How to score freebies and bargains on Twitter
Earlier this year, a very dear friend of Bargain Shoppers invited the Bargain Guru over to her house to parade the latest addition to her wardrobe — a dazzling Rachel Gilbert cocktail mini dress as worn by Natalie Bassingthwaighte on So You Think You Can Dance.
“OMG,” said the Bargain Guru. “Is your savings account still breathing?”
As it turned out, her finances were doing just fine because … she had paid ZILCH for the dress. It was a freebie she had won in a promotional competition run via Twitter for the Australian version of the TV show Project Runway.
Ever since, we here at the Bargain Shoppers office have been searching for ways to win our own fancy frocks — or anything for that matter! — by trawling the seemingly endless abyss of opportunity within the Twitosphere. So how can bargain hunters and freebie fans like us make the most of the Twitter gold mine? First: an introduction to the world of Twitter.
What the Twitter?
For the uninitiated, Twitter is an online social networking phenomenon that allows users to send a message (or “Tweet”) to bah-zillions of people in an instant. Not only is it useful for informing “followers” (ie: the Facebook equivalent of “Friends”) about what you’re doing and sharing your philosophies on life, Twitter is also great for finding out about amazing bargains and freebies offered on the products you love, be they available in Sydney, Melbourne, online or worldwide.
Many retailers, businesses and marketers (basically anyone who promotes ANYTHING) now use Twitter to promote their products and in-store or online sales, as well as competitions and giveaways. Some brands even offer exclusive deals and free products to Twitter followers only.
A tweet deal
To get started on your Twitter treasure hunt, you first need to sign up for a Twitter account. Once you’ve been “Twittered”, conduct a search for your favourite fashion brands, retailers and product labels and start following them. If you can’t find them on Twitter, scan their website for a “follow us on Twitter” link. Most Twitter-using brands will have a Twitter link on their home page.
Also, don’t limit yourself to following retailers. Giveaways come in all shapes and sizes and from all kinds of businesses. If you’re planning a holiday, follow airlines and airports on Twitter for giveaways and flight discounts (Australian airline Jetstar announced 10,000 "free flights" from Melbourne to Sydney in August, 2009, to Twitter followers hours before they opened the offer to the general public, while Melbourne Airport offers daily Twitter deals and is known for announcing free flight offers on Twitter).
If you want to win free entertainment tickets or merchandise, see if your favourite band/TV channel/entertainment venue is “Tweeting” any freebies or exclusive offers — and start following them.
Bargain Shoppers even has its own Twitter sites for Sydney and Melbourne, which are also a fabulous resource for hearing about the latest bargain shopping sale details. Follow the BargainGuru for Sydney, or BargainGuide for Melbourne.
With your new Twitter account, every time you log in you’ll be updated with the latest giveaway and sale details of every company you follow. The key is to stay as connected as possible and to read the terms and conditions carefully. Some competitions may require you to “retweet” information, sign up to newsletters or register on the company’s website.
Beyond the Twitosphere
Of course, Twitter isn’t the only place online where you can score freebies, discounts and bargains. There are a handful of Australia-based sites that compile a whole bunch of competitions and free samples from a variety of providers. These include Shop Free and Win Free Stuff (you can also follow the latter website on Twitter). With these and similar sites, however, you may be required to hand over personal information including your mobile phone number and email, which *WARNING* can result in more spam than an overstocked canned foods aisle. Some freebie sites are also out of date, so don’t get too excited if you spot a voucher for a free sample of Elizabeth Arden fragrance released over a year ago.
To minimise unwanted emails and texts, you’re better off targeting only the products and brands you really love. Health and beauty brands are big on giving away free samples of their products and are well worth stalking online. Fashion brands are also often generous with exclusive online discounts. Register for their e-newsletter or follow your favourite label on Twitter and you’ll be the first to find out about their sales and offers.
Hey, one day you might even score a free (or super-discounted) designer dress! Here’s hoping.
Do you have any tips for finding discounts, bargains and freebies on Twitter? Email the Bargain Guru at bargainguru@universalmagazines.com.au.
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