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Why do you send "free stuff" via your email pitches?

by TheNewGuy2010
3 replies
Who came up with the idea of sending "free stuff" along with sales pitches via email marketing?

I am on these 4 lists:

Brooks Brothers
L.L. Bean
Amazon
Sperry-Topsider


I've been on these lists for over 5 years,each. I've been on Brooks Brothers for at least 10 years. I've NEVER recieved anything free from neither of them. Nor do I expect to. The only thing I get in my email from these merchants are sales pitches. Yet, I'm still on their lists and plan on staying as long as I live. And yes, I BUY a lot from the 4 merchants.

Is this apart of the heard mentality that exists with IMer's?

Did some "guru" say, "send free stuff too" and now everyone has adopted it and no one even thinks about it. "Such and such said do it, so it must be the way to do things"

Is this apart of your so-called relationship building, along with the "personal" stories? I've never recieved anything personal from Jeff Bezos(nor do I want to know how is vacation was)

Where did the notion of sending free stuff along with email pitches come from?
#email #free stuff #pitches #send
  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    You are talking about two VERY different things.

    You probably joined those lists when you made a purchase from them and you then started receiving promos from them. So you are clearly already sold on their product. They are also very well known brands so they don't need to build up trust or authority in your eyes because the marketplace has already given them those.

    If someone optins to a squeeze page they have no idea who you are. They don't know you, they don't like you, they don't trust you... yet. All of those things need to be built before someone will purchase from you. You do that by proving your worth and that sometimes includes giving away free information so people can see you know what you are talking about. That's how you build authority.

    People don't do it because they are following a herd. They do it because IT WORKS. The law of reciprocity also works in your favor. When you give people information or tools they would normally expect to pay for they are much more likely to buy future products from you.
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  • Profile picture of the author drewfioravanti
    "Gurus" and me too marketers.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    The idea of passing along 'free stuff' is much older than email, and yes, it does have to do with relationship building.

    The four companies you listed, along with probably thousands of others, are big corporations, and their promo lists are set up to send impersonal promos.

    On the other hand, have you ever bought a dozen rolls at a bakery and found 13 in the bag? Have you gone to a grocery store and had someone hand your kid a cookie? That's the kind of free stuff that helps build relationships.

    On another level, I've never gotten a personal note from my insurance company. I have gotten personal notes from my insurance agent.

    Giving free stuff just for the sake of giving free stuff is much different than giving free stuff to cement a relationship or further a future sale.
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