While running my business, whenever my manager do certain things, I often ask my manager, "Doing this will get you a certain type of customers. Are they the type of customers you want?"
In asking that, it was not to deter, but to ensure the right promotional/marketing etc efforts are in alignment with what the business is trying to achieve.
This thought made me recall what the governmental organisations do: the exploitation of "free" to boost their numbers. At events, they will give away free stuff like goodie bags.
While nothing is wrong with that promotion method, when used for years, the type of audience they have attracted are those who want free stuff.
There is a misuse of the "free" strategy. If the result is the attraction of people who have no understanding nor care for what an organisation is trying to achieve, the event, and eventually the organisation itself, has failed in its purpose.
