TEMPLATE #10 OF 111TrustOpinion

The price of the free thing Template

Doing the maths in public is a credibility move, and the honest "when it is right" section disarms the cynics.

Goal: Trust
Format: Opinion
Fill-in boxes for every blank
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Select an opening angle that fits your personal story:

Fill in the blanks (0/9)

Free or cheap optionHidden costZero or lowCost in timeCost in qualityCost in riskContextComparison with numbersHonest scenario

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Pro Tip: Strong opinions polarize in a healthy way: they repel tire-kickers and deeply attract your dream clients who were waiting for someone to say it out loud.

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Founder & Consultant • LinkedIn GrowthJust now • Edited •

[Free or cheap option] is not free.

You pay for it in [hidden cost].▲ Hook sits above the fold (~210 chars)▼ Below expands on “...see more”
The sticker price: [zero or low].

The real bill:
• [cost in time]
• [cost in quality]
• [cost in risk]

I ran it both ways on [context]: [comparison with numbers].

When the free option is right: [honest scenario].
When it is not: [honest scenario].

Most people never do this arithmetic.

Where have you paid the hidden bill?

👍 Like💬 Comment🔄 Repost📤 Send

Showing full post: every word is crisp, dark, and copy-ready. The divider shows where LinkedIn folds the feed.

Template Playbook

How to write a killer The price of the free thing post

Designed to demonstrate deep domain competence, authenticity, and empathy so lurkers convert to followers.

✓ What works on LinkedIn

Back up your contrarian claim with a specific example, date, or metric
Concede the bit the other side gets right — it shows intellectual honesty
Write in plain, spoken English without hiding behind buzzwords
End with an open question that genuinely invites pushback

✕ Mistakes to avoid

Do not ragebait or post hot takes just for shock value without substance
Do not attack specific individuals or competitors by name
Do not hedge so much that your actual point disappears
Do not leave the comments unattended during the first 60 minutes

When to use this template

When industry consensus is giving bad, outdated, or lazy advice
When you have observed a clear pattern over years of client work
When you want to attract clients who think like you and repel bad-fit leads
When you want healthy, high-intent discussion in the comments

Topics & Tags:#tradeoff #cost #analysis