Do you value something given for FREE?

The word FREE is the most attractive word in human history and the most undervalued word too. If you do not understand, let me explain to you with an analogy.

This will definitely make sense to you and you might think a little different when you hear the word free next time.

When I started The Vedic Maths online with the "Vedic Maths Tricks course", I made it free and ran some paid ads, out of which 1000+ students enrolled within a couple of weeks. However, out of 1000 students hardly 3% valued the material or completed.

It's been a year now, and till date the percentage remains the same. It's because the user got it for free and they don't know the value. However, one will need anything given for free irrespective if the product/ service will be of any use to them.

The funniest part is when I call them to check on course completion, they don't even remember purchasing the course for free. Its because, the product/ service is given for free.

Since then, I do not sell any courses for free until it's a bundle offer which makes the user pay something in order to get something.

I also noticed another problem which is lifetime access. When I talk to customers who've paid for the courses, they for sure remember purchasing, but there are reasons for them not to complete the course.

Reasons will be like:

No time/ busy

I forgot after completing few chapters

Busy with exams

Traveling on vacation etc..

So here is what I am thinking, should I restrict course access with time duration for all the future courses? Doing so will increase in course completion percentage and the users will get the most out of the course which is important.

Everyone has 24 hours in a day, and 365 days a year. It's all about prioritizing what you want. If priority character doesn't come by nature then there should be an external force to get it done.

Please reply to me back to this email/ comment below for the following 2 questions.

1. Have you completed the course purchased?

2. Should I restrict course access with time duration for all future courses?