Even if we don't pay for using sites and service, free isn't free. The price of free is advertising -- and there are very few instances where advertising doesn't make the product worse.
Marketing, advertising, organizing, planning will not get you through this business cycle; selling products and services is the critical make break point of every organization in today's economy.
Advertising, no matter how effective your jingle or offer, has to compete with shock media, doomsday reporting, the latest celebrity scandal, reality TV and TiVo.