Comments on: Free

By: Karen Ulrich

Karen Ulrich — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:40:40 +0000

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:50:40 +0000

Zac, I finally got around to reading this, and I am certainly glad I did. It’s truly refreshing to read writing that is of such a professional and high standard.

As to your point, I’ve been thinking maybe we should be tying to find and apply a value to content beyond the simple consumption of it? Instead of viewing the actual reading of an article as the only potential source of profit, we need to get creative and figure out where the other sources of value are. Maybe it’s the sharing, maybe it’s the association, maybe it’s the mind behind the content. It all strengthens your point that the traditional definition and understanding of ‘free’ has been replaced.
Eric´s last blog ..Are you stepping away from failure or towards success?

By: Eric Fulwiler

Eric Fulwiler — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:52:26 +0000

Rethink everything you know about value. Content is king, but free is in command. RT @Zacharycohen Free http://bit.ly/9sh65v

By: Opinion@Large

Opinion@Large — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:52:26 +0000

Rethink everything you know about value. Content is king, but free is in command. RT @Zacharycohen Free http://bit.ly/9sh65v

By: ben wood

ben wood — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:33:05 +0000

Hi Zachary,
Great piece- been looking forward to reading it for a few days. I love it. Give it away, Give it away, Now! As both an artist and a retailer (and a content creator) I am in favor of this approach as afar as I can . . . allowing downloadable music and videos on is a start, once you have your own website you can do a lot more; including the odd giveaway for shows, beers at shows and more . . For wine you can offer free tastings, and criticism of wines and restaurants. We do most of this, our failing (in both franglais – http://www.myspace.com/franglais & 67 wine) is not meeting the social aspect of social media- we have some media- but not the online social skills to take advantage! working on it though.
Congrats Z, A great idea, and a great presentation.
Ben

By: 67 Wine

67 Wine — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:36:17 +0000

Also- check out this amazing blog from our buddy ZAC.
http://www.zacharyadamcohen.com/social-media-experimentation/free/#more-578

By: Ben Wood

Ben Wood — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:33:24 +0000

http://www.zacharyadamcohen.com/social-media-experimentation/free/#more-578
Check it!

By: Holly West

Holly West — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:47:54 +0000

My book’s not ready to give away or sell! But even as I write, I am formulating a plan…

By: Zachary Adam Cohen

Zachary Adam Cohen — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:57:14 +0000

Holly What I would advise any author young or old is to give their books away ASAP. The book publishing industry is dying and has long been unfair to the majority of writers. It is the same problem as with Hollywood, they bet on a few big blockbusters to make up for the crap they sell. Why not depend less on blockbusters and publish less crap and more decent work. It wont be as glamorous and the profit potential isn’t as high, but they aren’t making money anyway.

Thanks for the comment my dear. Good to know we are in the same boat.

By: Holly West

Holly West — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:50:37 +0000

Unfortunately, I don’t have anything of substance to add to this. Except to say that I relate. My first thought was, “Well, there are worse things than walking dogs” (probably because I do this four times a day with my own). But as a writer struggling to create my own “product” and constantly wondering how I’m going to “break in,” I have countless moments of self-doubt. In my case so much of my time is spent writing the “product” that I don’t have a lot of time to produce quality free content. That said, I think there will be a time when the two will merge and I will use the “Free” to spark the interest which will result in the “Paid.”

As for the self-doubt, I usually just ignore it as much as possible because feeding it is not productive. I feel like the traditional publishing industry is trying very hard right now to keep things as they’ve always been even when it’s obvious everything has already changed. Aspiring authors everywhere are looking for alternative ways to get published, but unless they do it in an informed, strategic way, they are as misled as the industry they’re trying to bypass.

I end up being a barista at Starbucks, so be it. I’ll still keep writing (and walking dogs).