Comments on: Hot Or Not Abandons Free Model http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/ Startup and Tech News Fri, 16 May 2008 12:23:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: HotOrNot Apparently Very Hot: Acquired For $20 Million at Conceptualist.com, By Sahar Sarid http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1985158 HotOrNot Apparently Very Hot: Acquired For $20 Million at Conceptualist.com, By Sahar Sarid Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:53:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1985158 [...] and a premium fee when users want to connect. They experimented briefly with a free model, but abandoned it last September in the face of overwhelming spam. Their annual revenue is estimated to be around [...] […] and a premium fee when users want to connect. They experimented briefly with a free model, but abandoned it last September in the face of overwhelming spam. Their annual revenue is estimated to be around […]

]]> By: HotOrNot Apparently Very Hot: Acquired For $20 Million http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1985140 HotOrNot Apparently Very Hot: Acquired For $20 Million Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:22:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1985140 [...] and a premium fee when users want to connect. They experimented briefly with a free model, but abandoned it last September in the face of overwhelming spam. Their annual revenue is estimated to be around [...] […] and a premium fee when users want to connect. They experimented briefly with a free model, but abandoned it last September in the face of overwhelming spam. Their annual revenue is estimated to be around […]

]]> By: Tom http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1679127 Tom Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:16:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1679127 Why didn't they just impliment the whole anti-spam wierd letters in a picture that you have to type correctly to send your message. Were they really that lazy? Why didn’t they just impliment the whole anti-spam wierd letters in a picture that you have to type correctly to send your message. Were they really that lazy?

]]> By: Modeling » Comment on Hot Or Not Abandons Free Model by Should HotorNot … http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1678816 Modeling » Comment on Hot Or Not Abandons Free Model by Should HotorNot … Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:30:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1678816 [...] Virgil Carter wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt[…] since HotorNot abandoned it’s experiment with going totally free last month, the traffic to its destination site, […] [...] […] Virgil Carter wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt[…] since HotorNot abandoned it’s experiment with going totally free last month, the traffic to its destination site, […] […]

]]> By: Should HotorNot Become Just a Facebook App? http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1678783 Should HotorNot Become Just a Facebook App? Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:17:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1678783 [...] since HotorNot abandoned it’s experiment with going totally free last month, the traffic to its destination site, [...] […] since HotorNot abandoned it’s experiment with going totally free last month, the traffic to its destination site, […]

]]> By: » Note to Ad Supported Web 2 Startups (Part 2) - MONEY MATTERS! I’m Building Something Here: Experiments in Entrepreneurship and Value Creation in the Social Web http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1664897 » Note to Ad Supported Web 2 Startups (Part 2) - MONEY MATTERS! I’m Building Something Here: Experiments in Entrepreneurship and Value Creation in the Social Web Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:44:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1664897 [...] money is still the in thing to do (I give you even more street cred if you can charge people for what you have). And this age is STILL about the information, but it’s more about how that information is [...] […] money is still the in thing to do (I give you even more street cred if you can charge people for what you have). And this age is STILL about the information, but it’s more about how that information is […]

]]> By: Modeling » Hot Or Not Abandons Free Model http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1657396 Modeling » Hot Or Not Abandons Free Model Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:58:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1657396 [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHot or Not have abandoned their much publicized move to a free model. According to an email from Hot or Not’s founders, since moving to a free model the site had become inundated by spam:. You also warned us that this would probably … [...] […] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHot or Not have abandoned their much publicized move to a free model. According to an email from Hot or Not’s founders, since moving to a free model the site had become inundated by spam:. You also warned us that this would probably … […]

]]> By: iMarketingGuru (SEO Wiki) http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1631542 iMarketingGuru (SEO Wiki) Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:43:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1631542 Free is not necessarily always good. One thing that would help in the case of Hot or Not may not just be paid memberships but possibly some form of reputation management? The negative side to reputation management though is the issue of astroturfing the reputation system in place. AS for the paid model, what else will Hot or Not be giving their users for the paid membership? We're talking about high school kids here, they are cheapskates unless if their friends use the service as well (Network Effect 101, the network may be too small/not loyal enough). Free is not necessarily always good. One thing that would help in the case of Hot or Not may not just be paid memberships but possibly some form of reputation management? The negative side to reputation management though is the issue of astroturfing the reputation system in place. AS for the paid model, what else will Hot or Not be giving their users for the paid membership? We’re talking about high school kids here, they are cheapskates unless if their friends use the service as well (Network Effect 101, the network may be too small/not loyal enough).

