Around 68% of consumers will make a purchase after trying a free sample. If they are given while a person is on a shopping trip, around 35% of people will make a purchase there and then. Giving out products for free is a great way to increase conversions, and it also comes with many other benefits. We discuss all these in the article below.
What Are Free Samples?
Free samples are frequently encountered in businesses that sell food and drink. They provide customers with a taster of a dish or menu in the hope that they like it and come back for more. You may even have encountered it in a supermarket, where staff will provide tasters of products for sale or new items in stock. Inevitably, the final goal is to turn these encounters into conversions.
It is not just the food and drink industry that does this. In some instances, free samples are given out by cosmetic companies and clothing brands. And even if your business is not retail-based, it can still give away free demos of its services to entice customers. A perfect example of this can be found in the iGaming industry, which provides online casino games to players. Here, the transfer of cash and funds is integral to the workings of the games on offer. Many online slot games will actually provide a free demo mode for players to take part in and try the slots out. Of course, they can’t win any real cash, but they do get the feel for the game.
This is actually one of the best ways in which new players can decide how to pick a slot machine. With so many on offer, having free modes allows them to narrow down the field. They can then sign up and benefit from bonus offers, which allow them to play in cash mode for some time without using their own capital. Imagine it like a sales funnel, with free offers that gradually diminish until a conversion is reached.
Additional Benefits of Free Samples for Business
Aside from enticing customers to a product, free samples have a lot of additional benefits. They are a great way to gauge a product or service before it goes to market. By collecting feedback, you may be able to make alterations to the product that improve it.
Secondly, it increases awareness of your brand. If people have not heard of you before, getting a free sample will etch your name on their minds. With a successful product, it can drive long-term retention. This generosity will hopefully manifest as brand loyalty and authority in the long term.
Considerations to Make When Offering Free Samples
Your first consideration is the cost of this promotion. If it’s free for customers, you’ll have to be the one to foot the bill. You lose a manufactured product, and you may even have to pay for specialist packaging or marketing materials. All of this will impact margins in the short term.
Free samples work, and this is true regardless of your business or service. However, you need to think carefully about how and when you use them. Weigh up the cost to your business, and think about what you hope to achieve. Soon, you may find short-term gains and long-term success.
