At least once a week we get asked about common approach to offering bonuses -- has this technique been overused?

My answer is always same...

Crappy, freely available, 3rd party bonuses are definitely overused and have become quite ineffective.

Bonuses that are different, relevant and of high perceived value will often double or even triple your sales - It has happened to me.

WHY BONUSES WORK

Since beginning of time, bonuses have been used by advertisers to entice users to make a buying decision.

Bottom line is, they do work and here's why...

We make buying decisions based on emotions, you've no doubt heard that statement before.

However, being rational, thinking and logical humans, we also must justify our decision to buy we do that by convincing ourselves there is enough value to justify our emotional decision.

You read a sales letter, are intrigued by headline. Your attention is kept through first paragraph and you decide that you want product or service based on benefit statements you relate to.

Now, you check price - and it's somewhat higher than you anticipated.

Buyer's won't usually give up at this point.

They will actually attempt a value calculation by re-looking at what they get.

That's where your bonuses can make a big difference - they either justify cost and click your order button, or they are gone forever.

5 EFFECTIVE BONUSES YOU CAN USE

It used to be you could throw just about anything into your offer and it would increase your response rate.

Not today though, today's customers look closely at benefit they will get from their bonuses.

Select right combination and you can still easily double or even triple your response rate.

So what can you bundle that will provide value for your customers WITHOUT taking months to create?

Here are 5 power-packed bonus ideas to increase your sales:

1. Work Sheet or Checklist.

This is one of our favorites, we've had terrific feedback using checklists in past - some of which could have been sold on their own. If you have a product that explains a series of steps, processes, techniques or strategies to your customers, then pulling those into a checklist can be extremely simple and effective.

Use Microsoft Word's ability to insert a square symbol and a check mark - you will find both under "Webdings" symbol options.

Checklists are also wonderful bonuses to use for tele seminars, coaching sessions, consulting services, seminars and other educational opportunities.

2. Short Summary.

2) Write copy first. I believe copy drives project. (Unless this is a print ad, in which case visual and headline will often dominate).

3) Read your copy word for word to your designer. You’d be amazed how often designers don’t understand project because they haven’t been properly briefed. Your designer is going to be expressing in design same persuasive arguments that you / your writer will be articulating in words.

4) Ensure that your designer communicates your branding i.e. values you are trying to communicate.