Question? Do you benefit from doing reviews, contests give-a-ways?, product give-a-ways? These are just a few of the products I have given away to have my product promoted on blogs for reviews, free give-a-way, etc.
The reviewers all did a great job, the pictures were great. I have no complaints with the write up or how the reviews were handled. All in all I have given away a total of 14, yes 14 products since the beginning of the year ... that means the cost of making the product, (I am not counting my hours which were considerable considering I had to spend time picking out, ordering the fabrics, cutting out, sewing the aprons, and then paying for the postage for sending the aprons to the contest winners).
I know the idea is great, I appreciate all the hard work and energy of the Blog owners in writing the reviews, setting up the photos, running the contest, and notifying the winners. I do not have a complaint of how the give-a-ways were handled; everyone has done an excellent job of handling things.
My concern is that perhaps give-aways may not be the best for me. I have had my website looked over for content and pricing -- everything seems to be in line. But I have not had one sell from any of the contests.
I am just curious, has anyone had the same experience or has the Give-A-Way contests worked for you? I would love to hear from you and any advise, positive or negative, what has worked for you, if you have some better approaches to promoting? I feel, looking back, that for me it would have been better to take the $200 I spent for the give-a-ways and put it into paid advertising? what is your opinion?
I would love to hear from you, I am very open to learn from any suggestions you have to offer as far as paid advertisement vrs. "free" reviews/give-away-contests, product review with a product for promotion Looking forward to any and all ideas!
29 comments:
Just darling! your aprons are the sweetest ♥
I've had an apron that my mom made me while I was living at home~ I still wear it and its been many many moons since I've lived there. :)
it's a getting thin and quite faded but I could never throw it out!
I think that reviews are a great way to gain more exposure to your site even if you don't see the sales right now.
You should however experiment with paid advertising, such as PPC which would target customers looking for your product in particular.
I always recommend testing different sources.
Good luck! Your aprons are amazing.
I can understand exactly where you are coming from. The aprons are darling!! I am not sure what advice to give you. If your not getting any purchases then I would advertise instead. You have to do what your heart tells ya!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Stopping by from Harriet's Comment Challenge. I have an idea don't know if it will help and maybe you can get some answer. What about us writing together and I put something on my blog for you as a guest speaker about your aprons. I am not asking for anything in return. Just hope I can help ya!
I totally get what you are saying. I ran a giveaway on my site and it did drive a lot of traffic to the blog but no sales either. I think of it more as a publicity thing. I want my blog and product to become recognized so that when people are shopping for accessories they will think of me. I guess it is the same for you. You have probably gotten all you are going to get out of that form of promotion and looking for other more direct methods is a good idea.
I love your aprons and when i am in the market for one now i have you in mind. I love the baby bathing apron, it would be a great gift for a mommy to be! May I suggest not having any empty categories. And also making the mommy daughter matching apron easier for potential customers. My daughter and I have matching aprons. Just a thought. our aprons are very southern in style and are GORGEOUS! Swinging by from harriet's challenge. GOOD LUCK. I'll be back.
I don't sell anything, and have only held one giveaway for a sponsor who was selling children's books. I wondered too, if she actually got any sales out of it. Hope you can find a way to advertise that works out for you.
I have always been a little wary of giveaways. I ran one on my blog, and got a lot of comments and traffic to my blog, but don't think it has ever resulted in any extra sales.Lets face it...we make our products because we enjoy doing so, however we also need to make some cash to offset our materials and our time, so to giveaway a lot just does not make any sense. I agree with the other comments that there are better ways to promote your product. You aprons are so sweet, and not too many people make aprons so cute that I have seen!
I think giveaways are great for generating traffic and comments which will boost your ratings and advertisers where you can pick up some money. Selling on blog sites is not easy you have to go to the traditional places for sales on the net.
This is a great blog and beautiful aprons I love them and have three (one older one from my mom) hanging in my pantry.
Thanks for visiting grammology
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com
Your aprons are great. My daughter wants one. Maybe part of her birthday present.
ooo those are cute. i especially love the 3rd one. :)
i love your aprons.
I hope you can find a way that works better for you to bring you more sales.
