"FREE" is still one of the strongest words in sales and marketing, even today where so many things seem to be offered for free.
Couple free with the concept of a bonus and you have a *guaranteed* method of spiking sales, regardless of your profession or business.
Never have I offered a free bonus in one of my sales letters or emails and it didn't cause sales to jump. How can I tell? Because I typically test my offers using what is called an A/B test (but that's a discussion for another time).
Renowned marketer Ted Nicholas, who passed away only recently, said:
"Including valuable free bonuses and gifts within your offers can have a remarkable effect on increasing sales. No other strategy is as powerful in creating sales than building greater value for your products. Free gifts can also be effectively used as surprise, unadvertised bonuses in your outgoing shipments.
Tip 1: While bonuses do not have to be expensive, to be effective they must be of good quality. Otherwise, if your free gifts are cheap looking, junky and don't work ,as are far too many sent by direct marketers, your efforts will have a negative result. You will turn off your customers forever."
"But In My Business, I Can't Give Free Bonuses," You Might Say
Almost any business can use the free bonus strategy:
CAVEAT: PLEASE MAKE SURE THESE EXAMPLES DO NOT VIOLATE YOUR PROFESSION'S RULES OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS:
1. A realtor can offer new clients an outdoor grill or an intro level drone.
2. A mortgage broker can offer a free bonus like a nice dinner for two or four people.
3. A lawyer can offer new clients a new updated simple will or a review of their current one.
4. A financial planner can offer new clients a basic tablet as a free bonus.
5. A doctor can offer new patients an opportunity to win a smart watch in a monthly drawing.
I can go on and on...
The idea is to be creative and offer something the customer/client/patient will really value. Again, make sure you don't violate any rules of ethics.
Not only will this help increase your sales, but it can also increase your referrals as word of mouth advertising and social media posts will likely follow.
Give it a try!
