I've never really thought that free days made a good incentive to convert to paying members, short or long term. It's an association thing.
In the short term, part of the barrier to entry created by paying for membership at a coworking space is dedication and commitment. Free isn't a good way to start a committed relationship. Furthermore, even our night shift members have pointed out that they get more done in a 4 hour session that costs $10 because they know they should; sitting on the couch working on their side projects is free, but that means that slacking has no real cost. When you slack AND you pay for your desk-time, your utilization patterns change. Furthermore...there's the factor of intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivators. Extrinsic motivators, like providing things for free, or other monetary (or otherwise token) incentives may work once. It may work a few times. Even several times. But odds are, if your goal is to charge money in order to sustain at some point, the "free-ness" will have to go away at some point. And then expectations need to change and you've taken a technical problem (cashflow) and made it a social problem (commitment). Free is an extrinsic motivator. Community is an intrinsic motivator. Intrinsic motivators are the ultimate in sustainability. They're harder to provide initially because you have to figure out what they are, but we think it's worth it in the long run. -Alex, IndyHall -- ----- -- ----- Alex Hillman im always developing something digital: [email protected] helpful: www.unstick.me visual: www.dangerouslyawesome.com local: www.indyhall.org On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 9:57 AM, felicity at cubes < [email protected]> wrote: > > Interesting...Fridays are busy for us but when we do free days, > we seem to have less people not more people come. Apparently, > cost not such the issue in our area. People come when they want to > and > need to, so for us member schedule seems to be the drive. > > > Thanks for sharing...all good information. > > All the best, > Felicity > Founder > Cubes&Crayons > > www.cubesandcrayons.com > cubes.typepad.com/blog > > > On Apr 2, 2:34 pm, HeatherO <[email protected]> wrote: > > how funny! Friday is our slowest day and it's free! we have had NO one > come > > in for that. We do "insider workday weds" for the folks > atwww.inside919.comsothat is our busiest day. yesterday was the first > > we've had where folks > > actually worked! (first few times everyone was just networking. had fewer > > people yesterday) it was very cool! > > > > At Your Service, > > > > Heather O' > > > > Heather O'Sullivan Canney, CGG (Chief Go-Giver) > > Heather O Inc.http://www.HeatherO.com<http://www.heathero.com> > > Soco Studiohttp://www.SocoStudio.biz<http://www.socostudio.biz> > > 104-B N. Salem St. > > Apex, NC 27502 > > Soco Studio: 919-387-0408 > > Direct (cell): 919-427-7770 > > Google Talk: goheathero > > Contact Me: Linkedin <%20%20http://www.linkedin.com/in/heathero%20%20> > > Facebook <http://profile.to/heathero/>Flickr< > http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatheroapex/> > > Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/HeatherO>Youtube< > http://www.youtube.com/user/heatheroapex> > > Plaxo <http://heathero.myplaxo.com> > > > > --- @ WiseStamp Signature. <http://www.wisestamp.com> Get it > > now<http://www.wisestamp.com> > > > > On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Steven Heath <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 6:22 AM, Mike Pihlman < > [email protected]>wrote: > > > > >> It is nice to have a goal....10 seems very achievable. Thanks for > this ! > > > > >> Two questions: > > > > >> 1. Is there one day of the week that you all find is busier than the > > >> others? > > >> 2. Have you ever run out of "seats" on a busy day? > > > > >> Friday is our busiest day. We have come close to running out of desks > only > > > once (and it was a Friday :-) > > > > > -- > > > Steven Heath > > > Director, Foxbane Consulting > > > Founder, AltSpace > > > Cell: +64 21 706-067 > > >www.foxbane.co.nz > > > Suite 607 > > > 29 Brandon St > > > Wellington > > > > > AltSpace.co.nz - Shared office space in Wellington for home based > workers, > > > freelancers, or nimble companies > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
