The Price of A Free Bonus {Latest Guide}

We know what you’re thinking – how can there be a price for a free bonus if it’s meant to be free? That’s what we’re investigating here today. 

With everything from online games to travel providers all seemingly filling our inboxes, news feeds and TV screens with promotional bonuses, the question around whether they’re truly worth it is one that is consistently up for debate. Here, we’re taking a more in-depth look at just what the price of a free bonus really is.

Are Free Bonuses Really Free?

As you might expect, the answer to the above question is not really. While some bonuses are indeed worth the price paid for the initial product, the fact of the matter is that you’ll rarely get something for nothing. Whether you have to purchase a product for a ‘free gift’ or sign up for a subscription for extra features or free time on the site, users often have to do something to get something. Users are constantly signing up for websites to gain something extra, and then canceling their subscription before they have to begin paying out or realizing they haven’t used the original item that they have purchased.

With that in mind, the question remains as to whether these bonuses are worth it. This can ultimately come down to personal preference, but the bonus, the site and the original price genuinely do matter. What’s important to remember, however, is that these bonuses are a form of promotion for businesses. Companies offer these bonuses to pull in customers and it works – after all, customers like something extra for their money. With that in mind, we’re looking at how some of the leading industries use free bonuses, below.

The Types Of Promotions Online

As you might expect, different industries will have different ways of promoting their products and different levels of ‘free bonuses’. Of course, there are other forms of advertisement too that can seem like a bonus, which we’ll get into a little later. For now, here are some of the most common ‘bonus-giving’ industries. 

Games

You’d be hard-pressed to come across a game online today that doesn't have some promotion attached to it, at least as far as mobile apps are concerned. The gaming industry is consistently growing and in such a competitive market, it’s no wonder businesses have to use free bonuses and promotions to gain loyal users. Promises of free coins, free plays and even free demos or ‘lite’ versions of apps can all draw in players. 

In most cases, free bonuses are completely innocent and truly free, given in exchange for a harmless share on social media or slightly annoying email to a friend, however others require you to make a deposit to trigger the bonus, or even make continuous in-app purchase. What’s more, these games tend to be addictive, making it difficult to delete the app and take a step back and the lure of ‘bonus coins’ with a purchase can be too much to resist.

Online Shops

With Amazon storming the retail industry online, more and more companies are starting to offer all kinds of free bonuses to pull in customers. Free shipping is a common bonus, though the demand for such a service could, once again, be put down to Amazon’s influence. Their Prime next-day delivery service has made it difficult for smaller businesses to keep up and so free shipping doesn’t often make the cut anymore. Instead these businesses are turning towards offering free products, lower prices and discount codes in return for signing up to emails.

Traders

Trading is another competitive market not just between traders themselves, but between the platforms in which they trade on. While traders often refer to bonuses as free money, it’s important to remember that these ‘free bonuses’ are, as you might expect, a form of promotion. However, for those that know how to navigate these bonuses, they can make the most of the ‘free money’ offered to them. By avoiding bonuses that will freeze your trading capital, ensuring you read all of the terms and conditions to avoid getting caught out and even making sure you know the ins and outs of trading before taking on any bonuses can help traders make the most out of any profitable bonuses they could get.

Travel Agencies

We all love a good holiday, and travel agencies definitely know this. As a result, they are well known for offering free bonuses or unique discounts to draw in customers from their competitors. Whether you opt for loyalty programmes that will help you to earn rewards the more you use a particular company, or you opt for booking your holiday through a ‘stay an extra night for free!’ promotion, there’s no denying you can earn extra rewards along the way. However, you do have to pay for these. Having an extra night for free is only useful if you planned on going on holiday in the first place, and loyalty programmes, of course, require you to be a loyal customer. By sticking to one company, you could be missing out on better prices elsewhere!

Celebrities 

Remember that alternate form of advertisement we mentioned? This is it. Celebrity endorsements are an amazing way for brands to pull in customers and for customers to feel good about the products their buying. While there is rarely a free bonus beyond a promotional code to use, a customer’s knowledge that they are buying a product that their favorite celebrities are purchasing and using can be a bonus in and of itself. Celebrity endorsement works, and with consistency and long-term commitment, brands and businesses can really make a profit from it.

Do We Live In An Online Bonuses Era?

The offering of promotions and free bonuses drives the way businesses to work today. Whether looking at a game developer looking for ways to gain a user base, or an online retail store looking for a way to compete against Amazon, more and more businesses are offering bonuses and promotions to pull in attention. In short, yes, we do live in an online bonuses era and while not every bonus is worth it, some can definitely give us a little something extra when we need it.

From free tickets to a theme park you were planning on visiting anyway, to a little surprise something extra with a purchase you had the intention of making regardless, online bonuses can be beneficial to both businesses and their customers. While these bonuses are rarely ever genuinely free they can certainly make things all the more interesting.