Comments on: Socialtext Goes Freemium With Socialtext Free 50 http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:26:15 -0800 hourly 1 By: colm nets http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-3001613 colm nets Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:20:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-3001613 I just found a very useful <a href="http://www.tsconverterdownload.com/ts-to-avi-converter.html" rel="nofollow">TS to AVI</a> Converter, which is very powerful and also a <a href="http://www.tsconverterdownload.com/ts-to-mpeg-converter.html" rel="nofollow">TS to MPEG</a> Converter I just found a very useful TS to AVI Converter, which is very powerful and also a TS to MPEG Converter

]]> By: Socialtext Launches Mobile Version Of Twitter-Like Collaboration Platform http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2973647 Socialtext Launches Mobile Version Of Twitter-Like Collaboration Platform Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:51:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2973647 [...] a wiki page, writing a blog post, or making a comment. Socialtext’s collaboration tool has a newly launched freemium model and a paid service, but both platforms are available via mobile devices for [...] [...] a wiki page, writing a blog post, or making a comment. Socialtext’s collaboration tool has a newly launched freemium model and a paid service, but both platforms are available via mobile devices for [...]

]]> By: Free Social Software & SocialCalc Release | dv8-designs http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2822290 Free Social Software & SocialCalc Release | dv8-designs Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:46:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2822290 [...] TechCrunch: Socialtext Goes Freemium With Socialtext Free 50 [...] [...] TechCrunch: Socialtext Goes Freemium With Socialtext Free 50 [...]

]]> By: Socialtext Free 50 | kurungsiku http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2820953 Socialtext Free 50 | kurungsiku Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:39:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2820953 [...] Via : TechCrunch [...] [...] Via : TechCrunch [...]

]]> By: NetPreneur http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2819180 NetPreneur Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:30:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2819180 This is nothing new. Google does the same with Google Apps and it has no limitation except for support. And apps like freshbooks, blinksale, etc all do this. They give a more limited free version and then charge if you want to grow beyond a certain level. The trick is to get that free account which is usable for startup/test drive in real world space and to convince the users that it is worth paying for more users and features. I think Freshbooks does a great job in doing this where they allow you to use it for free for upto three clients and then if you want to add more clients you are required to pay. This makes sense as if you have more than 3 clients that means you are probably in a position to pay. This is nothing new. Google does the same with Google Apps and it has no limitation except for support. And apps like freshbooks, blinksale, etc all do this. They give a more limited free version and then charge if you want to grow beyond a certain level.

The trick is to get that free account which is usable for startup/test drive in real world space and to convince the users that it is worth paying for more users and features.

I think Freshbooks does a great job in doing this where they allow you to use it for free for upto three clients and then if you want to add more clients you are required to pay. This makes sense as if you have more than 3 clients that means you are probably in a position to pay.

]]> By: Internet Marketing, Strategy & Technology Links – June 24, 2009 « Sazbean http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2818659 Internet Marketing, Strategy & Technology Links – June 24, 2009 « Sazbean Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:02:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2818659 [...] Socialtext Goes Freemium With Socialtext Free 50 (TechCrunch) [...] [...] Socialtext Goes Freemium With Socialtext Free 50 (TechCrunch) [...]

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="505689060">Mark Mayhew</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2817322 Mark Mayhew Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:56:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2817322 lol, and begging the question: what happens when u can't give it away?! lol, and begging the question: what happens when u can’t give it away?!

]]> By: WildZBill http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2817079 WildZBill Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:15:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2817079 I see nothing there that is not free elsewhere, plus you must have a 'company' email to use it. That makes it useless for contract workers and low budget startups. It's a great idea, but at least 2 years behind the social media wave. I see nothing there that is not free elsewhere, plus you must have a ‘company’ email to use it.
That makes it useless for contract workers and low budget startups.
It’s a great idea, but at least 2 years behind the social media wave.

]]> By: Nicholas http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2817056 Nicholas Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:03:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2817056 Agreed! I have wanted to do this for a while, but cash is always the issue. Oddly enough it can replace more expensive products, but running multiple services until you transition can be costly. If I were ST, I would include the spreadsheet! It could make the experience. There is a lot of time implicit in Excel templates… Agreed! I have wanted to do this for a while, but cash is always the issue. Oddly enough it can replace more expensive products, but running multiple services until you transition can be costly.

If I were ST, I would include the spreadsheet! It could make the experience. There is a lot of time implicit in Excel templates…

]]> By: Nick http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2817015 Nick Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:39:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2817015 In terms of enterprise Wiki/KB, Socialtext has been killed by Atlassian Confluence. Giving it away wont save it. In terms of enterprise Wiki/KB, Socialtext has been killed by Atlassian Confluence. Giving it away wont save it.

]]> By: Christian Cabuay http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816957 Christian Cabuay Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:16:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816957 I'm going to test it out as a possible Basecamp replacement. I don't see an iPhone app though..... I’m going to test it out as a possible Basecamp replacement. I don’t see an iPhone app though…..

]]> By: geekevaluation http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816931 geekevaluation Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:00:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816931 This move reflects the current economic situation. One has to survive at any cost. This move reflects the current economic situation. One has to survive at any cost.

