Quick Answer
For search, voice, and "just tell me what to do".
Free content creates questions; paid products answer them. When people consume your free articles, videos, or posts, they naturally wonder 'but how exactly?' and 'what about my situation?' These questions are product opportunities. AI helps identify the questions your content generates and create products that provide complete answers. Free content becomes lead generation for paid depth.
Key Takeaways:
- Free content raises questions it doesn't fully answer
- Questions indicate demand for deeper products
- AI can identify question patterns from engagement data
- Paid products provide the complete answers
- Free-to-paid creates a natural customer journey
Playbook
Analyze comments and questions on free content
Identify patterns in what people want to know more about
Create products that comprehensively answer top questions
Reference free content to demonstrate paid value
Use free content to naturally lead to paid products
Common Pitfalls
- Giving away so much that nothing's left to sell
- Free content that doesn't create questions
- Paid products that don't deliver beyond free
- Missing the questions your content generates
Metrics to Track
Questions generated per piece of free content
Question-to-product conversion rate
Free content to paid product conversion rate
Customer satisfaction bridging free to paid
Revenue attributed to free content funnel
FAQ
How much should I give away free?
Enough to demonstrate expertise and create hunger for more. The 'what' and 'why' can be free; the 'how exactly' and 'for my situation' are paid.
What if people just want free content?
Some always will. Focus on the subset with real problems and resources to solve them. Free consumers can become paid customers over time.
How do I avoid cannibalizing paid products with free?
Free content should demonstrate value and create questions. Paid products should answer those questions completely. Different depths, not competing content.
Related Reading
Next: browse the hub or explore AI Operations.