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Free Prize Inside!: The Next Big Marketing Idea
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Free Prize Inside
and learn how to create something incredible that your customers won't be able to resist. Make something happen!
Remember when cereal boxes came with a free prize inside? You already liked the cereal, but once you saw that there was a free prize inside - something small yet precious - it became irresistible.
In his new book, Seth Godin shows how you can make your customers feel that way again. Here's a step-by-step way to get your organization to do something remarkable: quickly, cheaply and reliably. You don't need an MBA or a huge budget. All you need is a strategy for finding great ideas and convincing others to help you make them happen.
Free Prize Inside is jammed with practical ideas you can use right now to MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN, no matter what kind of company you work for. Because everything we do is marketing - even if you're not in the marketing department.
Remember when cereal boxes came with a free prize inside? You already liked the cereal, but once you saw that there was a free prize inside - something small yet precious - it became irresistible.
In his new book, Seth Godin shows how you can make your customers feel that way again. Here's a step-by-step way to get your organization to do something remarkable: quickly, cheaply and reliably. You don't need an MBA or a huge budget. All you need is a strategy for finding great ideas and convincing others to help you make them happen.
Free Prize Inside is jammed with practical ideas you can use right now to MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN, no matter what kind of company you work for. Because everything we do is marketing - even if you're not in the marketing department.
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First published May 11, 2004
64 people are currently reading
1532 people want to read
About the author
Seth Godin
164 books6,564 followersSeth W. Godin, also known as "F. X. Nine", is an American author and a former dot com business executive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
January 8, 2020
My 9th Seth Godin book—they all contain valuable nuggets.
This one was relatively short and sweet, and even though it was published in 2004, there are still great insights/reminders.
“You can keep waiting to get plucked from obscurity, or you can learn how to champion your project one person at a time.”
“Differentiation is a zero-sum, advertising-based game.”
Looking forward to reading every book Godin has written!
This one was relatively short and sweet, and even though it was published in 2004, there are still great insights/reminders.
“You can keep waiting to get plucked from obscurity, or you can learn how to champion your project one person at a time.”
“Differentiation is a zero-sum, advertising-based game.”
Looking forward to reading every book Godin has written!
March 31, 2023
2023 reads, #32. Digested as a synopsis through the summarizing service Blinkist. In fact, this is my first week on Blinkist, and one of the things I only realized today is that sometimes your automated playlist in the app can suddenly switch over to "recommended listens," where suddenly it's Blinkist's algorithms that are picking new 15-minute book summaries then automatically starting to play them on your phone while you're out on a walk. That's how I ended up accidentally listening to a Seth Godin title today, a marketing pioneer who I have this very complicated relationship with. Initially one of the early intellectual gurus (i.e. "thought leaders") of the Startup Age, along with, oh, let's see, productivity obsessives like Merlin Mann and cultural publications like Boing Boing, I really dug his first several books when they originally began appearing in the early '00s, giving a kind of blueprint as to how to promote and sell the bizarrely science-fictiony products and services that were starting to emerge out of the first big wave of online innovators of the '90s "Dot Com era," as they transitioned into the "Web 2.0" of Google, Facebook, Twitter and the like.
But as the years have continued and that entire community then became an industry, then a juggernaut, then eventually a sour toxin slowly poisoning our entire society, Godin and his "you can sell anything with enough clever bullshit" antics has started leaving more and more of a bad taste in my mouth, and I'm starting to look back at his in-hindsight sometimes very morally sketchy advice as maybe one of the things that was actually making America start to come apart at the seams in these years, along with an increasingly draconian tech industry that used Godin's smart-alecky thoughts about how you can sell anything with a good enough yarn to start forcing more and more evil things onto their customers, and along the way financing a series of extreme right-wing politicians vowing to make it easier and easier for these draconian companies to operate in such a manner. Is it fair to lump Godin in with all of this? Maybe or maybe not, as is the following, that I seemingly can't hear Godin's name anymore without conjuring up the putrid little pig-face of Nazi higher-up and propaganda master Heinrich Himmler, whose audacious acts like the deliberately terrifying design of Gestapo uniforms and strategically far-away locations of concentration camps is nothing but a highly effective early form of modern 21st-century marketing. If you read one of Godin's early-'00s books now with the specific mindset that you want to do something evil with what you're learning, they're actually kind of terrifying reads, which is why I would not have deliberately picked this 2004 book's inclusion in my Blinklist booklist if their algorithms hadn't thrown it in without me noticing. There's a bunch of these kinds of books at Blinkist, to be honest, from these always-be-grinding "side hustle/startup years" of the '00s and '10s, and they're starting to make me see these years now here in the '20s in a whole new light.
