Ten Ways to Increase Sales Without Discounts
Grow sales and keep your profits high — no discounts needed
Discounting is often the first tactic small businesses turn to when they need a quick sales boost. It surely is a time-proven method to increase sales in the short run. However, it might hurt your own wallet if you sell too cheaply.
For service-based businesses, discounts aren’t always an option. Let’s imagine you sell your skills and time, and not products. In consulting and coaching, for example, you cannot cut your price per hour down to 50%. It is not sustainable as the only thing you will “earn” in the end is burnout.
That’s why we’ve put together ten powerful ways to boost your sales without cutting your prices.
Offer Bonuses
Rather than cutting prices, try adding value by offering complementary products, exclusive content, or specialized guides. These bonuses boost the perceived value of your offer and make your customers feel like they're getting something extra. We at the Applet Studio often give bonuses when selling our courses. Here, in the Digital Strategy workshop, we offer not one, but three extra bonuses. All that it takes is an extra section on your sales page and an extra slide in your IG post.
Special Purchase Conditions
Set up time-sensitive offers that add appeal without lowering prices. For example, offer free shipping (for products) or a one-time coupon for new customers. Customers should feel the urgency to buy so that they won’t miss the special conditions.
Engage Customers in Raffles or Lotteries
Giving customers a chance to win a prize is a great way to spark interest without cutting into your profits. It builds excitement around your product or service and often attracts a wider audience. While it might not drive immediate sales, it can increase your social media following, bringing in potential future buyers.
As a digital marketer for other organizations, I often raffled off cinema tickets. When running a raffle, set conditions like following your page, liking a post, tagging a friend, leaving a comment, or subscribing to your newsletter. The goal is to bring people into your sales funnel – but be careful not to add too many steps, as they can create unnecessary resistance.
Counter-Offers
Sometimes, customers reach out directly via email or Instagram DMs asking for a discount – especially when they’ve missed a sale because they didn’t open their email in time. We usually are glad to give people promo codes for discounts, it is not a problem. However, when it comes to our services, we don’t engage in bargaining.
If a customer asks for a discount, you can always respond with an alternative offer instead. You could suggest a more affordable product or service, or offer a bundle at a slightly lower price. This way, you maintain value without compromising on your pricing, and you keep the conversation going.
Add some class
Improve the overall presentation. For products, this means premium packaging, personalized touches, and a pleasant unboxing experience. For service providers, it’s about giving your website, newsletter, and Instagram account a polished redesign. You can also enhance your onboarding and booking processes to make the experience even better.
Price Range
Offer a range of pricing options to suit different customers, from budget to premium. This gives customers more choices and makes upselling to higher tiers easier. In our Squarespace CSS course, we offer two options: a self-paced package and individual tutoring. The self-paced option is affordable and budget-friendly, while the tutoring option is for those willing to invest more for extra hours with a mentor.
Work on your Sales Page
Your sales page should sell. It should clearly show the value of your product. List all the features, benefits, and advantages compared to alternatives, focusing on how your product improves lives or solves problems. A comparison table can help customers quickly see why your product is the better choice. Highlight what makes your product unique, so customers don’t feel the need for a discount. Lastly, show how your product saves money in the long run, making it a smart investment.
A good idea is to buy a sales page template that includes all the layouts needed from a marketing perspective. Providers like us know the proven sales page structures that sell and convert. You’ll just need to insert your images and copy into the suggested pre-planned sections.
“Sandwich” the Benefits
Present your product’s most valuable features first, follow up with supporting details, and close with the standout benefits again. This technique reinforces key points and leaves a strong impression, giving customers multiple reasons to feel confident in the purchase. It works especially well in an Instagram gallery.
Break Down the Price
Divide the total price into smaller pieces, such as calculating cost per month. This makes the purchase feel more affordable, especially if the product or service is on the pricier side. You don’t need to actually offer installment options – just explain the logic in your copy.
Offer bundles
Bundles often sell better because they offer customers more value for their money. By packaging products or services together, you create the perception of a better deal. Customers are likely to buy more than they planned because the offer looks more appealing. It’s also easy to sell services in packages – for example, offering ten consultations with a minimal discount on each, such as $5 off per session.
When negotiating with clients we often bundle up custom website design with business automation. We also discovered that bundling up several templates creates a great offer for marketing agencies and web designers who use Squarespace Templates for their clients.
Filed in: Business
