The 4 Kinds of "Free"

This is an updated to my original post since Chris Anderson added a "4th Free". Actually, the ironic thing about number 4 is that it perfectly captures why I'm doing these visuals in the first place. If Chris uses them, he gets better quality representations of his ideas while my reputation benefits from additional exposure. This is a new kind of currency that we're seeing being used and what fuels it is the accessibility we have to each others through more of an open source way of working.  If Chris chose to write his book in more of a traditional way—people like me wouldn't have known about his need for help or his desire to improve the rough visuals he created.  So, this post is a testament to the "gift economy" which Chris recently added. 

Comments

[FoolishAndy]

Very interesting! I love this kind of visual representation.

[Miek Walsh]

Dave,

As always, very cool! I love the economics of reciprocity. Give a little, get a little - everyone wins and more people are happier for participating in such a manner.

Another form of Free (this may be part of 4) is completely philanthropic. We will often (about once a quarter) donate our solution to a Cause simply because it feels right. Beneficiaries include Big Brothers Big Sisters, parents of Autistic children and the children themselves, start-up entrepreneurs, etc. If you know a worthwhile organization whom could benefit, please let me know and it's on the house.

Keep up the great posts! I like your free stuff!

mike

[Faris]

the value of free

http://farisyakob.typepad.com/blog/2008/08/social-gravity-and-the-value-of-free.html

fx

[DeadParrot]

[duplicate comment from the long tail blog, but since it is about your illustration, I thought I post it again]

I think that the arrows of the top half of Free 1 are backwards. It should be:

* Stuff goes from Acme to person.
* No money goes from person to Acme.

The illustration has

* Stuff goes from person to Acme
* No money goes from Acme to person.

which doesn't make much sense.

[Dan Shust]

Dave...thanks for the visualization. Fascinated by the "Gift Economy", especially when tied to the creative class and crowdsourcing. How far can it go?

[David Armano]

Dead Parrot,

"* Stuff goes from person to Acme
* No money goes from Acme to person.
which doesn't make much sense."

What that first arrow represents is a person submitting info to get their free item (Free Toaster from Bank). They never pay, but may open an account or give e-mail address etc.

it's a very common model yes? Though not sure if it's what Chris wants, so I'm checking with him.

[Craig Wilson]

Love the free economy info. Maybe I should have included that in today's post: A turning point in marketing and media history? on www.mediahunter.com.au

Looking forward to reading your AoC2 chapter.

[John Marshall Roberts]

Which model accounts for the hippie's version of 'free love'? Would that be model number 4 zlxo?

Seriously though, it seems that this whole conversation stems from a desire to create more opportunities to circumvent the use of money for the exchange of value. It's an interesting and timely conversation...

We might also get adde value from questioning our need to unconsciously vilify money in the first place. What do you think?

[Will]

I like how in model 4 the company symbol 'Acme' suddenly personifies from a box to a human symbol ;)

Figure 1 is bit confusing - and I don't think David should have to clarify it but it does all make sense and streamlines all the thoughts I've been having into marketing my own new business.

[Tecnometro]

Very interesting! good way to show a point of view.

Greetings!

[Chris]

Which model of Free gets us out of our current economic disaster?

[estetik]

Seriously though, it seems that
Estetik this whole conversation stems from a desire to create more http://www.estetiks.com/ opportunities to circumvent the use of money for the http://www.estetikameliyat.com/ exchange of value. It's an interesting and timely conversation...

[Greg]

I love the idea :)

[kop]

I like how in model 4 the company symbol 'Acme' suddenly personifies from a box to a human symbol ;)

Figure 1 is bit confusing - and I don't think David should have to clarify it but it does all make sense and streamlines all the thoughts I've been having into marketing my own new business.

[Estetik cerrahi]

What about tag pages? I’m finding that alot of my traffic is coming from tag pages. I didn’t see any settings for true/false with regard to tag pages. Thx.

[Denizli Rehberi]

Denizli Rehberi
Thanks for this article

[Buy Propecia]

Thank you very much for the information I really appreciate it!!

[burun estetiği]

Thank you very very good

[estetik]

Thank you very very good

[burun estetigi]

I like how in model 4 the company symbol 'Acme' suddenly personifies from a box to a human symbol ;)

[Smartlipo lazerlipoliz]

This is a new kind of currency that we're seeing being used and what fuels it is the accessibility we have to each others through more of an open source way of working. If Chris chose to write his book in more of a traditional way—people like me wouldn't have known about his need for help or his desire to improve the rough visuals he created.

[burun estetigi]

If Chris uses them, he gets better quality representations of his ideas while my reputation benefits from additional exposure. This is a new kind of currency that we're seeing being used and what fuels it is the accessibility we have to each others through more of an open source way ...

[yuz estetigi]

people like me wouldn't have known about his need for help or his desire to improve the rough visuals he created. So, this post is a testament to the "gift economy" which Chris recently added.

[cam balkon]

This is a new kind of currency that we're seeing being used and what fuels it is the accessibility we have to each others through more of an open source way of working. If Chris chose to write his book in more of a traditional way thank you

[gazeteler]

This is a new kind of currency that we're seeing being used and what fuels it is the accessibility we have to each others through more of an open source way of working. If Chris chose to write his book in more of a traditional way—people like me wouldn't have known about his need for help or his desire to improve the rough visuals he created.

[Dekorasyon]

This is a new kind of currency that we're seeing being used and what fuels it is the accessibility

[lazer epilasyon]

thanks for this article and your contribution. very nice. like it.

[araç kiralama]

This is a new kind of currency that we're seeing being used and what fuels it is the accessibility we have to each others through more of an open source way of working.

I'm assuming he meant 2008, according to the site.