But as the years have continued and that entire community then became an industry, then a juggernaut, then eventually a sour toxin slowly poisoning our entire society, Godin and his "you can sell anything with enough clever bullshit" antics has started leaving more and more of a bad taste in my mouth, and I'm starting to look back at his in-hindsight sometimes very morally sketchy advice as maybe one of the things that was actually making America start to come apart at the seams in these years, along with an increasingly draconian tech industry that used Godin's smart-alecky thoughts about how you can sell anything with a good enough yarn to start forcing more and more evil things onto their customers, and along the way financing a series of extreme right-wing politicians vowing to make it easier and easier for these draconian companies to operate in such a manner. Is it fair to lump Godin in with all of this? Maybe or maybe not, as is the following, that I seemingly can't hear Godin's name anymore without conjuring up the putrid little pig-face of Nazi higher-up and propaganda master Heinrich Himmler, whose audacious acts like the deliberately terrifying design of Gestapo uniforms and strategically far-away locations of concentration camps is nothing but a highly effective early form of modern 21st-century marketing. If you read one of Godin's early-'00s books now with the specific mindset that you want to do something evil with what you're learning, they're actually kind of terrifying reads, which is why I would not have deliberately picked this 2004 book's inclusion in my Blinklist booklist if their algorithms hadn't thrown it in without me noticing. There's a bunch of these kinds of books at Blinkist, to be honest, from these always-be-grinding "side hustle/startup years" of the '00s and '10s, and they're starting to make me see these years now here in the '20s in a whole new light.
September 12, 2022
Even though this book is from 2004, a lot of the advice is still very relevant today. A few ideas applied to my world as a priest:
- always start by identifying what people need, and ask yourself how you can help. Applied to the church: look around for people who need your help instead of asking you how others can help you survive.
- you often don't have to reinvent the wheel, giving it a makeover can already do wonders. The church doesn't have to start anew, but it can aim to bring what has worked for centuries with more attention to quality and making it easier to access what it has to offer.
- having a great idea is only the beginning, you have to work on 'selling' the idea by connecting to individual people around you. Transposed to my world: parish renewal starts by connecting with a few people that may become your partners instead of pitching your ideas to the pope and hoping that he will implement it.
- use existing audiences. Why look for new audiences while forgetting your current ones? Don't try to bring in young people in church while forgetting about the group that is already there. Get them exited too.
- always start by identifying what people need, and ask yourself how you can help. Applied to the church: look around for people who need your help instead of asking you how others can help you survive.
- you often don't have to reinvent the wheel, giving it a makeover can already do wonders. The church doesn't have to start anew, but it can aim to bring what has worked for centuries with more attention to quality and making it easier to access what it has to offer.
- having a great idea is only the beginning, you have to work on 'selling' the idea by connecting to individual people around you. Transposed to my world: parish renewal starts by connecting with a few people that may become your partners instead of pitching your ideas to the pope and hoping that he will implement it.
- use existing audiences. Why look for new audiences while forgetting your current ones? Don't try to bring in young people in church while forgetting about the group that is already there. Get them exited too.
June 23, 2014
Seth Godin’s books are always enlightening, and this one is no different – here, Godin explains how the classic idea of a free prize inside a box of cereal was often enough to make customers pick your brand over your competitors, even if that free prize was of a low value. According to Godin, you can make people feel the same way about your product or service, no matter what it is – he raises a good point, too.
The good thing about reading Seth Godin is that his style of writing is conversational and informative at the same time – it’s not hard to take in the lessons that he has to offer, and you can apply them to your own business straight away. You don’t even need to be running a business – with a bit of thought and experimentation, you could apply the same lessons to any of your endeavors. Perhaps even your book review site?
