RE: Will They Pay? Part II

From: Brian Shepherd <Brian.Shepherd_at_TechnologyReview.com>
Date: Wed 30 May 2001 12:06:54 -0500

MICHAEL MARTINEZ <Michael_at_xenite.org> WROTE:

<In fact, these reports argue strongly that subscriptions
<for content are not within realistic reach for most Web
<site operators. If you're going to market products and
<services to online consumers, you have to HAVE online
<consumers. All the gimmicks and wishful thinking in the
<world aren't going to change the fact that MOST PEOPLE
<ARE NOT BUYING STUFF ON THE WEB.

<If you can convince more people to buy stuff on the Web=20
<(and I buy goods and services online all the time -- I=20
<don't need convincing on that score), then you can work=20
<with a larger potential market for paid content.

Michael, with all due respect, where are you getting
your numbers? According to what I've read from Media Metrix,
during the 2000 holiday season, consumers spent $12 billion
dollars online, vs. $7 Billion dollars the year before.
Also, 55 million people purchased a product online vs.
41 million the year before. Some other sources I've read
suggest spending online keeps increasing quarter by
quarter. Also, the average "price" of items is increasing.
Perhaps I've misunderstood what you were trying to say, but
I think one thing is clear, PEOPLE ARE BUYING STUFF ON THE
WEB.

Best regards,

********************************************
Brian K. Shepherd
Director, Online Sales and Marketing
EMAIL: brian.shepherd_at_technologyreview.com
PHONE: 617-475-8030
FAX: 617-475-8042
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Received on Wed May 30 2001 - 12:06:54 CDT