Kevin Kelly captures an internet truth in…

…this article on how internet business models are primed to create value out of otherwise “free” stuff.

He has some great insights on these eight ways to improve upon free things:

  • Immediacy
  • Personalization
  • Interpretation
  • Authenticity
  • Accessibility
  • Embodiment
  • Patronage
  • Findability

Tom (of REB) sums up the connection to the RE.net with the idea that we’re all “working hard to make a manual for to explain the generic information that the majority put out there without any explanation.”

Mike (of Altos) comes from a slightly different angle in that his entire business proposition is to ensure that he (and his clients) can add value to otherwise freely available information:

“Kelly’s concepts also capture why our most successful real estate agent clients, in a world of commoditizers and discounters, command a premium, even in this crazy market.”

One response

  1. How awesome that article was.

    How true that products seem to approach the zero cost. And what comes from that is business on the service of the zero cost item.

    That is exactly where real estate industry is headed and sorta has been.

    The data was always locked up and you had to contact an agent to look at the data. NOW the data is free and if you want quality representation you find an agent that can fulfill that need.

    The same goes with blogs. The software is free but sometimes you have to hire an expert who can service the free software if you can’t do it yourself.

    Just like REDHAT. The OS is free but if you need support it will cost money.

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