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Pastimes : Micropublishing on the Web -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: 24601 who wrote (10)	10/7/1998 3:21:00 PM
From: Tony	Respond to of 54

Sure, I was going to post this sooner or later anyways... Let's consider content for the moment. First, what is content? I suggest that content is tangible data for consumption in some fashion. Therefore, what is useful content for you is not necessarily usefull to me. No surprise so far. Fiction qualifies because it is consumed in some sort, used by the reader to grow individually, etc. Stock data also qualifies, as it is used to make decisions, etc. Now, w/o exception, every type of content being offered on the internet is available at fair market prices in some fashion. If I want music, I can go to a record store, books a book store, exercise programs a gym, and on and on. So, for the time being, the only sites which will be successful in charging for their content will be those with unique sources (SI?), exemplary service (some quote services, espn, etc), exemplary value (don't pay for any myself), or which offer unique products (few, varying utility and demand). These unique products normally seem to be the "first" people on the block. Remember early on we were charged for delayed quotes (think early-mid 80's) and now we have RT quotes free, with L2 around the corner. So currently if we are to consider publishing what content we may have on the web we have two systems... advertiser subsidied (sell space, hope to collect on hits), or subscription, usually a monthly, or yearly fee. There is the other option of charging per use but look at the consumer's side... I can choose to buy (at admittedly nominal cost) an excercise program, or for free I can get the workout reccomended to prospective navy SEALS. WOWAs I write this, I realize that I am still stuck thinking of content as pervasive and of substantial value. Then I realize how many "computer game hints & cheats" 900 numbers there must be. Would a stuck gamer pay .50 in a secure way to get out of his current situation? Probably! A stuck layout editor for that one piece of clipart which is right for his project? Again yes. I don't want to go through 24601's list and itemize what I think are areas where pay-per-use has a legitmate shot against ad-supported or subscriber based. Let me suggest how I think my personal habits would be with all three mediums available. (most of my inet-time is related to stocks) In short, if I regularly expect to use the data and can get it free, I will (freerealtime). If I can't get it free, I'll pay a subscription (SI). If I need something once and can get it free, I will. If I need it once, but can't get it free, I'd rather pay a nominal one time fee than buy a subscription. If I can't I do without... (or go to regular library, interlibrary loan, etc). Now the question is, can you cater to an audience like that? Subscriptions if your content is obviously usefull, are not that hard to see. But how do you get a steady stream of payments on information not deemed to be routinely usefull? -Tony