What You Should Know About Free Samples

The world of business is growing by the day. This means that more companies and businesses are coming up and new and improved products are being produced everyday. Companies are facing a big dilemma in introducing these new products in the market. Consumers have a very loyal attitude toward the old products they are used to therefore it is usually very hard to introduce a new product in the market. This is because no one is willing to try your new product. The tough economic times worsen the whole scenario.

This is because people are not ready to spend their money on a new product they do not know how it works. This is simply considered a big risk. Companies marketing teams are put to test when a new product is being launched. Despite having a cautious public who do not want to even try a new product, the company will still want to make good sales within a short time and make profits. This is made even worse if the product is perishable. It is because of this reasons that Asa Candler thought of free samples in the 1980s.

As much as the public is captious to try new products they will naturally have a preference to free stuff. Keeping this in mind Candler thought that by offering samples for free most customers will be able to try them out and get to know how they work. It will be very hard for people t refuse free samples.

By taking them they end up using them and in the long run know the benefits that come with using the product. Once the customers have been encouraged to try the new item they will be able to pass the information to friends and relatives and this will boost sales of the new product greatly. As we all know the best advertisement is a satisfied customer.

The free samples given usually will increase the sales of the company greatly. Research has shown that for most people if they go shopping for any thing be it a shampoo, soap, tooth paste among other things they will usually buy unconsciously the stuff that they saw being advertised or even worse the one they have touched or used in the past. More than 70% of customers showed this behaviour that is referred to as unconscious buying. For this reason the probability of a company increasing its sales by employing this method are very high. Most people think that by companies offering free samples they will maybe cover the cost through increasing some other cost of a product they offer. In real sense a free stuff is an investment in the customer.

Another very important tool that free samples are used for is communication with clients. It is usually hard for companies to communicate with their customer’s .However it is vital for the companies to communicate with the clients so that they can be able to know what the customers need. By establishing customer needs the company can easily satisfy the need and hence increase the sales by a good margin beating its competitors.

This can be achieved through the use of free samples .However this method mostly works for companies that have a very good reputation. Unpopular companies cannot use this method. This is because the company has to first establish trust worthiness to the customer. Once the customer trusts the company they offer a free sample to get the email address or phone number of the customer. After some time they get back to the customer to get their thoughts and recommendations on the product.

For the reasons given above most companies will be willing to offer free samples. By getting you to try their products you may get interested and end up buying a full package. Moreover you will end up telling your friend s about the good product you got for free and they get interested and buy the product. This will increase the sales of a company meeting their main objective. But on the other side this is a big risk.

However getting into business itself is a risk. Some risks are worthy .For instance the company is willing to take the risk of spending a lot of cash on these free samples and the customers may end up hating them. The main objective of the free sample is for you to like it though. However, advertisement is advertisement whether negative or positive. Some people will be willing to try something out because someone complained about it.

If you are a customer, you may be wondering where you will get these free samples. This should not be cause for alarm any more. Each week there are very many blogs listing the free samples that are available? For this reason you need to get to the internet and search for this blogs. You will find several and start signing up. The samples usually start arriving in your mail box 4 to 6 weeks after you have signed up.

To may people this will seem like a very long time but after the samples start arriving you will be getting them every other time and this will be fun. You may find yourself receiving a lot of samples from different companies at once until it feels like an early Christmas. However, not all registrations you make will result in free samples coming your way. Once the registration exceeds the company’s maximum some of the customers may end up mi9ssing the sample.

With these samples you ca always do a lot than just using them yourself. You may be having a friend with an occasion like a birthday, wedding among others. You can always save a lot by using the samples and making a gift basket for friends. You can get foodstuffs as samples which you can give your kids. If you are having a trip you can make the use of a shampoo from the samples when you are on your trip. These will enable you as a customer to be well informed about the products in the market and be able to make right choices.

Benefits Associated With Free Samples By Mail

The traditional method of giving away free samples is by physically handing them over to prospective buyers.  In this approach, you are sure that the supposed target buyer actually receives the product, and it is not lost in transit somewhere.  For instance you give away samples of anti-dandruff shampoo to shoppers in the personal care section of a supermarket.  Hopefully, they will give your product a try, find it favorable, and eventually make a purchase.

In this approach, the free samples are used to promote the product.  But unlike traditional forms of advertising, the consumer gets a chance to actually try out the product and experience its benefits.  And this could be an impetus in making future purchases.

It may also be possible to elicit information from the recipients.  You may get their names, contact numbers, and some other basic personal information.  But oftentimes, shoppers are hesitant to provide these data due to time constraints and other factors.  For this reason, gathering information through this method of sample give-away is limited.

Gathering Market Information through Free Samples by Mail

Lately, marketers have found a seemingly better way of promoting their products while acquiring info regarding their market at the same time, and this is through free samples by mail coursed through the internet.  This usually entails the following:

1.    The product is posted in various internet sites, which allow for the application for free samples.
2.    An individual interested in the product may apply by filling-up a form and sending it accordingly.  Note that everything is done online.
3.    Upon receiving the request, the company sends the free package to the individual concerned.

It is assumed that those who apply for free samples are likely buyers of the product.  Why would you request for a free sample of cat food if you have no feline pet or you have no need for the product in the first place?

Also, this procedure allows the marketer to gather more information.  The form mentioned may require that the person’s address, gender, age, and monthly income be indicated on top of his or her name, contact number, and email address.  This will provide the marketer with a better profile of his target market.

However, care should be taken so that the procedure of giving free samples by mail through the internet will not be construed as a survey, since this may turn off some consumers.  After all, these are meant to be free samples, and not gifts like those given by market research companies to survey participants.  It should not be perceived that the samples have to be “earned”.

Advantage to Consumers
Inasmuch as this marketing approach benefits the manufacturer, it is also advantageous to the customers.  Nowadays, it is rare that you get to try something out for free.  And if you really like the product, you may do multiple requests in the guise of different individuals.  Especially if done through the internet, this is possible.

However, unlike being given the sample in person, you will have to wait for the package to arrive by mail.  And this is subject to the inefficiencies of the postal service.  You may have heard of packages, which are lost in transit.  Also, some items do not arrive due to human errors related to mislabeling or mishandling from the shippers end.  Or there could have been ordering oversights.  But rest assured that the free samples are more likely to reach you within a few days or a week.

So how do you go about getting your free samples by mail?

You may start by logging on to the internet, and keying in “free samples” in the search box of your favorite search engine.  You will be greeted with a listing of sites dealing with this topic.  Login to any of them, and you will likely find facilities to apply for free samples for particular products.  Or there may be a link to another site with this facility.  Choose your preferred item and apply.

Applying will necessitate your filling-up an online form.  You will be asked to provide some personal information.  More often than not, your name and mailing address will be sought to enable them to mail the sample to you.  There may be instances wherein more than basic personal data is required.  It’s up to you whether you will provide them or not.  However, it is advised that you do not divulge pieces of information that have financial repercussions.

The range of items which may be had on a free sample basis are likely to be new products or items that need marketing push in order to boost sales.  Do not expect to obtain fast-moving, popular items though this method.

Free samples by mail coursed through the internet will benefit both the manufacturer and the consumer.  However, effective internet marketing will have to be done to ensure maximum exposure to the target audience, which is needed for this approach.