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The internet has brought amazing changes to our lives. We can send emails (for free), we can phone around the world (for free), we can meet partners (for free) and we can get software (for free). In fact the so-called “web 2.0 phenomenon” has created a culture where people expect free software.

Very few software is 100% free with little or no revenue potential for the vendor. Almost every service I can think of (ie, ZoneAlarm, Skype etc) that’s famous for its free products has a paid product too. But why wouldn’t they? They’re businesses, with investors. Most web-based software requires at least some kind of registration to get started using the product and although that can sometimes be annoying it’s often for a greater good.

Personally I want to jump straight into using the software; putting in even a few lines of personal info is just annoying. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the easier it is to get started using a product, the more likely someone is to continue through the process. Ideally the first sign-up page should require the bare minimum of information to kick-off and putting in more information should be optional (maybe there could be a reward!).

I received an email from PayPal today. I don’t consider it spam because it was relevant to what I was doing. You see, I have never had a PayPal account and last week I went to sign up. Unfortunately I got half way through and something came up, preventing me from finishing the registration. I totally forgot about it! This morning I received an email from PayPal, reminding me to complete my registration. I thought that was great!

I just wonder how this unobtrusive registration method could work to allow people to complete their 2Large2Email details at their convenience. It’s all about making it easy for the consumer, right?