My Experience with Free Information

A few days ago, I went to Guy Kawasaki’s website/blog. After reading his blog post, I went to his books category where download links to PDF documents and audios of parts of some of his books were displayed.

I downloaded the first chapter of his book, The Art of the Start.

I had heard and seen the book on Amazon but did not really bother looking it up.

To cut the long story short I read it and immediately fell in love with the book.

Just from reading a free chapter I now desperately wanted to read the whole book. I wanted to finish the book. I was hooked.

If I had not read the free chapter I doubt if I would have really bothered much with reading the book. A free sample exposed me to some of the ideas in the book, now I wanted to get them all.

Explanation

This marketing concept is not new, many marketers and bloggers are already using it. They give free samples, free information or free videos to educate, entice you and expose you to the ideas they have. After the exposure you become hooked on buying whatever product or service they offer.

It works. It really does and is what happened to me.

The question is do you use it.

And the truth is it can be used for almost everything online. It can be used for product launch, list building or launching a web service.

It was even used offline before the internet went crazy and people started building assets in the clouds.

When you used a sample perfume on Cosmo, you were testing the product and were getting exposed to the idea of the product.

Conclusion

If you are already using this strategy, then this post is just a reminder, if you are not using it, then you are neglecting a very effective marketing strategy.

Here is the most important point and lesson made in this blog post.

“Let people (especially your would-be customers) try the product or service you are offering, for free “, When they get exposed to the idea and love it, they will become hooked and eventually bring you business.

what do you think?Your replies please.

The internet and most of the world went crazy after Steve Jobs announced the arrival of the new baby in the ‘I’ family, the IPAD.

Before his announcement there were lots of talk about the ‘’new toy’’.

This talk has continued and has been a trending topic on the social web.

 Among the questions has been this big one,

             WILL THE IPAD ROCK OR SUCK?

To very frank with you, I DON’T KNOW. I AM NOT A MAGICIAN; I can’t see the future but from all indications, the ‘’IPAD’’ will likely Rock than Suck.

I have some cool reasons.

1. BUZZ

     Not too long after the launch, lots of funny innuendos and all forms of funny videos about the word “Pad” in the name “IPAd” (the word ‘’PAD’’ in ‘’IPAD’’ reminded ladies of the sanitary towels) started making the rounds.

This created a lot of buzz about the product. It was even featured on CNN because of this.

The funny videos on YouTube and other video websites went viral.

Because of all these, the noise and idea of “IPAD” has circled the internet. This has got a lot of people talking about it. Blogs, news and technology web sites have all talked about it.

Odds are you have heard about it too. (If you hadn’t, now you have)

This will have one BAD consequence…Awareness and Buzz

And the one, big bad thing these two will bring to APPLE is ….SALES…Mad Sales

2. Success Of The IPhone

The IPhone has sold over 30 million units and counting. The success of the IPhone will definitely rub off indirectly and directly on the sales of the IPad.

3. Class Statement

When the IPhone was launched some years ago, I watched (some videos on CNN) how people waited in long queues to buy one. (It felt like they were queuing for food in a refugee camp)

When the finally bought one, the came out brandishing it for the world to see. The IPhone became an object for making a statement. An object to define ones class.

The IPad will likely follow suit, people will buy it to make a statement.

4. Souvenir and Loyalty

The “IPad” is the new baby in the “I” family. Many loyal owners and customers of Apple own IMacs, IPhones and will now likely add the IPad to their collection.

The “IPad” will just be a souvenir to complete the family.

5. It Is New /Different

A lot of people are motivated by the word new. A new and different thing usually fascinates us. The”IPad” is new and very different. It will surely catch our attention.

A friend describes it as “An oversized IPhone with the features of a Laptop”.

CONCLUSION

The IPad Will Rock in Sales. Apple will win again.

Have you gotten yours yet, are you still planning to?

Tell us what you think about the IPad.

For me I can only watch, read, write about it and add it to my wish list. I am too far from the action.