Comments on: Thoughts on Paying for Services in the Online Running World: dailymile goes PRO

By: Heathergannoe

Heathergannoe — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I completely agree with everything you have said, and I don't fault Ben and Kelly at all for this decision. Heck, they deserve to make some $$ off of the site , they do put a lot of time into it.

That said, I will admit, the "pro support" is what rubbed me the wrong way. Extra features for an added fee? Absolutely. I get it. Tons of sites do that. But essentially saying those that have technical questions or need support will be put at the bottom of the list below all of those who do pay up...I don't know, it just didn't set well with me.

Anyway, that's just my honest gut reaction and opinion. I love dailymile and have promoted it to the moon and back in this great world wide web. And in the future when I have an opportunity to donate (when I'm not such a broke-just-out-of-college kid) I absolutely will give back.

By: Pete Larson

Pete Larson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Jerry.

Jerry,

I believe the full release will be happening this week, so hopefully more
info will come.

Pete

By: Christopher Harris

Christopher Harris — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

How did I miss the pro option on the DM? Glad to hear about it and glad to go PRO. I love using the DM and am happy to pay less than a buck a week to get "added features."

By: Pete Larson

Pete Larson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Nick J..

Don't think they have this yet, not sure if it's planned.
Pete

By: Pedm55

Pedm55 — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pete,

Just a note of support and appreciation for your hard work and a job well done. This is my favorite running site and I recommend it to my friends. Your articles are well written, your studies thorough, and therefore your opinions (in my opinion) are well worth considering. In my case, I have followed your shoe reviews very carefully and purchased a few pair on your recommendation. And I am glad I did.
By the way, I have been running in the NB MT1010 for sometime and it is my favorite as well. And also purchased the Mizuno Wave Ronin after reading your review. I like that shoe also (when needing a little more padding over more miles). I most recently purchase the Saucony Pro-Grid Type A-4, for a lightweight, 5k speed shoe. Man! What a nice shoe.
But thanks Pete, for your hard work. It shows.
Paul

By: Jamie Anderson

Jamie Anderson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Good thoughts Pete. At first I, along with probably many others, was like "say whaaaaaa...?" with the Pro service, but you underscored a lot of the practical reasoning behind the offer. I'll probably "upgrade" to Pro this summer after my planned vacations are over and I see how much $$ I have left in the bank, and would do so more out of supporting the service they provide and not really for the added features. The donating suggestion by some is fine and all, but at least this way you get a little something additional back as a sort of thank you.

By: jgal

jgal — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

hi pete, i completely agree with your post here. i look at it this way... i used to pay €1000/year for a gym that gave me minimal results. it was un-motivating, intimidating and downright BORING at times. i joined dailymile last year and, since then, have completely changed my life. i've lost weight, started running, finished a triathlon, and am signed up for a marathon. how did i get on this path? by being inspired every single day by people on the same walk of life as me through dailymile. when i saw the pro option, it wasn't even about getting the extra features for me, it was about supporting a community i firmly believe in. if you took DM away from me, i would be wholly devastated. thanks for your insights, and i am glad you have benefited from DM like i have. :)

By: RunFasterDaddy

RunFasterDaddy — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Pete Larson.

I agree that dm targets a niche community, so it couldn't generate the revenue that facebook could, but then again, its costs are much lower too. Apparently from what Eoin posted on your dm page, his niche diving site successfuly paid for costs and capital improvements with a donation strategy.

PS - Glad to hear that you offered to donate.

By: elaine!

elaine! — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

DailyMile is a great site! I'm happy to hear that they'll start making some money. I think the added-benefits for added-cost route is almost always a good way to go, as long as core functions that you can get free elsewhere remain free (and it sounds like that's how DM is doing it). I probably won't upgrade, at least not for a while, but I do promote the heck out of DailyMile to friends and family who are embarking into running/cycling. :)

By: Stevelawshort

Stevelawshort — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am a huge fan of dailymile, and its model. I starting using it, like most people, to track my workouts. Unfortunately, I was inundated with friend requests. Keeping up with all of these new "friends" became a full time job. I have since, erased that account and started a new one. My point is, Dailymile doesn't pay me, to sit at my computer all day motivating people. So now I'm supposed to pay them, to be labeled a Pro? Part of me knew that this was inevitable, as I posted a dailymile note about starting a donations fundraiser for them last January. Now instead, there will be two classes of dailymilers.

By: briderdt

briderdt — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I've never used DailyMile, but I do log my workouts on BeginnerTriathlete. They have a similar tiered membership option, which is based on training plan and support availability. I have absolutely NO problems with this system -- most of the content is free, and if you want the extra features you pay for them. To say that those who want to pay (or can pay) should shoulder the load for those who don't, and make ALL the content available for free to every one is an extremely socialist idea. No good comes from it.

I say DM should do as they choose, it's a free market. Are the whiners going to abandon DM because the features they've been using are still free?

By: Nick J.

Nick J. — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I read the entire post, but not all the comments, so if this is mentioned, I am sorry. Do you know if they have a monthly membership rather than a yearly membership? I could pay it easier if it were $5 a month rather than $50 a year and would not mind the extra $10 it cost me. I looked on the site but either missed it, or it is not an option. Thanks!