I have only bought a paid links product from GT so far and I am looking to upgrade to SQL, sometime later.
I have been frequenting here since 99. I have seen GT grow and introduce new products. While GT products are very good, I have a feeling that with new updates and introductions GT has moved away from it's core userbase (mostly small webmasters like me). While I believe the new products command the pricing (meaning there are people willing to pay) I think they are far expensive for small sites. What made GT great was Links2.0 and DBman, which most webmasters could afford to buy without giving much thought - not to mention all the free copies being used which only helped GT creat a userbase and added publicity. I do not think the products should be free. However, the recent GT products/versions are very expensive for small sites.
For example, GT forum is very good and I would love to buy it, but most of us have several other excellent choices from free to cheaper options. So, if GT had priced the forum to cost say $99-$150, I would have probably purchased it. This means a lot more people would have done so too and GT userbase would have expanded or stayed here rather than looking for other solutions. Similarly, the email software is excellent but there is no way most sites can afford to spend $650 because there is not much return on email. Email could be used for small businesses too and most small businesses will not spend $650 - again if this were priced at about $200-$250 and with special licensing arrangements for web hostong companies, this would have/or would explode. So on and so forth.
Maybe, GT wants a limited userbase and in that case it is fine but if not, simple economics and all the facts mentioned above tell that GT can make more profits, genereate more visibility, by bringing the price point lower and expanding the userbase rather than shriking it. I may be wrong and GT may be happy with their current plan and sales. However, I thought I would comment based on my business experience. As much as I would like to go GT all the way, I just cannot do so knowing that I have other affordable options albeit the quality may not be as great in some situations. Just my opinion, that's what I think - what do other longtime users have to say?
I have been frequenting here since 99. I have seen GT grow and introduce new products. While GT products are very good, I have a feeling that with new updates and introductions GT has moved away from it's core userbase (mostly small webmasters like me). While I believe the new products command the pricing (meaning there are people willing to pay) I think they are far expensive for small sites. What made GT great was Links2.0 and DBman, which most webmasters could afford to buy without giving much thought - not to mention all the free copies being used which only helped GT creat a userbase and added publicity. I do not think the products should be free. However, the recent GT products/versions are very expensive for small sites.
For example, GT forum is very good and I would love to buy it, but most of us have several other excellent choices from free to cheaper options. So, if GT had priced the forum to cost say $99-$150, I would have probably purchased it. This means a lot more people would have done so too and GT userbase would have expanded or stayed here rather than looking for other solutions. Similarly, the email software is excellent but there is no way most sites can afford to spend $650 because there is not much return on email. Email could be used for small businesses too and most small businesses will not spend $650 - again if this were priced at about $200-$250 and with special licensing arrangements for web hostong companies, this would have/or would explode. So on and so forth.
Maybe, GT wants a limited userbase and in that case it is fine but if not, simple economics and all the facts mentioned above tell that GT can make more profits, genereate more visibility, by bringing the price point lower and expanding the userbase rather than shriking it. I may be wrong and GT may be happy with their current plan and sales. However, I thought I would comment based on my business experience. As much as I would like to go GT all the way, I just cannot do so knowing that I have other affordable options albeit the quality may not be as great in some situations. Just my opinion, that's what I think - what do other longtime users have to say?
Is it just me?