Increase Website Traffic: Think Twice Before Using Try Me Free Promotions

A method of increasing website traffic that has become popular is that of using “Try Me Free Promotions” and manufacturers’ samples. The popularity of this type of promotion stems from people’s fear of “buying a pig in a poke.” That is they don’t want to buy a pricey item online and then have to go through the hassle of returning it if they are not thrilled with it.

Using samples as a means of promoting a product, particularly if it is new to the market, has been highly effective for as long as I can remember. If you take a trip to the grocery store, there is most likely someone cooking up a batch of something for you to taste. Shopping malls often have people handing out promotional samples. And, at one point in time, my daughter was required to deliver samples along with the papers on her community newspaper route.

Samples allow folks to try before they buy and are an effective means of gaining a customer base. However, over the last several years, a new, less ethical means of using samples, has hit the Internet.

Unfortunately, it seems that for everything good, there is a more shady side and some Internet marketers and companies clued into people’s perchance for “try for free products.” Rather than offering a small sample as is commonly seen locally, they offer full size products for people to try for the cost of the shipping and handling. This technique is being used for everything from cosmetic products to Internet marketing training courses.

I hear from a fair number of people who have signed up for a “free CD or DVD” from somewhere and paid the few dollars for shipping and handling. Sometime later, they find out that their credit card has been billed later for a sizable chunk of money because they failed to opt out within a designated time period.

Another method that is often used is to require that the sample be returned within a given time. Otherwise, the seller works on the assumption that the trial was a success and sends the customer more products. Of course the customer wasn’t asked if they wanted more of this product and when they see the charge on their credit card, they are understandably upset. Here is an example of what some customers think of one such promotion.

Whether the product they are talking about is in fact a scam, I can not say. I have not tried either the product or the promotion. I also know there are marketers that will post negative information to draw others to their own product, so I take anything of this nature that includes an alternate product link, with a large dose of skepticism. I only know I would not want this type of feedback for something I was promoting.

Rumor has it that credit card companies have had it with this type of promotion and are looking at possibly refusing charges to a credit card that are for shipping and handling only. I for one would applaud action of this type. While it may seem like they are looking to regulate your buying choices, in reality, they are looking for ways to protect those that use their services and decrease the customer issues that go hand in hand with opt out promotions.

If I put myself in the shoes of the credit card companies, I can see that they are in a no win situation here. Their customer is upset over charges on their statement and the customer care division in turn has to follow protocol in attempting to help that customer. Because the customer agreed to the charges, whether they realized it or not, there are most likely limits on what can be done.

It is sad when something of value is spoiled by the unethical practices of others and as a person running an online business, if you are connected with this type of promotion, your reputation will suffer as well. This is why it is important to think twice before using a try me free promotion that only charges for shipping and handling. A better solution might be to offer coupons that folks are able to use locally or rebates. Even with rebates, you want to ensure that the company you are using is ethical.

By ethical I mean, do they have a smooth and responsible rebate system or do they make the customer jump through so many hoops that it is unlikely the rebate will be claimed?

Investigate closely the companies you are dealing with and the promotions you use. If it is possible, try the product yourself before promoting so that you are clear on the experience your customer will have. After all, it is your reputation that is on the line.

To Your Success,

SherryD
http://www.wbobr.com