Godin calls the free gift “the next big marketing idea”, and I’m not too sure that that’s accurate – that said, this was first published ten years ago back in 2004, and a lot has changed since then. This might not be the next big thing, but it’s certainly a concept that’s here to stay and which you can apply straight away for immediate results.
The good thing about reading Seth Godin is that his style of writing is conversational and informative at the same time – it’s not hard to take in the lessons that he has to offer, and you can apply them to your own business straight away. You don’t even need to be running a business – with a bit of thought and experimentation, you could apply the same lessons to any of your endeavors. Perhaps even your book review site?
Godin calls the free gift “the next big marketing idea”, and I’m not too sure that that’s accurate – that said, this was first published ten years ago back in 2004, and a lot has changed since then. This might not be the next big thing, but it’s certainly a concept that’s here to stay and which you can apply straight away for immediate results.
August 1, 2022
Picked this up from a Little Free Library on an autumn morning walk and selected it at random from my shelf in the endless quest to read everything.
I really just skimmed this. It doesn't require nor invite a deep read and there is no Free Prize Inside because it's printed right on the cover: Think up a gimmick to sell more sh!t. (The first edition of this book was sold inside a gimmicky fake cereal box because the author's previous release sold so well packaged inside a gimmicky fake milk carton.)
I've had Tribes on my want-to-read list for awhile but after enduring this schlock I may not be able to take Seth Godin seriously.
I really just skimmed this. It doesn't require nor invite a deep read and there is no Free Prize Inside because it's printed right on the cover: Think up a gimmick to sell more sh!t. (The first edition of this book was sold inside a gimmicky fake cereal box because the author's previous release sold so well packaged inside a gimmicky fake milk carton.)
I've had Tribes on my want-to-read list for awhile but after enduring this schlock I may not be able to take Seth Godin seriously.
May 9, 2020
Seth Godin knows his stuff but this book felt like a book written in a hurry. Perhaps it was the publisher requesting new pages... I really liked some of the ideas but they were introduced and finished so quickly that there was no time to process. Moreover, the examples were mostly too ”big” (companies, businesses, products) that it was hard to relate to them. And of course the time has changed - I laughed at the example about CD-roms. What were they anyway, I can hardly remember.
November 10, 2015
Upping my game with a free prize from the library!
November 29, 2023
A book that explores innovative marketing strategies and the concept of adding value to products and services.
1. **The Idea of the Free Prize Inside:**
- A "Free Prize Inside" refers to the extra value or surprise that sets a product apart from others. It's something unexpected and valuable that captures the consumer's attention.
2. **Remarkable Products and Services:**
- To stand out in the market, products and services should be remarkable. A Free Prize Inside adds an element of surprise and delight, making the offering more memorable.
3. **The Purple Cow Concept:**
- The book builds on the concept of the "Purple Cow," emphasizing the need for products and marketing ideas to be remarkable and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
4. **Adding Value to Products:**
- Adding value goes beyond the product itself. Godin suggests incorporating additional features, services, or experiences that enhance the overall offering.
5. **Consumer Engagement:**
- The Free Prize Inside concept encourages consumer engagement by providing an extra benefit that exceeds expectations. This engagement can lead to increased loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing.
6. **Thinking Outside the Box:**
- Godin encourages marketers to think creatively and look for unconventional ways to add value. This might involve considering the entire customer experience or finding unique features.
7. **Creating Anticipation:**
- A successful Free Prize creates anticipation and excitement. Consumers become eager to explore what additional value they will receive, creating a positive association with the brand.
8. **Word of Mouth and Buzz Marketing:**
- The surprise and delight factor of a Free Prize contribute to word-of-mouth marketing. Satisfied customers are more likely to share their positive experiences, creating buzz around the brand.
9. **Differentiation in a Noisy Market:**
- In a noisy and competitive market, a Free Prize helps differentiate a product or service. It provides a reason for consumers to choose one offering over another.
10. **Innovation and Marketing Ideas:**
- The book encourages marketers to continually innovate and seek new marketing ideas. The Free Prize Inside concept is a call to break free from conventional thinking and explore new avenues.
"Free Prize Inside" challenges marketers to go beyond the ordinary and find innovative ways to add value to products and services, fostering consumer engagement and loyalty.
