Crafting Irresistible Offers with Prompts

Read time: 5 mins

Why Are You Here?

Welcome to Cyborg Marketer, your weekly guide to brand growth mastery. Ready to crack complex concepts with AI and unique ChatGPT prompts? Let’s dive in.

Growth Spotlight

Imagine you're scrolling through your social feed, and you stumble upon one of Dollar Shave Club's hilarious ads. A few swipes later, you find Happy Box, promising a personalized gifting experience that tugs at your heartstrings. Both make you pause and think, "I've got to try this."

Dollar Shave Club turned the mundane task of buying razors into a subscription experience filled with humor and convenience, and Unilever snagged them for a cool $1 billion1.

Happy Box? They transformed the often impersonal act of online gifting into a customizable, emotional journey that skyrocketed their growth by 6000% in just three years2.

So, what's the magic formula that made these brands not just another blip on your screen but a memorable experience?

Let's f*ck around and find out.

The Ecom Offer: More Than Just Flashy Ads

Dollar Shave Club and Happy Box have mastered what I like to call the "damn good offer".

These brands didn't just throw a product out there and hope for the best. They meticulously crafted offers that resonated with their customers, and boy, did it make them stand out3.

Now you've probably felt the sting of pouring cash into ads, waiting for the cha-ching of sales, only to be met with... silence. Ouch, right?

That's like throwing a party, spending big on decorations and snacks, and no one shows up. The pain's real. And the culprit?

Often, it's a lackluster offer.

So, if you're tired of watching your ad budget go down the drain with nothing to show for it, it's time to dive deep. Let's unravel the magic behind crafting an offer that doesn't just get clicks but converts:

1. The Heartbeat: Your Value Proposition: Your offer isn't just about slashing prices or throwing in a free keychain. It's the soul of your campaign. What's the unique flavor your product's bringing to the table? Is it the answer to a midnight prayer? Or maybe it's that luxury they never knew they craved?

2. Be the Unicorn in a Field of Horses: Being unique is your golden ticket, so shine a spotlight on what sets you apart. What makes your product the star of the show? Is it handcrafted by monks? Super eco-friendly? Or maybe it's the only neon widget in a world of pastels. 

3. Tackling Those Pesky Barriers: Every shopper's got their hang-ups: price, trust, or just good ol' procrastination. Your offer's gotta face these head-on.

4. Jazz Up Those Offers: It's not just about the product. It's the whole package. A killer offer can outshine even the most "meh" ads or landing pages.

5. The Magic of Bundling: Bundles aren’t sales gimmicks; they dish out extra value. Pairing up complementary products or throwing in a service can make your offer pop.

6. FOMO: Light a fire under your customers with a sense of urgency. Flash sales, limited editions, or exclusive goodies can whip up some serious FOMO.

7. Smooth Payments for Smooth Sailing: The world's zipping by, and so are payment methods. Offer snazzy options like "Buy Now, Pay Later," or easy-peasy installment plans.

8. Social Proof: Your Silent Cheerleader: Got testimonials? Ratings? Maybe a celeb endorsement? Flaunt 'em! When potential customers see others singing your praises, they're more likely to join the chorus.

9. Amping Up the Perceived Value: If everyone's dishing out similar flavors, you've got to sprinkle some extra zest. Think giving customers the VIP treatment, infoproducts, and community-building.

10. Talk the Talk: Building a great offer is one thing; communicating it effectively is another. Make sure your customers get the memo.

So we’re six issues of Cyborg Marketer in. You know the drill!

Let’s see if we can get ChatGPT to help us construct some irresistible offers.

ChatGPT Brainstorm

Just like the previous issue, we’re going to split this task into two prompts. And we’re starting this off with yet another interview.

Prompt 1 - The Heart-to-Heart

We begin with a prompt that collects as much data as it can about your brand. The interview might be a little long, but I advise you to be patient with it, and if you don’t have the information it’s asking you for, try your best to get it. I promise it’s worth it!

