DISQUS

fredwilson · 6 months ago

marty - it will cost twitter money to authenticate all these accounts. in fact, they are already spending a fair amount on this activity.

G.C. Hutson · 6 months ago

This is a wonderful discussion. Well done.

Personally, I always have a problem paying an individual or entity to NOT do something bad... or in cases like this, paying someone to NOT allow bad things to happen.

Example... Anti-virus software

I have to pay... a "subscription fee"... to NOT be attacked and undermined by man-made malicious software?? Really? (The answer of course is... "Yeh. Pretty much.")

Or Anti-SPAM software... I have to pay to NOT be annoyed??

In other words... an exchange of fiduciary consideration, for tangible product, service or benefit is acceptable. It's literally the "American Way."

If Twitter ever decides to evoke a fee structured service... My advice would be to position it as "getting more that those who use the service for free."

Go the "Google" route, versus the "Yahoo" model. Google basically says, "Come. Search. Use our stuff all you want, free of cost." ...however, if as a business, you want to advertise, etc... there's a fee.

Yahoo basically treats EVERYONE like indentured servants, who should be grateful to bask in the awesomeness that is "Yahoo." Yahoo can't figure out why Google is destroying them with market domination. It's simple... it's all about perception.

If people percive they're working with a strong, fair, honest organization... they'll continue down that path.

If they feel like they're being "screwed," dominated, cheated, or controlled... they'll stop... and go somewhere else.

When you vilify your customers... they stop being your customers.

G.C. Hutson
Chief Executive and Senior Partner
Sadien Intellectual Property, Inc.
http://www.sadien.com

GregSJ · 6 months ago

"When you vilify your customers... they stop being your customers."

Well said.