Do you use your web site to get free stuff?

Do you use your web site to get free stuff?

Do you write book reviews for publishers who send you free books?

Do you write game reviews for publishers who send you free games?

Do you write software reviews for publishers who send you free software?

Do you write reviews for manufacturers who send you free equipment? i.e. If you have a rock climbing site, do the manufacturers send you free rock climbing equipment?

Do vendors in your industry offer you free goodies like t-shirts, hats, jackets, etc...?

Do vendors in your industry give you free gifts to offer as prizes in contests for your web site members?

Do vendors in your industry pay for you to attend industry events?

What sort of no-cost benefits are you getting out of your web site?

 

Will my answers be using for profit making purposes?

 

Only if they are good ones.

 

check out shoemoneys blog, hes got a laptop for free

 

It is my (untested) contention that more of us could be receiving greater benefits from operating some of our web sites by being more creative in our vendor relations.

I may test some of this out soon.

 

Good thought Will , or do paid reviews too .. yeah now you got me thinking -

 

I often sift through dp threads thinking "read it before" - "boring non-topics" or just "almost interesting", but this one could actually become one of the most interesting threads of 2006. I wish I had a few freebies to report about but alas, I am just waiting to see what great ideas come out of this one...

Keep 'em coming lads (as usual, good thinking Will)

 

Just now I am reading a book that a publisher sent me at no cost in the hope that I would review it. The book is on a topic that I am somewhat of an expert on.

Unfortunately, the book is awful. That was unexpected. I am more than a bit uncomfortable right now. I just wrote the publisher and informed them that it will be better if I do not write a review of their new book. That's not going to make them very happy.

I will never be dishonest in a review, and they would not want an honest review!

Still, I feel very badly. They spent a lot of time, effort, and money putting this book together. I see ten names in the credits and the book must have cost thousands of dollars to print with its beautiful glossy cover. Unfortunately, they skimped on technical editing and peer review.

 

Wow , Yeah I can imagine that it would be very uncomfortable, But I think thats actually probably going to be the case often.

But, You will be doing your readers a favor to list that book and give your opinions .. I am sure you are doing it for your readers so maybe reporting the bad as well as the good might be a way!

 

I know people. I have got loads of free stuff from www.nottinghamstudent.co.uk

Including a £300 bike! But mostly just going out in town and knowing people - gettng VIP and free drinks and stuff.

Notting

 

Mmmm... free drinks...

I should start an alcohol rating site.

 

How much of a readership do you need before you can lure businesses to let you have free stuff???

Do they care about the number of hits or subscribers you have?

 

If I was the company considering giving away free stuff, I would want to know about the number of unique visitors who could be expected to read the review.

I would guess that the size of readership would depend upon the cost of the item to the vendor. i.e. software should be easy, motorbikes should be very difficult.