Comments on: The Cost of Free http://www.speakingofclover.com/2008/12/the-cost-of-free/ Design, Programming, Internet Culture Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:28:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Al Chandler http://www.speakingofclover.com/2008/12/the-cost-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Al Chandler Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:37:42 +0000 http://www.speakingofclover.com/?p=86#comment-192 Great post. Great facts. These are the kinds of feelings that are hidden deep with in exhibitors and the "vultures" that lurk around looking for something to devour (I'm one). I was at a conference in October and saw you guys for the second time. Loved the look and web design, but never acted on it outside of the conference. Months later, I get an email from a friend who wasn't at the conference but ran across the Clover site. He shared it with me and I quickly ran over to the site and check out the demos. I'm sold on it and now getting ready to launch a request that we switch direction with our church website. Thanks! Great post. Great facts. These are the kinds of feelings that are hidden deep with in exhibitors and the “vultures” that lurk around looking for something to devour (I’m one).

I was at a conference in October and saw you guys for the second time. Loved the look and web design, but never acted on it outside of the conference. Months later, I get an email from a friend who wasn’t at the conference but ran across the Clover site. He shared it with me and I quickly ran over to the site and check out the demos. I’m sold on it and now getting ready to launch a request that we switch direction with our church website. Thanks!

]]> By: Jim http://www.speakingofclover.com/2008/12/the-cost-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Jim Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:28:28 +0000 http://www.speakingofclover.com/?p=86#comment-151 Maybe we should start advertising the whole inspiration thing! Mike, if you dug the 2 iMacs at Lead, you should check out our 4 iMac setup when we have the room. I'm fairly certain the glow can be seen from space. Thanks for the encouragement... Maybe we should start advertising the whole inspiration thing!

Mike, if you dug the 2 iMacs at Lead, you should check out our 4 iMac setup when we have the room. I’m fairly certain the glow can be seen from space.

Thanks for the encouragement…

]]> By: Mike D http://www.speakingofclover.com/2008/12/the-cost-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Mike D Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:31:56 +0000 http://www.speakingofclover.com/?p=86#comment-142 As a visitor of your booth at LEAD, I think it was one of the coolest booths ever because of the interaction that you guys offered. Anyone could get on one of your two giant iMacs and interact with your interface as if they were building their own site. So, what you guys may not offer in free stuff (which is cheesy, as you made clear in your post), you do hand out inspiration with your highly interactive booth. Keep up the good work guys, Mike As a visitor of your booth at LEAD, I think it was one of the coolest booths ever because of the interaction that you guys offered. Anyone could get on one of your two giant iMacs and interact with your interface as if they were building their own site.

So, what you guys may not offer in free stuff (which is cheesy, as you made clear in your post), you do hand out inspiration with your highly interactive booth.

Keep up the good work guys,
Mike

]]> By: Ashley http://www.speakingofclover.com/2008/12/the-cost-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Ashley Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:27:23 +0000 http://www.speakingofclover.com/?p=86#comment-139 Really great post... that being said, can I get a hat? :) Or at least some of that inspiration you mentioned? Really great post… that being said, can I get a hat? :) Or at least some of that inspiration you mentioned?

]]> By: Joshua Mauldin http://www.speakingofclover.com/2008/12/the-cost-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Joshua Mauldin Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:26:03 +0000 http://www.speakingofclover.com/?p=86#comment-137 You're right on with this. I think swag is mostly pointless and a waste of resources. Though, some of it is pretty slick. But out of all the swag I've received, I can't ever recall thinking that I'm going to purchase something from Company Whatever because I got an awesome pen/coaster/pontoon boat. Instead, why not spend that money so that it benefits your clients more? You’re right on with this. I think swag is mostly pointless and a waste of resources. Though, some of it is pretty slick.

But out of all the swag I’ve received, I can’t ever recall thinking that I’m going to purchase something from Company Whatever because I got an awesome pen/coaster/pontoon boat.

Instead, why not spend that money so that it benefits your clients more?

]]> By: Jim http://www.speakingofclover.com/2008/12/the-cost-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Jim Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:13:42 +0000 http://www.speakingofclover.com/?p=86#comment-136 Yeah- I feel you. I wonder what made it normal to hand out freebies at trade shows? I do get the branding concept, but unfortunately unless it's something of value and worth holding on to, it's going to do nothing for your brand. It will end up just wasting your company's money as well as adding to the local landfill. That's cool that you got more leads without handing stuff out. What company are you with? Yeah- I feel you.

I wonder what made it normal to hand out freebies at trade shows? I do get the branding concept, but unfortunately unless it’s something of value and worth holding on to, it’s going to do nothing for your brand. It will end up just wasting your company’s money as well as adding to the local landfill. That’s cool that you got more leads without handing stuff out.

What company are you with?

]]> By: adam mclane http://www.speakingofclover.com/2008/12/the-cost-of-free/comment-page-1/#comment-134 adam mclane Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:12:17 +0000 http://www.speakingofclover.com/?p=86#comment-134 I've been in the NYWC exhibit hall the last two years as a vendor. Let me share what you seem to already know... having a freebie or not having a freebie makes zero difference. Even though we gave away something this year, it was more a branding thing than anything else. We actually generated more leads when we didn't give something away! But then again... that could have been because we were brand new as well. I’ve been in the NYWC exhibit hall the last two years as a vendor. Let me share what you seem to already know… having a freebie or not having a freebie makes zero difference. Even though we gave away something this year, it was more a branding thing than anything else. We actually generated more leads when we didn’t give something away! But then again… that could have been because we were brand new as well.

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