Jump to the following topics:

1. Advantages and disadvantages. 
2. Types of free stuff.

Advantages and disadvantages.  

1. Advantages.
   • We attract customers. When the people come to our site for the free stuff, they might also purchase our goods or services. If our free stuff is something which is used more than once (e.g., a directory on our site), the people will come to our site repeatedly.
   • The free stuff can help to generate a sale. For example, if we are selling vacation packages, our free information regarding a nation's culture might increase the visitors' interest in this trip destination.
   • We create good will. People are generally appreciative when they receive something for free. Later, when they need to make a purchase, they will tend to remember our generosity, and they will want to repay it.
   • People expect free stuff. If we do not satisfy this expectation, we might appear to be selfish and unfriendly.
   • We want to "give back to the internet." We all benefit from the free sharing of information, services, and goods on the internet. If we want to maintain this atmosphere of sharing, we need to contribute something of our own.
   • We can gain publicity.
     • We can provide our goods or services as prizes and incentives to be used on other people's sites. For example, we can offer $50 worth of our product as a prize in someone's contest or sweepstake.
     • We can publicize our free stuff on the many websites which contain directories of free stuff throughout the internet.
2. Disadvantages.
   • Free stuff has an expense to us -- in monetary cost, or time, or server capacity.

Types of free stuff.

1. Information.
   • Information about topics which would interest our visitors. For example, if our website sells Scandinavian furniture, we can display some photos of Scandinavia.
   • Information about using our product. For example, we can have articles regarding the care of the furniture.
2. Links. Some sites have a collection of links to related websites.
3. Communication and socializing. Our site can have a discussion board, a chat, an email discussion list, and other means by which our customers can interact with us and with one another.
4. A gift. For example, when someone buys one of our books, we also give a leather bookmark.
5. Novelty items. In the non-digital world, many companies give away free novelties which display their logo: calendars, pens, baseball caps, coffee mugs, etc. In cyberspace, we might not want to give away these types of free novelties (particularly if we would have to ship the products to customers on the other side of the planet), but our website can have downloadable freebies which display our logo, company name, product name, or other information: screensavers, computer games, items which can be printed from a visitor's computer (e.g., calendars, posters), etc.