Digital Musing : On Freebies

There has been an interesting discussion (again) on Digital Freebies on the 2Peas boards recently.  http://twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=1425854

The discussion began because a 2Peas member (and recently new digital designer herself) had come across a consignment store website which has recently stopped offering freebies as an incentive to come look at the store. In fact, the homesite of this large consignment store now states "No Freebies Here". That 2Peas poster asked the following questions -

1. Do you think the consumers in the digi world are too pampered by the wide array of freebies?
2. Do you think its fair for designers since many go around just to snag freebies and not bother about anything on your store
3. Would having freebies affect your decision to buy kits - say if you saw a freebie that could work with your photos instead?
4. Paper scrappers have NO freebies.. they buy everything so what are your expectations about freebies in the digi world?

The digital designer who posted this initial post later went on to add that she often found it a thankless job to provide freebies. I’m completely re-interpretting her own comments here, and amalgamating that of several other digiDesigners. The poster herself had advertised a very lovely kit as a freebie from her blog a month or so beforehand, but apparently had processed many more downloads of that freebie than thankyous or acknowledgements from those like me who did take her freebie offerings. She has also very recently opened up her own boutique webstore to sell some kits, so now has a commercial viewpoint of selling digital designs.

I de-plurked to add my comments to the post, which were pretty much in confirmation with many other digital scrapbook designers. However, it’s an interesting subject matter to deal with.

This is my take on digital freebies and why we still have them, but also why some digital stores and designers are no longer providing them -

Digital Freebies were initially a good investment in a time and effort by digital designers - they were a drawcard to visit a particular website to download them, and were used as a digital sample and resume of their work - in two hopes - 

• That you would like their designs well enough to go buy some of them
• That you would use the freebies given in layouts, and credit the designs to the relevant designer whilst posting the layouts to various online galleries.

As such, new designers remain using freebies as their first inroads into the industry - often as a trial - to see if other’s like their work. And the consumer greed for freebies created entire websites based on them - daily downloads, websites with freebies in the name, design teams on websites just to create a monthly or weekly freebie kit for members.

But lately, things are changing -

1. As more and more digital designers came onto the market, freebie give-aways became almost a cultural issue. To compete, or draw attention, many new designers felt it relevant to provide some freebies as promotions. The digital designer who posted this initial 2Peas thread discussed above did this, just like everybody else.
2. There are various digital designers who do give away freebies simply because they want to, however those designers may be in a minority now, and it’s normally because they have played around with creating some digital elements but don’t want to setup shop to sell them. They’ve put togother a nice set, and just want to share.
3. Whilst designers build their reputations and clientele with freebies, freebies will continue to be used as these promotional tools. However, with such a large market in competing digital designers out there now, many designers may become more selective about how they provide these, or whether they do so at all.
4. Freebies are what do get people into digital scrapbooking in the first place. Like many others, I tried out digital when I downloaded a Shabby Princess kit. Even magazines like Simple Scrapbooks, and websites like 2Peas itself are now seeing the drawcard of providing freebie downloads online. Obviously freebie offerings do provide a build to the digital scrapbooking market, as more and more scrapbookers try it out.
5. The designer above, asked in one question whether there is a glut in freebies - and I would suggest that this is the case. They’re just everywhere.
6. Larger consumer webstores, who already have a large stable of designers with fans of those designers, and who’s primary income is from the sales of those designer consignments, don’t necessarily have the need to bother with freebies as a drawcard - people go there anyway.
7. Freebies are causing so many hassles with abuse -  a minority of consumers not following freebie etiquette, terms of use, or even some piracy - that larger sites will eventually give up on them.  One or two already have.

Let’s go into that last point in more detail below  -

What has caused some concern (to me, at least) is the use of digital freebies to draw people into both consignment websites or more particularly, chat rooms to grab a freebie kit. Many design teams provide digital freebies for customer bases and examples abound of freebies being used to entice consumers into participating in chat sessions with designers, or onto completely non-commercial websites. The concern is that there are so many freebies being offered here, and some are from non-commercial websites where the designers aren’t using their freebies to promote the type or quality of their work- that many people are forgetting the goodness of freebies, or in fact, the normal protocols, and starting to demand them with no responsibility.

