Should I do this for free?
Sharon McLaughlin, MD, MBA
Power of Peacefulness/Female Physician Entrepreneurs Group/ Best Selling Author/ Podcaster/Certified Executive Coach/ Senior Medical Director
Sometimes, we choose to do things for free because they hold personal significance for us. Other times, offering something for free can bring practical benefits, such as increased exposure for our business.
Here are a few examples where free offerings have significantly contributed to the growth and success of businesses.
Dropbox initially used a free offering strategy to build its user base. By offering a free version of its cloud storage service with a limited amount of space, Dropbox attracted millions of users. These users often upgraded to paid plans as their storage needs grew, driving the company's revenue. The freemium model allowed Dropbox to scale rapidly and achieve widespread adoption.
Evernote offered a free version of its note-taking and organizational app, which included basic features that were sufficient for many users. This approach allowed Evernote to attract millions of users worldwide. The free version acted as a gateway to the premium version, which offered advanced features like offline access and more storage space. The large user base developed through the free offering provided a steady stream of conversions to the paid plans.
Spotify uses a freemium model where users can listen to music for free with ads, or pay for a premium subscription to remove ads and gain additional features such as offline listening and higher audio quality. The free tier allowed Spotify to rapidly grow its user base, creating a large pool of potential premium subscribers. The model proved highly effective, making Spotify one of the leading music streaming services globally.
Offering something for free can help build trust and establish relationships with potential customers. When you provide value without asking for anything in return, people are more likely to develop a positive perception of your brand and feel more comfortable doing business with you in the future.
Providing free services or products allows you to demonstrate your expertise and the value of your offerings. This can be particularly effective for businesses that offer complex or specialized services, as it gives potential clients a taste of what they can expect, increasing the likelihood of them choosing your paid services later. Speaking, social media and webinars are a great way to showcase your expertise.
Free offerings can attract a larger audience, helping you generate leads and build a customer base. This approach is often used in marketing strategies such as offering free trials, free samples, or free initial consultations. Once people experience your product or service, they are more likely to convert into paying customers. I offer a free build your business workbook as a freebies. respond to this email to get your copy.
Giving away something for free can significantly boost your brand's visibility. Free give aways and challenges can help you reach a wider audience and enhance your brand's recognition.
Offering free services or products can provide valuable feedback from users. This feedback can help you refine and improve your offerings, ensuring that your paid products or services better meet customer needs and expectations.
For new businesses or freelancers, doing work for free can help build a portfolio that showcases your skills and experience. This is especially important when you don’t have a substantial body of paid work to demonstrate your capabilities to potential clients or employers.
Free offerings allow you to test new ideas, products, or services with minimal risk. You can experiment with different approaches and gather data on what works best before making a significant investment. Before you go offering that course see if people are signing up for your related freebie.
Have you offered anything for free??
What has been the response?
Tune in next week for a continuation of this article.
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