1. **The Idea of the Free Prize Inside:**
- A "Free Prize Inside" refers to the extra value or surprise that sets a product apart from others. It's something unexpected and valuable that captures the consumer's attention.
2. **Remarkable Products and Services:**
- To stand out in the market, products and services should be remarkable. A Free Prize Inside adds an element of surprise and delight, making the offering more memorable.
3. **The Purple Cow Concept:**
- The book builds on the concept of the "Purple Cow," emphasizing the need for products and marketing ideas to be remarkable and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
4. **Adding Value to Products:**
- Adding value goes beyond the product itself. Godin suggests incorporating additional features, services, or experiences that enhance the overall offering.
5. **Consumer Engagement:**
- The Free Prize Inside concept encourages consumer engagement by providing an extra benefit that exceeds expectations. This engagement can lead to increased loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing.
6. **Thinking Outside the Box:**
- Godin encourages marketers to think creatively and look for unconventional ways to add value. This might involve considering the entire customer experience or finding unique features.
7. **Creating Anticipation:**
- A successful Free Prize creates anticipation and excitement. Consumers become eager to explore what additional value they will receive, creating a positive association with the brand.
8. **Word of Mouth and Buzz Marketing:**
- The surprise and delight factor of a Free Prize contribute to word-of-mouth marketing. Satisfied customers are more likely to share their positive experiences, creating buzz around the brand.
9. **Differentiation in a Noisy Market:**
- In a noisy and competitive market, a Free Prize helps differentiate a product or service. It provides a reason for consumers to choose one offering over another.
10. **Innovation and Marketing Ideas:**
- The book encourages marketers to continually innovate and seek new marketing ideas. The Free Prize Inside concept is a call to break free from conventional thinking and explore new avenues.
"Free Prize Inside" challenges marketers to go beyond the ordinary and find innovative ways to add value to products and services, fostering consumer engagement and loyalty.
December 29, 2022
Seth Godin’s Free Prize Inside!: The Next Big Marketing Idea is an insightful and thought-provoking book that provides a unique perspective on marketing and customer engagement. The book is written in an easy-to-read style, and it is filled with examples and case studies that help illustrate the points made.
The book is divided into five main sections, each of which focuses on a different aspect of marketing. The first section focuses on the importance of creating an emotional connection with customers. Godin explains how businesses can use storytelling and other creative techniques to create an emotional bond with their customers. He also explains how to create a sense of anticipation and excitement for customers to keep them engaged.
The second section focuses on the importance of creating a unique product or service. Godin explains how businesses can use the “free prize inside” concept to create something that stands out from the competition. He also explains how to use “hooks” to draw customers in and keep them interested.
The third section focuses on the importance of using data to make decisions. Godin explains how businesses can use analytics to better understand customer behavior and preferences. He also explains how to use data to create an effective marketing strategy.
The fourth section focuses on the importance of creating a culture of innovation. Godin explains how businesses can use customer feedback and experimentation to create new products and services. He also explains how to use customer feedback to improve existing products and services.
The fifth section focuses on the importance of customer service. Godin explains how businesses can use customer service to create a positive customer experience. He also explains how to use customer service as a way to build customer loyalty.
Overall, Seth Godin’s Free Prize Inside!: The Next Big Marketing Idea is an excellent book for anyone interested in marketing and customer engagement. It is filled with insights and practical advice that can be used to improve the way businesses engage with their customers.
The book is divided into five main sections, each of which focuses on a different aspect of marketing. The first section focuses on the importance of creating an emotional connection with customers. Godin explains how businesses can use storytelling and other creative techniques to create an emotional bond with their customers. He also explains how to create a sense of anticipation and excitement for customers to keep them engaged.
The second section focuses on the importance of creating a unique product or service. Godin explains how businesses can use the “free prize inside” concept to create something that stands out from the competition. He also explains how to use “hooks” to draw customers in and keep them interested.
The third section focuses on the importance of using data to make decisions. Godin explains how businesses can use analytics to better understand customer behavior and preferences. He also explains how to use data to create an effective marketing strategy.
The fourth section focuses on the importance of creating a culture of innovation. Godin explains how businesses can use customer feedback and experimentation to create new products and services. He also explains how to use customer feedback to improve existing products and services.
