NEW YORK: Giveaways or "freebies" might seem counter intuitive to a marketing strategy aimed at driving sales, but what many don't realize is that the exposure gained through free promotion can help build your audience and lead to future sales. While realistically not every download of a free content offering will lead to a purchase, your brand can still benefit from establishing its credibility and expertise. If you need further convincing, here are four reasons why free giveaways will result in greater pay-off for your business:

1. Freebies and strategic pricing helps your content get discovered. There are an estimated 350,000 books published each year. Stand out from the crowd by giving readers a reason to choose your book over another. 

2. Freebies increase your exposure. Sites like Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing Program Promoting can place your book directly in front of a large group of people at once. Additionally, promoting your giveaway via email, newsletters, and social media will attract more attention to your content.

3. Freebies can spark reader interest in other product offerings.  Thought-leadership builds credibility, expands your following, and persuades readers to become customers.

4. Freebies expand your fan base. You can continue to build upon new relationships with your audience by sharing ideas, posting great content, and making connections on social media. The more you reach out, the more effective you'll be at building and growing your audience.

For additional context and tips on how to use free promotions as a marketing tool, read the latest article by Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., on PR Newswire's Small Business Toolkit: http://bit.ly/1pLSSCo

PR Newswire's Small Business PR Toolkit is a comprehensive resource that provides small businesses and entrepreneurs the tools to develop an affordable public relations and marketing plan that helps generate interest from potential customers, engage with key audiences and grow their businesses. The toolkit features relevant content such as informative white papers, interactive webinars and how-to articles and premium access to educational resources, as well as the opportunity to take advantage of special offers designed specifically for small businesses. To request information on how PR Newswire can help your small business, click here. You can receive updates on new Small Business PR Toolkit content by following @prnsmallbiz on Twitter.

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