Have you ever wondered how can there be something like a freebie at all? How can anybody give you something for free without asking something in return? If you have had such questions, you are being very much sensible. Because on the face of it, freebies don't make sense. It is not economically feasible for anybody to hand out free things for any length of time . At the same time it is a fact that there are lots of freebies around on the internet.
So is there some catch? Are there some strings attached to what seems to be free, after all? What is the truth?
The Surprising Truth About Freebies
Expectedly, most freebies do have strings. They do exact some price from you which may not be in the terms of dollars or cents.
But what is surprising is that there are lots of freebies which you can call really free freebies. No cost or obligation or hidden catch at all. Let us have a look at both.
1. Freebies with Strings
Some freebies come to you because of third party promotions. You have to look at some ads for using them. PhoneHog and Globe7 are examples of such freebies. Free gifts programs work on the same principle of third party promotions.
Other freebies work on the same principle but in a different way. They promote their own paid services by giving you a fully functional free version with some limitations. You can use the utility or software for free as long as you don't mind the limitations but have to pay if you want to use its full features.
Here the idea is that if a person gets used to the free version, he is most likely to pay for it when his needs outgrow the bounds of the free service.
Take me, for instance. I have been using the free Web Ceo for site optimization since long, becoming familiar with its workings over the time. So naturally I would go for its paid service if I feel that I want features which I can't get now. Since I know how this software works and as its free version has given me good results, I would feel confident that I would get even better results with its paid version.
Are Stringed Freebies of Poor Quality
Just because such freebies have a sort of hidden agenda, it does not mean that they are necessarily of lower worth. On the other hand such goodies generally tend to be of high quality, giving you excellent service within their stated limitations. The reason is they have to earn their income by successfully promoting themselves or third party products. Something that they can't do by handing out worthless products for long.
As far as we freebie lovers are concerned, why to mind a little trumpeting on their part if we can get a free ride with them.
2. The Really Free Freebies
These are the goodies that gladden the hearts of the seekers of the ultimate in freebies. No ads, no up selling, no limited feature versions or obligations of any kind. All offered on a silver platter for you to use and enjoy.
Here I am not talking about something like free tools or widgets which you can get quite freely though they are by no means useless.
Here I am talking about full-fledged complete operating systems like Linux, fully functional office suites or html-editors like Nvu and other resources which work as well as, and in some cases better than, the costly paid alternatives on the market.
Their developers have spent lots of time and money on them and now offer them free under open general license. Not only that, they maintain web sites so you can download them and get support when you need it.
So why do they do this? Do they have some mission? Do they have some secret agenda to take over the internet or your mind?
Perhaps nobody can answer these questions - at least I can't.
But one thing can be said for sure: Hats off to such freebie providers! May their tribe increase to give us more and more of what you and I want: something for nothing!
