The One-Time Offer: Bane of the Affiliate Marketer’s Existence

I despise one-time offers. If you are an affiliate marketer, you see these all the time. “Get this today and get E, F, and G plus H, I, and J on top of A, B, and C; or forever be without E-J.” Or, you can still get E-J later, but it will cost you a lot more. I always feel like I’ve been dragged into an alley by Big Igor and Little Jake and told I have a decision to make and I better make it snappy or else when it comes to one-time offers.

I have allowed myself to be brow-beaten into taking one-time offers, and sometimes they turn out to be worthwhile. But they always leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. Whether they work or not, I do not and never have believed in strong-arm sales. I don’t want to be shoved headlong into doing something. If I want it, I want to buy or upgrade on my timeline. I will sometimes recommend a product or service that has a one-time offer attached, but I will tell you if it has a one-time offer and whether or not the deal is worthwhile.

I understand the concept of, for instance, a month-long sale and it doesn’t bother me, especially in the case of the business trying to clear out stock. There is a time constraint, but the customer also has time to consider their options. Maybe they’ve been thinking about buying a doggy spa, but it was usually out of their price range. However, Pet Palace is clearing out the Princess line of Doggy Spas to make way for the new Queen Pooch Doggy Spa, and now the Doggy Spa becomes affordable for their furry little angel. The Doggy Spa company still services all previous models, so they decide this is a really good deal. The remaining Princess doggy spas are flying off the shelves, so the customer buys today. This is a legitimate sales technique and while it puts pressure on the customer, it is reasonable pressure given the circumstances.

Rex Halbeisen, a business analyst and motivational business blogger, addresses the important subject of losing the customer who would gladly purchase from you at another time by focusing too aggressively on the BUY NOW (OR ELSE) approach. Anyone who promotes any product or service would do well to have a look at his post on this subject by clicking on his name.

I’ve always preferred the soft sell myself. It isn’t a weak approach. Far from it, in fact. While strong-arming a customer may even get you a sale initially, they aren’t likely to return for more of the same treatment unless they have a masochistic streak. If you approach the customer with the attitude of a consultant rather than a lackey, you are far more likely to form a long-standing relationship with them, and they will be more likely to recommend your product or service and to return to you in the future.

Work together to make things better.

Have a happy Easter/Ostara/Spring Holiday.

Tags:affiliate marketing,hard sells,one time offers,strong arm sales tactics

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