20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

I Love Money - Let's Brainstorm Valentine's Day

by Jay Rhome
17 replies
Valentine's Day is an offline goldmine. It's the day of love… and we love money

Why not have a brainstorm session about all the opportunities it provides us to quickly build a network of businesses and offer them a taste of our talents, and tremendous value to booth.

On Feb 14, guys will be lining the local florists to buy their GF/wives a rose. Restaurants will be full. So these two types of businesses will probably have one of their best day of the year. Let's find a way to make it better for them for the days AFTER Valentine 's Day, and for many other semi-related businesses as well.

My idea was to go to florists, and offer them FREE nice looking QR codes, and either a mobile website of their own, or free access to one of our own mobile "local coupons" site (more on that below).

Besides the free offers, we make them see the value by asking them what about the days AFTER Feb 14.

Do they know owners of local restaurants? Jewelers? Massage therapists? Spas? Lingerie stores? Resorts? And any others you guys can think of?

Let's say we design a Valentine's Day card for them to GIVE all the dudes who will be buying that rose. Instead of using coupons in it, or "scratch that hidden prizes" thing, we put cute designs with QR Codes linking back to the other businesses mentioned above (that we've talked to before putting it to print!).

And they in turn offer another card with more QR Codes, including one linking back to the florists, or maybe simple give a rose by that florist with a QR Code in the card to their customers. Or any other great ideas we can come up with (brainstorm!).

Basically, we use QR Codes and "couple" related businesses to build a quick network offering value for customers, with this definite modern twist that will help create a quick buzz.

#1 it gets us immediate referrals for an immediate, precise goal (both for them and for us)
#2 we are the organizers, thus the de facto experts
#3 a concentrated network of people suddenly get to know of what we do
#4 they get more paying clients sent their way after the Feb 14 rush by making the most of the sudden peak of traffic they are sure to get
#5 we advertise ourselves as the designers of these cards with a discreet mention and QR code of our own on them
#6 even if we'd charge a low fee on this deal, we can get more referrals, get the ball rolling, and sell/upsell our true consulting arsenal
#7 time is short till Feb 14 and for some reason many of us get way more done in a time crunch - so let's get BUSY!

The more value we can provide them, the better they'll be, and of course the more money we'll make. So let's brainstorm this.

I was thinking of maybe building a "local coupons" mobile site that we rent the advertising space. This way it could create a scarcity element that brings businesses in to beat competitors, and a model to pursue well after Valentine's Day, though I'm hoping for your take on this.

There's really potential here for a sudden burst of business. The local owners will probably be thrilled someone is helping them get the most out of that special day, and besides the florists, most of the persons we deal with will be referred, not a cold market.

Let's brainstorm this

P.S. Don't forget to barter some of these businesses to treat your GF/Wife great if you're a guy!
#brainstorm #day #love #money #valentine
  • Profile picture of the author pethanks
    Oh! Please don't make a sin by loving money. That is the root of all evil.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3302853].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jay Rhome
      Originally Posted by pethanks View Post

      Oh! Please don't make a sin by loving money. That is the root of all evil.
      You get that I was kidding and using "love" for Valentine's Day purposes
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3303486].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
      Originally Posted by pethanks View Post

      Oh! Please don't make a sin by loving money. That is the root of all evil.
      Money isn't the root of all evil....
      It's the love of money.

      Money never did anything.
      It's people that wanted the money, that caused the evil.

      @OP- Thanks for starting this thread.
      I normally don't like Valentine's Day, as I think it is a pointless Hallmark Holiday. But, thanks to you, now it can be a PAYDAY!
      Signature
      Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone
      - Neale Donald Wilson -
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3305710].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author myob
        What I have done for the past several years is to mail out post cards to prospects to send a text code to receive $50 gift certificates for dining at restaurants, send flowers, or chocolates, along with a free month trial of our services. They have to go to our website to redeem the certificates so we are able to obtain all their other contact info for followup. Since they reply by text message, they are easily qualified for our products and services. Just about any holiday/event/anniversary works well for this.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3307859].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
          Originally Posted by myob View Post