ASSISTANT: E-commerce Specialist, Marketing Strategist, Brand AnalystPERSONALITY: Curious, Empathetic, Insightful, ConciseCONTEXT: Crafting an enhanced offer for an e-commerce brand requires a comprehensive understanding of the brand's unique characteristics.TASK: Engage with the user to gather detailed information about their brand. Once the user has answered all questions, say, 'Please enter the second prompt'. CONVERSATION FLOW:1. Kick off the conversation by asking about the Product Details and Product Economics.2. Proceed to inquire about the Current Offer Details.3. Explore the Brand Information.4. Discuss target audience insights 5. Ask about the marketing budget 6. Inquire about their inventory details7. Delve into product margins8. Learn about similar promotions of competitors 9. Discuss Customer Feedback.10. Understand the Business Goals.11. Identify Constraints and Limitations.12. Delve into Acquisition Costs.13. Gather Any Other Relevant Information.CONSTRAINTS:For each topic, ask one question and wait for the user's response before moving to the next topic. FORMAT: Return your output in markdown with headers, bold, and bullet point lists as needed to be organized.

Here’s an overview of the dummy brand I used for this prompt:

Prompt 2 - Crafting Irresistible Offers

Alright, before we dive into crafting irresistible offers, let's lay down some ground rules:

• Customer-Centric Vibes: It's not about us; it's all about them. If the offer doesn't resonate, it's a no-go.

• Existing Offers: New offers shouldn't step on the toes of our current offers.

• Tuning into Consumer Behavior: Offers need to be realistic in inspiring action from our customers.

• Laser Focus: We want new customers only.

• Resource Check: If we can't back the offer, we don't make the play.

• AOV Boost: Bargain hunters can turn your VIP section into a discount aisle. We’re aiming for the stars, not the clearance rack.

With the rules set, here’s the prompt:

ASSISTANT: E-commerce Specialist, Marketing Strategist, Offer Optimization ExpertPERSONALITY: Analytical, Insightful, Solution-OrientedCONTEXT: Based on our conversation, devise an enhanced offer for potential customers, emphasizing trust, credibility, and clear value. Focus on immediate conversion strategies for new customers.GUIDELINES:- Customer-Centric Approach: Always prioritize the customer's needs, concerns, and preferences when crafting offers.- Structured Offer Creation: Map out bundle structures methodically, ensuring each offer provides incremental value.- Increase Perceived Value: Enhance offers by:-- Crafting strong product/offer names.-- Using seasonality, scarcity, urgency, and FOMO elements.-- Offering guarantees, valuable bonuses, and educational content.-- Collaborating with other brands and adjusting pricing as needed.TYPES OF OFFERS:Bundling, Incentivized Volume Purchase, Gift with Purchase, Exclusive Sets, Value-Added Services, Time-Limited Offers, Payment Flexibility.CONSTRAINTS:- Existing Offers: Ensure no overlaps or conflicts with current offers.- Consumer Behavior: Align offers with typical behaviors for the product type and market segment.- Focus: Target potential customers before purchase and adhere strictly to brand details and product economics.- Resources: Consider resource limitations.TASK: Craft offers that:- Drive immediate purchase decisions.- Emphasize product uniqueness.- Communicate clear value and address purchase barriers.- Improve Average Order Value (AOV) and align with brand goals.VALIDATION: Ensure offers align with consumer behaviors, industry norms, and existing brand offers.FORMAT: Use markdown with headers, bullet points, and clear categorization. Present each offer with a name, description, its price, value, and details.

And here’s what I got for EcoGlow!

The offers are, for the most part, brilliantly crafted. They're a blend of emotional resonance, brand values, and clear consumer benefits.

BUT…I thought it was missing a couple ideas, like free gifts.

So I asked why they weren’t included…and GPT-4 actually had valid reasons. Still, I pushed it for gift ideas, some of which were worth trying. You can take a look at the conversation here.

If you're hungry for more ideas, ask GPT-4 to provide you with extra suggestions. You can dive deeper into any offer too. Just ask questions, and mold these ideas to perfectly fit the contours of your brand.

The Bottom Line

Crafting a killer offer isn't just about the flash and dazzle. It's about resonating with your audience, understanding their desires, and presenting a value they can't resist.

In the vast sea of e-commerce, where every brand is vying for attention, your offer is your anchor. It's what pulls customers into your world and keeps them coming back for more.

So, as you craft and refine, always ask: "Is this offer not just good, but damn good?”

Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It

Dive into your brand's core. Beyond the products and services, what's the unique value you offer?

Now, craft an offer that screams that value, one that makes your audience think, "This is exactly what I've been looking for!"

Once you've got that offer, test it out. Share it with a small segment of your audience, gather feedback, and refine. And once you strike gold, let me know!

Ready to make them an offer they can't refuse?

— Gold