The Ultimate Guide on How to Get Free Product Samples

Free product samples are the perfect way to save money. Learn about the best strategies, methods, and places to look here.

---

If you're looking for different ways to save money, free items are always a great place to start! In today's economy, price points seem to be climbing higher and higher, and any opportunity to score some complimentary swag is welcome. 

While you might be used to getting free product samples at places like the grocery store or the big-box superstores, did you know there are lots of other ways to cash in and save big?

Today, we're sharing where to look, how to ask, and our best strategies to help you walk away with an armful of freebies that cost precisely $0.00. 

Contact a Company

This first step might sound a little old-school, but hear us out. Even in the Digital Age, word-of-mouth marketing reigns supreme, and brands are clamoring for any chance they have to get their name out there. They're also looking for brand enthusiasts who are willing to share their buying experience with others. 

If you reach out to a company and tell them you love a particular product, they'll often reward you with free samples! If they have an e-commerce storefront, they may also hook you up with an exclusive promo code to help you save the next time you shop online. 

You can contact them in a number of ways, depending on your preference. The age of the mailed, handwritten letter isn't dead, but if you'd rather send an email or social media message, that works, too! Be specific and highlight certain features that stood out to you.

Were you impressed with the lightning-fast shipping? Did you have a question that the customer service rep handled like a pro? Did the product itself exceed your expectations?

Share your story, and see what happens. This is one of the easiest strategies for getting free samples, and all it takes is a little time. 

Join a Focus Group

 When brands are evaluating their product strategies, they'll often form focus groups to help guide their efforts. In short, these are groups of people who personify their target audience. The participants usually share similar demographic traits, such as:

• Location

• Age

• Gender

• Education

• Socioeconomic status

The purpose of a focus group is to determine what the brand's consumers want, don't want, and are interested in learning about. 

The meetings are usually held in a regulated setting, with interview-style questions. They'll ask each participant about their preferences, opinions on trends, and any ideas they might have. They may also ask them to share which products are their favorites, as well as which ones they tend to stay away from, and why. 

Then, the company leaders will gather all of this feedback and use it to inform their next marketing campaign, product releases, and other business decisions. Focus groups can meet either in person or online, depending on the location of the participants. In exchange for your participation, you may receive monetary compensation, free product samples, or both. 

How to Find A Focus Group

 Interested in giving it a try?

There are a few different ways to find a focus group that appeals to your interests. The first way is to simply search for one online, using keywords such as the brand name, product type, or industry niche. You may also have the opportunity to apply for one by filling out a product survey after making a purchase. 

There are often questions on these surveys that are designed to help the brand leaders choose focus group participants. These may include questions about your buying habits, such as whether or not you're responsible for your household's grocery shopping. They may also ask you if you're open to trying or sampling new products.

If you answer these questions correctly and honestly, the marketing team may reach out to you with more information. If you want to share your opinion and are interested in sampling products for free, focus groups can be the best of all worlds. 

Become a Product Tester

One of the best ways to score free product samples online is to become a product tester with us! At ProductReviewJobs, we can hook you up with ways to try out new products and share your perspective with some of the biggest global brands. 

Once you sign up for free on our website, all you have to do is take a survey about your household and shopping habits to complete your profile. Then, you'll start getting email invites from brands, inviting you to test new products and take surveys. 

It's simple: Choose the ones you want to participate in, and start reaping some serious savings! The average amount paid per review is $25 and more than 4,000 people have already joined our program. In addition to extra spending money, some companies may reward you with other incentives, including freebies. 

Take Online Quizzes

If you're already spending time in front of the computer each day, why not go ahead and play a few online games or take quizzes for free product samples?

Many websites will include pop-up notifications that prompt you to visit a new page and take their short quiz. In exchange for your answers and contact information, they'll usually reward you with some no-cost goodies. 

These quizzes usually include questions about your brand preferences, such as which products you use and how frequently you use them. They may be in multiple-choice or long-answer format. Similar to a focus group, they're designed to learn more about a buyer's behavior and preferences. 

The more each brand knows about its buyer's habits, the easier it is to customize their offerings to meet those needs. It might seem like you're just engaging in a quick interaction, but you're actually delivering valuable information that companies can use to inform their next marketing move. 

Think about the types of free samples you'd like to get and visit the websites of brands that sell those products! If you see any opportunity to share your feedback, take it. 

Become an Affiliate

Despite popular opinion, you don't have to have a major social media following to find work as an online influencer or affiliate. There are many influencer marketing programs designed to connect brands to the shoppers who love them the most. As long as you have a social media presence and some type of following, you can usually unlock opportunities in this way. 

