Attention! This Book Will Make You Money: How to Use Attention-Getting Online Marketing to Increase Your Revenue

Chapter 68. Five Cents Is More Memorable Than Free

When times are tough and work is scarce, we all need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. After being laid off from an architecture firm for the second time, John Morefield knew something had to change. He could look for another job again, or give it a go on his own once and for all. So what did he do to get customers? He set up a booth at a local market in Seattle, Washington, and offered home renovation advice for five cents a shot. That's right, five cents.

Every Sunday, Morefield goes down to this local market and sets up a small table usually in between the guy selling fresh fish and the gal selling organic vegetables. He's there to offer expert advice on things like remodeling your kitchen or how best to add that second floor to your home. Of course, it's only 5 cents for his advice, which customers are expected to drop into a jar sitting on the tabletop. Silly, yes, but it works. He's gotten many customers to hire him to do things like review the plans for their remodel job, or even get him to come up with his own plans for what he would do. He's now well on his way to building a clientele that will ensure he never has to look for another job again.

Why not just go free? Well, free is great, but 5 cents is memorable and gets your attention. Here's an idea: Try pricing your products or services differently to get noticed. Why not make up a fake product and price it at some outrageous price like $10 million dollars? Put ...