What Is A Tripwire?

If you’re a digital marketer, odds are you’ve heard the word ‘tripwire’, but and you may be asking what is tripwire marketing, and why is it beneficial. In this article we will be defining what a tripwire is in digital marketing, how it can be successful in earning a new customer acquisition and be a part of your marketing strategy for a digital marketing agency or client. A tripwire can be a very helpful part of your digital marketing strategy.

Defining Tripwires

A tripwire is an irresistible, low-priced offer that’s sole purpose is to convert a potential customer into an actual customer. This small offer helps accelerate the buyer’s journey by letting customers dip their toes in without having to make a big purchase.

Audience members who are subscribed to your list might not be interested in your core offer or main offer even if you have given them value and nurtured the relationship. This is where tripwires come into play. The core offer may seem too expensive for that audience member or they don’t see the value in that main product.

Since a tripwire is low in price people are more likely to give it a try.

Then, once they see the value in that product they will be more likely to purchase the core offer. When an audience member purchases a tripwire it shows commitment. It shows that they were interested enough in your product to give you their credit card information.

Related: What Is a Lead Magnet?

Below is a classic example. They are offering a book to customers for just the price of shipping and handling. You’ll see this type of tripwire a lot as it is a low barrier to entry for a tangible, valuable item.

It is important to remember that the goal of a successful tripwire is not to make a profit on the tripwire sale, but to turn leads into first time customers. Then, once you capture those customers they are more likely to continue to purchase with your company. According to DigitalMarketer.com, “People who purchased tripwires were 10 times more likely to purchase their core offer.” That is a pretty convincing statistic in favor of utilizing tripwire marketing in your marketing funnel strategy.

Pro Tip: You shouldn’t use a tripwire right out of the gate. It is first necessary to use a lead magnet to capture emails. Once you have that email list you can promote your tripwire offer to your subscribers to try and turn them into customers.

Components Of A Tripwire

A tripwire can’t just be any offer. There are certain attributes that separate a successful tripwire from one that will not convert your leads. A tripwire needs to have a high actual value as well as a high perceived value. If people don’t think your tripwire offer has value they won’t buy it.

Related: How to Deliver Value at Every Stage of the Customer Journey

The same goes for having a high actual value. If they purchase the low ticket offer and then the tripwire product or service is not of worth, they will not continue along the buyer’s journey. Additionally, a tripwire product needs to be useful and connect with the core offer, or sometimes called a splinter offer.

Importance Of A Splinter Offer

What is a splinter offer exactly? Well, think about your core product and how it is made up of different parts. What a successful tripwire does is take one of those components of your core offer and promote it as a separate offering. So basically, you are splintering off a piece of your core product or service.

For example, if you were selling an online workout class membership, you would take one of those classes and offer it to your audience for a discounted price. This takes away the fear of investing a lot of money in a product you’re not sure will work. Instead, a tripwire gives people the opportunity to try a product or service at a lower price.

Once those people see the value in that offering, the trust is built and they can justify spending the big bucks on the high ticket offer.

What’s great about a splinter offer is that you can continue to splinter your core offer and test what works best.

Types Of Tripwires

There are many different types of tripwires you can test. Some of these include a book, report, webinar, free or paid trial, or a software product. Remember, as stated above, the tripwire needs to connect to your core offer. For example, if your core offer is an online workout membership, you wouldn’t want the tripwire to be a book about cooking. For the best results, follow the strategy of splintering your core offering and testing those components with your audience.

Related: What Is a Marketing Funnel?

Overall, a tripwire can be an extremely beneficial addition to your current marketing strategy. A tripwire marketing campaign can help expedite the buyer’s journey by turning your leads into first time customers. And because of their low price, people are more likely to try it. If you haven’t tried a tripwire in your marketing funnel strategy now is the time. Test it and let us know how it worked for your company.