Offering Rather Than Asking is a Good Marketing Practice
Everywhere you look, someone wants you to buy what they have to offer. Whether it’s a product or a service, the push is there to buy, buy, buy.
You have to wonder if marketers really think their prospective customers are a different breed of animal. After all, they themselves must be tired of of someone trying to “sell” them every time they turn around.
I haven’t seen the statistics lately to get the exact number, but each of us sees hundreds, if not thousands of sales messages every day. From our email in-boxes to the TV to the signs along the highways – they’re everywhere.
You can set yourself apart from all those other marketers with one simple action: Make an offer in place of an ask.
Offer free advice about your product or service. Offer a free consultation. Offer a free sample. Offer a free special report.
And offer it willingly – with no strings. I can’t say how many times I’ve been tempted to try a 30-day trial of something – but the fine print said I needed to leave my credit card number for billing when the 30 days were up.
No thanks. If I don’t like it, I don’t want to go through the hassle.
On the other hand, there are companies like the Happy Grasshopper that offer a real free trial. I’ll let them tell you the details, but if you want to stay in touch with past (or future) clients, this system just might be for you. (And nope, that’s not an affiliate link.)
How Can YOU use giving in your business?
This morning I was reading about the wrong approach to listing FSBO’s and expired listings. The writer discussed how so many agents used scare tactics to make those sellers think the sky will fall if they don’t list.
She suggested a more “giving” approach and I agree. Instead of trying to scare them, offer information that will help them. Become an adviser and a friend – one who will be uppermost in their minds on the day they choose to list.
Do I practice what I preach? Sure I do.
I offer free marketing advice on my websites and blogs, and in my marketing ezine. I hope my clients and future clients will take advantage of it to get acquainted with me.
And… Since I sell pre-written real estate prospecting letter sets, I also offer free sample prospecting letters.
You’ll find one of them on this page about finding relocation clients.
Come and get your copy – no credit card required!
Posted: May 23rd, 2011 under copywriting, marketing, marketing mistakes, real estate copywriting, real estate marketing, real estate prospecting.