The Value of Being Free = AVG + Justin Bieber + Speaking for Free.

Giving valuable things for free is a huge competitive advantage. The first example is AVG Free Antivirus software. I remember the time AVG first came out was the time of the legendary Norton Antivirus Software. Nobody knew what AVG was and they didn't think AVG could be on (almost) any desktops or laptops today. Today, AVG is one of the most popular antivirus software. Being free beats being priced.

The second example is many cases of YouTube celebrities. They first started off posting their video clips like a hobbies. They are making free shows for music, comedy, talk show, etc..whatever they think they can add values to life. They are giving their talents away, use the Internet to scale up the value, and deliver it efficiently through YouTube's audience. The beauty is the information in this Internet century are being improved and  being linked together so efficiently; therefore, their talents can be shipped to somewhere they never know.

The best example is Justin Bieber, he was founded through Internet.
A luck was made by Internet.
http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/bio.aspx?artistID=7342
If he was born in the 1960s (no Internet), we wouldn't have any Justin Fever.

The third cases are many guest speakers coming back to my CSU Fullerton to share their experiences, success stories, and industry insights with students. This can be called a labor of love, but I think it is also a way to increase the personal brand value, as well as, increase the value of the university.

In brief, I see some lessons here:

1. Freemium must hold certain valuable degrees. Basically, even your product or service is free, it has to be good and valuable to customers / clients. Never giving out crappy things, that destroy you faster than you think.
2. Value is matter and value is everywhere. Tangible and intangible. Value is not only the dollar sign, but also connection, friendship, talent, time, etc... you name it. Whatever matters to you or other people, those are possible to transfer it back to the dollar sign.
3. Each individual is looking for different values and holding different values. When the value-trading activity happens, there is an economy.
4. Don't stop dreaming just because of the lack of resources. There are somebody right now are holding the value you need. You can go after them and make a trade with them. 
5. You are valuable. Whenever you exists, you have a chance to add more values to your life and people around you. Your time and your talent are commodities and if you make your commodities be traded regularly, you are making yourself more valuable and people will want to work with you and pay for you more.
6. If something is value, it only can increases value when it is refined, improved, or traded (continuously).

So, ask yourself those questions:

1. What are my values? What am I good at?
2. Who needs my values (time, talent, treasure, connection, etc...) now?
3. How can I add more values to these people?
4. What do I want to do to add more values in my life?
5. Who can help me to add more value to my career, my health?
6. How can I scale my personal value?

....

Value! Value! Value!
Trade it now! Trade it sooner!
....
Bonus: A quick video about the Freemium Business Model: