Will Web users ever pay for content?

Dom · Jul 30, 2003, 09:15 PM

Borders is a co-founder of Borders Group, the $3.4 billion company that today is the nation's second-largest bookseller. He also happens to be the man behind Webvan, the billion-dollar online grocer that famously failed in 2001 and became synonymous with both the magnificent dreams and the hubris of the dot-com era.

Now this self-professed serial entrepreneur is taking another stab at building a brand from scratch. On Monday, Borders launched a subscription-based digital newsstand called KeepMedia.

But he also faces the challenge of convincing Web surfers to pay to access archived online content. Despite the Web's transformation into a major publishing platform, relatively few Web users have warmed to the idea that they also should pay for content.

Borders nonetheless remains determined to prove conventional wisdom wrong. KeepMedia is a subscription-based outpost for magazines such as Business Week, U.S. News and World Report and Esquire. Though it's an idea that's already been tried and failed, Borders believes KeepMedia is different and will prove to be a superior online brand, because, he says, it offers quality publications and convenience.

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Matth · Jul 31, 2003, 10:03 AM

Sites that were once free, and software that was once free, receive heavy criticism for going otherwise.

While it may be feasible to deliver PAY content via the web, to those who would already be happy to pay and wait for a physical delivery, I doubt that many drive-by surfers will will stump up real money for a virtual product.

If you NEED something for professional use, then of course you'll pay up and look happy about it - your time to search further is probably worth more than the price of the report/article etc.

But if you're just looking for something out of interest....

PAY content can be delivered over the web, but if the web becomes a pay-content medium, I'm outa here!

Esaz666 · Aug 1, 2003, 09:47 PM

There's always some di*K heads
tryng to make money out of us.

Keep the web free.

Youll never get any money out of me.

Jul 30, 2003, 09:15 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,942 Rep Power: 0	Will Web users ever pay for content? Borders is a co-founder of Borders Group, the $3.4 billion company that today is the nation's second-largest bookseller. He also happens to be the man behind Webvan, the billion-dollar online grocer that famously failed in 2001 and became synonymous with both the magnificent dreams and the hubris of the dot-com era. Now this self-professed serial entrepreneur is taking another stab at building a brand from scratch. On Monday, Borders launched a subscription-based digital newsstand called KeepMedia. But he also faces the challenge of convincing Web surfers to pay to access archived online content. Despite the Web's transformation into a major publishing platform, relatively few Web users have warmed to the idea that they also should pay for content. Borders nonetheless remains determined to prove conventional wisdom wrong. KeepMedia is a subscription-based outpost for magazines such as Business Week, U.S. News and World Report and Esquire. Though it's an idea that's already been tried and failed, Borders believes KeepMedia is different and will prove to be a superior online brand, because, he says, it offers quality publications and convenience. Read More...

Jul 31, 2003, 10:03 AM	#2
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,203 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	Sites that were once free, and software that was once free, receive heavy criticism for going otherwise. While it may be feasible to deliver PAY content via the web, to those who would already be happy to pay and wait for a physical delivery, I doubt that many drive-by surfers will will stump up real money for a virtual product. If you NEED something for professional use, then of course you'll pay up and look happy about it - your time to search further is probably worth more than the price of the report/article etc. But if you're just looking for something out of interest.... PAY content can be delivered over the web, but if the web becomes a pay-content medium, I'm outa here!

Aug 1, 2003, 09:47 PM	#3
Esaz666 BeardHeaven Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Uk,Earth,Universe,3rd dimention Posts: 292 Rep Power: 41	There's always some di*K heads tryng to make money out of us. Keep the web free. Youll never get any money out of me.