Good morning Michael. AR is still a business and one that should also focus on making a profit. It was a benefit for me, otherwise I wouldn't have paid the fee.

Make it a great weekend!

No, maybe less expensive to encourage more newbies but not free until that magical milestone is hit.

It should not be free, i started by paying and then EARNED my way to a free account by being active. In the past in life in the USA, you were rewarded for hard work. Although this administration likes to punish those of us who work hard, work long hours, sacrifice to build a business, they go and reward those who dont , Active rain still rewards those who work hard to reach 100,000 milestones with discounts and a free account at 500,000.

ActiveRain as a business needs to be profitable. I hope the new ownership will find some new ways to generate income.

Additional active members may make the platform more interesting for advertisers. Something needs to be done about the high percentage of the currently inactive members.

It's a business.  You get what you pay for.

No I do not believe they all need to be free.  Pay until you are engrained at 500,000 points which is not that hard to do.

I don't believe that. I believe you should have some skin in the game. And working towards a free account is not all bad.

I agree w/ other responses and that this is a business/they need to have a way to make money and I like that you can move up to free membership.

I'll add that often when something is free, people value it less and lose it less.  Yes, for sure offer some free trial months (e.g. 2 months) to get people hooked/demonstrate the value of AR.

There is an old saying you get what you pay for.

Michael,

No, I don't think it is keeping people from signing on.  One can earn their way to a free account, why not take a chance instead of buying leads to the tune of anywhere from 100 dollars a month to $1000?

Not free, I like the milestone to get to free, that is fair for those working actively on the site.

It's a business and AR has to monetize to operate, but many web-based business offer incentives periodically--that's how I see my grandfathered free account. If past clients hired me again, I'd offer some kind of incentive, but I can't stay in real estate or any business without getting paid.

But if Kinney reaches Zuckerberg's economic status, he should offer free service for all. :)

Should it be FREE!

I am not to keen on the idea of allowing others to determine what "I" should provide free. How about you and your business?

To increase membership and participation REAL BENEFIT needs to be apparent. When there are benefits, results, outcomes and solutions, folks will lay down their money.......just as it should be.

Michael Thornton - As far as I am concerned, I am fine if I had to pay!

You may be surprised that if one works hard, one can reach 500,000 points in a year (or less) and that would cost them about $149/year or so. Then reap the benefits for lifetime! Nothing can be better than that!

I have seen the value in being a member of ActiveRain.

What I learn here, I would never have learned it anywhere elses.

Not to mention about the friends I made here!

those who don't want to pay $20/month don't want to use the platform....why have extra baggage here!!!

Michael Thornton I can't really say one way ot the other. When I joined ActiveRain, the accounts were free.

Hi Michael, of course!  Everything should be free.. don't you think?

The government and individuals whom have no money invested in a business should not have the right to say.

If it takes advertising oe whatever to keep costs down so be it.

If I had to pay the site has value in many respects.