Have you ever heard the saying, "there's no such thing as a free lunch?" Well, when it comes to marketing, offering something for free can actually be a great way to earn trust and attention from your target audience. That's right, giving away something for free can actually lead to increased engagement and even sales.

Don't believe me? Let's take a closer look at the teachings of marketing expert Seth Godin.

So, why is offering something for free such a powerful marketing tool? It all comes down to human nature. As humans, we have a natural inclination towards receiving something for nothing. When we see an offer for something free, our curiosity is immediately piqued, and we want to learn more. This can translate into increased attention and engagement with your brand, which is crucial in today's crowded marketplace.

But, offering something for free is not enough on its own to build trust and attention. You need to offer something of real value that solves a problem or meets a need for your target audience. This is where the concept of "permission marketing" comes into play.

Permission marketing is all about earning the attention of your audience by providing them with something of value. By offering something for free that solves a problem or meets a need for your target audience, you're demonstrating your expertise and building trust.

For example, a software company could offer a free trial of their product. This allows potential customers to test out the software and see if it meets their needs before committing to a purchase. By offering this free trial, the software company is showing that they have confidence in their product and are willing to let customers try it out for themselves.

This builds trust and credibility with the customer, which can lead to a sale down the line.

Another example is a blog or podcast that provides valuable information to its audience for free. By sharing knowledge and expertise on a particular topic, the blog or podcast becomes a trusted source of information. This can lead to increased traffic and attention, as well as opportunities for monetization through sponsorships or advertising.

However, it's important to remember that free shouldn't be the end goal in itself. Giving something away for free should be part of a larger strategy to build trust and attention with your target audience. Free should be seen as a way to demonstrate the value of your product or service and create a positive experience for potential customers.

But, don't give away too much for free. This can devalue your product or service and make it harder to sell in the future. On the other hand, not giving away enough may not be enough to capture people's attention and generate interest. The key is to strike a balance between offering enough value to pique people's interest and create a positive experience, without giving away too much and undermining the value of your product or service.

It's also worth noting that free doesn't always have to mean giving away a physical product or service. It can also mean offering free resources, such as e-books, webinars, or white papers, that provide valuable information to your target audience. By offering these resources for free, you're demonstrating your expertise and building trust with your audience, which can lead to increased attention and sales.

To sum it up, free can be a powerful tool in marketing, but it should be used strategically as part of a larger plan to build trust and attention with your target audience. By offering something of genuine value for free, businesses can demonstrate their expertise, build credibility, and create a positive experience for potential customers. As Seth Godin says, "If you're not giving people something to talk about, you're not giving them enough."