20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Is it crucial to have a free offer & OTO?

by Andrey Doichev
16 replies
In one of the super affiliate courses, they used a squeeze page in which the "free" aspect was basically the salespage.
As in
"Opt-in now to see this free video"
The free video being a sales video.

Is it an absolute must to offer a freebie? Is the offer considered as a free offer if it redirects to a salespage?

Thanks!
#crucial #free #offer #oto
  • Profile picture of the author inxie
    It is if you want to build up a list more efficiently. A freebie can lead to sales page or a one time offer.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7521332].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rmolina88
    I say it's important.

    You can use OTOs to easily weed out the freebie seekers from the buyers.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7521342].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      Originally Posted by rmolina88 View Post

      I say it's important.

      You can use OTOs to easily weed out the freebie seekers from the buyers.
      I wouldn't be confident than anyone was simply a freebie seeker by that alone.

      A purchase of an OTO is to be considered as a bonus if anything. At least that's how I consider it.

      I'd only draw that conculsion if a person has been sent a bulk of follow ups and has only bitten for the freebies.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7780707].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Akial View Post

    Is it crucial to have a free offer & OTO?
    I think it isn't, by definition, considering that plenty of people have built successful businesses without them.

    That said, they're clearly both perfectly viable and reasonable and sensible things to do, and plenty of people have also built successful businesses with them.

    Originally Posted by Akial View Post

    As in
    "Opt-in now to see this free video"
    The free video being a sales video.
    For myself, I wouldn't use this, or anything very like it.

    I speak with some bias, admittedly, because enough of my subscribers really dislike video, and tell me so, for that to influence me significantly.

    I give "free content" (in PDF form) for the opt-in, but not with the appearance of trying to sell anything. I want to establish credibility and earn their trust as a provider of valued content, first. I don't suggest that what you propose can't work, though: it's just "different courses for different horses".

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post6123982

    Originally Posted by Akial View Post

    Is it an absolute must to offer a freebie? Is the offer considered as a free offer if it redirects to a salespage?
    Not by me. And I think not by my subscribers: I envisage that it would leave a bad taste in many of their mouths (not that I'm suggesting any of them necessarily has more than one mouth).
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7521400].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author paul nicholls
    look at it this way

    if you generate 500 new subscribers

    and you were using a one time offer/low ticket product and it converted at only 5% on a $10 product

    you would make 25 sales of $10 = $250

    if you have an upsell too which you charge $47 which converts at 10%

    3 sales of $47 = $140

    in total $250 + $140 = $290

    you just made $290 back from using one time offers/low ticket products on your thankyou page and also using an upsell

    if you are using double opt in or not sending people to a one time offer/low ticket product after opt in then you had better have 1 hell of a converting funnel to make up for those $290 worth of sales that you just threw away

    these numbers are very low so with a bit of effort you can drastically increase your conversion rates

    Paul
    Signature
    FREE REPORT===>> 7 Reasons Why You Will probably Fail Online This year
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7521580].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dan B Rusu
    One other thing to consider is who you get on your list. A list of 100 "buyers" I've found to often bring a higher price per subscriber then a 500 list that opted in for a free offer, or "freebie seekers".

    Another thing you can look at instead of a free offer (especially dont make the free offer a sales video - many ppl dispise those) - is make a product and a OTO. Make the product ~$9 or so and offer 100% on that, 50% on the OTO. You'll get a ton of affiliates. best of luck
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7521676].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Edwin Torres
    Its not crucial but by doing so you can already start segmenting your list and building a buyers list.

    Also, having an OTO can help you break-even or make a profit on any type of paid (or free) advertising you might want to do.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7522004].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Akial View Post

    In one of the super affiliate courses, they used a squeeze page in which the "free" aspect was basically the salespage.
    As in
    "Opt-in now to see this free video"
    The free video being a sales video.

    Is it an absolute must to offer a freebie? Is the offer considered as a free offer if it redirects to a salespage?

