Sneaky Marketing Tricks
I don’t know why I call these sneaky marketing tricks. They are really tricks that help you earn commissions but add value to your customer.
Offer a complement.
The main trick that I like to use involves adding a complement to the product that you are trying to sell. If you remember in my previous post about how to make a WordPress theme, I offered to personally create the theme for anybody who signed up through PowWeb. This little technique can be used for so many different products. I am a fan of the theme creator Artisteer, so I offer free tutorials and personal help to anybody who purchases through my link. If you can think of creative ways to complement the product that you are trying to sell, you can gain an upper hand against the competition selling the same product.
In the past, I have also pushed products through Clickbank. This method works extremely well for digital products as well. The trick that I like to use is that I look for areas where the e-book or digital video product may be lacking a little bit. I then explain to my readers how this product lacks. But then I offer a complement to the product to offset the deficiency. It is an insanely powerful marketing method. The whole idea behind this method is that you are grabbing people who would buy the product anyway but convincing them to purchase it through you instead of somebody else.
Offer your product for free.
The other technique that I commonly use is to flat-out offer a really great product for free. Give the people who are going to be reading or using this product extreme value. When somebody accesses your product and they see what great value you offer, they are going to want more, and they are going to want to purchase your follow-up products. This technique also relates to list building. You offer your product for free in exchange for an e-mail address. Once people realize the great value that you are giving to them for free, you will have them on a mailing list to offer your follow-up products. This technique only works if your free product is truly a great product. If you offer the people a crap product, they are going to think that your paid product is crap as well.
Only promote products that you feel strongly about.
Many online consumers have an ability to see past insincere product promotions. It is important to promote products that you have used and that you feel strongly about. This works in two ways. First, it is so much easier for you to write about it because you feel strongly about it and you understand its worth. You can honestly recommend this product and feel confident that the people you are recommending it to will enjoy it as well. Besides, if you are offering a complement to the product, how will you know what to offer or how to offer it if you do not really know what you are promoting? The second reason this is important is because most online consumers can feel your passion and your sincerity towards the product. It is so much easier to sell a product. When you know exactly what you are promoting and exactly how your customers will benefit from it.
Use some of these “tricks” and watch your commissions grow. Have any other tricks or want to let me know how these have worked for you? Please leave your comments. I love the interaction.
Facebook comments:
Joe Fier (19)
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David Walker (18)
Jim Hardin (17)
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Matt,
Some great ideas there.
Another method that is worth considering, is sell your front end product very cheaply for about $7.00, then offer the people that buy it the opportunity to sign up to your affiliate program & earn 100% commission on your front end product.
That way you get free traffic from others & then you can focus on your backend product, which is where the real money is.
Rob Willis?s last blog ..How to Leverage the Power of Web 2.0 to Get Highly Targeted Traffic.
That’s a great idea. I have heard of people offering a really great ebook for only $1. They then require that the ebook be registered after it is purchased. Now the person must opt-in to receive the product that they just paid for. Well, they just spent a dollar so of course they are going to opt-in. Now you are building a list of people who already like what you do and have already spent money on your product. It’s time to promote the backend product. (Where the real money is made)
Thanks for commenting!
Matt, I think if you’re adding value, it’s wrong to even call them “tricks” ! But then again, a word like that does catch the eye and make the reader think, “Hey, I want to know about that !”. Add it to sneaky adjectives, (like, err … “sneaky”) and a cute pic and you have a great post. So thanks ! I’ve learned even more about being “sneaky” from just thinking about how you’ve written what you’ve written
Rog
Rog?s last blog ..Alex Jeffreys Strikes Again !
Shhh. You are giving away my secrets
Using words like sneaky and tricks grab people’s attention and make them want to read. Hopefully the content of the post was something they found valuable and will make them want to come back. Pretty sneaky, eh? Thanks so much for the comment! I really appreciate it!
Hi Matt,
That’s a great idea for those of us who have a problem thinking of a product to create,
Thanks
Keith
Keith Purkiss?s last blog ..I Stopped Counting At 21!
It sure is. Affiliate marketing is a great way to get your feet wet, promoting a product. Thanks for the comment!
