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 freebie strategy is extremely powerful when the freebie is useful and of high quality. I give away a free report for people who sign up to my newsletter – nothing to buy, but this tactic certainly helps build my email list.
.-= Keller Hawthorne´s last blog ..It’s Been a Year Already – Where’s My Internet Business Success? =-.
hi Keller,
i totally agree.if the free chapter i read didn’t make any impact on me i would not have longed to read the book and would definitely not written this post.
thanks for dropping a comment.
Giving away a shorter version of a book that I was writing really paid off. It let me see if there was serious interest. It also allowed me to change and adjust the content based on the feedback I got. Now I have orders for a book that is still being proofread
Thanks for the idea. I have to use this strategy in one of my blog. I strongly believe it will work. Have a great time
.-= Jasson´s last blog ..Sole F80 Treadmill =-.
I love your blog
Very helpful post. Thanks for putting up this informative article. Great layout.
.-= digital bathroom scale´s last blog ..Escali Glass Platform Bathroom Scale =-.
this is absolutely a powerful way to run a business. i’m just starting with my internet marketing business and all i can say is that this is a wonderful idea. i’m now studying a lot of techniques on how to make money online and this will be a powerful way to build a list. thank you for this wonderful post.
.-= homemade windmill´s last blog ..How to Build a Windmill =-.
Thank you for the information you have posted. Great strategy to work out.
I really liked this post. Thanks for providing such useful info.
I will definitely put the information to good use.
Thanks for the idea. I have to use this strategy in one of my blog. I strongly believe it will work.
Yup! Everyone love free stuffs!
This is great stuff. Thanks.
Very helpful post
I downloaded the ebook as well. Very good information.
You are totally right, free gifts are a very powerful marketing instrument!
Always looking for free stuff. Plus combined with marketing ideas and they go a long way.
I have to use this strategy in one of my blog, thanks for idea.
it sure does work..thanks for dropping by
You actually goaded me into implementing an idea I’ve been ruminating over for a long time. One of my client happens to be a writer. He is written a lot of books. Currently, he is offering many titles for sale on the Internet. I’ve been think of setting up a list to give away one of the books that I judged to be high interest to readers as a way to increase the number of buyers. Now I have to do it.
hey Andrew…offering stuff for free is a great way for people to see what your product or service is made of before they can part with their money.This techique works for great products and will usually work negatively for bad products and services.
“free” runs the economy of the internet.
I am agree with this :
“Just from reading a free chapter I now desperately wanted to read the whole book. I wanted to finish the book. I was hooked.”
It’s a smart marketing move from ebook seller.
thanks for inspiring me.
I have to use this strategy in one of my blog, thanks for idea.
Remember just about all the successful sites of our time have started as a FREE service and monetized at a later date.
Exactly Mark…free makes one easily test and see the value of a service before paying for it