Giving it away
Samples, trials, white papers, tip sheets, extended test drives, free consultations, free CD's .....
A lot of businesses use freebies as a way of enticing new customers and clients, but what exactly should you give away?
Seth Godin raises an interesting point in his blog. If you decide to give a sample of your product or service away should you give away your best stuff or something less than?
Afterall, your best stuff is what you make your money from. Give away all your best ideas for free and there's no reason for people to part with their cash. But then again, if you don't, you run the risk of not impressing in the way you could.
It seems a concern until you realise that consumers - both business and individuals - are hardly short of choices these days. If they aren't impressed with what you have they can simple Google another firm, cross the road to the next shop or check the Yellow Pages for another supplier.
Free samples of whatever you do are simply an incentive to get people to pay attention to what you've got to offer - and you decide what you do with that attention. Of course there'll always be people who take their freebies and go merrily on their way but if you put your best foot forward the ones who stay around can become customers for life.
A lot of businesses use freebies as a way of enticing new customers and clients, but what exactly should you give away?
Seth Godin raises an interesting point in his blog. If you decide to give a sample of your product or service away should you give away your best stuff or something less than?
Afterall, your best stuff is what you make your money from. Give away all your best ideas for free and there's no reason for people to part with their cash. But then again, if you don't, you run the risk of not impressing in the way you could.
It seems a concern until you realise that consumers - both business and individuals - are hardly short of choices these days. If they aren't impressed with what you have they can simple Google another firm, cross the road to the next shop or check the Yellow Pages for another supplier.
Free samples of whatever you do are simply an incentive to get people to pay attention to what you've got to offer - and you decide what you do with that attention. Of course there'll always be people who take their freebies and go merrily on their way but if you put your best foot forward the ones who stay around can become customers for life.
posted by Mark at Really Practical Marketing at 6:48 PM
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