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Have you ever wondered why companies both small and large will spend money to actually give things away to consumers? Would not their marketing dollars be better spent on advertising? Actually, freebies are one of the best ways for companies to advertise because it can help them improve sales.

If you will think about it, you will probably recall a time when the local supermarket was giving away small samples of food items – usually frozen food snack items. These samples give you a chance to actually try the product before you buy it. Once you've sampled it, the supermarket – and the manufacturer which probably sponsored the promotion – are fairly certain that you'll decide to purchase this for your own consumption at home later.

Internet freebies are similar to this, although you'll find that a lot of these offers will require you to meet certain qualifications before the offer is delivered. Usually, they're asking you to 'like' their fan page on Facebook, or to join their email list. This will open you up to other promotional offers. It's important for online marketers to build their customer list, and they view samples as being an economic way to do this. Without some kind of incentive, you probably will not give up your email address. However, if you can get a free box of breakfast cereal, you'll probably be more likely to relent and sign up.

Companies that offer items for new and expectant mothers will often give free samples to prospects whom they hope will become lifelong customers. As consumers, we tend to purchase products that we know an like.

Another form of freebie revolves around more stringent qualifications. For example, you may need to participate in several offers before you can get your freebie. You may also be prompted to invite your friends to join up also. These offers are not necessarily scams, but you'll find that it's a safe bet for the companies sponsoring the promotion. They will frequently offer extravagant gifts like free computers or free iPods with little risk of most participants meeting the qualifications.

When you sign up for online free offers, just make sure you read the fine print. It's also a good idea to use a 'throw-away' email address so you do not start receiving unwanted emails in your primary inbox.

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Source by Mark A. Hall