Why Giving Away Free Samples Can Boost Your Sales

Offering your product for free is among the most effective ways to attract new customers. Absolutely free. Even though it could appear counterintuitive, distributing your product is better than selling it at a discount.

I'd like to talk about the advantages of offering your product, how you do it effectively and the story of how a free product sample changed this copywriter's attitude from an uninterested consumer to a loyal customer.

A networking breakfast was one I attended recently. There were hundreds of women working in business. Every seat was a bag of goodies and the bag was filled with free samples and flyers.

One of the products was a moisturiser. It was not just a sachet and the standard size. Even though I have numerous skincare products that I like, I was not in the "purchase zone". But who wouldn't like a freebie? I decided to give it a go and after using it for about six weeks, I was a convert. It was amazing , and I went online to find ways to buy it. It was a regular experience for many women in the room.

You want your target market to test your product, so they'll purchase your product. A free sample increases the incentive to purchase and lowers the risk of purchase. It's a no lose situation for the buyer and might turn into a big gain for you.

Benefits of giving away free product samples

Brand recognition can be increased by getting your brand in front of buyers who might never have heard of you

Potential for conversion to increase, by allowing a trial to hopefully turn ambivalence into loyalty

Get more traffic through access stages such as like our page, come in store, call our store, etc.

Make a list of your requirements, especially when you need to engage in the course of your process.

Increase your visibility as a subject matter or industry expert

There are numerous ways to give away sample products for free.

Include your free sample in a goodie bag or distribute it at an event.

You can offer your free product as a reward, giving it away in conjunction with a complimentary* product

Give your product for free as a reward in exchange for a particular action, like subscribing to your newsletter or going to your store

Send your sample free of cost to the most influential people within your targeted market. ask them to test the product.

The decision of whether to offer samples of products for free is a matter of numbers and you need to be confident you'll get the value you paid for. It is essential to ensure that you will get a profit on investment.

A sample of the product is provided to ensure that your target market or the product/process you're complementing is compatible with your target market. This might seem obvious but it's very important to ensure your market is part of the right demographics.

You include enough of your product to be useful. It's important to keep costs low however you don't want your product to become a scrooge.

The recipient knows how to make use of your product. If the instructions aren't clear, include instructions.

Take the next step as effortless with a discount or instructions on where to buy.

Don't have a physical product? Then give away a free analysis or consultation or make it digital by offering the form of an ebook, video or even an interview which showcases your expertise. Be creative in your offer.