Everyone loves a freebie

You can promote your business by giving away free samples of your product or service, offering free demonstrations or handing out useful products bearing your company name and contact information. When conducting a giveaway on the Net, keep the following tips in mind.

- Promote your offer: Utilize your storefront, e-mail and discussion group signatures, and newsgroups that carry notices about free items.

- Offer something relevant and valuable: Deliver as much value as possible to avoid looking stingy.

- Deliver it promptly: if your giveaway is a text document, consider offering it via a mailbot for instant delivery.

- Follow up: If you use e-mail or a mailbot you will have the e-mail addresses of people who requested your giveaway. Send follow-up notes a few days later to ask customers if they have any questions about your offer.