If it’s free, it’s for me — that’s one of my mottos. And that’s why I love free samples. But free samples are universally adored, and in recent years the customers getting the goods aren’t the only ones who are benefiting. Ecommerce companies and retailers alike are using samples as a way to raise awareness, convert more sales, and drive traffic to a product or webpage, and it’s working. 

On this episode of Up Next in Commerce, guest host Albert Chow talked to Doug Guyer, the Co-founder and Director of Strategic Development at Brandshare, the company that brings many of those free samples to your door. Doug explains that sampling is a tool that any brand can take advantage of, and if they do, they could see 97% of people who get the sample try it out, and 32% of those folks actually convert into buyers. It’s a massive opportunity, but Doug also says that most brands out there don’t know that this is possible. How has Doug and the team gotten the word out — including the story of how they landed their very first campaign with Tylenol — and what should brands be thinking about when they engage in the sampling strategy? Find out on this episode!

Main Takeaways:

• It’s Worth A Try: Very few marketing tactics are as effective as free samples. Reports from Brandshare indicate that well-run sampling campaigns see 97% try rates and as high as 32% conversion rates. Consumers are more willing to try something that is of no cost to them, and brands will be rewarded with both awareness and increased sales by making a relatively small investment in samples.
• Building Trust: When a brand gives a free sample, or includes a related free sample from another brand in a customer’s order, the original brand is seen as going above and beyond. Customers view the sample as a sort of curated experience that was sent just for them, and it creates more brand loyalty.
• Not a Cureall: While sampling is effective, it can’t solve all of a brand’s problems. A struggling company or a business that simply doesn’t have a good product will be negatively impacted by free sampling.

For an in-depth look at this episode, check out the full transcript below. Quotes have been edited for clarity and length.

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