I love giving things away.
I know, I'm supposed to be a marketer. I'm supposed to know how to get the full value for everything I supply.
But every year, I give away tons of fantastic freebies. I give away content, e-books, videos, training sessions, teleseminars and all sorts of other wonderful things.
If I had to calculate the total value of the goodies that I pass out for nothing every year, I'd need to buy a wide-screen calculator.
And yet, I don't regret giving away any of them.
That's because not only do my users benefit, but I benefit too.
There are three ways that you can benefit from giving away free gifts.
The first is very simple: take money from advertisers. That's how Internet publishers do it and many of us are making very nice sums this way.
The rule for earning with ad-supported freebies is to make the ads useful. If the ads are obtrusive, users will go around them. Then they'll go away and they won't come back. If the ads are useful -- as Google's ads are -- users will read them and make the most of them. That means advertisers will pay you for them.
Every time someone accepts one of your free offers, they also leave their contact details. Over time, that gives you a valuable database for future marketing. Your non-paying customers might not be leaving money but they're still increasing your wealth.
The rule here is not to abuse the trust that someone gives you when they hand over their email address. Only use it for the purpose they intended.
And free items can also act as samples that show users and potential customers what you're offering. White papers, free reports and chapter samples can work this way. They let readers see the quality of your advice and understand what they'll get if they buy your products or become regular users of your sites.
The rule here is the golden rule that applies to every aspect of using freebies to drive sales: make sure that what you give away is valuable.
Hand out garbage, and you'll get garbage right back. Hand out quality products and the value of those products will come back to you in spades.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
May 16, 2008 02:13 AM
That is the best policy. Giving away. When you give you get more in return. Tithing turns your life around. I am also giving away my ebook for free. It helps everyone. Thanks for sharing.
May 16, 2008 07:42 AM
Joel
Your freebies are fantastic and I continue to benefit from them.
I'm still shaking my head about your Adsense book offer - which I took you up on - I live in New Zealand and you didn't put postage on...are you sure that you meant to do this...will it actually arrive over here?
I was expecting to pay postage - which is substantial to get a book to here - you could even be losing money on this. Does your wife know about this??
Many thanks
May 16, 2008 08:16 AM
Joel, As always, you rock. I've learned a lot from your free stuff and I've bought stuff from you in the past. You always over-deliver.
May 16, 2008 08:18 AM
Thanks Joel,
I am new to your blog but think it is great. I get a lot of value from your vidio's also.
so right about the give away's. Who was it that said " Give and You Shall Receive" oh yah, Tha BIBLE and I seam to rember something about 10 Fold.
Luv Ya,
Matt
May 16, 2008 08:18 AM
Joel, I've been watching you on and off for a while now. I did take you up on your adsense secrets offer and it's great. This is yet another great piece of free content. Keep it up!
May 16, 2008 08:19 AM
As usual, great advice Joel! Freebies can work to both start customers down the sales funnel path, but also to incentive them to buy/join/subscribe, after all who does like getting a little (or a lot) extra when making a choice? Freebies can also build "buzz" and loyalty if given unexpectedly, after a conversion...
My own company has benefited a lot from all the freebies we give to our clients.
Regards,
Joshua
May 16, 2008 08:25 AM
Joel-
You are absolutely correct ... you give garbage, you'll get garbage. I give away a lot of freebies myself and before I send it out I ask my self this question - If I was receiving this freebie, would it benefit me in someway and what value does it hold?
I love all your tips. Keep them coming.
Live life today!
Barbara Elste
http://www.RFSnetmarketing.com
May 16, 2008 08:39 AM
Great advice Joel. I haven't found an appealing offer lately that didn't have a freebie to entice the buy. Thanks
May 16, 2008 09:40 AM
Did I miss someting?
Wehere are the Freebies?
May 16, 2008 09:51 AM
Did i miss somethinghere?
Where are the freebies?
May 16, 2008 10:55 AM
Hi Joel, I like your attitude of giving and to help others. Being a Ret. Methodist minister, I am in this for only one reason, (Idon't have money), but I have my needs. That reason is to give all money I make to help those in need. We used to look around the world for folks in need. Now, we only need to look next door or down the street. I commend you for what you are doing. You have helped me and I thank you.
Bob
May 16, 2008 11:28 AM
Where can i find the freebies..
May 16, 2008 01:39 PM
Freebies work to development credibility for your product and site. Certainly a big bonus for your clients
May 16, 2008 02:19 PM
Hello Joel,
I appreciate all of your wonderful videos, and newsletter about the
adsense and marketing business. I mentioned you and your templates programs, in Rosalind Gardener's blog (one click installer).
Learning from you is like getting another college education.
The newbies are like a baby born every minute. You will always be in business with your wealth of knowledge! YOU AND YOUR TEAM IS AMAZING!!
Continued success to you!
Thelma Harcum
May 16, 2008 03:01 PM
Joel, thank you so much for all the information and help you give us :)
I'm trying to make money with adsense, I started on December 2007, and your ebook and information has help me a lot... there are a few thing I don't understand about Google Adsense yet because one month I make a lot (I mean a lot for me maybe for other people is nothing) but then the next I make half of it... but I'm sure that without your help I will be doing nothing at all hahaha
Thanks a lot :)
Jess
May 16, 2008 05:19 PM
I like your newsletter as I stated in my last comment. I would like to say that you are so very thoughtful to teach us how to treat others on the internet thanks
I do not have a website yet but have accepted a couple of freebies and am glad to have read this newsletter.
Much like the comment over head.
Thank You for being so informative.
Chris
May 17, 2008 06:35 AM
I just purchased your 4.0 book and I was clicked off before I could use your affiliate hook up link and the other links on the screen..I am a construction worker in Attleboro Ma. and have had the economy just about wipe me out. I have worked with info media and love your stuff for a long while now.Hoping to be a successful affiliate of yours and am saving up in the future for the rest of your 4.0 package.May you be strong and healthy,Heartily yours Tom D DeVisscher Woking and hopeing for world peace. citizenshaveagoldenheartfoundation.com
May 17, 2008 11:36 AM
Joel, I started to watch your videos on Youtube then I purchased your Adsense 4.0 book and soon I will buy your Adsense Detective license for my new website. Giving Freebies will give you much more business in the long term, generosity will be rewarded, it is the law of the universe.
May 18, 2008 12:15 PM
Great post Joel!
I like the advice for list building when giving a way free stuff. And like you say, as long as you are giving something of value, the website visitor is going to take you up on the offer and join your list.
After all Joel, that is what you keep teaching us!
The quality of the freebie is also vital and you always come up with cool stuff, which can be seen from the feed back you are getting.
Thanks for the advice.
Sincerely,
John Adams
www.Business-KickStart.com
May 18, 2008 01:38 PM
I give away free gifts from my website too. It helps.
May 18, 2008 03:33 PM
Hi Joel
I agree with your principle, but may I point out that your new webdesign seems to make things more advanced than they need to be. The good old-fashioned design principles of clarity seem lost to me...
But keep up the good work writing thought-provoking articles. :-)