4 ms·

Seriously? I'm not sure I could take anyone seriously that tried to sell me a link of "value." Why not just share the link for free like people have been doing

by evoltix 16y ago

Seriously? I'm not sure I could take anyone seriously that tried to sell me a link of "value." Why not just share the link for free like people have been doing since the beginning of time? Don't get me wrong. You did a great job getting this rolled out over a weekend and it looks nice. I must need some enlightening because I really don't get it.

sahillavingia 16y ago
I think there are some links that do have value. For example, if I wanted to release a new web app to my Twitter followers but wanted some sort of barrier (without having to set it all up myself) - I would use Gumroad. If I had a bunch of files laying around my FTP that I never sold and would like to sell off for $5 a pop without the overhead of creating a store - I would use Gumroad. Does that make it any better in your mind?
- evoltix 16y ago
  This makes more sense to me now and I see the potential. Perhaps you should put this example on your website to make it a little more clear.
  - sahillavingia 16y ago
    I definitely will. Thanks for bearing with my crappy copy. It'll get better :)
jeffclark 16y ago
Imagine you have a Fireworks iPhone mockup template. Instead of setting up a store somewhere to list your ONE item, you put the template up on your website and link to it through gumroad. Then, you give out the Gumroad link on Twitter: "Need a sweet Fireworks iPhone UI template? Buy it for a buck: gumroad.url" Your twatting friends click it, give you a dollar, get redirected to your website. They download the template, you get a dollar - all in like 2 minutes while your oatmeal was cooking.
- evoltix 16y ago
  Good example. Makes more sense to me now. :)
- aw3c2 16y ago
  And 2 minutes later the "secret" link is shared on Twitter.
  - kmfrk 16y ago
    Yeah, I'm not sure I understand that part either. If this really is possible, you'd have to create a user who is somehow whitelisted to get the linked item in question.
  - sahillavingia 16y ago
    I think people who use Gumroad won't really have that as a concern - but if enough people bring it up, I'll see what I can do about it!
    - JoachimSchipper 16y ago
      For many of the things that people might want to do, a "patronage" model isn't so bad either: the creator demands $1000 for the work behind the link; people can leave an e-mail address and pay anything from $1 to the full remaining price, and will be notified as soon as the work is available.
      - cyanbane 16y ago
        I think this has tons of value, almost like a mini-kickstarter without the need to advertise for a kick for communities of people (forums, etc) who want new features or some kind of quick bit of work done.
    - Geee 16y ago
      Disable direct links and proxy the content, that way you can create unique URIs for every buyer. Then you can do all sorts of things like add a watermark on the content page containing the credit card number of the buyer or just add expiration time to the links. That'll limit sharing somewhat, although I don't think it's a huge problem.
gavinballard 16y ago
What's being sold isn't the "link" but ability to access what it points to - an image, a blog post, etc. I think it's a great idea with oodles of potential - a link-based mini-paywall :).
mapster 16y ago
Why not act as a download middleman so the buyer gets a download now button, and the link to the originator is not shown?

by evoltix 16y ago

sahillavingia 16y ago

I think there are some links that do have value. For example, if I wanted to release a new web app to my Twitter followers but wanted some sort of barrier (without having to set it all up myself) - I would use Gumroad. If I had a bunch of files laying around my FTP that I never sold and would like to sell off for $5 a pop without the overhead of creating a store - I would use Gumroad. Does that make it any better in your mind?

evoltix 16y ago
This makes more sense to me now and I see the potential. Perhaps you should put this example on your website to make it a little more clear.
- sahillavingia 16y ago
  I definitely will. Thanks for bearing with my crappy copy. It'll get better :)

jeffclark 16y ago

Imagine you have a Fireworks iPhone mockup template. Instead of setting up a store somewhere to list your ONE item, you put the template up on your website and link to it through gumroad. Then, you give out the Gumroad link on Twitter: "Need a sweet Fireworks iPhone UI template? Buy it for a buck: gumroad.url" Your twatting friends click it, give you a dollar, get redirected to your website. They download the template, you get a dollar - all in like 2 minutes while your oatmeal was cooking.

evoltix 16y ago
Good example. Makes more sense to me now. :)
aw3c2 16y ago
And 2 minutes later the "secret" link is shared on Twitter.
- kmfrk 16y ago
  Yeah, I'm not sure I understand that part either. If this really is possible, you'd have to create a user who is somehow whitelisted to get the linked item in question.
- sahillavingia 16y ago
  I think people who use Gumroad won't really have that as a concern - but if enough people bring it up, I'll see what I can do about it!
  - JoachimSchipper 16y ago
    For many of the things that people might want to do, a "patronage" model isn't so bad either: the creator demands $1000 for the work behind the link; people can leave an e-mail address and pay anything from $1 to the full remaining price, and will be notified as soon as the work is available.
    - cyanbane 16y ago
      I think this has tons of value, almost like a mini-kickstarter without the need to advertise for a kick for communities of people (forums, etc) who want new features or some kind of quick bit of work done.
  - Geee 16y ago
    Disable direct links and proxy the content, that way you can create unique URIs for every buyer. Then you can do all sorts of things like add a watermark on the content page containing the credit card number of the buyer or just add expiration time to the links. That'll limit sharing somewhat, although I don't think it's a huge problem.

gavinballard 16y ago

What's being sold isn't the "link" but ability to access what it points to - an image, a blog post, etc. I think it's a great idea with oodles of potential - a link-based mini-paywall :).

mapster 16y ago

Why not act as a download middleman so the buyer gets a download now button, and the link to the originator is not shown?