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Offliners - Are You Worried About Foursquare, Groupon, etc.?

by mikemac1
16 replies
I'm really interested in hearing from the offliners here about if Foursquare, Groupon, Gowalla and other "social incentive" sites are affecting their business or if they have heard about them at from local businesses?

Several businesses that I know have been mentioning them a lot lately especially Foursquare & Groupon.

Just wanted to get your opinions.
#foursquare #groupon #offline #offliners #worried
  • Profile picture of the author DogScout
    Years of "Missionary Work" & Nothing to Show For It
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemac1
    DogScout, I appreciate that but I'm really interested in hearing / conversing about these sites.

    These social incentive sites are growing really fast and are drawing in lots of local businesses because that who they are targeting and they are doing it very successfully.

    Look at all the restaurants, bars who jumped on Foursquare...check out how cities are begging Groupon to start in theirs so they can get coupon deals.

    I always get some great advice here and just wondering if others have intergrated these into their offline consulting.
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    • Profile picture of the author DogScout
      Originally Posted by michael-mac View Post

      DogScout, I appreciate that but I'm really interested in hearing / conversing about these sites.

      These social incentive sites are growing really fast and are drawing in lots of local businesses because that who they are targeting and they are doing it very successfully.

      Look at all the restaurants, bars who jumped on Foursquare...check out how cities are begging Groupon to start in theirs so they can get coupon deals.

      I always get some great advice here and just wondering if others have intergrated these into their offline consulting.
      Sorry you didn't understand my point.
      Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Lou Diamond
    Hello,
    if they are asking about another product it only means that they are ready to be a buyer,
    now you just have to sell them something.
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    Something new soon.

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  • Profile picture of the author AmyBrown
    I've been very actively talking to my clients about Groupon, Foursquare, the local newspaper's deal of the day and anything else that can help them market their business. I mentioned it in a newsletter and it started a dialogue with several inactive clients. Connecting with people when you're not trying to pry money out of their wallet works
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    "Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast."
     Tom Peters

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  • Profile picture of the author mikemac1
    Lou - thanks, I really appreciate the response, but I don't want this to go down the discussion of sales but to converse about these particular sites and strategies consulting local businesses on how to integrate them and does anyone have the experience doing so.



    [Full disclosure - I sold online advertising packages to local businesses for 6+ years for 3 different Fortune 500 companies, but I do appreciate the advice]
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemac1
    AmyBrown - thanks (and I'd press Thanks but the button seems to be missing).

    Great advice about the Newspaper Deal of the Day, in a way that's similar to Groupon and I didn't think of that and to add these sites and use it as part of the conversation, I like that, Thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      You get hired based on the depth of the relationship you build with business owners.

      If it's you they trust then they'll come to you first whenever they hear about some new idea involving the internet or marketing.

      So no it's not something you have to "worry" about.

      If you learn how to build rapport and educate your prospects and clients effectively you don't really have to worry about anything.

      You're the person they'll be coming to for advice about anything along these lines.

      Every time someone tries to sell them a service or product they'll might be interested in or even gets them excited about it is another chance for you to sell them a similar product or service you provide because they'll be coming to you before they make a purchasing decision.

      The key is in the relationships and the trust you build.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
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      Old School Copy Like This Is BACK & Converting Like Crazy!
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemac1
    DogScout - no, please I did, believe me, I read the link as soon as you posted and I really did take some things away from it, I guess I shouldn't have put the word "worry" in the title of this thread.

    Many times here we get into discussions on theory, motivation, gaining trust, etc. and you guys are all right and it is helpful, but this time, I was just seeing if we could discuss actual experiences dealing with these "social incentives" sites.

    These sites are totally focused on local business, are now driving massive traffic to their offline locations and increasing their sales - which is the bottom line.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kelly Verge
    Sites like that are really only a threat if you're a one-trick pony.

    Amy's right that these are really just additional ways to have conversations with clients.
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    • Profile picture of the author MRomeo09
      You can turn it from a worry, and into a benefit.

      Can you imagine the impact if you can get 2-3 of your clients in the queue for a Groupon? After all Groupon can only do 365 specials a year out of tens to hundreds of thousands of businesses.

      What would it take to develop a relationship with the Groupon representatives in your area?

      Instead of being worried, take the bull by the horns and become a "Groupon/Four Square" specialist. Actively go after getting your clients listed. That could become your new "calling card". I've seen local businesses generate tens of thousands of dollars from Groupons, a local sale here in my town sold 1200 of a $75 product last week.

      HTH,

      Marcos
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      We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up ... discovering we have the strength to stare it down. - Eleanor Roosevelt

      Your opinion of yourself becomes your reality. If you have all these doubts, then no one will believe in you and everything will go wrong. If you think the opposite, the opposite will happen. It’s that simple.-Curtis Jackson- 50 Cent
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    When you own the client's mindshare at the strategic level, the tactical level, lead generation tools on the front-end of the business don't really matter.

    If you've built a business around the tactical level, and don't have any other tricks up your sleeve, whenever the market shifts, you're out of business.
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    • Profile picture of the author jnapier
      Anyone know any great training programs for these websites? How to profit? How to sell them?

      JN
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      Do LIVE webinars on FACEBOOK... Yes, you can attract an audience for your webinar on Facebook MeetCheap

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      • Profile picture of the author Tekstar
        If you do talk to local business owners, you will also find out that most of the deals on Groupon they are doing as Loss Leaders. They are usually offering 50% off or more for the product they are showcasing and then Groupon takes another 40-50% from the sale of the coupon. This can leave the owner with a net loss and an influx of customers that are only there for the deal and never come back. This is what I am hearing all over now. How many deals do you think those businesses are going to continually do with that type of outcome. They need sustainability not just a one time gimmick. I do admit that these tips of deals are fantastic for the consumer, but then again that's not who we should be targeting.
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  • Profile picture of the author OpticalOut
    I've seen yellow pages and a few other sites doing this coupon thing with businesses and customers. I don't think that it affect SEO because businesses interested in that know that it is entirely different.

    The whole coupon system sounds like a good idea if you are a local business, but it's definitely not the only method you should use.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    You're forgetting about the biggest player of them all ... Facebook deals. I don't do any offline work so am not interested, but if you're going to play with these sites, Facebook Deals is the largest one.
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