Nothing gets people buying products or programs like a special promotion in your e-zine. Now, I know right now you're thinking, "I can't have a sale on my products or services. That's sooo cheesy!"
Au contraire, mon frere. It's all how you position it. Here are 13 ideas to consider. Choose one that would work for your business and give it a try.
IMPORTANT: You'll need to put some type of time limit on the offer to encourage folks to buy now and not later. It's also better if you explain to your readers WHY you're having the sale. You're not Wal-Mart and you can't just drop prices whenever you feel like it. Instead, give your prospects a reason. (Even a funny one -- see tip 13!)
1. Close-out sale. Have inventory you want to get rid of? Making room for other products or new versions of products? Then offer the current version at a significant discount.
2. "Scratch and dent" sale. Have any books, tapes, or CDs that were returned to you by customers? Offer them at a hearty discount for people who don't mind if they're a bit worn.
3. Half price sale. Lop 50 percent off all your goods, or select just one.
4. Coupon sale. Allow customers to enter a coupon or promo code to get a discount. (If you have a decent shopping cart program you should be able to set this up in seconds.)
5. Free shipping sale. Offer free shipping for a limited time. Or, upgrade folks to express shipping at no extra cost.
6. "We'll finance it" sale. Offer a payment plan - this works great for higher priced items and programs. (Again, if you have a decent shopping cart program, you should be able to set up timed, automatic billing.)
7. Free 30-day trial. Get their credit card information at the time of order, but don't charge them until the month is up. Another variation is the 30 day trial for $1.
8. Pre-publication sale. Start taking orders before your product is even ready. (Seeing orders come in is also a great incentive for you to finally finish creating that product!)
9. VIP discount. Give a special offer to a certain group. Show your e-zine subscribers, your clients, your speaking audiences, etc. that they're special.
10. Buy one get one free! Yes, this can even work for information products and services. The purchaser can give the extra copy to a colleague as a gift, or two people can split the cost and essentially get your product or service at half price.
11. Special bonus. Give something extra if people purchase before a certain date. (This is a great strategy to up your sales without cutting your prices.)
12. Package discount. Offer a big discount if they order all your products/services or a select combination thereof.
13. Birthday sale. Or any fun occasion... Valentine's day, your anniversary, groundhog day, your dog just had puppies, your kid just lost his first tooth -- have fun with it!
BONUS TIP: Many of these options for coupons, discounts, cutoff dates, etc. can easily be set up with a good shopping cart system. QueenCart.com links you to the one I use and recommend.
Now that you have a reason for your sale, you need to know how to write a promotion that SELLS. My program "E-mail Promotions That Sell" gives you the simple, step-by-step formula. (www.ezinequeen.com/emailpromo.htm)
© 2004 Alexandria K. Brown
Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is creator of the award-winning 'Boost Business With Your Own E-zine' system. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE audio class, visit http://www.EzineQueen.com
Everything happens Quickly and Instantly on the Internet. In the... Read More
There are many Web sites I visit every day and... Read More
What is the single most important thing you can do... Read More
GETTING INTO MARKETING MOMENTUM: The 5 Power Principles for Getting... Read More
When it comes to your marketing message, the little things... Read More
Sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it? Well, I can tell you... Read More
It's a fact that your customers are your best leads.... Read More
If you really want to pull more profits from your... Read More
No, customers aren't bloodsuckers (well, maybe a few are!) and... Read More
Every business person who has any kind of product or... Read More
You're probably thinking, here we go again somebody is trying... Read More
Some of the simplest marketing tactics often produce the most... Read More
You followed time-honored online marketing techniques to the letter: you... Read More
More of the findings of the recent studies in behavioral... Read More
Do you want to be quoted by the national press... Read More
Our bodies work like our small businesses. They work best... Read More
Businesses and other organizations use focus groups to research consumer... Read More
Face it?you know you've got to do something to keep... Read More
Direct marketing is built on four things. The other way... Read More
As Freud cautioned, it's insanity to keep doing the same... Read More
Are you still waiting for business to turn around before... Read More
As a promotions director for a lot of super markets,... Read More
Who says scientists can't market? Here are 10 easy marketing... Read More
You may not realize it, but you already have a... Read More
Recent studies concerning the "new world of women" have been... Read More
I am a great believer in the keeping to the... Read More
Here's a simple way you can generate lots of sales... Read More
What Is A Joint Venture?A joint venture is an agreement... Read More
First, define the end user (or ideal client) of your... Read More
Most businesses target only people "ready-to-buy". These hot prospects are... Read More
I don't know about you, but I secretly love watching... Read More
Many people think that the quality of any graphic design... Read More
Your market is not everybody, as so many small businesses... Read More
Your message is first among your weapons in the battle... Read More
Do you find it hard to ask for referrals? I... Read More
Some people are happy with just a business card. For... Read More
The fight for your customer's attention at a tradeshow has... Read More
There is no shortage of marketing programs, many with great... Read More
The Driver of All Marketing EffortsYou need to determine what... Read More
The best joint ventures are with people in your own... Read More
How many times has someone you've called said, "Why don't... Read More
Benefits, that's what!Whether you're selling in print or in person,... Read More
How would you use business cards for gift certificates?I asked... Read More
Before I compare today's online advertising with traditional media advertising... Read More
Okay, we were kidding about the smoke, but not about... Read More
How to Take Your Law Firm to the Next Level... Read More
Here's a proven, and truly easy way to start increasing... Read More
Apple Computer just announced that their earnings from the last... Read More
Why does your business need a business card?Business card is... Read More
The N-word! We all know the value of networking and... Read More
Business cards are such wonderfully creative little marketing products. Most... Read More
Without doubt, understanding what a customer's wants and needs are... Read More
December is a month in which many organizations make plans... Read More
How many times has your competitor gotten one over on... Read More
With the explosion of the internet and online businesses many... Read More
Alright you've got yourself a nice website with a great... Read More
What's a promotional freebie? A promotional freebie is something you... Read More
Feng Shui is the Ancient Chinese practice of configuring home... Read More
Sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it? Well, I can tell you... Read More
How to Tie a Tie and How To Kiss -... Read More
Just like there are reverse dictionaries, there is a reason... Read More
Universal principals are those "self-evident" truths that have guided brilliant... Read More
How many of your customers are loyal customers? More importantly... Read More
What if you've done a variety of marketing activities over... Read More
Each of these 11 marketing tips is based on a... Read More
Telemarketing has its place in the marketing arsenal. But telespammers... Read More
Marketing |