While many web companies offer their products for free, they aren't exempt from the oldest rule of business: Make more money than you spend.
Every company has to generate revenue, a fact which was demonstrated clearly last week by Hootsuite's new Freemium business model and this week by Slideshare's launch of pro subscription plans.
The acceleration of the freemium business model makes us question if this is what users want. Just as important, is this what web businesses need to do to become profitable?
That's the subject of today's Web Faceoff. The question we're posing to you is simple: Which web business model do you prefer: freemium or ad-supported? It's a question of importance to both businesses and consumers alike. The answer could impact how technology companies shape their products and their web strategies.
Cast your vote in the poll below by Friday, August 20 at 12:00 p.m. PT. We encourage you to also voice your opinion on this issue in the comments below.
Which web business model do you prefer: Freemium or Ad Supportedcustomer surveys