Matt
Great information! You are exactly right in your last paragraph. Promote products you feel strongly about. That is so important. It is so much easier to sell a product you believe in and that you are passionate about as you are being honest with your customer about the product. If you sell a customer a quality product that you honestly believe in and that works they will feel comfortable with you and come back for more. Repeat customers!
Jim Hardin?s last blog ..Random Thought
You know, there are so many marketers out there that just promote what has the highest commissions. They have no idea if it’s a good product or not. I think that’s going to come back to bite them one day. I strongly believe that it is impossible to really come across as passionate about a product you know nothing about.
Thanks for stopping by again! I really appreciate it!
Hey Matt…
Sorry if this one is off topic, well, maybe just a little.
While Alex Jefferies was doing that FANTASTIC brain-storming session about the students websites, I made notes of the ones I thought were best and that I wanted to get back to and look over. Yours was the first one! You are doing a great job here, and bringing out some good real content, which Im sure is helping everyone who reads them.
Thanks for visiting my site and your neat remarks. If you didnt see my answer to you… it was: “You can come to my house anytime you want”
I hope we can become really great pals and buddies.
Daylynne
Daylynne Starr?s last blog ..
Hi Daylynne!
Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you enjoyed my blog! You’re in Washington, right? I love it up there! I have a lot of family there. I can’t wait to get to know everyone better. I think we’ll all be good pals by the time this whole thing is done! Thanks for commenting on my blog!
Nice work Matthew and yes the best thing is that one only promotes what one believes in from the bottom of their heart. As sometimes posts become so transparent that the “surfer” can see if its being SOLD to them or suggested.
Thx
Wakas Mir?s last blog ..Which wordpress plugins to use?
That’s the way it works. We are not selling something, we are simply recommending something what we use and strongly believe others would benefit from. Thanks so much for commenting!
Hi Matt,
Great seeing your blog on the live call last night. I can’t believe it’s only been online for about 2 weeks. I dropped by briefly before to check you out and got the first impression the blog was a lot more established – testament to the great work you have done so far!
There are some great ideas in this post but may I also add “Produce a Video Endorsement”? I think this would be a great way to promote affiliate products and would appear a bit less “salesey” if trying to drive traffic to the offer via Twitter.
I’d love to catch up with you on Skype at some point, I have added you.
Keep in touch.
David
David Walker?s last blog ..Six Ways To Get More Done in Less Time
Hey David,
Hey thanks for the kind words! Doing a video is another great idea. It gives people the opportunity to see that you are a real person. If you are promoting a product, maybe even show yourself using the product in the video. This proves to people that you do use this yourself.
Thanks for commenting. We’ll have a chat on Skype soon.
While not exactly “sneaky,” I see what you’re going for with that headline…pretty cool.
I also like that with each “trick,” you are providing value to your customers, and doing quite the opposite of the title – being straightforward and truthful in your marketing. I think that fits well with my view of how we should conduct ourselves as marketers.
I think our mentor would agree. Keep up the good work. You provide a good example to the rest of us.
JR Biasi?s last blog ..Autoresponders
Hey thanks JR! It was pretty sneaky wasn’t it? It’s the only way I promote and it’s starting to pay off. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
Matt, the main reason I love this post is because I STRONGLY believe that sincerity is POWERFUL! I completely agree, it is vitally important to sell stuff you genuinely believe in not just stuff that will grab you a quick buck.
Having this outlook is why you will succeed man, and yep thats a great title for the post my friend, certainly grabbed my attention!
Josh Bartlett?s last blog ..You Know More Than You Think!
It is so true! And thank you for the words of encouragement. I only promote products that I use myself. I would have a really hard time promoting something if I didn’t.
Thanks so much for the comment!
Hi Matt.
ah ha enjoyed watched your video in your experience in las vegas last weekend…
i lloked at your blog refer “sneaky marketing tricks”
I try to save my time and use artisteer trial download..almost done but I tried to export to my website(Word Press)..it seem not connected??
any advice ,please.
I enjoy your blog because it is educational and tips.I like your survey from bogs or clients which topics motivates or interest them…blog tutorial come top(No Surprise…..!)
Chat soon
Brendan