The Useless Feature Hack

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🚀 The ‘Useless Feature’ Hack: How Absurd Options Increase Perceived Value

What if adding a completely pointless feature to your product could increase conversions? Sounds counterintuitive, but brands have been manipulating consumer psychology for years using the Decoy Effect—a pricing and product positioning hack that subtly steers buyers toward the most profitable choice.

Smart marketers in 2025 aren’t just optimizing for features that sell—they’re engineering “useless” add-ons to increase perceived value and drive higher-ticket purchases. Here’s how.

1️⃣ Decoy Pricing: The Trick That Makes Expensive Options Look Cheap

Most consumers struggle with decision-making, especially when comparing price vs. value. By introducing a strategic decoy option—one that is slightly worse but similarly priced—you make the higher-value product look like a steal.

• A digital subscription for $9.99/month vs. a premium subscription for $14.99/month seems like a stretch.
• Introduce a “useless” middle-tier option (e.g., premium content without access to key features) for $13.99/month.
• Suddenly, the $14.99 option feels like the obvious best deal.

Pro Move: Many SaaS brands use three-tier pricing models, but the middle option isn’t meant to sell—it’s designed to push users to premium.

2️⃣ Useless Features That Increase Conversions

Sometimes, adding completely unnecessary features makes the core offer seem more premium—even if customers never use them.

• Luxury brands add absurd “perks” like a velvet-lined case or “lifetime phone support” for a product no one needs help with.
• Food & beverage brands introduce a “Limited-Edition VIP Version” of the same product, packaged differently, at a 40% markup.
• Subscription services offer a higher-tier plan that includes an “insider newsletter”—even though the free version contains 90% of the same content.

Pro Move: Brands selling on Amazon add “Bonus Accessories” (like a useless microfiber cloth or a plastic case) just to increase perceived value in a crowded search listing.

3️⃣ The “No One Buys This” Effect: Making One Product Look Exclusive

If you offer a premium product, you need a way to make it feel exclusive without reducing availability. One hack? Create a ridiculous, overpriced version of your product—just to make the premium version seem like a deal.

• A brand selling $100 noise-canceling headphones could introduce a $400 version with “handcrafted wooden ear cups” that no one actually buys.
• A gym membership priced at $50/month suddenly looks like a steal next to a $300/month “platinum” option that includes concierge towel service.
• High-end skincare brands create “ultra-premium” $500 versions of $80 products—where the only real difference is the packaging.

Pro Move: Some brands even list outrageously expensive “elite” packages online, knowing no one will buy them—but the effect still pushes more people toward the second-highest tier.

The Takeaway: Engineer Perceived Value

Consumers don’t choose rationally—they choose based on context. Adding intentionally “useless” features, absurd pricing tiers, or overpriced versions of your product doesn’t just increase conversions—it makes premium products feel like obvious choices.

✅ Use decoy pricing to make your premium offer irresistible.

✅ Add “useless” bonuses to increase perceived value.

✅ Create an overpriced option that makes your best-seller seem like a steal.

Marketing in 2025 isn’t just about what you sell—it’s about how you make the price feel like an opportunity, not an expense.

🚀  Reel of the Day

With Valentine’s Day approaching, this reel perfectly taps into the desire for romantic and cozy getaways.

The no-person, no-audio approach makes it feel immersive and aspirational, letting viewers picture themselves there.

Scenic shots, aesthetic cocktail prep, and cozy interiors evoke the ultimate Valentine’s escape.

The subtle placement of MOTH cans ensures brand recall without feeling like an ad. The giveaway hook (“Win a £500 Coolstays voucher + MOTH cocktails”) drives massive engagement through likes, follows, and comments.

The caption widens the appeal by celebrating all forms of love, not just romance. The loop-friendly, visually rich content maximizes watch time and reach.

Thanks for reading this edition! Keep pushing boundaries, testing ideas, and staying inspired. See you in the next edition with more ways to ignite your marketing success. 🥰