]]> By: Chris Hopf http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816864 Chris Hopf Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:13:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816864 When I see companies lower their price, my first thought is "I wonder if they really ran the numbers and understand the impacts of such a critical decision". So from an "outside commenter's" perspective, who doesn't have the precise details around the state of their business, I will assume they have run the numbers and are aware of factors such as: _ Costs > could be minimal, but better understand impact to costs (e.g. - humans and technology) _ Volume > whenever you lower price, understand the tradeoffs, such as, some prospects that may have chosen a paid offering now may not AND the exponential increase in volume you will now need in the number of paying customers to break-even on the business decision _ Existing Paying Customers >> understand how this will impact the value perceptions of existing paying customers and have a plan for answering their questions and retaining them Those are just some. With that said, I do believe they may be justified with this approach (again, I'd need to know more), as the nature of their offering must overcome an adoption hurdle with respect to prospects associating a level of risk in the form of time spent versus value received (e.g. - is it worth investing time to try, or for that matter investing both time and money). They now have eliminated one of those factors {$$$}, but they still need to focus on compelling value messaging (highlighting their competitive advantages, hope they have some and can defend them) and a customer focused path for converting FREE prospects into PAID customers. They obviously want to scale and thus their recent decision is to accelerate ROI on this venture. Time will tell, I believe this move could help and I am sure they are watching results carefully. When I see companies lower their price, my first thought is “I wonder if they really ran the numbers and understand the impacts of such a critical decision”.

So from an “outside commenter’s” perspective, who doesn’t have the precise details around the state of their business, I will assume they have run the numbers and are aware of factors such as:

_ Costs > could be minimal, but better understand impact to costs (e.g. – humans and technology)

_ Volume > whenever you lower price, understand the tradeoffs, such as, some prospects that may have chosen a paid offering now may not AND the exponential increase in volume you will now need in the number of paying customers to break-even on the business decision

_ Existing Paying Customers >> understand how this will impact the value perceptions of existing paying customers and have a plan for answering their questions and retaining them

Those are just some. With that said, I do believe they may be justified with this approach (again, I’d need to know more), as the nature of their offering must overcome an adoption hurdle with respect to prospects associating a level of risk in the form of time spent versus value received (e.g. – is it worth investing time to try, or for that matter investing both time and money).

They now have eliminated one of those factors {$$$}, but they still need to focus on compelling value messaging (highlighting their competitive advantages, hope they have some and can defend them) and a customer focused path for converting FREE prospects into PAID customers.

They obviously want to scale and thus their recent decision is to accelerate ROI on this venture. Time will tell, I believe this move could help and I am sure they are watching results carefully.

]]> By: kåre http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816715 kåre Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:34:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816715 Yes, good word of mouth is nesseseary Yes, good word of mouth is nesseseary

]]> By: kåre http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816707 kåre Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:29:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816707 I agree I agree

]]> By: Cormac Heron http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816701 Cormac Heron Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:23:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816701 Excellent. I have been wanting to use this service for a while now but as we are a startup we don't have the budget to invest. Having said that our company is aimed at advising other businesses on the tools that the web now offers and I believe that Socialtext could end up getting more business certainly from us as a result of this decision. Excellent. I have been wanting to use this service for a while now but as we are a startup we don’t have the budget to invest. Having said that our company is aimed at advising other businesses on the tools that the web now offers and I believe that Socialtext could end up getting more business certainly from us as a result of this decision.

]]> By: Erica http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816651 Erica Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:55:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816651 Socialtext must be hurting to drop from $15 per user a month to a "sort of" free tool and then $6 a month. That is a lot of revenue to lose. I wonder if current clients will revolt now that the price dropped so much. When you have tools like PBWorks that has a free wiki, and Socialcast/Yammer/Cubetree that are totally free microblogging...someone's pricing is off. Socialtext must be hurting to drop from $15 per user a month to a “sort of” free tool and then $6 a month. That is a lot of revenue to lose. I wonder if current clients will revolt now that the price dropped so much.

When you have tools like PBWorks that has a free wiki, and Socialcast/Yammer/Cubetree that are totally free microblogging…someone’s pricing is off.

]]> By: Tim Aldiss http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816650 Tim Aldiss Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:55:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816650 Disagree with the comments about the paid model. Enterprise Learning Management Systems are vastly misunderstood. It certainly is a bold move to try to encourage uptake however, and it will be good to see how Reddot and Knowledge Plaza respond. Disagree with the comments about the paid model. Enterprise Learning Management Systems are vastly misunderstood. It certainly is a bold move to try to encourage uptake however, and it will be good to see how Reddot and Knowledge Plaza respond.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="797280474">Andy Channelle</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816431 Andy Channelle Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:49:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816431 Serious question: what advantage is there in using SocialText over something like Elgg running on my own server. Serious question: what advantage is there in using SocialText over something like Elgg running on my own server.

]]> By: Eric Foor http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816410 Eric Foor Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:27:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816410 I would have to agree considering that many companies need to watch out on what they use. But it's also possible that small businesses could be desperate for a program or just see this first and not bother checking in to other programs or for problems/complaints (if there are any). I would have to agree considering that many companies need to watch out on what they use. But it’s also possible that small businesses could be desperate for a program or just see this first and not bother checking in to other programs or for problems/complaints (if there are any).

]]> By: New Gadgets | Socialtext Goes Freemium With Socialtext Free 50 http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816391 New Gadgets | Socialtext Goes Freemium With Socialtext Free 50 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:02:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816391 [...] Original post by e-Smart Tech Gadgets [...] [...] Original post by e-Smart Tech Gadgets [...]

]]> By: Richael | Domain Marvelous http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816361 Richael | Domain Marvelous Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:26:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816361 If it did not function properly as a paid service, I don't think people will just rush towards grabbing it as a freebie. Reputation does account for something! If it did not function properly as a paid service, I don’t think people will just rush towards grabbing it as a freebie. Reputation does account for something!

]]> By: Arnold http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816348 Arnold Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:09:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816348 If you can't sell it, give it away. If you can’t sell it, give it away.

]]> By: Topkingtips http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/socialtext-goes-freemium-with-socialtext-free-50/comment-page-1/#comment-2816347 Topkingtips Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:08:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=75560#comment-2816347 Thanks for share tips:) Thanks for share tips:)

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