]]> By: Pierluigi Rotundo http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1631529 Pierluigi Rotundo Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:36:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1631529 What I think is that sometimes we have to do a mea culpa, everytime we post unwanted comments, spam, etc... PR http://www.linkedin.com/in/pierluigirotundo What I think is that sometimes we have to do a mea culpa, everytime we post unwanted comments, spam, etc…

PR
http://www.linkedin.com/in/pierluigirotundo

]]> By: BM.Lifestyle » Blog Archive » Wall Street Journal May Be Set Free http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1631306 BM.Lifestyle » Blog Archive » Wall Street Journal May Be Set Free Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:51:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1631306 [...] however. Social networking and dating site Hot Or Not told its customers today that it will be switching back to a paid model. Earlier this year, Hot Or Not made the risky move of removing the requirement for [...] […] however. Social networking and dating site Hot Or Not told its customers today that it will be switching back to a paid model. Earlier this year, Hot Or Not made the risky move of removing the requirement for […]

]]> By: SearchPartner http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1630929 SearchPartner Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:56:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1630929 My Free web 2.0 dating SearchPartner.Com, also had it's share of spam initially when launched, but I'm able to cut down spammers very well now. My Free web 2.0 dating SearchPartner.Com, also had it’s share of spam initially when launched, but I’m able to cut down spammers very well now.

]]> By: Robert Park http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629929 Robert Park Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:35:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629929 Fair enough, Duncan. :) Fair enough, Duncan. :)

]]> By: sean3 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629465 sean3 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:47:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629465 I think a lot of you guys are speaking too soon on the hotornot issues, most of you seem to be speaking out of ignorance or either have little knowledge of making business decisions. As for the owners of hot or not. charging is something I think you should have kept in the first place. Instead of reducing the charges to a "free" model a friend and I thought that maybe reducing the price to $1 or $2 bucks would have made more since. It would have definately beat out the NO INCOME hangover, and also kept the current subscribers satisfied as well as attract newer members.Because price drop alone is enough to make headlines these days..just ask Steve Jobs. and as for the backlash you'll receive for bringing back the paid service model, I'd have to say consider it just trial and error learning experience, in which you realized that dramtic changes from one end of the spectrum to the other can still have a Negative effect. You've made good decisions and you'll make bad ones but the fact that you 2 are thinking and adjusting to this ever changing industry is what will be the cornerstone to your continued success. I think a lot of you guys are speaking too soon on the hotornot issues, most of you seem to be speaking out of ignorance or either have little knowledge of making business decisions.

As for the owners of hot or not. charging is something I think you should have kept in the first place. Instead of reducing the charges to a “free” model a friend and I thought that maybe reducing the price to $1 or $2 bucks would have made more since.

It would have definately beat out the NO INCOME hangover, and also kept the current subscribers satisfied as well as attract newer members.Because price drop alone is enough to make headlines these days..just ask Steve Jobs.

and as for the backlash you’ll receive for bringing back the paid service model, I’d have to say consider it just trial and error learning experience, in which you realized that dramtic changes from one end of the spectrum to the other can still have a Negative effect. You’ve made good decisions and you’ll make bad ones but the fact that you 2 are thinking and adjusting to this ever changing industry is what will be the cornerstone to your continued success.

]]> By: Fresh Prince Of Bell-Air http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629274 Fresh Prince Of Bell-Air Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:27:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629274 This is a PR stunt, they abandoned it because it's financially untenable, not only because of spam. This likely means that HotOrNot is done, because there is not much options left. The difference between 1999 and now for HON is not that they do not use Ajax while others do, but the presence of Myspace and Facebook that largely address the same dating market. Myspace and Facebook do not have to be profitable, due to the current bubble, and this is unfortunate for HON since they are not subject of the same competetive pressures. This is a PR stunt, they abandoned it because it’s financially untenable, not only because of spam.

