7 Most Economical Ways To Give Away Stuff For Free

When customers shop online, they are not always interested in buying. Some just want to browse or look at the things available for sale. These shoppers are called “window shoppers”, a person who only looks, but does not buy. So how do you convert these window shoppers to someone shopping for real at your web store? The answer is easy. Give away free stuff to your customers so that he will be more encouraged to make the purchase. It doesn’t matter how small the free stuff seems like to you. In your customer’s mind, anything that he receive which is free is good bargain for him. The phrase everyone likes free stuff is true. In this article, I will cover 7 ways for you to give away stuff for free to your window shoppers and customers which won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

1. Free Ebook

Who doesn’t like to read? Giving away a free ebook is an excellent way to develop a stronger relationship with your repeat customers, as well as your first time buyers. Furthermore, your customer will receive the free ebook right away, even before he receives his ordered products. After reading the free ebook, he may even anticipate the arrival of his products. I recommend giving a free ebook that is somewhat (or closely) related to what you are selling on your website. For example, if you are selling baby stuff for parents, it doesn’t make sense to give a free ebook on music. Unless the ebook is on how to train musical babies! The following are some ideas on what kind of ebook that would be more suitable for a website selling baby related items:

• How to understand your baby better
• 7 ways to develop a closer bond with your newborn baby
• Baby tips for new parents
• All you need to know about breastfeeding

If you are selling products for both babies and children, you can also consider giving a free story ebook that the child may like. The ebook should be colorful and filled with lots pictures and catchy illustrations for the kid. So, giving away free ebooks sounds good you might say, but how do you give away free ebooks if you don’t own any? Firstly you can create the ebooks by yourself using a pdf creator. If you are used to writing, creating a free ebook should be a fairly easy thing for you to do. And since, you will be redistributing the ebook on your website many times, the time spent on creating the ebook is well justified. The second alternative is to give ebooks which have already been published on the web and that gives permission to users to redistribute it. This is the fastest, and easiest way for you to offer a free ebook for your customer. You can simply search for a title, download the book and offer it as a gift for your buyers. The following are some websites that compiles hundreds and thousands of ebooks available online for free:

• Free ebooks
• Ebook directory
• 2020ok

2. Complimentary Item

Photo credit: laanba Another way to hook your customer to buy on your website is by giving away a complimentary item based on his purchase. For example, if you are selling lingerie, and your customer has just purchased a mini dress, you can give a panty as a complimentary gift. The panty may be sold on your website for $10, but it costs you only $1 per panty to buy from your supplier or manufacturer. You can also consider giving a gift based on his total purchase. For example, if his order is above US$50, he will receive a free mini perfume, which is selling on your website for US$15, but which cost you only a few bucks to buy from your supplier.

3. Free Voucher

Giving away a free voucher is a technique used by many companies whether online or offline. Vouchers attract buyers like honeys do to bees. The reason its effective in attracting customers is because, the customer has nothing to lose, and instead receives a voucher which is free to use for his online purchase. Do give a $5, $10, $15 (or any other amount) voucher to your customer. Don’t give any less than $5 or your customer may lose interest. The bigger the amount, the more attractive the voucher will become to your customer. You might want to consider giving a voucher to your existing customers. I am referring to your customers that have bought at least once from you before. You can give a voucher in which the total amount is based on his last purchase. For example, if he spent $100 on his last purchase, you should give him a $20 voucher, and not any less. On the other hand, if you have a customer who spent only $20 on his last purchase, then he will be entitled to a $5 voucher for his next purchase.

4. Free Wrapping

Why not give a free wrapping for your customer who bought the product as a gift for another person? The cost of a paper wrap is less than $0.50 each, and the time spent wrapping the product is quiet minimal. Plus you can also include a free card on the package where your customer can write a special message for the recipient.

5. Free Samples

Photo credit: tracyhuntur

This is an ingenious way to promote some of your less popular items or bring attention to a new product in your store. Many companies employ this technique in their stores. Watson for example gives away small packets of hair shampoos, eye drops and cream to anyone who makes a purchase at their outlet. You too can offer free samples of your products to your customers.

6. Free Kit

Photo credit: _ES

Why not offer something really special to your customers in the form of an all inclusive kit? You can brainstorm ways to make the free kit look like its worth a lot more than it actually is. The idea is to include a free kit with items related to your product categories and complete it with some stickers, photo magnets, a notebook (with your company’s website address at the back of course), and any other items that you wish to add.

7. Free Shipping

You may not consider shipping as a free stuff because its not. Shipping is a service that you offer to your customers. Hence, you can entice your customers to shop at your online website by offering free shipping. You may want to restrict the free shipping to local customers. Make sure the incurred cost for shipping is minimal. If you are selling very bulky and heavy items, you might not want to offer this free shipping option to your customers. However, for the rest of you who sell light, average sized items, offering a free shipping option is a fantastic way to encourage your customers to buy at your store.

Conclusion

When you give away stuff for free, your customer will always appreciate it. It can move your customers to action, and he will more inclined to buy from you. So have you ever given away any free stuff for free? What did you give and what were your customers response to it? Please share in the comment below.

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