Want a Coffee?

October 11, 2010 1 comment

I have a few questions I want to ask you about your organization’s marketing efforts.

Here’s how the conversation will likely pan out…

Me: May I buy you a coffee?

You: Sure! When?

Me: Great! I’m looking forward to it, how’s next week?

You: Early next week sounds perfect, is that a real mustache?

Me: Monday afternoon is free, why yes, yes it is!

You: It makes you look very distinguished, see you Monday!

Simple isn’t it?  Lets chat marketing, c’mon it’ll be fun.  You can ask any questions at all you might have about online marketing and here’s the best part.  If you don’t like me, the questions, my opinion, the coffee, anything, you can leave.  No gimmicky sales techniques I promise, I just want to help you with your marketing.

Capeesh?


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Bridging the Media Gap Award

September 20, 2010 2 comments

Bridging the gap between traditional and online media award

This week’s winner is: Dominos Pizza

A Domino’s Pizza commercial advertising their “Show us Your Pizza.com” campaign on Television is a great way to get influence people to get involved with a brand online.  What not a better way to build trust in your product by challenging people to buy it and take a picture of how great it looks.  Offer prize money for the best pictures and you have a recipe for this weeks bridging the gap award.

Congratulations Dominos, what a neat idea for a promotion!

Have a great example of a company bridging the gap between online and traditional media?  Send it my way!  You may have next weeks winner…


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The Art & Science of Being Online Presentation

September 17, 2010 1 comment

The ‘Art & Science of Being Online’ is a presentation about online marketing and why social media is becoming such an effective tool within a marketing strategy.  Here’s an overview of what we’ll cover:

  • A brief history of media in marketing to understand where the industry has come from
  • The main points of an online strategy and where to focus resources
  • For each point, a few enlightening stories (cases) are offered to understand the why behind some of the best online brands, locally and internationally
  • Cheez Whiz has it and you should to, personality, and why every company should stand for something online
  • What to do now?  Some take-a-ways to talk about in your next marketing meeting

The presentation usually lasts 30-45 minutes and covers a lot of ground so prepare to think and learn, but as much as Jeff tries to be serious in getting his points across he shows the lighter side of online marketing.  Both entertaining and thought provoking, surely ‘The Art & Science of Being Online’ will not disappoint.

To book Jeff to speak either call 306-535-9697 or e-mail JephMaystruck@gmail.com.  Fees are negotiable and depend on the organization and availability.


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The Price of a Bad Experience

September 10, 2010 1 comment

What does it cost you when a disgruntled customer leaves your business dissatisfied never to return?  Ok, that’s a bit harsh, but what happens when you piss someone off?  It costs you, but how much, and should you care?

I think we can all agree that authentic word-of-mouth marketing is the most effective marketing.  What happens when you let people have a voice about your company?  What happens if you amplify that voice?

That is exactly what online networks are doing.  We’re past the point of “letting” someone have an opinion of your company, people are going to whether you like it or not.  From the people you trust on Twitter and Facebook, how important is their opinion in what you buy/sell/participate in/join/be a part of/attend?  I think we are influenced much more then we think we are.

Everyday people are having good and bad experiences, it is your job as a company to attempt to provide the best experience possible and if you’re smart, enable those who are impressed to talk about it online.  But what do you do when someone has a bad experience?  They probably won’t come back, they probably will tell their friends but now they
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Lottery Kiosk Choice Architecture

September 07, 2010 2 comments

I love reading about choice architecture over at the Nudge blog, I just happen to find a local example.

There are hundreds of lottery kiosks in Saskatchewan.  Pretty much every gas station and convenience store offers lottery tickets.  You wouldn’t think any of these places where you buy your lottery tickets differentiate at all but I found one.

At Superstore on Rochdale blvd. the lottery kiosk offers a small incentive to come check lottery tickets there.  Usually when you check a lottery ticket and it isn’t a winner you throw it in the trash.  At the Superstore lottery kiosk you put your name on the back of it and enter a draw for a prize.  Doesn’t seem like much does it?  But would you rather have no chance at winning the draw or at least a small chance?  I know I’d take the latter.

In an industry that offers a commodity (something you can find anywhere for the same price) this lottery kiosk has created an incentive to become a repeat customers.  Choice architecture is underrated and growing in importance.

What small incentive you could offer your customers so they’ll want to come back again and again?


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Free Prize Inside….a Wine Bottle?

September 02, 2010 0 comments

How come wine company’s never offer a contest where you could win something on the bottom of a cork?  Ok, you’re right, people who buy $50-$100 bottles of wine do not care about whatever it is under the cork, as long as it smells like fine wine.  I’m talking about the cheap inexpensive wine, you know the bottles that no one is aging in the cellar, the ones that you buy for the weekend and if they last till Monday you’re having wine with supper.

I see an opportunity here.  You could develop a classy contest, partner with the New Yorker or Napa Valley and offer a prize people will talk about around the water cooler.

Creating an incentive for customers to look for your wine at the store can be a powerful tactic.  With whatever excuse you come up with as to the reason why wine company’s don’t do this, ask yourself, why?  And why couldn’t they?  I am open for a discussion.

Photo Credit: Gary Tamin


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