This likely means that HotOrNot is done, because there is not much options left.

The difference between 1999 and now for HON is not that they do not use Ajax while others do, but the presence of Myspace and Facebook that largely address the same dating market.
Myspace and Facebook do not have to be profitable, due to the current bubble, and this is unfortunate for HON since they are not subject of the same competetive pressures.

]]> By: Markus http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629214 Markus Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:00:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629214 Fighting spammers and scammers is very hard. Much of my code and time is spent trying to keep my site clean. Its under constant attack day in and day out and by far my biggest competitive advantage has been the fact I can keep my site clean. Its probably the biggest problem in the industry, but no one talks about it because it doesn't exactly increase signups or make you more money. Fighting spammers and scammers is very hard. Much of my code and time is spent trying to keep my site clean. Its under constant attack day in and day out and by far my biggest competitive advantage has been the fact I can keep my site clean. Its probably the biggest problem in the industry, but no one talks about it because it doesn’t exactly increase signups or make you more money.

]]> By: Tony http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629213 Tony Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:00:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629213 Spammers make me soo mad. It's unbelievable that these people can hold the rest of the internet to ransom Someday we have to get the technology to track these people and shut them down Spammers make me soo mad. It’s unbelievable that these people can hold the rest of the internet to ransom

Someday we have to get the technology to track these people and shut them down

]]> By: Intelligence of the jews http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629129 Intelligence of the jews Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:12:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629129 Well this is interesting. Free == SPAM. Well, HotorNot is the classic story of a web company that can monetize without raising VC money. They came up with clever monetization models (dating) on top of their Hot or Not feature. Well this is interesting. Free == SPAM.

Well, HotorNot is the classic story of a web company that can monetize without raising VC money. They came up with clever monetization models (dating) on top of their Hot or Not feature.

]]> By: Fabian Schonholz http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629061 Fabian Schonholz Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:37:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629061 This is so unfortunate. This is so unfortunate.

]]> By: Duncan Riley http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629031 Duncan Riley Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:25:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1629031 Robert I think there is a distinct difference between a content model (newspapers) and a service model like Hot or Not. Hot or Not is more utlility than magazine, the ratings part aside. Robert
I think there is a distinct difference between a content model (newspapers) and a service model like Hot or Not. Hot or Not is more utlility than magazine, the ratings part aside.

]]> By: Ted http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628975 Ted Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:04:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628975 Sounds like a bunch of bull to me. Don't the TechCrunch forums stop spam, as well as any number of other free sites through well known mechanisms. Couldn't they even still require the credit card and charge you only if you're identified as a spammer and/or blacklist the card number? Sounds like a bunch of bull to me. Don’t the TechCrunch forums stop spam, as well as any number of other free sites through well known mechanisms. Couldn’t they even still require the credit card and charge you only if you’re identified as a spammer and/or blacklist the card number?

]]> By: myonlinecupid.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628966 myonlinecupid.com Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:00:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628966 Oh well, lots of free dating sites out there including ours. Oh well, lots of free dating sites out there including ours.

]]> By: TechcrunchBook http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628785 TechcrunchBook Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:32:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628785 You get what you pay for! You get what you pay for!

]]> By: Yibrushn http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628775 Yibrushn Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:26:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628775 Can you imagine a world without spam? Can you imagine a world without spam?

]]> By: justsayhi.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628746 justsayhi.com Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:14:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628746 justsayhi.com is also free and solved the spammer problem justsayhi.com is also free and solved the spammer problem

]]> By: Wil Schroter http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628735 Wil Schroter Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:09:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/hot-or-not-abandons-free-model/#comment-1628735 Not sure "paid content" and "paid contact models" are quite the same. Time and time again we see that subscription-based contact models tend to work well around trusted services. Paying to read articles, view videos, etc... not so much. Not sure “paid content” and “paid contact models” are quite the same.

Time and time again we see that subscription-based contact models tend to work well around trusted services.

Paying to read articles, view videos, etc… not so much.

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