A key lesson I learned in my early marketing training was to offer people an opportunity to try your products and services.
By giving them a free sample of your service or product, they get to sample ‘a little bit of you’ without the pressure of buying from you.
In this blog, I outline some tips on how to give people a taste of your business before they buy. It is amazing how people surrender to curiosity about what you do when the pay wall is initially removed.
Be generous in developing new and innovative ways in which people can sample your products or services.
Many business owners struggle with this concept, feeling that they are losing money by giving away free products or services.
Let’s expand on this concept and see where it takes us.
Products
If you sell products, think about how people can sample your wares.
Think sample packs of cosmetics at Fashion Show.
Think showbags with sample products at Trade Expo.
Think putting a new product with an existing product order as a thank you.
Think Tesla offering a regular free invitation only Test Drive Day for their sales agents.
Think mail out sample packs.
Think gifting to Charities.
Think free first coffee on a coffee card.
Think free pizza by signing up to their VIP Club.
All of these initiatives put your products in the hands of a potential customer.
They get to experience your product, maybe for the first time.
Services
If you sell services, think about how people can experience you, your team and your service offering.
Think free first meeting at no cost or obligation.
Think free book.
Think free ‘How to Guide’ around your expertise.
Think free blog or newsletter containing tips or valuable resources.
Think free first session when you sign up for the program.
Think free review of an individual’s current affairs on a cost and benefit basis.
The Principle of Reciprocity
When people get a product or service from you for free, they feel they want to give you something back in exchange.
But be careful here.
You are not offering the sample of your products or services with an absolute expectation of a quid pro quo sale or financial transaction.
You are offering a taste of what you produce without expectation.
Done well, this approach sees you expecting nothing more than a person to enjoy your sample.
Of course, if an individual then wishes to learn more or makes a sales enquiry, then you follow up.
I encourage you to think deeply about how you can allow people to taste your products and services.
Be daring.
Be generous but not reckless.
Share.
Trial different low-cost strategies.
Pique the curiosity of your target market.
Appeal to their taste.
Your generosity will come back to you.
And you may just meet your next raving fan or biggest customer.
I write blogs & videos just like this one on business, productivity and human development. If you'd like it delivered straight to your inbox head to https://darrenkbourke.com/the-fourth-moon-blog and let me know your email.
Email me at darren@darrenkbourke.com to schedule a meeting (at no cost or obligation) to discuss how I can help you, your business and your team this year.