Monday, November 14, 2011

Free Samples


They're one of the reasons I'm drawn to stores like Costco. The management knows if they can get you to sample a product, you might put it in your shopping cart. It occasionally works with me.

Blogging, book excerpts, and details about our writing journey can act like a free sample. The reader gets familiar with your writing voice, your genre, and you as a person. There have been many posts about whether or not blogging is worthwhile. When we reach out to others and give them something that will help them, they'll keep coming back for more. Whether or not they buy anything, the friendships we make enrich our lives.

What are some of your favorite writing "free samples?"

Photo: dcandea








12 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan .. I agree we need to offer samples in some way .. and then people will come back for more.

I use free postcards that promote pickles and chutneys and include a recipe ... I think more of that sort of thing would be a way forward ..

Postcard poems .. etc

Useful thoughts here - thanks - Hilary

Katie Ganshert said...

I really like this post today, Susan, especially since I'm about to launch my website. I want to make sure I'm offering plenty of "free samples" on my new site!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I love how you can go to amazon and get a real feel for a book too now. That's been wonderful for my decision making process.
~ Wendy

Cindy R. Wilson said...

I like your take in this post. Yes, blogging and other such things are free samples of your writing and you as a person. There are so many authors I never would have found without getting some sort of sample of their writing - whether it was from their blog through simple blogging or through receiving a free book of theirs. Yay for free things!

Karen Lange said...

I like freebies, of course, who doesn't? lol I offer articles and links on my homeschool co-op site, and also on a homeschool site I manage. Working on adding a writer's help page to my personal site.
Happy Monday,
Karen

Sonya Lee said...

What a great analogy! I do enjoy reading other people's blogs to see "who they are" as well. And, yes, I enjoy those free samples at Costco, too!

Nancy said...

I enjoy sampling blogs and I enjoy reading about the writer's writing process. Both great freebies.

Melanie N. Brasher said...

Love this idea, Susan. It's so true. Now that I've been reading more my writing friends' blogs, I'm interested in reading their work. Have a great week!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Grr! Blogger just ate all my comments!

I don't have time to re-write them, but I enjoyed your input. Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Sarah Forgrave said...

I love this, Susan. I never thought about blogging in that light, but you're so right. It's just a little sampling of what readers will hopefully get in our books. :)

Marja Verschoor-Meijers said...

Wow Susan, I like this... blogging is indeed a sample of our writing. I always hope to offer a glimpse of how I think and read and process things. Some readers might like it, others won't...

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Sarah - I did a brief stint in the advertising world. One of the big goals was name recognition. Blogging helps people get to know who you are and what you have to offer.

Hi Marja - Yes, identifying and reaching our audience is a part of blogging.

Blessings,
Susan :)