I have been asked a lot recently "Why is IGLOO Software offering free online communities?" and "What's the catch?"

My thinking behind free online business communities is quite simple:

1. Customers want to "try before they buy" when looking for a software solution
2. We want to showcase to the market that IGLOO Software is a great social software business alternative to Microsoft SharePoint, Lotus Connections or Jive Software
3. Many small vendors like IGLOO Software do not get a fair shake from some of the industry analysts when doing product and market reviews - with our free version, you can review it yourself
4. Market Awareness - we believe we have a great social software suite and our free version removes any barriers to just trying it out 
5. There are many small organizations that can benefit significantly from our solutions, but cannot afford it - now they can
6. Transparency - we have nothing to hide - anyone, anywhere can check out our solutions today - no pressure, no gimmicks

So, What's the Catch?

What you see... is what you get. It's free, forever. Of course there are some restrictions - such as bandwidth, data storage and service level guarantees. We are totally upfront on what you're getting and what you're not. We don't bombard you with online ads, or turn off functionality or keep your data. It is our belief, that if you like the offering, you will upgrade to a more robust product edition or buy additional services from IGLOO Software. But, we don't pressure you to do so.

As a new CEO, I believe this is the new way of doing business - open, honest and transparent.

Up next... our free online Community Playbook - a step-by-step guide for building successful online business communities.