FREE: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson the bestselling author of the The Long Tail

In his revolutionary bestseller, The Long Tail, Chris Anderson demonstrated how the online marketplace creates niche markets that allow products and consumers to connect in a way that has never been possible before. Now, in his new book, FREE: The Future of a Radical Price, Anderson makes a compelling case that many businesses can profit more from giving things away for free than they can by charging for them. Far more than a promotional gimmick, “Free” is a business strategy that is essential to a company’s survival.

The concept of “Free” was introduced in the last century as a marketing trick, giving away one thing to charge you for another. But as this new century dawned, “Free” was changed by digital economics–things now really can be free. As a result, entire industries are being built on new business models such as “Freemium,” where most people get the product for free and a few people pay for a premium version. FREE: The Future of a Radical Price describes and explains the business model that seems impossible: you can make money by giving things away.

Anderson also explores how this radical idea will function in the new global economy and demonstrates how this zero-dollar price can be harnessed for the benefit your consumers and your business.

Ironically, the Chamber is charging to attend this event: $15 if early registration; $20 if not, not including the cost of parking in downtown Seattle; which can now cost $25 or more a day.

Then again – list price of Anderson’s book is $26.95, which may make the breakfast a bargain.

Malcolm Gladwell wrote an interesting review of Free which includes this wry note:

“Credit Suisse estimates that YouTube will lose close to half a billion dollars this year. If it were a bank, it would be eligible for TARP funds.”

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Irony is Everywhere

Tonight the LA Times online today includes an obituary for Dave Freeman, co-author of “100 Things to Do Before you Die.”  (Side note - I’m a little confused about the date – theoretically both the LA Times and I are located in the Pacific US time zone, and it’s definitely August