The Amazing Power of FREE
By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved

Do you want something for FREE?  Of course you do. We all do.  This is why FREE, is the second most powerful word in advertising and marketing. Using FREE, to promote your products or services will immediately increase your sales. Period!  

Using the word FREE in your newsletter, marketing materials, or on your Web site will increase your sales almost overnight.  First, take a look at what you offer customers now and see what you can give them for FREE. Next, make sure they know about it. 

Example:
On my Website www.salesandmarketingsuccess.com I offer a FREE downloadable chapter of my book.  Once people read it they love the concept and most of the time - order the book plus tapes and more.  When I kicked off my new Power Marketing membership, I offered the subscribers of my newsletter a free test drive audio presentation.  Within 30 days the interest to my membership grew and I had created another stream of successful income. 

It is easy for business owners to give a way a FREE gift with purchase. Most businesses can purchase gift items at wholesale or create their own special gift certificate.  If you are purchasing at item at wholesale you can offer the value at full retail creating a higher perceived value to your customer. A gift certificate can also create a higher perceived value when the marketing message is well crafted.  Along with giving away the FREE gift with purchase, you may also want to add the element of SURPRISE. This works best when you put a FREE gift in the customer's bag as you are thanking them for their business at the check out counter, or by offering an additional FREE service with their next visit, FREE estimate and/or consultation.  Anything that gets creates an element of surprise is effective – always give your customers more than they expect.  This is magical and bonds the customer to your business for life! 

If you have a Web site include your FREE offer link on each page of your site.  If you have a physical location along with your Web site you could get the customer to take action by asking them to complete a form online at bring it in the store or office to receive their FREE gift, contest offer or service.  People will swarm to your information form and give you their name, address and email.  You will receive more contacts, make connections and ultimately get more business.

If you have a mailing list with people who have already expressed interest, or customers from the past, send them an announcement by mail or email and tell them what you offer for FREE to get them back in the door.  Don't be cheap - giving things away is an inexpensive marketing tool and a great way to advertise plus connect with existing, prospective and long lost customers. To get those LOST customers back into your door, make them an offer they can't refuse.  Anyone can take out an ad, but few companies get the concept of giving things away for FREE.

Another great example:
Earlier this month, one of my favorite clothing stores called to tell me about some new shoes they got in that they thought I would like. I really did not need the shoes but felt somewhat compelled to stop by.  Oh well, I was going to be in the area anyway - I'll just stop by to LOOK.  Not only did I buy the shoes - they gave me a FREE gift of breath mints in a fancy box at check out.  That WOWED me - that is what you have to do to keep your customers coming back and to keep them talking about your business.  This storeowner was smart because she knew those breath mints were going in my purse. What do you do when you take breath mints out of your purse or pocket?  You offer them to someone else.  Now every time someone says, 'Where did you get that cool box or mints or these are good where did you get them?’ it opens up the conversation to talk about this great clothing store and their FREE surprise gifts.   

Because most businesses base their income almost solely on advertising, rather than deriving it from their user base, outside cutbacks have forced many of the FREE offers to stop. This is another very good reason for you to make the offer and stand out from your competition. 

If you have a VIP membership or special club in your business, why not offer a FREE trial to get more of your customers to join to achieve the level of status they need to keep the membership bonuses coming. 

Consider this: If your up front cost is more than you can afford for the FREE gift or service, consider packaging it differently.

Regardless of your strategy for giving something away for FREE, do not overlook the POWER. Examine your counter display, your Web site, your marketing materials, yellow page ad, your search engine listing, your advertising or any other place where you promote your retail business.

Give the power of FREE a try and track the amazing business results!  

Word count 877

Bio: Debbie Allen is one of the world’s leading authorities on sales and marketing.  She is the author of five books including Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters and Skyrocketing Sales.  Debbie has helped thousands of people around the world attract customers like crazy with her innovative, no-cost marketing strategies and secrets to sales success.  Her expertise has been featured in Entrepreneur, Selling Power and Sales & Marketing Excellence.  Sign up for her FREE 6-week e-Course Business Success Secrets Revealed ($97 value) and take the online business card quiz to rate your marketing online now at www.DebbieAllen.com.