--- title: "Free Hugs: Competing Against The Freemium" description: Web entrepreneurs have a difficult choice to make with the release of every new service. Should it b... image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/freehugs-mini-Jan-23-2023-12-15-47-3914-AM-1-1-1.gif --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # Free Hugs: Competing Against The Freemium ![Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Pete%20Prestipino.jpeg) [by Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/pete-prestipino) 31 Mar, 2009 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/competing-against-the-freemium](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/competing-against-the-freemium) - Link Copied! ![Free Hugs: Competing Against The Freemium](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/freehugs-mini-Jan-23-2023-12-15-47-3914-AM-1-1-1.gif) Web entrepreneurs have a difficult choice to make with the release of every new service. Should it be offered complimentary to bring in streams of users or should we charge for it with an aim of adding to profitability? Let's look at the challenges of the freemium model in greater detail and what Web entrepreneurs can do to get people to buy paid versions today. **Read [Competing (and Thriving) Against The Freemium](https://www.websitemagazine.com/blog/competing-and-thriving-against-the-freemium), which appeared in last week's [Web Success Weekly e-newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up).** \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **Ready to Start Really Competing In Web Business?** Request a [professional-level membership from Website Magazine](https://website%20magazine.com/prosubscribe/). ![Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Pete%20Prestipino.jpeg) [Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/pete-prestipino) Digital marketing executive with proven experience in all aspects of search engine optimization (SEO), performance-based advertising, consumer-generated/social media, email marketing, lead generation, Web design, usability, and analytics. - 20-year Internet marketing veteran, currently serving as the Digital Marketing Campaign Manager at Antenna Group (formerly Chicago Digital). - Former Editor-In-Chief of Website Magazine, and a regular speaker on Web technology digital marketing strategy - Author of several books on digital marketing Including Web 360: The Fundamentals of Web Success; Affiliate 360: The Fundamentals of Performance Marketing; Domains 360: The Fundamentals of Buying & Selling Domain Names, and SEO 360: The Fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization. - - - [mailto:peter@websitemagazine.com](mailto:peter@websitemagazine.com) #### Popular Post ### [31 Back-to-School Keyword Targets ![31 Back-to-School Keyword Targets](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/schoolbus-1-1-1-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/31-back-to-school-keyword-targets) ### [GoDaddy Goes .XXX ![GoDaddy Goes .XXX](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-15-39-1451-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-36-09-0977-PM-3-1.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/godaddy-goes-xxx) ### [23 Cool Tech Facts ![23 Cool Tech Facts](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/fact_100x100-2-1-1-1.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/23-cool-tech-facts) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! 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All Rights Reserved - [Privacy Policy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pete Prestipino", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/pete-prestipino" }, "dateModified" : "2023-05-01T21:21:02.904Z", "datePublished" : "2009-03-31T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Free Hugs: Competing Against The Freemium", "image" : [ "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/freehugs-mini-Jan-23-2023-12-15-47-3914-AM-1-1-1.gif" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/competing-against-the-freemium", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png" }, "name" : "Website Services, Inc." } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pete Prestipino" } ], "headline" : "Free Hugs: Competing Against The Freemium", "publisher" : { "name" : "Website Magazine", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/" } } ```