Previously, there have been examples of digiscrappers sharing freebie files picked up from websites amongst friends. Just about all of the digital designers and design teams have terms of use on their freebies suggesting that no sharing is allowed. If anyone else wants them, they should be sent to the source website, rather than receive the freebies via email or similar from their friends.

There have also been examples of private mails and forum threads asking for someone to send a person some missed freebies because they couldn’t attend an online crop, or missed out on some of a daily-downloaded kit. Again, this breaks both the terms of use and protocols of freebie gifting.

Additionally, you see digital forums - forums which have been setup to discuss digital scrapbooking - techniques, help and successes, being overtaken by posts nominating where the latest freebie find is. I’ve been guilty of the same thing on occasion - the digital forums on UKScrappers have had posts by myself informing people of the latest freebie. However, I’ve been selective in that. Although I’ve been privy to information on where to find 20 or so freebies in a week, I’ve maybe posted about the latest from what I think of as top quality digital designers. And ones where I hope that the freebie grabbers will take the time to look around the rest of their website and work out that their work is worth coveting.

At the moment, there are digital forums out there which are suffering from the promotional opportunities taken by people just like myself - nominating freebies, or in some cases, introducing their new website for new digital designers. Those forums aren’t operating as they should - there are very few discussions on digital techniques, or posts asking for help.

So Here’s a Reminder on Rules of Freebie Gathering (Both Standard Protocols and Some Niceties I Have Added)

1. If you download freebies, do not share them. If anybody else is interested in these freebies simply send them the link to the website. Equally, do not request the sharing of these from others.
2. Follow the Terms of Usage provided either with the freebies themselves or on the website.
3. Download and organise your freebies as thoroughly as you do with commercially sold digital products. This will allow you to know what designer provided these, so that when using their freebies, you can credit them on posted layouts.
4. (The Following is a New Mission for myself also) If you download some freebies you really like, leave a message on the website, or blog (if the designer has one) thanking them, and also linking to any posting of gallery layouts if you’ve created some.
5. Using freebies as a basis for designs credited as your own work is a big no-no. I’m saying that, because there have been some problems with piracy of freebies also. Freebies are as much copyrighted as any commercial products.
6. Complaints / Problems -  If you have a problem with digital freebie downloads (corrupt files / quality of the designs - an example being lack of quality with misplaced pixels) - please email the designer directly first. Before moaning about it on all the boards. In the majority of occasions, digital designers will do their utmost to put things right for you, and appreciate the communication and feedback. If you have sent an email of complaint or with problems, also give them a reasonable time to respond to your email before you communicate your problems elsewhere. Like many of us, digital designers don’t work fulltime on digital designs, and may be working away from home, or be caught up in family problems. At least a week is a responsible timing to expect before you take complaints elsewhere - and longer if it’s over normal holiday periods. If you have no contact address for the designer, try the consignment store (if there is one). If all else fails, possibly the best thing to do is to forget about it - these are freebies after all.

My Own Consumer Standard Promises (use these if you wish)

1. I do not expect freebies, but they help me to know your work and quality of it. Please entice me with these if you -
   a. Are a new designer and I may not know your work
   b. You are testing the market to see if your work has a market
   c. You are just generous.
2. I do not go looking for freebies, or demanding them. I do like to discover nice freebies as surprises however.
3. I promise to be selective in my freebie downloads - and not just greedy. Greediness just fills my hard-drive.
4. If I download some digital freebies, I promise to organise these so that I may credit your work in any gallery uploads.
5. For as long as I can, I also promise to leave comments on websites, or blogsites towards thanking you for your generosity, and where I have uploaded any layouts to galleries. I might even email you. It would be nice to get an email back sometimes, too.
6. Once established as a favourite designer, I promise to purchase digital elements and kits as I find I like or need them from yourself, and become a regular client.
7. If I do become a regular client / purchaser or admirer of yours, sending me a thankyou freebie or two, when you feel the inclination will mean that I continue that relationship with you. I promise to be thankful for those as well.

