| If you want a handheld device that will let you watch | | | | products tested by members of the public without |
| movies, play games and surf the internet then you | | | | having to pay for research. It's really quite clever if |
| need to get today's hottest gadget; the Apple iPad. | | | | you think about it. You feel privileged to get |
| But what if you can't afford the $500 price tag? The | | | | something for nothing and the company benefits |
| answer is, why not get a free iPad instead? | | | | from the exchange too. |
| Many people are suspicious of freebies these days as | | | | What's more every time they give away a product |
| they've been conditioned to think that there is some | | | | as amazing as the iPad they actually gain a new |
| sort of catch involved. But the truth is that when a | | | | lifetime customer. Trust me, once you have one |
| company releases a new product they need people | | | | Apple product you'll never go back to the pale |
| to test it out and give them their opinions. The best | | | | imitations. I started my relationship with Apple by |
| companies market their products by creating a buzz, | | | | buying an iMac, then I just had to have an iPhone and |
| and one of the best ways to do this is to give | | | | now I dream about iPads. So you get a free product |
| people like you a free product to road test for them. | | | | and Apple get's free advertising and you as a |
| Apple could spend thousands of dollars on advertising | | | | customer for life. Everyone wins. |
| the product, or they could just give you a free copy | | | | Of course the downside is that these free products |
| and let you do the advertising for them. If you love | | | | are only available at the time of launch, which is why |
| the product (and admit it, what's not to love?) then | | | | you need to jump onboard quickly before all of the |
| you'll tell your friends about it, you might even talk | | | | review copies of the product have been snapped up. |
| about it on Facebook or write a post about it on | | | | There are a number of websites online offering free |
| your blog. The truth is that word of mouth marketing | | | | iPads for testing so you need to make sure that you |
| is so much more powerful than any TV or magazine | | | | only sign up at the legitimate sites. If you are asked |
| advertising, so you're doing Apple a favour. | | | | for money in exchange for your free iPad then walk |
| By giving away a number of the products for free to | | | | away as it's most likely a scam. |
| people like you companies like Apple can have their | | | | |