I was with some business colleagues the other day and we were lamenting the fact that so many people want everything for free. It’s a modern epidemic.
In fact, I have been selling courses and books online since 2002, and even then everyone expected everything for free.
Do you ever have that problem?
But then I realised – there’s one little word we’re using that actually causes this.
We all use it – all over our web pages and our marketing materials. But do you know what the one little word is that could be the reason why it’s so easy to find freebie-hunters, but it can feel so hard to find paying customers.
Want to find out whether you’re accidentally falling into this trap? And what you could do instead?
Is it time to take the word ‘FREE’ out of your business vocabulary?
So I’m curious:
- Was the word ‘free’ plaguing your website?
- How might that be affecting the kinds of people you have been attracting to your Tribe?
- And what might you do differently in future?
Let me know, over at our gorgeous private Facebook group – 5 Minute Biz VIP. If you’re not a member yet, you can find out how to join us here.
And I’ll be back next week when we’ll be looking at the number one sales mistake that most businesses don’t even realise they’re making.
With love, Namaste,
Good timing for me too. Though I seldom use the word Free – I like Gift or Bonus too – but was just working with updating some older products where I used the word Free. Now rewording :-). You are so right Clare, that the customers perception of the meaning behind the ‘no charge’ extra can be so influenced by the seller’s choice of words. Thank you!
You are very welcome, Marsha.
It can feel hard to take the word ‘free’ out of our business vocabulary – and I know my archives are still sprinkled with it. But it’s surprising the difference it makes in the customers we attract.
If someone wants your bonus, then they’ll resonate with it, whether it’s ‘free’ or ‘gift’. But an unconscious freebie-hunter will love the ‘free’, but is much less likely to apply what you have given them.
And I love the fact that you remind us all that, even if something is not being charged for, it is still being ‘sold’. Yes, we need to choose our wording with care.
With love, Namaste,
Clare
Thanks for this – good timing as I was just about to start a leadpage with the url freewebreport…and now I am in a dilemma as to what to get instead!- but you are totally right… bonuswebreport??? the thing is I think the bonus word is great once you have got people signed up to your list….but to get them there in the first place? Mmmm – food for thought – thanks!
Great insights, Rachael. And what fabulous timing.
I’m not sure what kind of word would motivate your dream Tribe. But to get round this, you could forget about the whole ‘free’ / ‘bonus’ thing in the url and perhaps use the one keyword that best describes the content of the report? Or the promise that it delivers on?
With my Tribe it works well to talk about the non-paid stuff as being my ‘gift’ to them. For some sectors that would work less well. I’m going to set up a brain-storming thread over at the 5 Minute Biz VIP group for this. See you there, Rachael.
x Clare