For 'serious software' that is doing business, the first thing I now check is Plans and Pricing. if there is none, it is almost a guarantee I will not be using it seriously.
I will confess though, it was not always like this. I was once of the people that Googled "Free Basecamp Alternatives" but all that changed when I started understanding "if software owners do not make money, how can they survive?!"
We caused it by making people believe "delivering bits cost nothing" forgetting that money was needed to pay the bills. Of course I still believe services should have a free tier to allow non-power users test a service. But that in itself is pricing strategy which has the word 'pricing' in it.
A product/service that has a business model does not mean it will shut down but one that does not will certainly shut down.
Things things are turning around. The 37 Signal guys should get some sort of recognition for being in the front of this struggle.
Same here. And it annoys the hell out of me when there's none in sight. I actually avoid apps which start their copy with the word "free".
forgetting that money was needed to pay the bills.
And keeping the team motivated, let's not forget that. I understand why a startup with big funding can afford to give away their service as a land grab move, but two-man teams and solo founders with no cash in the bank? Often as not, they're gone in a couple of months.
For 'serious software' that is doing business, the first thing I now check is Plans and Pricing. if there is none, it is almost a guarantee I will not be using it seriously.
I will confess though, it was not always like this. I was once of the people that Googled "Free Basecamp Alternatives" but all that changed when I started understanding "if software owners do not make money, how can they survive?!"
We caused it by making people believe "delivering bits cost nothing" forgetting that money was needed to pay the bills. Of course I still believe services should have a free tier to allow non-power users test a service. But that in itself is pricing strategy which has the word 'pricing' in it.
A product/service that has a business model does not mean it will shut down but one that does not will certainly shut down.
Things things are turning around. The 37 Signal guys should get some sort of recognition for being in the front of this struggle.