{"id":15766,"date":"2017-06-26T11:58:55","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T16:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=15766"},"modified":"2017-06-26T12:07:55","modified_gmt":"2017-06-26T17:07:55","slug":"promote-online-shop-free-items","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/promote-online-shop-free-items\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Promote Your Online Shop with Free Items?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Promote<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve looked at the importance of competing on value rather than price<\/a>, and now here comes a seemingly counterintuitive idea: giving your customers stuff for free.<\/p>\n

Should you try this promotion tactic? Maybe.<\/p>\n

Exactly what to hand out and how to do it will vary based on your goals and what you sell. In another post, we covered freebie options for service providers and B2B businesses<\/a>. Right now, let\u2019s look at some common freebie tactics for online retailers to see whether they\u2019re right for you, and how to use them wisely.<\/p>\n

\"HostGator<\/a><\/p>\n

Email list signup giveaways<\/h2>\n

Offering people a free item in exchange for joining an email list is a tradition as old as e-commerce. Most advice on list-signup freebies focuses on information products like special reports, but retailers can use freebies to build a list, too. The best-known retail example is Bed Bath & Beyond\u2019s instant 48-hour, 20% coupon<\/a> for new list members. If you run a stationery, organization or craft store online, you can offer free printable downloads in exchange for joining your email list. And yes, retailers can offer free information, too. If you sell homemade, allergen-free dog treats, you might write a list of tips for helping dogs with allergies thrive. Format it for easy printing and be sure to include your business name and logo.<\/p>\n

In-store freebies<\/h2>\n

Costco knows how to leverage freebies. Shoppers join to buy food in bulk but they get surprisingly excited about the tiny cups of free food and drinks on offer. If you have a physical store or vend at fairs, think about small items you could offer for free to get new customers to try your products or treat repeat customers to a token of appreciation. You may have to make your samples 'first-come first-serve'\u009d or 'the first 50 shoppers'\u009d so you don\u2019t unbalance your budget, and be sure to promote your giveaways in advance and in real time on social media for the most mileage. Also, limit in-store freebies to times when you have something new to promote, so you don\u2019t have people coming around all the time for free stuff without ever making a purchase.<\/p>\n

Bonus items with purchases<\/h2>\n

Free extras with purchases are an easy way to get your existing customers to try new products. This is actually how the grocery delivery service I use got my entire family hooked on Coke Life; free samples kept arriving with our orders and now we buy some every week. Online beauty retailers like Sephora and Paula\u2019s Choice do something similar by letting shoppers choose their freebies from a menu during the checkout process.<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”Free extras with purchases are an easy way to get your existing customers to try new products.” username=”hostgator”]<\/p>\n

Swag bags, silent auctions and door prizes<\/h2>\n

Whether it\u2019s a PTA fundraiser or the Oscars, it\u2019s not an event without swag bags. These goodie bags, along with silent auction items and door prizes, are typically contributed by local businesses at the request of volunteers. If a group asks you to contribute your merchandise, take these steps to make sure your donation benefits your business as well as their event.<\/p>\n