Affiliate marketers and entrepreneurs alike seek to answer one main objective: how to persuade a customer, or, how to convince a customer to take action, in this case, drive them to buy a product. Affiliate marketing is very competitive, and no matter what you try to advertise, at least a dozen other affiliates are doing it at the same time as you. This means that if you want to get sales and conversions, you need to work harder and smarter. Being able to persuade customers in making a purchase is one of the cornerstones of successful affiliate marketing. So then, how does one convince a customer that their offer is better than others, or for that matter, keep them coming back? This article aims to answer these questions.
One of the best ways to improve your conversions and sales is through scarcity techniques. These are often referred to as FOMO or fear of missing out, and they are a great way to get people who are on the edge of converting to convert and become a customer.
Marketers use this tactic as it triggers a reaction in customers that something is more valuable than it might be because it is limited and in demand. They are convinced that people know something that they don’t if that product is getting sold out and there is a sense of urgency that is hard to resist.
Of course, creating something that invokes that emotion and convinces customers that they are getting something valuable is hard to do, but here are some techniques you can utilize to push customers to take action! We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 techniques to push customers to take action. Let’s dive in.
1. Limited-Time Offers
Imagine you’re the customer and you want a product. This might be a product that you have already decided that you want, but pricing may be the issue holding you back from committing to the purchase. You convince yourself to wait until the item drops in price before finally committing. What’s a great way to convince these types of customers to take action? Limited-time offers!
Limited-time offers are offers that are seemingly available only for a short time. Usually, it's during some special promotion, sale, or event. These offers are usually a great deal and are heavily limited in time or quantity as the deal is considered to be “too good” to be a regular deal.
Example: “Get 50% off all items! The sale ends at midnight.”
The FOMO, or, 'fear of missing out' here is a strong motivator. When customers know an offer won’t last long, they are more likely to make a quick decision to buy. And it's usually what pulls them over the edge if they are indecisive! Just remember, it's all about balance. Overusing limited-time offers might convince your customers to wait for another limited-time deal to arise before making a purchase.
2. Low Stock Alerts
If you ever visited a big online retailer like Amazon or even Temu, you will quickly see that a lot of items have this stock alert that tells you that there are only a few left. This, as with most things on this list, creates FOMO and people often think that since something is selling out, it has to be great.
With a simple counter that tells people that limited stock is available, sales can be increased up to 60% in some cases. Of course, if you overuse that alert and put it on most of the things you sell, then it doesn't have the same impact, so save it for the items that you have the biggest margins on!
Example: “Only 3 items left in stock. Order now!”
3. Exclusive Access
Connecting with your customers can be done in all sorts of ways. One great way to make them feel valued and probably make an extra sale or two is by giving your established customer base exclusive access to special deals. The exclusive deals don't have to be only for your customers, maybe you can spread it to people who read your blog, or people who signed up for your newsletter, but make sure that they have to do something to get it!
Example: “Members-only flash sale! Access ends in 24 hours.”
Remember that exclusivity makes a customer feel like you truly value their business. By providing exclusive deals to just those who have purchased your products or offers before, you are providing a means to build trust, thereby improving customer relations. For a more in-depth discussion about how to improve customer interactions and customer relations, check out another one of our blogs here.
Exclusivity can enhance the perceived value of an offer. Customers are more likely to act when they feel they have access to something special and time-sensitive. But as with all things, use it on special occasions, and not all the time to keep its value.
4. Seasonal Promotions
There is always some holiday or special event happening somewhere in the world, and if you are smart, you will be using this to the max! People expect discounts for special holidays and they sometimes will put off purchasing until such an event, so don’t forget to create special sales and discounts!
Example: “Black Friday Sale! Unbeatable prices, one day only!”
Seasonal promotions align with customers’ shopping habits and expectations, making them more receptive to time-limited offers. make sure to have something for every major holiday!
5. Countdown Timers
What are countdown timers and how do they influence purchases? Timers are a great way to get people moving. After all, people generally don't like being put under pressure, so applying this technique might be the difference to drive them to convert! Using big and bold timers that count down to a time that is less than one day is a great way to get people to click 'Complete Purchase'. Usually, these timers are completely fake, and people can order the same thing at the same price after it runs out, but that is something you should avoid.
If there is a counter, make sure it's real, as people will notice, especially if they decide not to buy, and come back later. This will make them more likely to engage with your timers the next time they see them!
Example: “Hurry! Sale ends in: 02:15:32”
6. Limited Edition
How can limited edition products boost sales? If you have a product that is usually selling well, you can create limited edition variants to boost your sales a bit more. These limited edition variants can be products of different colors, designs, or materials, or services that offer a bit more than usual. It's important to mention that these should have a real limit in quantity, so that it's actually a limited edition.
Example: “Limited edition sneakers. Only 100 pairs available!”
7. Similar Products
Never underestimate the power of an add-on product! When adding something to a cart or buying, it could be a great thing to add a recommendation of similar products that are only available if you already purchased the thing you added to the cart in the first place. This could be some product or service that accompanies the main one and acts as an upsell.
Example: “Users who purchased [X] also purchased [Y]. This offer is limited to customers of [X] only!
8. Limited Pre-Orders
What role do limited pre-orders play in affiliate marketing? If the game industry has taught anyone anything it is that preorders are a great way to boost your sales and offer some rewards for products that are not even available yet. If your product stack allows for it, make a preorder bonus for your product or service that is only available before the public release of the thing you are selling. Try combining limited edition items to your limited pre-order to persuade a customer to purchase early.
This way people are incentivized to purchase right away and you will have a rough idea of how popular a certain product is before you even have stock of it!
Example: “Pre-order now! Limited Bonus available to the first 500 customers.”
These limited pre-orders create a sense of exclusivity and urgency, encouraging customers to act quickly to secure their spot.
9. Exclusive Bundles
How can exclusive bundles enhance sales? Bundles are always a great way to increase the Average Order Value of your customer. Try bundling similar products together at a lowered price to get people to spend more on your shop than they might have expected in the first place. You need to make sure that these bundles are a good deal, otherwise, people won't be as enthusiastic about them! By combining this tactic with our third example, Exclusive Access, you're sure to have a winning formula!
Example: “Exclusive bundle offer! Get it before it’s gone.”
10. Time-Limited Freebies
What are time-limited freebies and how do they affect purchases? Limited gifts with your purchase are often used to push people to commit to purchasing right away. Usually, these are small gifts, free courses, or software trials that users get after purchasing the main item. These can be of various types, quality, and value, but usually, the more perceived value it holds, the better!
Example: “Free gift with every purchase for the next 24 hours!”
Time-limited freebies add extra value to a purchase, encouraging customers to buy now rather than later. Just make sure that the gift you are giving is not impacting your bottom line too much!
Conclusion
Using the above examples of convincing a customer will drastically improve sales. Scarcity tactics are a common way to boost sales and increase revenues and it's not something you should avoid. Every retailer and affiliate uses some of these tactics and it's expected to use at least some of them.
No matter what you decide to do and when, keep in mind that always having something on sale is not ideal as well, as people will be under the impression that your shop is always on sale, and they will wait for better and better sales, probably not buying anything in the process.
So as with anything, balance it as best as you can to get ideal results! Mastering these techniques will have you convincing or persuading customers like a pro in no time!
What scarcity tactics do you utilize and how do they impact your bottom line? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
Please log in to Facebook to access the comments section