Are my comments fair? Are my rules fair - both for consumers like myself, and designers? What are your own thinking about freebies? Do you actually buy kits, or are you still gobbling up freebies faster than your hard-drive can burp?

Published at UKScrappers on Tuesday 25th October 2005. Look under Scrap Musings.

Comments

[Correen]

What a great write-up of the idea of freebies at this stage of the digital scrapping evolution. Thank you very much--you hit everything on the head and this will be a good read for both those that choose to share or choose not to share freebies.

[shelleyrae]

Your protocols should be law :) and I like your ideas about downloaders responsibilities Michelle. I am not a big downloader mainly because I make most of my own stuff and also because as part of being a DTM I have access to a lot of material anyway. I have no problem with providing freebies at crops but I think any host would appreciate a thankyou. Too often people come into a crop, demand, and I do mean demand not ask nicely or say hello or act in any way intersted in the event,the link to the freebie and then leave. So please add - I will greet and thank a crop host that provides freebies, to your list :)
The costs involved in providing free downlaods is also something that most people dont understand - the cost to SBB for example for hosting our huge collection of freebies is phenomenal and more than the subscriber fee allows for, But people still complain becasue we dont for example provide a single download link as well as individual links which would effectively double the required server space and cost. Bandwidth and server costs are expensive people!!
Okay - got that out of my system ..great read as always Michelle :)

[Brenda Kempf]

what a wonderful entry to your blog...I totally agree with everything you said...and love your tips and promises at the end...very well written!
Brenda

[Jen_Jake'smom]

hey -- I think this is a GREAT entry. I'd love to link to it on my blog in my entry about freebies -- would that be ok? Let me know!!!

jen strange

[Christina Bartholoemw]

Thanks for putting this into words so well, Michelle.

[dedicated2Digital]

Hi Michelle, this article is amazing and I would like to formally ask your permission to repost this article with credit to you on my website for my newbie members (I seem to collect them). Please feel free to email me on december@dedicated2digital.com to discuss the sharing of this awesome 'rant' if you feel you will allow it. If not, that's okay too, but it is just so well written, so succinct, so apt and accurate - a brilliant piece of work.

Feel free to drop into my website ( www.dedicated2digital.com ) and view the Learn to Digiscrap tutorials, as you will see I am definitely catering to the newbie market.

Best Regards and again, well done
December
Editor
dedicated2Digital

[Michelle@Scrapability]

Hiya December, I know of your work, but hadn't realised you have a website also. That's good to know. Of course, you can repost. In fact, this one seems to have hit the spot nicely - Jen Strange is linking into it from the digiscrap blog also.

So, repost anybody - if you wish. I owe the digital community a lot in their kindnesses, and you are most welcome to use my work on this one, towards freebies.

[Marianne (Ma1anneC)]

I have only made one kit, which I submitted and was posted as a freebie on scrapbook-bytes.com. In my Terms of Use I said the kit was free and free to share. I would even allow "commercial" use if you let me know about it. I don't care if people thank me or whatever. Free is free and I think its silly to complain that no-one thanked you for a free kit. But that's just me and my opinion. If other people don't want to give stuff away or want to have restrictive terms of use, then that has to be respected too.

[Scrapmom9701]

I am a brand new digiscrapper - I have been paper scrapping for many years, though, and I Agree - we pay for "regular" scrapbook products - why should we expect digital items to be free? I appreciate what you have stated here, even though I am not a designer (I can barely use my PSE program yet! LOL!) - In addition to products, though, I Really appreaciate the tutorials as well! It has been a real time saver! (The PSE program has no manual! LOL!) SO, THANKS YOU to all of the great designers and teachers out there!

[Bernadette]

I feel (and this is my own opinon) if you make a freebie don't get angry if people come by to take the freebie and then not purchase anything I don't agree with people stealing ideas thats just wrong, I dont agree that people should demand freebies because I feel that they are gifts. I personaly look for freebies, I enjoy the search and feel great when I find a really good one. And because of these freebies I have several artist that I purchase from because I love their work so much. Freebies should not be demanded or stolen, but please dont make them availabe and complain when people come by and get them. Im not saying this to anyone personally, so please dont miss understand. Im just stating my opinon. thank you for allowing me to post.

