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What would you have done as a marketer...

by Kim Standerline
15 replies
I was in our local mall a few weeks ago, and there was a professional photographer stood there giving out vouchers for a special offer on portraits. You paid him £3.50 (bout $7) there and then, and he took your name, address and telephone number, gave you a voucher with his details on it, which said you had to ring within 14 days to get the offer.

The offer was a nice sized portrait for £8 (bout $16). His upsell obviously is full extra sized portraits etc.

I'd been toying with having a studio portrait done of my daughter and 2 grandchildren, (a really expensive one), and knowing him locally as a good photographer I thought I'd take him up on it.

To be honest though I didn't see the 14 day expiry period, (yeah I know I should have read it), and I forgot about it.

Six weeks later (last Monday), I found the voucher saw the 14 day period thought (dammit), but rang them anyway

What do you think happened. (and this is a lesson in good marketing)!

Kim
#marketer
  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      Probably the same thing I've been doing for the past two days (but I can't share what right now). If he was good....
      Good gracious, the mind boggles.
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      • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
        I think, as a customer ringing a number of weeks after the offer closed, I wouldn't expect it to be honoured.

        That's the very reason why it should be.

        Maybe not the exact same offer (don't want to appear too much of a pushover and desperate!) but an equally enticing offer, probably part of his original upsell.

        Peter
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      • Profile picture of the author Darrell Hagan
        I'd have told you that even though you're past the 14 days, I'll honor the voucher for just $5 more. That way, I may still get you as my customer without looking like I'm breaking my own rules.

        Or, I'd offer to redeem your voucher towards other photos or services.
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  • Profile picture of the author logosi
    Long time ago, way before I got into IM, I did church directories and also handed out vouchers (as your guy did). I'm a creative type, and didn't much like the routine or the directories, so I got out pretty quick. Still love the light at "magic hour".

    In your case, it's hard to say, if he was in for the biz, then he would have extended the offer, hoped for an upsell, and scheduled an appointment. If instead he was simply "paying his dues", hoping for something else, he probably said "bye bye", not wanting to deal with a freebie.

    So what did happen?

    Originally Posted by Kim Standerline View Post

    I was in our local mall a few weeks ago, and there was a professional photographer stood there giving out vouchers for a special offer on portraits. You paid him £3.50 (bout $7) there and then, and he took your name, address and telephone number, gave you a voucher with his details on it, which said you had to ring within 14 days to get the offer.

    The offer was a nice sized portrait for £8 (bout $16). His upsell obviously is full extra sized portraits etc.

    I'd been toying with having a studio portrait done of my daughter and 2 grandchildren, (a really expensive one), and knowing him locally as a good photographer I thought I'd take him up on it.

    To be honest though I didn't see the 14 day expiry period, (yeah I know I should have read it), and I forgot about it.

    Six weeks later (last Monday), I found the voucher saw the 14 day period thought (dammit), but rang them anyway

    What do you think happened. (and this is a lesson in good marketing)!

    Kim
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  • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
    lol

    His wife answered and said the offer was closed etc. I was cool with that, (after all he did state 2 weeks)

    He rang me back later apologising and said of course he would schedule me in, not to worry I was late etc.

    So the kids are having their photo's done on Sat, and I'll probably be spending about $800 - $1000 with him. (He doesn't know that yet obviously).

    It got me thinking tho,

    I wonder how many other people didn't get round to contacting him, he had our names and telephone numbers, I think if I'd been him, I'd have rung everyone who hadn't contacted me, reminded them they had paid me £3.50 and did they want to make their appointment etc.

    All that lovely upsell wasted just for the sake of a phone call

    Kim
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    • Profile picture of the author Greg Cooksley
      Exactly Kim,

      Why bother to collect your details in the first place? Although
      I must say that we all have good intentions at the outset of
      any project. It's the follow through that counts though....

      Hopefully you're going to have lots of fun at the photo shoot...

      Regards

      Greg
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      • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
        Hi Kymi,

        I hope you educated him and setup an autoresponder and a website for him in exchange for getting all the extras you want at the photo session...
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        nothing to see here.

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        • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
          Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

          Hi Kymi,

          I hope you educated him and setup an autoresponder and a website for him in exchange for getting all the extras you want at the photo session...
          lol Andy, you know me too well

          Hmm let me see, now that would be my accountant and my hairdresser I've sorted (for freebies), I'm in discussions with the owner where I get my nails done. hmm I guess I have room for a photographer lol
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          • Profile picture of the author ShayB
            It must be something about photographers!

            We had a fellow who took pics of the kids at a Halloween event. The pics were $4 each and we had to pick them up at his office in 7 days.

            I picked up my photo and saw the stacks of info sheets on the desk. But I did not get asked about making an appointment for photos (which would have been perfect - with Christmas right around the corner) or a phone call. Just a, "Have a nice day," and that's it!
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      • Profile picture of the author uyanna
        Since I took the pains to extract commitment from prospects who are now customers, with the time lag in view,I should send them reminders just before the time expires.

        The second option is to reach them after the time has elapsed but this time, ask nicely for additional payment to make up for the inconviniences.

        Regards.
        Uyanna
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  • Profile picture of the author Lance K
    Originally Posted by Kim Standerline View Post


    To be honest though I didn't see the 14 day expiry period, (yeah I know I should have read it), and I forgot about it.

    Six weeks later (last Monday), I found the voucher saw the 14 day period thought (dammit), but rang them anyway

    What do you think happened. (and this is a lesson in good marketing)!

    Kim
    Well, I'd say he either honored it or did it for a slightly higher price simply to maintain the integrity of having an expiration date.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sagar Mehta
    That was certainly a kind gesture from the photographer, Kim. Raising the price a bit to honor the 14 day period is something that comes to my mind as well, just like Lance.

    He could have got a lot more sales had he followed up by reminding that the 14 days are going to expire soon. Maybe you can tell him the same when you place your larger order?

    Regards,
    Sagar
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