In a free online world, what are you willing to pay for?

After my critique of Seth Godin's new social network, some people came away with the idea that I was complaining about having to pay to join (by pre-ordering Godin's new book).

I can't say I blame them. In the comments I did say "anything that set the bar for getting into the 'Exclusive' club would be better than paying for it."

Honestly, I'm fine with paying for online services I find to be worthwhile. In this case, I just think the "buy my book and I'll let you in the treehouse" approach came off sounding greasy.

Godin described the book purchase as a nominal hurdle that would ensure the Triiibes network remains exclusive. Two problems with that:

1. If this is truly a network devoted to creating ideas, why is an admission fee the best way to ensure you're getting the right audience? Seems a creative guy like Seth would favor a creative solution, like asking each potential member to help solve a hypothetical problem. Or solve a riddle. Or solve the Zodiac killings. Whatever. Something interesting.

2. Does anyone on the Internet pay for a service sight-unseen? Heck, do you pay for anything at all?

Nothing is more baffling for the modern capitalist than making money online. In just a few short years, we've evolved into a society that can get almost anything for free — if we're patient enough to go find it.

Personally, I only pay for two Web services:

• Flickr Pro - A ramped-up version of the incredible photo sharing site owned by Yahoo. $25 a year. I went pro mostly to have access to more "sets" that let you organize your photos. And because I love Flickr.

• TypePad Pro - The blogging service behind The Social Path. $14.95 a month (kindly reimbursed by my agency). I went Pro so I could create multiple blogs, have several authors, customize the Web address, etc. Mostly I just enjoyed the ease of the interface versus competitors like WordPress.

In both instances, I spent a long time kicking the tires on the service before agreeing to be a paying member, which is just about the highest honor you can give a Web site these days.

So what have you found to be so invaluable that you're willing to cough up some cash?

I asked the same question to folks networking with me on Twitter. Check out the replies — which make for a pretty handy list — after the jump. Then be sure to share your favorites.

• "The only thing I pay for online are some downloads from iTunes." - Antonice Louis

• "Flickr is the only service I pay for currently." - Jeremy Flint

• "I pay for my domain — which you can put in huge letters is adverganza.com, and the WSJ Online. That's it." — Catharine P. Taylor

• "Flickr Pro, GitHub, Basecamp, Lighthouse, Football Recruiting (Rivals.com), Rhapsody, Audible." — Jason McCay

• "I'm paying for Flickr right now - and Smugmug." — Andre Natta

• "Commercial-Archive.com; iconfactory.com and a few periodicals such as DazedDigital, Creative Review, etc." — Sime White

• "I pay for Photobucket. Technically, I guess I also pay for eBay (fees, etc.)." — Matt Sayar

• "Flickr." — Bill Green

• "Pay for rhol.com, wsj.com, bobbrinker.com, investor.com, kpcc.org (donation), audible.com, countyrecordsresearch.com" — Michael Procopio

• "Flickr pro account, viddyou premium (20x better than youtube, HD streaming & one hell of a TOS/Customer Service setup) and hosting. — Brent Terrazas

• "I don't pay for anything, but I would pay for Flickr if I used it more." — John Sandala

• "I'm cheap on the web and pay for nothing." — dailybiz

• "I pay for Flickr Pro, SurveyMonkey, Wordpress RevolutionTheme, and a Google group. Oh, and ConstantContact. All for projects at work." — Shane Haggerty

• "Flickr Pro, iTunes, WebFaction hosting, Amazon S3 (for backup) and that's about it." — Chris Heisel

• "Like dailybiz, I too am cheap and pay for nothing. Although I am considering paying for the wordpress upgrade & a domain." — Dear Jane Sample

• "I only pay for Flickr Pro, use to have a Vongo subscription but the movie selection is limited." — Manuela Oprea

• "I just amped up to Flickr Pro so I can send videos." — AdBroad

Comments

[Mark Dykeman]

I'll step forward and admit that I signed up for the Tribes deal: the "exclusive" group, pre-ordered the book, etc. I've never really done something like this before.

Here's why:

1) I like Seth's books. I think he comes up with interesting ideas and he packages them well. Preordering the book at a discounted price really isn't much of a gamble for me - his track record in writing interesting stuff is certainly satisfactory to me.

2) I'm interested in seeing how the whole Tribes thing will develop. Can he pull it off in a respectable, honorable way that gives his members some value, or will it all turn to shit? How better to see it than to be an insider?

3) I feel that I could learn something out of this experience, either good or bad.

I certainly appreciate your perspective and I'm normally pretty stingy. In fact, the only web based services that I pay for are web hosting and Internet access. Something about this offer caught my eye, so what the heck? It's a new experience.

[Dabitch]

I've paid for plenty of things since the web began, access to filepile secret hangouts, access to media, access to knowledge, hell even access to communities. I pay for iconfactory, zonedit.com , services that are clear to some and silly to others. It would be cool if I could donate a penny every time I read something good (though that would probably mean that the lowest common denominator would always make the most pennies)
There are plenty of places worth your pennies around the web, I pay for good programs that I use (hi transmit!) and anything else that I see people spend time on. Oh, and where there aren't a bazillion ads.

Ps - thanks simon. Kudos.

[David Berkowitz]

Flickr Pro, TypePad Pro, some domains, a bit to WordPress for some trials there, now Carbonite for file backup, and I made a donation to MouseHunt on Facebook for some super brie.

[Baard Hansen]

I am only paying for one thing: Flickr Pro. It is worth it. I can see all my photos and I can sort them into sets. Great investment.

[Kate]

Dave -

I actually agree with you somewhat about the Seth deal. When I read it, my thought process was "we don't even know what we're signing up for, and you're asking us to bank on the fact that your name alone will provide us with value once we get inside." I read Seth's blog and I also buy his books, and absolutely respect his experience and knowledge, however this came across as cocky, to be frank. If I'm going to pay for something, I want you to show me value before I give you money (isn't that how it always is anyway? whether we live in a free economy or not).

That being said, I bought the book and signed up for Triiibes... because I was going to buy the book anyway when it came out, so it was a no loss situation for me. I buy the book, "get into the club" and it ends up being useful or useless. Essentially, my decision ended up being a free one.

[Arne-Per]

I pay for logmein & napster, will be paying for wordpress pro. BTW- Congrats on getting tapped by Louis Gray!

[Marketing Mommy]

I also ponied up for Seth's book and got into Tribes. I did it because I like his blog and I have bought the book anyway. That and I was curious...

But now I feel a bit like I've scored tickets to a party full of marketing VIPs and I don't have any desire to schmooze my way around the room.

[jeff paul internet business]

Flicker, wordpress and typepad are good source for generating quick money online, in the begining you have to spend a little amount of money but after that it will get you what you invest with lot more .

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I pay for good programs that I use hi transmit and anything else that I see people spend time on.

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