[digiscrapper]

I enjoyed your article very much however at the same time there is also another factor to look at. There are many like myself who in a way are dependant on freebies simply because we live in a country outside the mainstream of digital scrapbooking. Because of this to take into account exchange rates, bank transfer fees etc makes it totally unafordable to purchase kits from the USA, Europe etc. Personally, if I lived in the USA I wouldn't hesitate to purchase the various kits as there are just so many that I like. As far as I know there is no one selling digital kits here in South Africa so I am looking into starting an online shop here.

[Tammy]

I appreciate your write up. I wish that every newbie digi scrapper could read it. I do like a good freebie but I also have a personal goal of purchasing products from the designer if I discover that I use their work. I have to admit that I pick out thing that I later do not use because when I see it in a larger size, I don't want it. On the other hand, there have been some great freebies that prompted me to buy almost everything a designer has out at a particular store. I know there will always people who take advantage of others. I just don't think that is a good way to lead a life.

[tallynt]

great article, i just got into digital scrap-booking late last year and have been having a great time. i had purchased some kits first but then when i realized there were freebies out there, i got freebie greedy, downloading everything i could find. =) but as i started to really create my pages, i realized downloading all these items were just taking up space as i wasn't using them. i started going back to the sites where i found the kits that i really liked and started to purchase the designer's items. it makes me feel better to support the designers who create items that i really like and work well for me. i am glad people do give away some freebies because it has helped me realize how much i enjoy this new hobby. thanks for reminding me to say thank you to them for helping me create some beautiful pages. this should be required reading for any brand new scrapper.

[rachel kendall]

Right on, scrap sister! I'm juuust starting to design products, and the "freebie" question is one I've thought a lot about. You've hit the nail on the head 100% in my opinion...I'm even have been a bit more "righteously indignant" on the subject of nailing designers on boards because something was wrong with a freebie...or even worse, because they don't provide multiple freebies weekly! Oy! What is wrong with these people! lol I will say that I do typically end up buying from those whose freebies I've used in the past...and I'm hoping that by providing occasional good quality freebies my name will eventually come to be known as a creative designer of unique products. But my heart hurts for these talented designers whose blogs are chock full of poured out woes because they DAILY provide gorgeous freebies which are downloaded by 600 people..and they get 8 comments with a thank you. These poor ladies are hurt and offended, and then question whether anyone likes their stuff. Sheesh. Seriously, I wanna know how so many nice polite people totally check their manners and common human decency when they enter the world of digital scrap. FREEBIES = GIFTS! What kind of a goof doesn't say thank you for a gift?! Or complains that a gift isn't 100% exactly perfect? Or that they aren't given gifts often enough? I like giving presents, so I plan to give freebies once in a while. But I'll be creating them for the vast majority of scrap sisters who appreciate them, may even offer a "thank you" occasionally, and who will turn around and be generous to the scrap community in their own way....and NOT for the few ungrateful whiney idiots with entitlement issues among us.

Ok..stepping off soap box now. lol

[Jessica]

I like what you have to say and think you're right on target. Here is something I have wondered for awhile - there a few blogs I used to visit with regular posts lamenting (on a regular basis) the paltry ratio of thank yous to downloads and, with freebie they post, threaten to stop offering them if people are going to be so inconsiderate. I don't blame them for being upset, they have good reason to be. But after reading post after post after post - well, I have wonder, why don't they just STOP offer freebies?? The sad fact is that a good portion of people are selfish and won't ever say thanks, regardless of the situation. To some degree, that's one of the costs to be counted when offering free services. Again, please know that I'm not saying 'deal with it, designers'. Not in the least; ungratefulness is inexcusable. But sometimes we have to 'DECIDE to deal with it', 'decide' being the operative and offensive (as in 'offensive strategy') word there.

Bottom line is the mental well-being of the person offering free services. You gotta do what you gotta do to be whole in life. That's worth more than a thousand thank yous combined. An open statement to all the free service/product offerin' peeps out there: I APPRECIATE YOU. =)