          What I have done for the past several years is to mail out post cards to prospects to send a text code to receive $50 gift certificates for dining at restaurants, send flowers, or chocolates, along with a free month trial of our services. They have to go to our website to redeem the certificates so we are able to obtain all their other contact info for followup. Since they reply by text message, they are easily qualified for our products and services. Just about any holiday/event/anniversary works well for this.
          Do you just use a discount code for Restaurants.com... to get them for $4, or do you purchase an actual $50 gift certificate from somewhere?
          Signature
          Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone
          - Neale Donald Wilson -
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3308582].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author myob
            Originally Posted by vndnbrgj View Post

            Do you just use a discount code for Restaurants.com... to get them for $4, or do you purchase an actual $50 gift certificate from somewhere?
            I don't pay anything at all. I just have a listing of all the local participating restaurants and merchants who will accept $50 off the purchase price from me in exchange for referring business executives as customers. It works out to be very inexpensive but highly targeted traffic for them, and makes me look like a big shot!
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3308689].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Jay Rhome
              Originally Posted by myob View Post

              What I have done for the past several years is to mail out post cards to prospects to send a text code to receive $50 gift certificates for dining at restaurants, send flowers, or chocolates, along with a free month trial of our services. They have to go to our website to redeem the certificates so we are able to obtain all their other contact info for followup. Since they reply by text message, they are easily qualified for our products and services. Just about any holiday/event/anniversary works well for this.
              Originally Posted by myob View Post

              I don't pay anything at all. I just have a listing of all the local participating restaurants and merchants who will accept $50 off the purchase price from me in exchange for referring business executives as customers. It works out to be very inexpensive but highly targeted traffic for them, and makes me look like a big shot!
              I might be a tad slow here. The postcards are sent to business executives, to entice them, along with the free month trial offer, to use your services (which happens to be consulting)?

              And THEN you go to merchants to tell them you have targeted prospects for them if they'll offer a discount, charging them nothing per se?

              Very different from what I'm proposing here but I like it!
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3313021].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author myob
                Originally Posted by Jay Rhome View Post

                I might be a tad slow here. The postcards are sent to business executives, to entice them, along with the free month trial offer, to use your services (which happens to be consulting)?

                And THEN you go to merchants to tell them you have targeted prospects for them if they'll offer a discount, charging them nothing per se?

                Very different from what I'm proposing here but I like it!
                I've been doing this very successfully for the last 5 years or so. We have approached the very high end restaurants, gift shops etc to discount the purchase price of all our referrals by $50. They do this because we refer only business owners, top executives, or professionals to their business. We then post those merchants who agreed to this proposal on our website. That is already all in place.

                Next we send postcards out to our target market (business owners, top executives, professionals etc) on every major holiday (and Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Secretary Day, etc) with our offer for 30 days free trial of our services. Interested prospects reply by text message, and they are then directed to our website to claim their $50 "coupon" from one of the merchants of their choice.

                Our services include voice texting, updating Facebook and Twitter by voice commands, virtual mobile secretary, discount cellular plans, SMS/text advertising, custom mobile apps development, mobile web optimization, SEO, first page ranking, and now QR codes!
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3313347].message }}
                • Profile picture of the author Jay Rhome
                  Originally Posted by myob View Post

                  I've been doing this very successfully for the last 5 years or so. We have approached the very high end restaurants, gift shops etc to discount the purchase price of all our referrals by $50. They do this because we refer only business owners, top executives, or professionals to their business. We then post those merchants who agreed to this proposal on our website. That is already all in place.
                  When you first started approaching the merchants, were you established already? I'm not shy about asking such businesses for such coupons. As you said, it's pretty cheap advertisement for the return they can get. I guess I'm just curious and see how you got around that small hurdle.

                  Next we send postcards out to our target market (business owners, top executives, professionals etc) on every major holiday (and Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Secretary Day, etc) with our offer for 30 days free trial of our services. Interested prospects reply by text message, and they are then directed to our website to claim their $50 "coupon" from one of the merchants of their choice.
                  I see it's from ONE of the merchants of their choice. Do you have contracts of some kind with these merchants to make sure they'll follow through, that owners will use it only once, and most importantly, that it's crystal clear you have the right to post such coupons?

