Online Product Sampling?

by Katie Desmond - Senior Producer, Interactive
At first it may seem like an oxymoron; how can a company possibly put an online sample in consumers’ hands? While technically the trial doesn’t occur online, driving consumers to the web to request samples lays the foundation for a much longer consumer engagement than traditional hand-to-hand sampling. Not only does online sampling afford brands a chance to deliver samples, but it also allows brands the ability to capture contact information for future offers and more sampling!

Dove is a great example of a brand doing an excellent job in this space. The process to sign up on their site and request your choice of samples is very easy, and they offer a revolving variety of shampoos, lotions and soaps. They have won me over in the past by giving me the opportunity to try their products, often resulting in my own personal Dove purchase.

Not only is online sampling great for brands, but we see time and time again that consumers love it too. For our LifeStyles client we periodically offer samples and often it takes just 48 hours for us to “sell out” of samples! It’s a great way for consumers to try their products, and at the same time, LifeStyles receives thousands of new email addresses for future marketing initiatives.
Looking for a free sample? Check us out at www.lifestyles.com and sign up for the e-newsletter to get your hands on one of latest offerings from LifeStyles Condoms.

What are your thoughts on sampling? Do you think it is a great investment or a waste of money? What products/brands do you wish you could try? Let us know what you think!