Noodles & Company nailed it with this amazing idea: The first 50 visitors to each store get a free salad. They also get a T-shirt that lets 10 of their friends get a free salad. The shirt gets passed along from friend to friend. Each friend probably isn’t eating alone, so they bring a group [...]
Tag Archives: giveaways
I'll give you an iPad if you'll be my friend!
Imagine if you said that to a real person. It’s like saying, “I’m desperate for friends, but I’ll pay you to hang out with me.” Folks, true friendship does not involve a cash transaction. But advertisers make these awful offers every day, trying to buy friendship. Sad, desperate — and terrible marketing. True friends are [...]
How to get hundreds of new buyers into your store
Give them a reason to show up that is NOT about buying something. Great example: Sam’s Club offers free pre-summer-camp medical screenings for kids every July. Thousands of parents need to get this done, no one wants to go to the expensive and slow doctor’s office. So they go to Sam’s Club, get the exam [...]
Give me a thing worth saving…
…and I’ll advertise your company for years to come (not necessarily on purpose). Everyone in my family got this nicer-than-average cup on a take-out order from Which Wich (a sandwich chain). Now we have a matched set that gets pulled out when the neighbors join us on the deck for a beer. What have you [...]
Your short-term offers need long-term benefits
The problem with freebies and coupons is that you get deal-seekers and freeloaders who won’t be back after the deal is done. But free offers do work to bring new customers in the door. To make it work, make sure your short-term offer does something that will lead to a long-term relationship. A great example [...]
“We’re making this incredible offer because we’re sure you’ll love the shopping experience and will come back often.”
The headline on this smart offer from Micro Center computer stores says it all. And the offer works — we go to the store when we get this postcard, and we usually buy something. (And when we can’t make it to the store, we usually give the offer to a friend.)
Why you should give away a lot of free stuff
Because you never know when someone is going to show it to a friend. Give away samples, handouts, shirts, stickers, toys–everything. Most will never be seen again, but every so often you get a big score. I sent 300 copies of my word of mouth marketing book to the BazaarVoice Customer Summit. One of them [...]
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