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.
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.
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.
Filed Under: free, premed, test prep
Companies: wikipremed
Comments on “WikiPremed Shows How To Make Money From Free Test Prep”
a lot of i think and i am sure but not a lot of real data.
Second and more
I’d be curious to know how many more free views there were between the 1st and 2nd purchase for a given user. I’d guess a lot less, since the site’s reputation and value is already established.
As a college student
I go to a good state university, and two of my math professors have published books, one of the definitive works in Numerical Analysis and is sold normal dead-tree format only (with some online source code, and java-applets to test your work) but it is well over $100 for the (new) book, the other is a completely open book under the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3, he has a free PDF online and we can purchase a printed copy for 34$ from lulu.com http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-using-r/8123594 , I purchased the dead-tree version, and use both it and the PDF.
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.
Re: As a college student
Food!!?
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
Re: As a college student
We live in a world where many of the expenses of producing/publishing a book have been eliminated. We have software for writing, producing graphics, printing etc. Even the cost of updating a book has been reduced since only the “obsolete” sections need to be revised.
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)??????
Unrelated, except another example of same business model
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 $10 for more focused materials.
Lots of free, and they are finding ways to make money too.
Wouldn’t surprise me if there is a lot of non-language learning like this in the near future.
Re: Unrelated, except another example of same business model
the idea of free samples is as old as marketing itself. i am sure that caveman ogg gave samples of meat cooked on fire and then sold fire for a cavegirl or something. this isnt new it isnt fresh and it isnt free anything just marketing.
Re: Re: Unrelated, except another example of same business model
and to the extent that you’re right, it’s only more evidence to the fact that IP is not necessary and never was.
What really counts are …for sale for a very reasonable price. and and it is definitely a good value. Without this it doesn’t matter how much time and money you invest into your content. It seems too many publishers of all types don’t understand that the right quality level at the right price is what makes for success in a true free market.
another money making meyhod:
Answers Land offers it’s members the possibility to earn money by for answering questions. No downloads nedeed. Signing up for Answers Land is as simple as submitting a valid email address and creating a unique user name and password. Later, an avatar picture can be uploaded, it isn’t necessary, but does help build up your personal identity with the site. The site is open to anyone around the world who is over the ages of 13 years old. So it is even possible for teenagers to make money with Answers Land. Visitors can ask a question in any of Answers land’s pre-defined categories for free.
How can you make money on Answers Land?
Answering Questions on Answers land: You get 1 cent for each questions you answer and if your answer is picked as best, you get the 0,25$. 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
I think I have the solution to this…I’d suggest looking into http://www.bigwords.com. It will end the day that you spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks. Because bigwords.com works in a way where it finds the best prices by searching all the online textbook retailers and rental sites. It’s so so so easy and user friendly. I’m surprised no one knows about this already but go check it out. It’ll solve the issue of spending ridiculous amounts of money on your books. I promise you that!
Too Many...
Too many people wanting to make money rely too heavily on ads to make them money. Things like Adsense, Adbrite, Yahoo’s Ads… Etc. Users need to stop focusing on pushing ads at people and instead attracting quality links and people who will turn up a purchase in the end.
John Wetzel raised this site? well, how many free viewers and purchaser do you have everyday?
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.
hi
John Wetzel raised this site? well, how many free viewers and purchaser do you have everyday?
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.
I always buy textbooks from http://www.CheapestTextbooks.com because they have used textbooks for sale at low prices. I recommend them to anyone looking to save money on textbooks.
Education
Love the sites that really provide free materials online, especially education sites. This builds good will, and perhaps the viewer will purchase something later if the publisher is selling other materials.
Textbookspy.com
Great information. I wanted to recommend http://www.textbookspy.com. Textbook Spy saved me a ton of money on my kid’s textbooks. It definitely helped me find the cheapest prices and best store for renting and buying their textbooks.
Textbookspy.com
Great information. I wanted to recommend http://www.textbookspy.com. Textbook Spy saved me a ton of money on my kid’s textbooks. It definitely helped me find the cheapest prices and best store for renting and buying their textbooks.
Yeah, really need to know some more figures involved
I’d be curious to know how many more free views there were between the 1st and 2nd purchase for a given user. I’d guess a lot less, since the site’s reputation and value is already established.
textbooks really cheap with just postage
You can also get textbooks, or just about any other book by paying just the postage using http://thecreativealternative.com/free-novels/ paperback swap lets you list your own books to get the credit, or just buy one for a buck or so. I’ve been using them for quite a few years already, and helped tremendously during school.
Kindle 1k System
Kindle 1k System is another way to make money on Amazon KDP. You should try it if you have time.
Regards,
Recommend
Great work I just wanted to recommend http://www.proincomeblog.com
Great information. I just enjoyed reading this money making article.
WikiPremed
That’s good to hear, let me check there site soon.