The mistake (almost) every marketer makes | Nudge Newsletter 🧠


Don't say "it's free"β€”say it's $0.

Two Korean researchers ran 10 different experiments in retail stores, online and in the lab.

They tested the effectiveness of a buy on get one free promotion.

However, they tweaked the language:

  • Half saw "buy one get one free"
  • Others saw "buy one get one for $0"

Why does this happen?

Well $0 feels more concrete and tangible than "free" plus it feels more trustworthy. So, add this to your marketing:

❌ Chips included for free | βœ… Chips included for $0

❌ Seat selection is free | βœ… Seat selection is $0

❌ Free guided tours of York | βœ… $0 guided tours of York

Oh, and I should mention, this newsletter is (and will forever be) $0.

Cheers,

Phill

P.S. My mate Jay Clouse recently launched an all-in-one workspace for creators. I saw it and was impressed. It's got everything a solo-preneur or part-timer needs to grow (I wish I had access 5 years ago).

I like it so much that I (independently) asked to promote itβ€”for $0 in return I should add. He even chucked in a coupon code for you lot. So, if you want access use the code NUDGE to get 10% off.

Nudge Newsletter

I spend 18 hours each week turning marketing psychology into readable newsletters.

Read more from Nudge Newsletter

Framing Your Food Read online Which of these would you rather eat: One Shepherd's Pie is described as: Beef shepherd's pie, tomato and pesto sauce The other is described as: Beef subtly seasoned with Espelette pepper under a rich velvety potato puree, topped with crisp parmesan cheese crumbs Two researchers ran a small study at a French cafeteria to test if these descriptions changed the perception of the food.ΒΉ Diners were invited to eat a prix fixe lunch. A real photo of the cafeteria from...

Concrete Phrases Read online Could writing "𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐋 π’πˆπ™π„" on a Whopper ad make it sell for π’Žπ’π’“π’†? In 2022, 465 participants saw ads for a fictional Lay's multipack.ΒΉ Both groups knew the multipack was 392g in size, but each saw a different headline. One saw: π˜“π˜’π˜Ί'𝘴 𝘊𝘩π˜ͺ𝘱𝘴, 14 𝘴𝘯𝘒𝘀𝘬 𝘣𝘒𝘨𝘴The other saw:π˜“π˜’π˜Ί'𝘴 𝘊𝘩π˜ͺ𝘱𝘴, 392𝘨. Those who saw "14 snack bags" were willing to pay 10% 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 than the other group.This is due to the concrete phrases effect. We can picture 14 snack bags in our mind. 392g doesn't...

Variable Rewards Read online This video of a smart gas station owner went viral a couple of months back. Here's the original. The video shows dozens of customers failing to balance 25 cents on a lemon. A chance to win $100 is a carrot large enough to make customers bet. It shows something that many marketers have known for decades. We love a gamble. People prefer a gamble In 2025, researchers Gaertig and Simmons offered either a gamble or a certain reward to hundreds of participantsΒΉ. Some...