    Thanks!
    I really don't think that a sales video constitutes a freebie. They're getting your email and all you get is another sales pitch? I'd unsubscribe so fast it wouldn't be funny if that's what I got as the free offer.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7522552].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sabluuk
    A freebie is good to build your list. People are more eager to sign up when something is free. Therefor it is good to build a list. Once they downloaded your freebie you start building trust with them. Once you gain trust, people are easier convienced to buy stuff that you promote.

    Normally I do this:
    - squeezepage with a freebie
    - send them quality mails to build trust.
    - via mail send them to my salespage without really pushing it.
    - once they buy I send them to an upsell
    - once they don't buy I sent them to a cheaper downsell.
    - keep mailing them and do the same over and over.

    The freebie in my case is only meant to get them on my list.
    Also once they buy, they will go onto my buyers list.
    Signature

    “FINALLY! No more Paying For Products That Don't Deliver Results!
    Get Everything You Need To Know To Start A Wildly Successful Home-Based Internet Business!”
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7522644].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Confined To Life
    I wouldn't suggest using an OTO straight after the opt-in. It's fine to do after they purchase your actual product, however. I like the concept of selling through the backend and don't believe you should ever throw a sales page at someone after they opt in for your free product.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7522659].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Monja
    I offer a freebie (Checklist and Video Course) on my list for opt-in. I do that because 1. I want to give my visitors a reason to stick with me but 2. I also want to show them that I really try hard to deliver quality - free or paid, they can always expect me to give something great.
    Signature

    Free Business Class on Skillshare:
    http://skl.sh/2bvH8nS

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7522686].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ron Desi
    I can't stand it when I opt in to see "The 5 ways to blah blah blah" and all I get is a sales video. My advice is to offer something free but of GREAT VALUE. Also provide an OTO as a way to determine the most motivated of buyers (a warrior above stated that also).
    Signature



    Ron Desi
    Download my FREE Fiverr Jumpstart Checklist
    Start Building Your Fiverr Business Today!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7522707].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thatjc
    Been studying Social Psychology principles for marketing. One such principle is "Reciprocity", the culturally universal social drive to "return a favor". This strong drive requires that you ask nothing in return.

    If instead of a true freebie, you offer a "quid pro quo", then it becomes a transaction. There is no social principle against refusing a transaction. In fact, offering a false "free favor" can create annoyance and distrust - it's negative marketing. One can observe that in action in some of the comments above.

    The eBook (Kindle) I'm studying is "Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion" by Dr. Robert Cialdini. Good read, highly recommended
    Signature
    "You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can't count the apples in a seed."
    Online Visual Communication expert
    Visual Marketing Info signup: Visual Marketing Online
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7780251].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Chri5123
    Originally Posted by Andrey Doichev View Post

    In one of the super affiliate courses, they used a squeeze page in which the "free" aspect was basically the salespage.
    As in
    "Opt-in now to see this free video"
    The free video being a sales video.

    Is it an absolute must to offer a freebie? Is the offer considered as a free offer if it redirects to a salespage?

    Thanks!
    No, it is not crucial.

    It is simply a marketing tactic.

    i.e the free offer gives you "half" of the answer and the other half you have to pay for. If you provide real value in the first half more people will but the second half so to speak.

    Same with the OTO - if you have a product you can add real value to that is an extension of the product or the course it works well.

    As a rule you use a free offer to build a targeted list.

    In fact, and it is a little off track but I would say to find the group of people that need the product FIRST before you design the product and the sales page - then you know what they need!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7780275].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Malcolm Thomas
    It is not crucial to have a OTO but you can do it to try to make extra profits in the long run.
    Signature
    Learn How To Make $100 Per Day Using This Dead Simple Method!

    The Easiest & Most Realistic $100 Per Day Method Ever Revealed!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7780687].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AndrewStark
    You should be trying to create a relationship with your list.

    So if the first thing you do when I join is pitch me with BS trying to claim a sales video is educational content then I would consider you a "churn & burn" marketer where you'll need to be excellent at traffic generation for finding newbies who will buy into this crap.

    I don't mind you making me an offer, but the free content and presentation has to be done in the correct way. Tell me who you are, why I should listen to you, and what the offer actually is.

    To do this you should probably create a main flagship product and then do interviews and the like to generate valuable free content for listbuilding and promotional material.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7780758].message }}

Trending Topics