The fifth section focuses on the importance of customer service. Godin explains how businesses can use customer service to create a positive customer experience. He also explains how to use customer service as a way to build customer loyalty.
Overall, Seth Godin’s Free Prize Inside!: The Next Big Marketing Idea is an excellent book for anyone interested in marketing and customer engagement. It is filled with insights and practical advice that can be used to improve the way businesses engage with their customers.
May 23, 2020
The only way to win in business is to become remarkable. That was the message of Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable. But how do you make a purple cow? That's what this short book is about.
According to Seth Godin, he had to write this follow-up because business was all wrong in how they were going about their search for a purple cow. They were seeking the big. Big innovations. Big marketing campaigns. But a Purple Cow is much more likely to be a small, soft innovation that customers love - a Free Prize inside their offering. Writes Godin, "Most free prizes have two essential elements in common. First, they are the thing about your service, your product or your organization that's worth remarking on. Something worth seeking out and buying...Second, most free prizes are not about what the person needs. Instead, they satisfy our wants. They are fashionable or fun or surprising or delightful or sad. They rarely deliver more of what we were buying in the first place."
As I was reading this, it became obvious that one of the most obvious free prizes is customer experience. It's not more of the product or service. It's something unexpected during the delivery of the product or service. Something that's worth remarking on. And late in the book, Godin gives a fitting example. He tells the story of his interaction with Jose who worked in a taco shop in the Denver airport. What was remarkable about this interaction? Jose chatted with Godin for an extra minute while he ordered, got him a special condiment from the back. Later, he asked Godin how his meal was. In other words, Godin had a great experience with Jose. And as he points out, the cost of that experience was zero, but the value to Godin was "enormous." Your customer experience can be a free prize for your guests. It can cost you nothing while delivering enormous value.
According to Seth Godin, he had to write this follow-up because business was all wrong in how they were going about their search for a purple cow. They were seeking the big. Big innovations. Big marketing campaigns. But a Purple Cow is much more likely to be a small, soft innovation that customers love - a Free Prize inside their offering. Writes Godin, "Most free prizes have two essential elements in common. First, they are the thing about your service, your product or your organization that's worth remarking on. Something worth seeking out and buying...Second, most free prizes are not about what the person needs. Instead, they satisfy our wants. They are fashionable or fun or surprising or delightful or sad. They rarely deliver more of what we were buying in the first place."
As I was reading this, it became obvious that one of the most obvious free prizes is customer experience. It's not more of the product or service. It's something unexpected during the delivery of the product or service. Something that's worth remarking on. And late in the book, Godin gives a fitting example. He tells the story of his interaction with Jose who worked in a taco shop in the Denver airport. What was remarkable about this interaction? Jose chatted with Godin for an extra minute while he ordered, got him a special condiment from the back. Later, he asked Godin how his meal was. In other words, Godin had a great experience with Jose. And as he points out, the cost of that experience was zero, but the value to Godin was "enormous." Your customer experience can be a free prize for your guests. It can cost you nothing while delivering enormous value.
July 14, 2019
Following Seth Godin's Purple Cow, comes a lesson in how to champion your cow (idea) and how to paint it purple. When I finished The Purple Cow, I wanted to find out how you should make it and this book came as a logical sequel to it.
What I like most about this book is that it's more practical than other books by the same author. Another strong point? It leads you by the hand to the bookstore but then lets you choose your own knowledge and encourages you to think for yourself.
But what makes it very useful is that it teaches you how to champion an idea inside your company, especially if you work in a corporation. For a person like me who does not like doing politics, that was so valuable! Not to mention that, if you manage to like, go through the process 2 or 3 times, that pretty much means you know how to champion an idea in front of a tough audience. How valuable is that? About as valuable as learning how to pitch in The Shark Tank and win 4/5 times.
The book then goes on with edge crafting [I just love the way this man creates his own jargon]. He explains how you can put a little free prize inside everything, enough to make your product remarkable and to keep the client coming back with more friends. It's something he calls soft innovation.
Anyway, enough spoilers for now, enjoy the free prize inside!
What I like most about this book is that it's more practical than other books by the same author. Another strong point? It leads you by the hand to the bookstore but then lets you choose your own knowledge and encourages you to think for yourself.
