The Inspired Business Podcast - 52 | When to Use a Freebie and When to Go Direct to Sale

52 | When to Use a Freebie and When to Go Direct to Sale

03/11/24 • 14 min

Are free lead magnets the best way to attract customers? Usually no, but sometimes yes. There are a few occasions when offering a freebie before asking for the sale is a smart strategy. But it has to be the right kind of freebie, meaning, one that attracts the right people and nurtures them toward a conversion. In this episode of The Inspired Business podcast, you’ll learn when you should use a freebie and when you shouldn’t—and why. Plus we’ll touch on what makes a freebie valuable (for you as well as for the customer) and why giving stuff away for free is still not my favorite strategy in most situations.
Highlights:

One thing that makes me different from other digital marketing coaches
When to use a freebie vs. direct to sale depends on two factors: price and marketing strategy
In general, low-ticket can skip the freebie and go direct to sale UNLESS you’re using partner marketing. And high-ticket needs a warm-up offer... which may or may not be a freebie.
Low-ticket through ads = direct to sale
Low-ticket through email marketing = direct to sale for your own subscribers
Low-ticket through partner marketing = lead magnet
Lead magnet rules for partner marketing
High-ticket = offering a warm-up / buffer experience is wise

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 6 - Why Freebies Are Hurting Your Email List, and How to Attract Subscribers Who Will Actually Buy From You

Podcast series on email marketing

Episode 16 - How to get new email subscribers
Episode 17 - How to communicate with your email subscribers
Episode 18 - How to turn email subscribers into paying customers

Podcast series on partner marketing

Episode 47 - What is partner marketing and how does it work?
Episode 48 - Seven partner activities to grow your email list and your sales
Episode 49 - How to find great marketing partners

Are you a digital marketing genius? Take our quiz to find out!
Plus watch our FREE masterclass: How to Create and Sell Digital Products Without Feeling Stupid, Salesy, or Sacrilegious

One thing that makes me different from other digital marketing coaches
When to use a freebie vs. direct to sale depends on two factors: price and marketing strategy
In general, low-ticket can skip the freebie and go direct to sale UNLESS you’re using partner marketing. And high-ticket needs a warm-up offer... which may or may not be a freebie.
Low-ticket through ads = direct to sale
Low-ticket through email marketing = direct to sale for your own subscribers
Low-ticket through partner marketing = lead magnet
Lead magnet rules for partner marketing
High-ticket = offering a warm-up / buffer experience is wise

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 6 - Why Freebies Are Hurting Your Email List, and How to Attract Subscribers Who Will Actually Buy From You

Podcast series on email marketing

Episode 16 - How to get new email subscribers
Episode 17 - How to communicate with your email subscribers
Episode 18 - How to turn email subscribers into paying customers

Podcast series on partner marketing

Episode 47 - What is partner marketing and how does it work?
Episode 48 - Seven partner activities to grow your email list and your sales
Episode 49 - How to find great marketing partners

Previous Episode

51 | Memberships - Pros, Cons, and What It's REALLY Like to Run One

Thinking about running an online coaching membership? They can be a great source of recurring income as well as a rewarding experience for you and your members alike. But memberships can also be a pain in the butt for creators who don’t like to churn out content or deal with turnover on a regular basis. In this episode of The Inspired Business Podcast, you’ll get some insight on what makes a membership successful, why people leave, what you can and can’t do to retain customers, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is let a member go.
Highlights:

What memberships have in common with prom dress shopping
Pros of running a membership: changing lives and getting paid
Cons of running a membership: burnout for you and the buyer
What causes members to leave a paid community
When losing members is a reflection on you and when it’s not
How continual market research can help you keep your members happy
Don’t give in to the bells and whistles; serve within your parameters
Trust your funnel

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Crowdcast
For details on our own membership, The Funnel Club, click HERE.

Next Episode

53 | Do Facebook Ads Really Work?

Thinking about running ads on Facebook and Instagram? Social media ads are still a great strategy for growing your audience and your income, but only when they’re done well. Do you know what it takes to conduct a successful ad campaign? In this episode, I’m sharing three steps to ensure your ads efforts will lead to profits, not regrets.
Highlights: