#1: Give First, Get More: The Power of Giving Away Value

A Magical Marketing Trick That Nobody Talks About.

But you'll be surprised how well it works!

Let me tell you a quick story about my friend Sarah.

Sarah runs a small graphic design business. A few months back, she tried something new with her clients. Whenever someone hired her, she'd surprise them by including some free stock images and icons along with the final design files. Just a little bonus gift.

At first, Sarah didn't think much of it. But soon, she started noticing that those same clients were returning for more projects. They stuck with her instead of exploring other designers. Some even went out of their way to refer new clients her way!

That's the power of reciprocity in action. By giving a little something extra upfront, Sarah sparked a subconscious desire in her clients to return the favor. They felt indebted to her in a good way.

Here's how you can apply this clever principle to your own business:

• Offer free samples, trials or bonus extras with your services: This could mean giving away a free consultation, audit or sample deliverable before someone becomes a paid client. For example, a web designer could offer a free mockup design, or a management consultant could provide a free process analysis. The idea is to underpromise and overdeliver right from the start, giving prospects a taste of your expertise.
• Create free valuable content like guides, templates or videos: Sharing your knowledge for free builds trust and goodwill. You could create downloadable PDF guides, templates, checklists or tutorials related to your services. Or publish free videos with tips and advice on your area of expertise. This establishes you as a helpful, generous authority.
• Go above and beyond when delivering for clients: Once someone hires you, look for opportunities to exceed their expectations. It could be including some free extra deliverables they didn't ask for, adding personalized touches, or just putting in more effort than required. Clients really appreciate when you overdeliver on your promises.
• Provide exceptional customer service and a personal touch: Small gestures like hand-written notes, prompt responses, following up and checking in - these personal touches make a big difference. Also, handle any complaints or issues with empathy, urgency and generosity. The goal is to make every client interaction a positive, memorable experience.

The key is giving something to your prospects and customers before asking for anything in return. It could be advice, freebies, add-ons - anything that provides real value.

Why does this work? It taps into a deep human psychology. When someone does something nice for us, we naturally want to repay that kindness. Even if we don't consciously realize it at first.

The big brands are masters at using reciprocity to build insane customer loyalty:

Google:

Google provides a suite of free products and services like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, YouTube, Google Maps, and more. By giving away these incredibly useful tools at no cost, Google builds immense goodwill and loyalty among users. We start relying on their products daily and are more likely to pay for their premium services like Google Workspace or YouTube Premium down the line. The free offerings act as a foot in the door to get us hooked on the Google ecosystem.

Amazon: Amazon allows you to preview books for free by reading sample chapters before buying. This gives you a taste of the content and motivates purchases by making you feel like you've already started reading the book. Amazon Prime members also get free fast shipping and other perks like free ebooks/audiobooks from Audible. These "free" benefits make Prime subscribers feel indebted and more inclined to keep renewing their membership.

Starbucks:

At Starbucks locations, you'll often be offered a free sample of a new food item or seasonal drink flavor. By generously giving you a small freebie to try, Starbucks creates a desire to return the favor by purchasing that item. The samples introduce you to new products you may not have otherwise bought. Starbucks also gives away reusable cups, drink sleeves and other merchandise to loyal customers as surprise bonuses that reinforce brand affinity.

By delivering upfront value, they make you feel grateful and motivate you to keep coming back.

Don't think of it as giving stuff away for free. It's an investment that keeps paying you back through recurring business, referrals and goodwill. So be a generous giver - your profits will multiply in return!

Don't just take my word for it - try it out and experience the reciprocity effect for yourself! Which strategy will you implement first? Reply and let me know.