Dave Hendricks writes on min online, yes, but it is not new for publishers and they need to balance the 'virtue of giving things away' in exchange for 'a (defined) revenue stream down the road' ...
On his list how to leverage the “free” deal:
Provide free access to your archives
(even a small number of visitors you can convert to subscribers / buying something / more down the road - will pay)
Open up your Webinars to qualified attendees at no cost
(your advertisers / sponsors will pay more for qualified leads, than you can possibly charge)
Send out emails that have links to premium content
(and find advertisers / sponsors)
Employ the services of Guest Bloggers and contributors
(to expensive to hire, not on your payroll)
via / more at min online
Actually I think, there is much more than the 'free deal' you should think about. If your user / reader is on the line (your line) and you listen carefully, you find out what services and utilities they need, they want and they are willing to pay you for.
Interesting read:
The price of freedom
Gerd Leonhard explains why ‘free’ content can pay in the long term
