{"id":14697,"date":"2014-06-10T06:00:53","date_gmt":"2014-06-10T13:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativemarket.com\/blog\/?p=14697"},"modified":"2024-03-28T04:50:02","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T11:50:02","slug":"how-to-increase-your-shop-sales-using-the-strategic-giving-technique","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativemarket.com\/blog\/how-to-increase-your-shop-sales-using-the-strategic-giving-technique","title":{"rendered":"How to Increase Your Shop Sales (Using The Strategic Giving Technique)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the first post in an awesome new series by top-selling Creative Market shop owner Dustin Lee (RetroSupply Co.<\/a>). In each post, Dustin will share with us some of his knowledge and expertise on how to be successful on Creative Market.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Grow Sales Through Giving<\/span><\/h2>\n

\nWhen I used the strategy I’m going to tell you about today, my sales went through the roof. And if you want to grow your sales on Creative Market, you’d be silly to ignore it.
\nHere’s why: Because this one strategy is the most inexpensive, easy, and effective ways I’ve found to make sales.<\/strong>
\nI can personally pinpoint a direct correlation between this strategy and my sales. I call it the “Strategic Giving” Technique<\/strong> and if you’re looking to boost your sales you need to read this.\n<\/p>\n

<\/span>What is Strategic Giving?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\nStrategic Giving is based on The Law of Reciprocity.
\nIf you really want to geek out, here’s an article<\/a> from the Journal of Economic Perspectives.
\nBut this quote from the article sums it up:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

“Reciprocity means that in response to friendly actions, people are frequently much nicer and much more cooperative than predicted by the self-interest model;”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nIn other words, people are more likely to buy from people that give them stuff.
\nJust this weekend someone used the law of reciprocity on me to great effect. I went to Costco to buy one of those gigantic jars of trail mix (a hot item at my house). On my way to the trail mix aisle, a lady at a sample booth handed me a piece of sweet and sour chicken on a toothpick.
\nAs I ate it, she started telling me about why this sweet and sour chicken was the best.
\nHere’s the crazy part:<\/strong>
\nEven though I had zero interest in sweet and sour chicken (at first), I listened!
\nLong story short, I walked out of Costco with a 5 lbs box of sweet and sour chicken. Why?Because when she handed me that chicken, she activated the law of reciprocity. The sweet and sour chicken obligated me to listen.
\nHere’s the great part, this law doesn’t just help sell sweet and sour chicken. It also helps sell your design goods.
\nHere are 8 ways you can use “Strategic Giving”, aka The Law of Reciprocity, to boost your sales:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

<\/span>1. Give to Influencers<\/span><\/h2>\n

\nEvery industry has influencers. Do a quick search of phrases related to your product. You’ll find a dozen or so names that show up again and again.
\nSend the author a related product you’ve created for free. Include a brief note describing the product and why you thought they might like it.
\nWhen I created my product RetroSupply<\/a>, I sent a copy to Chris Spooner creator of the popular blog Spoon Graphics<\/a>. Not in hopes of making sales, but because I genuinely like Chris and wanted to give something back to him.
\nThis simple gesture resulted in him sharing my product with his audience. Which generated a LOT of sales.
\nTip: Consider this an opportunity to meet new friends. Send your pack to people who you believe will benefit from it. Let them know how you found them and what you liked about their article.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

<\/span>2. Give On Social Networks<\/span><\/h2>\n

\nSocial networks are a great place to offer a product sample. It makes it easy for others to share. Plus, it’s always fun to stumble across something useful for free.
\nBy using an app like Buffer<\/a> you can schedule posts throughout the day sharing samples of your goods. Be sure to make it easy for people scanning their social networks to spot the good by using the word “free” early in the message.
\nHere’s an example tweet:<\/strong>
\nIcon Freebie: Download 5 of my latest icons from my Summer Icon Pack here: [insert your link]<\/em>
\nBe sure to include a link in the file to the location they can buy the pack.\n<\/p>\n

<\/span>3. Share Your Process<\/span><\/h2>\n

\nMake it a habit to document your process.
\nHere are some simple ways to share your work:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n