Thanks for stopping by my blog
I want to thank everyone who gave some insight to subject of contests, give-a-way. I agree, they are great for exposure and the women involved in doing the reviews/contests do a great job and put a lot of thought and energy into the blogs.
I was just curious if anyone got sales; I found that my website itself generates sales and also being involved in various social networking. I just like to learn what is working for other women so again I appreciate all of your comments.
Thanks for visiting me, I love your blog.
Anne
hi, stopping by for the challenge
This is a tough one I think for everyone. Blog giveaways do a few things to help out. First, they build traffic to your site and then possibly page rank which puts you in a better position for all sorts of things (advertising, etc.)
You may want to consider holding a contest like Best Apron Memories with Mom or something like that to generate more traffic. Off extra entries for people who blog about it, Tweet about it, etc.
I still think celebrity swag bags and key product placement is a good niche for your aprons. They are so one-of-a-kind and getting them in the right place at the right time would help a lot.
Good luck!
Stacie
http://www.thedivinemissmommy.com
I don't sell anything but I've been doing blog giveaways featuring Etsy shops. I think everyone had fun entering the contests and the winners were happy but it didn't generate any sales.
First let me start by saying your aprons are just adorable!
I don't know that I would give products away to others to do a give away or review...I do reviews on my site where I ask other's if I can use their photos.
In terms of give aways in general, I've personally never seen a sale from one either, just a spike in traffic, which isn't necessarily the kind of traffic you want...i.e. they are just looking to get something free. I think give aways work for people who are already very successful and widely known across ecommerce sites unfortunately.
omgosh..these are cute! I would definitely be in the kitchen more if I were wearing one of these beauties!
coming through from Harriet's Comment Challenge:)I'm glad to have landed on your page:)
I have always wondered that myself. I have seen a few giveaways that I added to my wishlist for when my money situation is better.
I just love the apron on the adorable little girl - she's so cute and that apron is precious!!!
Love the aprons girl! I wish I could sew. TFS and for coming by!
I've never done a giveaway, so don't know the answer to that one. I do agree that you might test the waters with paid advertising and see how that goes.
I'm so glad someone said what I've been thinking. I have done several hundred dollars worth of giveaways and my stats did not change, nor did I see any changes in my sales.
It's frustrating sometimes.
I just absolutely adore your aprons!
Stacie
http://www.thedivinemissmommy.com
P.S. I am over visiting and checking out your blog from Harriet's 1000 Comment Challenge.r
Hi, Just stopping by for the challenge and thank you for stopping by my blog. Love your aprons. My daughters are into aprons. Christmas time is coming and they will be surprised to see your apron under the tree. As far as give aways, I've never tried it. I don't make my jewelry, I'm a Branch Director for Jewels by Park Lane and Park Lane is always giving Jewelry away. Our June savings are spectacular. We always have the $12 bonus buys and now thru July 29 we have the Free Specials. The five star hostess program is unbelieveable, check it out. Everything has an unconditional guarantee, no questions asked. Let me know what you think. I realize that it takes time to get any sales thru a blog. I had more sales thru working with the different forums. I did an online show which worked out really well and then I had someone who booked off of that to do a catalog show. She received lots of Free jewelry, she said it was like Christmas when her jewelry arrived. It was the My Bouya website which is listed on my site. I hope to do more of these. Just takes lots of time to get involved with them and there are so many. I think your aprons would do well in these moms forums. You can link to your blog so they can see your aprons. I'll let you know what else I can think of. I look forward to hearing from you.
I have had my site and blog for almost a year now, I have and continue to do giveaways of my products but it wasn't until the last couple of months that I have actually seen a spike in orders because of my blog. Sometimes it's hit and miss being a small handmade company, but I figure as long as I can get people to my site even if it is through a giveaway, maybe someone will remember me or tell their friends.
Hang in there hun, you have adorable products and great prices :)
I haven't been blogging long enough to do giveaways and stuff, but I've been trying to promote my book on line for several years. I think I've sold maybe 2 or 3 copies "cold" off my web site. I know it's all about getting things into the public eye, but this marketing business is really tough.
Love your aprons, but I just don't use the ones I have.
FAB Aprons you are very creative. Your little model is adorable too!
Stopping by from TwitterMoms to say Hi.
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