Boost newsletter or RSS subscriptions by offering an incentive. Ditto with products – increase sales by offering something at no charge to attract an audience and the type of gamer who would be interested in your offering.

Free means no risk to check out. It is also a clear signal for gamers to pass around the link or the freebie itself to game group members, friends, and their RPG communities. Free attracts attention and motivates action.

So what is the best type of freebie to create?

Generate something that has standalone value.

It can’t be so restrictive that it has no use to most gamers. If a gamer doesn’t find your freebie useful or entertaining they won’t tell anybody else about it, nor will they be inclined to check out your product for sale. If a restrictive freebie is used as incentive for newsletter signup, gamers’ first impression will be one of disappointment. Not a great start.

For example, if you gave away something that only works with your custom game system, which people must buy, then that freebie is too restrictive to serve as a good incentive or viral offering. However, something that would benefit many D&D gamers, all sci-fi GMs, or all German-speaking roleplayers would be effective.

Create something that entertains or serves. For example, a useful reference or tool, or some encounters with specific types of hooks, or some game world elements any GM of the genre can drop into their campaign.

Next, your freebie must attract the type of people who will be interested in your newsletter or product. Offering an ebook on how to play guitar will not result in many sales or long term subscribers for your gaming service.

What is the best length for a freebie?

There is no perfect length. Meet the most important criteria first – serve gamers well. Based on what it is you’re offering, that will give you some idea of how long the freebie should be.

For example, you might offer standalone fast play rules for your new game. Those rules need to be complete as far as playing a short game session goes, so there is no preset page count to make that happen – it depends on your game.

Another example, you might be selling D&D supplements. Your freebie could be an awesome character sheet you designed for players who prefer roleplay over combat. That character sheet might only be one page long, but it would be popular and achieve your objectives nicely.

Another parameter is your time and resources. Don’t create a freebie that is so large it causes delays in other parts of your business. If possible, reuse materials from your products so your freebie serves as a preview or sample, as well. Otherwise, keep your freebie small enough that you can whip it up in two or three days.

If you just need some rough figures to help wrap your brain around things or to help planning, aim for 2-5 pages of content, or about 2,500 words.