The obvious truth, free isn’t better for your brand. Especially too much free.
With too much free, either you’ll run yourself empty of energy and resources or drive your business into the ground.
The unobvious truth is that free isn’t always better for your customer, either.
It might help with status (I can now brag about getting a free donut that my friends didn’t get) and it might help with being able to invest later (I got two months free of rent and that allowed me to stay in business so I can keep paying rent down the road), but those benefits are either superficial or temporary.
What’s more is that customers’ narratives, perceptions and stories that ensue from money exchanged for something will always carry more weight and travel further (through word of mouth) than anything that’s obtained for free.
Can you imagine how meaningless a piece of Banksy art would be if you got it for free compared to if you purchased it for 2.1 million dollars? Or what your date thinks about you when you open a bottle of wine that you got for free instead of one you paid $80 for?
If you’re considering giving something away for free, instead consider how to make the product or service you already offer better with the same amount of money. Better makes for a greater story than free.
Stay Positive & Better Is Better
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