getting payment is quality. If you don't
have that main ingredient, forget getting payment unless
you are giving away premiums with a much greater value
than your subscription price.

My $ 0.02.

Regards all,

John

John Gaskill
jg_at_info-central-usa.com
Beta Testers Wanted
Please sign on at: http://info-central-usa.com/index3.htm



Received on Mon May 07 2001 - 13:12:51 CDT