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Marketing & reciprocity

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Kels and I were driving when the sensor lit up…

“What does ‘RR’ mean?” I said.

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Kelsey looked at the dash. “‘Rear Right’ maybe?”

“Ah,” I said. “The tire pressure.”

We pulled into a gas station and parked by the air pump. The sign said: $1 = 5 minutes. I got some quarters from the center counsel.

“Be right back.”

“OK.”

I got out, put the money in the slot and started pumping. I watched the tire inflate. A minute went by. The tire felt good again.

“Young man?”

I turned around.

“Can I borrow that?” he said, pointing at the hose with his cane. He had a flat, too.

“Sure,” I said. “Need a hand?”

The old man smiled behind his mask. “Thanks for not making me ask.”

I took a knee and pumped while we made small talk.

“You smoke?” he said.

“Sometimes.”

“Well then take this,” he said, holding out the cigar. “It’s a $20 cigar, very good.”

I said no. 

He insisted. “Please,” he said.

The Rule of Reciprocity tells us it’s human to want to return a favor, a gesture.

We’re programmed to give value after receiving value. And here’s the thing: we tend to give back far more than we originally received.

This is how small, free samples turn into big sales.

Give away your content, your expertise, your time — and it will come back to you in spades.


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Hey there, thanks for reading. :)
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Eddie Shleyner
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