WikiPremed Shows How To Make Money From Free Test Prep
from the nicely-done dept
Glyn Moody alerts us to his interesting writeup of how WikiPremed is successfully making money while offering free premed test prep materials. The story is actually somewhat similar to the story of the free and open textbook publishers, Flatworld Knowledge. Basically, provide absolutely all of the content for free online, but at the same time, offer up scarce physical products in a useful format as study aids:Everything is licensed creative commons attribution, and we make the online methods freely available, so for example, you can find the entire set of Physics Flash Cards online. We offer the printed versions of the things for which print may be appropriate for sale for a very reasonable price, and students do buy them because print has its own advantages. We put the whole set of physics cards online (three years of work!) and the students still buy the printed cards any way. Even if they want to support the work, I think they like to have a commercial arrangement and a simple value proposition.You can check out WikiPremed here. One of the interesting points raised by John Wetzel, the creator of the site, is this idea that his average customer has probably viewed more than 1,000 pages before purchasing anything. This goes back to the discussion we had about about ad blocking, where some insisted that anyone not viewing an ad is of no value at all to a community. But that takes a very static view of the world. In a dynamic view, you realize that anyone viewing your website has the potential to pay you back at some point in the future -- and that payment may come in many forms. You don't focus on getting paid for every single transaction, but recognize the value of a loyal, lifetime relationship.
There is one work, however, the Premedical Learning System, which sells for $32.95, where the advantages of the print version are so great, compared to the online presentations of the content, which are extensive, that we call the printed work 'essential' for the course, and it is definitely a good value. It's also a board game!
Students need printed study materials, and they get sick of the computer, so I definitely think there is room for creative commons educational content supported by print publications. I think there is an ethic to not holding content hostage to purchases, but I think there are commercial advantages to the open model as well. I don't doubt that the average customer at WikiPremed has 1000 page views before purchasing anything.
I am sure that if there were registration walls and missing chapters I would have fewer customers.
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Filed Under: free, premed, test prep
Companies: wikipremed
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Second and more
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As a college student
Spending on average over a thousand dollars a year on text books for two semesters is insane, and I welcome professors who are willing to publish their work for free online. I hope to myself publish my future works, either free or at least at a much more reduced cost to the students. I completely understand professors wanting to make some money off their books, but I also understand the need for students to be able to afford books AND food.
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Re: As a college student
What? You want to take away from the awesome college experience of learning to play guitar for the purpose of hanging out downtown and hopefully making enough in tips to get some food? Hey, that's an American tradition you're messing with!!
; P
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Re: As a college student
Now I have been out of academia for a long time. The increasing cost of text books seems outrageous. Why have the costs continue to escalate (beyond the obvious captured audience concept)??????
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Unrelated, except another example of same business model
LiveMocha.com is a language learning online social network. It is free; you get free language lessons in any of 95 different languages (lots of obscure ones on the list). You can tutor or be tutored. The lessons are not unlike what you would find in a Rosetta Stone course, perhaps not of equal quality, but it is free.
There is a bit of advertising on the site. Then, there are some add-ons you can opt to pay for. For example, you can take the free French course, or you can pay $9.95 for an accelerated French For Travelers course. Given my happiness with the free materials, I won't hesitate to pay $10 for more focused materials.
Lots of free, and they are finding ways to make money too.
Wouldn't surprise me if there is a lot of non-language learning like this in the near future.
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Re: Unrelated, except another example of same business model
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Re: Re: Unrelated, except another example of same business model
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another money making meyhod:
How can you make money on Answers Land?
Answering Questions on Answers land: You get 1 cent for each questions you answer and if your answer is picked as best, you get the 0,25$. Proper answering of questions is etiquette and essential to earn money with Answers Land. This site really wants actual data and fact that are backed up by reliable sources. This makes the content that audiences seek more reliable and accurate. There is no limit in the amount of questions you answer. Your earning possibilities are virtually endless. Plus answering the questions can be entertaining as well.
How do you get paid?
If you have at least $5.00 accumulated, you automatically will enter the pay list and be scheduled to get your money. Currently, Answers Land only make payments via PayPal and Moneybookers.
Quick Data
One valid answer = 0.01$ , best answer = 0.25$, Minimum Payment = 5.00$
source: http://www.answersland.com
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Too Many...
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i think this site is not worthy.Many people wanting to make money really too heavily on ads to make them money but this site is nothing.
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hi
i think this site is not worthy.Many people wanting to make money really too heavily on ads to make them money but this site is nothing.
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Education
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Textbookspy.com
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Textbookspy.com
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textbooks really cheap with just postage
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Kindle 1k System
Regards,
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Recommend
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WikiPremed
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