We've all been there: Sitting in front of the computer, hitting Refresh as an eBay auction reaches its final seconds. It's possible you've anticipated this moment for a few weeks, hoping you’ll emerge victorious. You've also probably bid more than you'd ever pay for an exact duplicate in a store—but you don't mind. Why? Because you know that once it's gone, it's gone forever.

Even if you don't use auctions (and most companies don't), Charlie Cook of the blog Marketing for Success says you can borrow a page from the eBay playbook to create the same sense of urgency in your offers and promotions.

Create a compelling limited-time offer. Give your customers a great reason to want your product or service. And to want it now.

Prompt action. Make it clear that the offer is ending soon. "Everyone tends to procrastinate and put off purchases until the last minute," writes Cook. "So make sure to include end dates for promotions, and let your prospects know about them."

Enforce the deadline. If a customer misses the offer, they miss it. Period. They’ll be more likely to respond to future offers within the campaign's time frame.

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