If you're starting a business and looking for a way to get customers to try your product, put together a sampling campaign. There are a variety of brands, products and services competing for consumers' attention, pocketbooks and wallets, but often times, consumers are loyal to the brands and products they know. They are hesitant to spend their hard-earned money on something new, unless they receive a recommendation from a friend, family member or other trusted source, but if you offer them a product for free, they're likely to at least give it a fair shot.
Make a list of measurable goals for your sampling campaign. It's important that you're able to gauge the results of this effort, so that you know if sampling is worth pursuing in the future. You could measure by an increase in sales, by the number of people who use a coupon or special offer code you give during the sampling session or simply by units sold in the weeks after your campaign, provided that you offered samples at a specific store that sells your products.
Identify your target market. Will moms buy your product or do you offer a service geared toward busy professionals? It's key that you understand who you're targeting, so that you can use that information to figure out how to reach your market with your samples. Figure out who they are, where they go, what they do, how they buy and why they buy.
Brainstorm ideas on how and where you may be able to set up a sampling station. Is your product typically sold in supermarkets or superstores? If so, you may want to arrange a sampling station in the area where your product in sold within a store. If you offer a service, consider using a networking event or conference to offer samples of your service.
Evaluate your business and what you offer customers. Do you offer a service or a product? How is your product or service different from what's already on the market? Even though you're offering potential customers free samples, you still need to be able to convince them why they should buy your product or sign up for your service after they sample it.
Take a look at your results. It may take a while to get figures for the number of people who used the coupon or special offer code you gave them during the sampling session, but you can at least start to go through your surveys and document any feedback and address questions. You can tweak your product or service where necessary.
Finalize your plans; organize your samples and create sales materials. You may want to take coupons, brochures and business cards with you, in addition to the samples of your product or service. When you implement your sampling campaign, set up a neat, creative display in your location and invite customers to come and give your product or service a try. Be prepared to answer questions and hold meaningful conversations with your potential customers, as you work to get their opinions on your product or service.
评论