But what makes it very useful is that it teaches you how to champion an idea inside your company, especially if you work in a corporation. For a person like me who does not like doing politics, that was so valuable! Not to mention that, if you manage to like, go through the process 2 or 3 times, that pretty much means you know how to champion an idea in front of a tough audience. How valuable is that? About as valuable as learning how to pitch in The Shark Tank and win 4/5 times.
The book then goes on with edge crafting [I just love the way this man creates his own jargon]. He explains how you can put a little free prize inside everything, enough to make your product remarkable and to keep the client coming back with more friends. It's something he calls soft innovation.
Anyway, enough spoilers for now, enjoy the free prize inside!
August 20, 2019
How to create your free prize to make your product or service remarkable. Edge effects and Communication Channel.
if we knew the right answer, would that be enough to solve our problem?
which edges are working for unrelated organizations?
could we get closer to the edge?
how do we make our product or service public, not private?
is it really remarkable?
Find a product or service that is completely unrelated to your industry
figure out who is winning by being remarkable
discover which edge they went to
do that in your own industry
if we knew the right answer, would that be enough to solve our problem?
which edges are working for unrelated organizations?
could we get closer to the edge?
how do we make our product or service public, not private?
is it really remarkable?
Find a product or service that is completely unrelated to your industry
figure out who is winning by being remarkable
discover which edge they went to
do that in your own industry
September 24, 2017
It's better than Seth Godins first book, Purple Cow, since it actually offers some advice on how to think and act in order to find those free prizes/purple cows. You needn't read Purple Cow if you plan to pick up this.
December 5, 2017
This is a sorta sequel to Godin's "Purple Cow", all about coming up with the "next great ideas in marketing". "Free Prize Inside" continues that theme, with ideas of extras on those new ideas. This might be my favorite Seth Godin book. Loved it.
November 8, 2021
Seth has a way of writing that most of us only imagine of having.
Even thou the book has some years off it allows you to think in terms of innovations and how can we create something meaningful out of our daily jobs
Even thou the book has some years off it allows you to think in terms of innovations and how can we create something meaningful out of our daily jobs
June 9, 2023
Seth Godin as usual with his creative thinking and interesting stories and examples have once again captivated the audience. Can't really put a finger towards it but it does sound similar across his books, the same writing style that makes it a tad repetitive.
June 14, 2017
Loved it, soft innovations are the underrated.
October 16, 2017
I have liked other of Seth's books more, but this one was still worth reading.
October 20, 2017
Super book on creating a product for your business in a way that stands out from the competition.
It's a must read for those in marketing or entrepreneurs looking to boost their business.
It's a must read for those in marketing or entrepreneurs looking to boost their business.
July 15, 2018
Little changes cost you, big changes benefit you.
December 13, 2018
Oldie and a goodie
January 9, 2019
A bit dated, but very helpful
May 11, 2020
Love the ideas, fresh perspective, challenge to create a unique experience or focus for your product.
June 15, 2020
Seth Godin is a Marketing God! I totally love his approach towards soft-innovations. This book is a must-read.
July 8, 2020
Brilliant read!
January 13, 2021
I'm basing the review on the value I extricated from this book. I've read some of Seth Godin's other work and I like those a lot more than this book. 'This is marketing' for example, is a great book.
September 4, 2021
Fine poeng i boka, men ble noe åpenbart og forutsigbart. Kan dog anbefales for folk som nettopp har begynt med fagfeltet markedsføring. Har du lengre erfaring, lærer du trolig ikke mye nytt her.
September 4, 2021
Sell at the extremes.
Sell before you build.
Major technological breakthroughs are challenging; you can reinvent a commodity by tweaking one variable and taking it past the uncanny valley.
Sell before you build.
Major technological breakthroughs are challenging; you can reinvent a commodity by tweaking one variable and taking it past the uncanny valley.
September 11, 2021
I love his perspective on marketing and product design.
September 15, 2021
Always be REMARKABLE ... Normal is boring.
Let's think to be SPECIALLY REMARKABLE.
To be safe is risky!
Let's think to be SPECIALLY REMARKABLE.
To be safe is risky!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews