The always-interesting Freakonomics blog in the NY Times recently cited a recent study that confirms the importance of providing lots of product information in your marketing and sales material. The MediaPost headline says it all: “Majority Of Online Shoppers Check At Least Four Reviews Before Buying.” Take-away point: A solid 68% do their homework before […]
Category Archives: free sample
Shocker: "Botox" contains BOtulism TOXin
Another brand shoots itself in the foot. Botox, the popular anti-wrinkle drug, and its competitor, Myobloc, have both been officially linked to dangerous botulism symptoms. In a few cases, the symptoms were so bad that children given the drugs for muscle spasms have died, according to the Food & Drug Administration. This should not be […]
Why you SHOULDN'T have a sale this summer
I hate sales and discounts — at least for professionals and small businesses. When you lower prices, you’re basically training customers to wait for a lower price before buying– a bad habit. There are many better ways to drum up business, especially during your slow season. Rather than simply offering discounts, John Jantsch of Duct […]
Bob Bly on refunds
No marketer likes giving money back. But a solid, no-questions-asked refund policy is an essential selling tool, especially in our cynical times. It reduces buyer hesitation and increases sales. Master copywriter Bob Bly recently explained four things you should know about refunds. A refund request doesn’t mean your product is bad or the customer doesn’t […]
Why introduce shoppers to your competition?
So you can show how much better your product is. Saturn is launching a bold marketing initiative this summer. Dealers are bringing in a Toyota Camry and a Honda Accord, so car shoppers can test-drive the competition — right at the Saturn dealership. “In that side-by-side comparison, we come out really well,” said GM’s Mark […]
Free samples: Why even rock stars give them away
Harry Connick Jr. was on Imus in the Morning on MSNBC this morning (1/31/07), promoting his terrific new CD, Oh, My Nola — and not coincidentally, to plug his upcoming nationwide tour. A few days ago, the country group Big & Rich appeared on Imus. Why? Why are top artists so willing to appear on […]