At the bottom of each e-commerce website, you can often find information on how to join the affiliate program, if one exists. These programs are usually designed to promote social sharing. In exchange for posting a link to the brand's website or product page to your social media channel, you'll receive exclusive discounts on future purchases, custom promo codes to share with your followers, and yes -- free products. 

After all, how can you speak authoritatively about an item if you haven't tried it yourself? To encourage affiliate posts, many brands will send their affiliates free swag to try. You may even get the chance to use and review new products before they even hit the market!

If you're interested in getting started with affiliate marketing, here are a few tips that can help!

Leave a Review 

For modern brands, reviews are everything. This applies to both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce stores. While not every company will reward you with free samples after sharing your feedback, it never hurts to ask. 

Before leaving a review, check to see if there are any rewards associated with doing so. You might be surprised to find out how many brands are willing to share a few freebies in exchange for your honest testimonial. Often, it's as easy as hopping on the support chat and asking, or reaching out to the team via email. 

Studies show that 84% of people now trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends and family members. Companies know this, and they're actively seeking feedback. The more they can beef up their review section, the more visible their brand will be.

If you are willing to contribute to this conversation, you could reap the rewards. Check the policy, inquire if you need to, and share away!

Make a Referral 

Looking for another way to get free product samples online? Check to see if the company in question offers any type of referral program! Often, the program will go like this: You make an online purchase, and they send you a custom link to share on your social media pages.

If someone clicks on that link and makes a purchase, you'll get a reward. The reward could be a discount on your next purchase, points toward a loyalty program, or -- you guessed it -- free products. 

When you find a new brand that you think your followers will like, this is a great way to get the word out and score some extras in the process. Even if no one clicks the link, you could get some freebies just for sharing it. 

Join a Loyalty Program

Speaking of loyalty programs, does the brand you're eyeing offer one? Gone are the days when you had to worry about adding a card to your wallet or carrying around a cumbersome key fob each time you joined one. 

Today, most companies have taken their loyalty programs online, even the ones that operate in-person establishments. Once you register to join (which is usually free), they'll ask you for your contact and account information. From there, all future purchases you make will count toward your loyalty program participation. 

These programs can differ greatly in terms of rewards. Some companies will give you points for each purchase, which you can redeem for money off your purchase once you accumulate a certain amount. For instance, 100 points may equal $5. 

Others will allow you to climb the ranks until you've made enough purchases, or shared enough links, to claim a free product. For example, if you earn 100 points, you can get a free sample of lip balm with your next cosmetics purchase. 

Then, there are companies that randomly decide to reward loyalty program participants with free items just for being a member! This is especially common at grocery stores, where you might find that virtual "cardholders" get a BOGO special or a free small item when they enter their account information at checkout. 

Most of these programs are easy and free to join, so it's worth signing up, especially for brands you know you'll buy from in the future. 

Join an E-mail Newsletter

Digital marketing has taken the advertising world by storm, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Today, one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways for brands to reach their target buyers is through an e-mail newsletter.

You'll often see opportunities to sign up for these newsletters at the bottom of a company's website. Or, a pop-up box may appear while you're browsing. When you enter your name and email address, you'll go to a new landing page where you can learn about the email marketing program.

Once you opt-in to receive email or text alerts, you're in!

From there, the brand might send you weekly or bi-weekly emails, which will normally be informative or promotional in nature. For instance, you might learn about a new idea the company is working on, or how to use their best-selling products. They can also include Q&A interviews with key personnel, information on upcoming promotions, and more. 

On occasion, the e-mail newsletter may include information on how to get free samples from the brand. Again, this might be as simple as sharing a link with your social media followers or leaving a review. The difference is that these rewards are typically reserved for e-mail participants only, so they might contain specials or exclusives!

At ProductReviewJobs, we have our own newsletter that we use to share information on paid survey opportunities, product tests, focus groups, and paid clinical trial opportunities! You can sign up here to add your name to our list. 

Enjoy and Use Your Free Product Samples

When there are so many opportunities to seek or earn free product samples, why pay full price for anything? No matter what types of brands you like to shop, you can usually find some type of reward program, focus group, or marketing campaign designed to help you score big. 

These are only a few of the top ways to find free samples on the web and in person. You can also conduct a simple Google search for "where to get free samples" followed by the type of products you're after. 

Looking for more ways to save money, make money, and cut expenses? Sign up to our newsletter and we'll periodically share our best tips!