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Scarcity in a follow up sequence

by Eoon
11 replies
Hi guys,

How would you create the feeling of scarcity on a page where you send people from a follow up sequence.

I have a page that uses cookies and javascript to show "copies left" (please no comments about the ethics of it), but the counter stops when it reaches 2.

After that, a person sent to that page will obviously see that the number is stuck at 2...I'm out of ideas besides just saying "Limited time offer"...

Anybody?

Thanks
#follow #scarcity #sequence
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    You asked me to leave out the comments on sleazy ethics like using fake scarcity, so I will. Karma's a bitch, so I'll leave it up to her...

    Check your JS counter code. Something in it is keeping the display number from cycling past 2. Either that or the script that refreshes the cookie. About the only two places I can think of where a counter would stop.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
      Talk to your significant other about the possibility of raising the price on your product.

      Then edit your email to say that with the way things are going, you are considering raising the price soon.

      Then raise the price, even if its only a little.

      Then get rid of that counter.
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      • Profile picture of the author Eoon
        Originally Posted by Michael Shook View Post

        Talk to your significant other about the possibility of raising the price on your product.

        Then edit your email to say that with the way things are going, you are considering raising the price soon.

        Then raise the price, even if its only a little.

        Then get rid of that counter.
        very smart, thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author jamescanz
    You should check out a plugin that will automatically add scarity to your offer (if you use WP)

    Page Expirtation Robot and Countdown Rocket (I believe was the name) are 2 that work well.

    So when the person first clicks on it, you can actually say "Only 24 hours left"

    Once the countdown goes to zero, then they miss out on the deal and get sent to a different page.
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by Eoon View Post

    Hi guys,

    How would you create the feeling of scarcity on a page where you send people from a follow up sequence.
    By having a REAL Scarcity , that you flat out tell your Prospects in a clear, straight forward fashion
    i.e. " Only 200 units of this Product will be sold at $100" and actually follow thru with this


    - Robert Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Eoon View Post

    please no comments about the ethics of it
    I see ... you invite opinions only from people who don't have a problem with that? Well, anything to oblige: I'll pretend not to, then, and limit my comments to "whether it works".

    The people who split-test it, unsurprisingly, often find that it doesn't.

    The reason's not too difficult to enivsage, I think?

    I don't know about you, but when I'm trying to sell something to someone, the last thing I want them imagining is that I'm trying to deceive them, but that's exactly how "2 copies left" comes across to anyone not deficient in braincells, especially when (as many people do) they go back day after day and see that - somehow, magically - the same 2 copies are apparently still remaining unsold. (The operative word being "apparently", of course, and the reality being that they know they're being lied to. How would you expect that to work?! You surely don't imagine that people are actually fooled by it? ).

    Nothing personal, but I suspect that you may perhaps be a little confused between "scarcity" and "fake scarcity".


    .
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    • Profile picture of the author Eoon
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      I see ... you invite opinions only from people who don't have a problem with that? Well, anything to oblige: I'll pretend not to, then, and limit my comments to "whether it works".

      The people who split-test it, unsurprisingly, often find that it doesn't.

      The reason's not too difficult to enivsage, I think?

      I don't know about you, but when I'm trying to sell something to someone, the last thing I want them imagining is that I'm trying to deceive them, but that's exactly how "2 copies left" comes across to anyone not deficient in braincells, especially when (as many people do) they go back day after day and see that - somehow, magically - the same 2 copies are apparently still remaining unsold. (The operative word being "apparently", of course, and the reality being that they know they're being lied to. How would you expect that to work?! You surely don't imagine that people are actually fooled by it? ).

      Nothing personal, but I suspect that you may perhaps be a little confused between "scarcity" and "fake scarcity".


      .
      Ok, let's not BS each other. It is used all over the place. Amazon is using the fake lowered price on EVERY product so I have no problems telling it like it is.

      Let me make a few points:

      1) When I introduced the counter a year or so ago, my conversion almost doubled - so, UNSURPRISINGLY, you can rest that point that it doesn't work

      2) Immediately after the counter I have two boxed paragraphs - one of them explaining that the number of copies is limited because I offer personal counseling with the program and I can only work with so many people at a time and the other talks about security of using a credit card online since I saw that a lot of my audience has a problem with that. So the question in their head about why would a digital book have limited copies is answered right there.

      3) It works for first time visitors and those who click through the first email or two but I will have to have the version of the website where I loose the counter after the second day

      4) and it's programmed to stop at 2 - I experimented with those numbers and that worked the best

      Thanks for all constructive comments...and Alexa, I fail to see the value you brought with yours, apart from sounding smug...
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Eoon View Post

        Ok, let's not BS each other. It is used all over the place. Amazon is using the fake lowered price on EVERY product so I have no problems telling it like it is.

        Let me make a few points:

        1) When I introduced the counter a year or so ago, my conversion almost doubled - so, UNSURPRISINGLY, you can rest that point that it doesn't work

        2) Immediately after the counter I have two boxed paragraphs - one of them explaining that the number of copies is limited because I offer personal counseling with the program and I can only work with so many people at a time and the other talks about security of using a credit card online since I saw that a lot of my audience has a problem with that. So the question in their head about why would a digital book have limited copies is answered right there.

        3) It works for first time visitors and those who click through the first email or two but I will have to have the version of the website where I loose the counter after the second day

        4) and it's programmed to stop at 2 - I experimented with those numbers and that worked the best

        Thanks for all constructive comments...and Alexa, I fail to see the value you brought with yours, apart from sounding smug...
        Speaking of BS...

        1) You're the one that originally posted about not wanting people to say anything about your questionable ethics. Like yelling "shut up" at a crowd of hecklers, that always works, right?

        2) Your opening post asked about a problem with a counter stopping at 2, yet now you say that the counter is programmed to stop at 2 because you tested that and it works best.

        3) The predictable backlash (see my first point) gave you the chance to "defend yourself" by dropping the tidbit that using your fake scarcity timer doubled your conversions.

        Then, when other ethically challenged types ask about the script, you can help them out with a link (for which you get paid).

        Am I close?

        I'm not going to say you're full of it, because that would be attacking another member. I'm just going to say that I could probably grow daisies by shoving the seeds in your ears...

        By the way, thanks for adding another name to my "never buy from" list.
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        • Profile picture of the author totalyrecycled12
          Just to add to my last post you said.

          [Quote]
          {I have two boxed paragraphs - one of them explaining that the number of copies is limited because I offer personal counseling with the program and I can only work with so many people at a time}

          If this is a real offer of personal counseling           -- then you could always- re offer the program at a slightly higer price when a couple of people drop out of your program and set the counter to that number. I am sure if its a good program and people who missed out the first time see it they will sign up If thats what they were thinking of doing when you took the offer away.
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  • Profile picture of the author BudiT
    How about creating COUNTDOWN TIMER in the EMAILS Themselves?

    Countdown timers for email | MotionMail

    That's one slick tool in my opinion!

    ~ Budi T
    Signature

    STOP wasting your money into hypes and BS.
    Turn your traffic and subscribers into White Hot Cash!

    Continue >>
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  • Profile picture of the author totalyrecycled12
    You are telling them it is a limited time offer

    Easy fix make the counter script go to zero and remove the offer just like you threatened to and dont re-offer it. The next time you offer somthing good of real value they will know you meen what you say and are true to your words.
    I always purposely go back to pages I get sent to with that type of offer that has a counter and if the counter has been reset or is still on a small number after a weeek or so that particular marketer gets deleted from my list of people I am subscribed to and I add them to my list of who not to purchase from..
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