                  I'm trying to find simple legal documents for this purpose for my Valentine card idea.

                  Our services include voice texting, updating Facebook and Twitter by voice commands, virtual mobile secretary, discount cellular plans, SMS/text advertising, custom mobile apps development, mobile web optimization, SEO, first page ranking, and now QR codes!
                  Mine would be full consulting. The first month in consulting is by far where the most work is done, but hey, if they don't want to continue with it, at least 50% of that work can be transposed as it is to a competitor

                  My "commodity" services are not really a monthly thing, so they might not work as well in this format though it'd be better to do such commodity work for free AND REFERRALS to businesses I wouldn't really want to do consulting with.
                  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3316558].message }}
                  • Profile picture of the author myob
                    I've just started doing this about 5 years ago as only one of many different marketing methods. You can approach any company looking for ways to increase their customer base by requesting a discount for your prospects or clients. They are very receptive especially when you tell them you're referring business owners, executives, professionals, etc.

                    The fact that your prospects/clients may choose one or even all of the discount coupons doesn't matter. I just tell them to choose only one to increase the exclusivity perception. The merchants are the ones who will honor these coupons as agreed with no additional cost for me. All I collect is the fully qualified leads with all their contact info. My web records show that currently nearly 30% are in fact choosing multiple coupons.

                    The offer is one month of any service for free (usually SMS marketing) which also includes consulting as part of the free package. The strategy in mailing them a postcard with the offer requiring them to respond via text message to claim the $50 coupon is key in tightly qualifying prospects for my services. They are qualified as having and using mobile phones.
                    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3318712].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author co-creator
    I like the way you think.

    Why not make money off of V Day, right?

    You would have to mass promote this project. Get the idea in front of as many eyeballs as possible. The more people who are aware of this, the better.

    Also, it would have to be a no-brainer for people to participate in this. People have to like the idea of being a part of this.

    Finally, its important to see what already exists similar to this... who is already cashing in? you could get inspired by what already is working... do some of what competitors do that works and be better than them. do more than them. this way the target audience will prefer you.

    Make sure it is super easy to adopt. and super enticing.

    I don't know man.

    Don't go hunting for gold(selling chocolate and flowers for example), sell the picks and shovels(think of as many ways as possible to sell to these business owners)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3303129].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author redcell1
    here is my idea, offer a refferal program of sorts. Example have the restaurant guys make flyers/coupons that they can give to the florists guys to promote them and vice versa. Maybe have the florist people have something setup with the restaurant to promote their shop.

    Also have a combo savings option of buying flowers/getting a reservation.

    Do a sms/email signup for anyone that day to come get another free dinner or something of value in exhange for their email/cell phone number so the company can later market to.
    Signature

    Just here to see the shenanigans.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3303232].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jay Rhome
      Originally Posted by redcell1 View Post

      here is my idea, offer a refferal program of sorts. Example have the restaurant guys make flyers/coupons that they can give to the florists guys to promote them and vice versa. Maybe have the florist people have something setup with the restaurant to promote their shop.
      Yep, besides the obvious goal for our own business, the main objective is to develop a real network of businesses helping each other out, with ourselves as the instigators/coordinators.

      Also have a combo savings option of buying flowers/getting a reservation.
      Good one!

      Do a sms/email signup for anyone that day to come get another free dinner or something of value in exhange for their email/cell phone number so the company can later market to.
      Great! Though I found out earlier today that GetResponse does NOT work on Androids! And I don't know about iPhones, or if Aweber works or not.

      I thought of inciting Android users to send their email by a regular contact form, and then emailing them back (automatically) to give them the URL to a simple optin page to access by their PC/Mac later on. Far from ideal, but beats nothing.

      A sms signup would be much better but I have to find out what are the prices etc. in my area (Montreal)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3303478].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sarah Bosen
    k.... but remember that QR codes are still new to the US, half the people don't realize their worth or even how to use them,

    I personally don't use them now, but I am starting to see more of them
    Signature
    ARTICLES - Quality 100% Original Google Approved - Limited Special Offer
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3303919].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jay Rhome
      Originally Posted by Sarah Bosen View Post

      k.... but remember that QR codes are still new to the US, half the people don't realize their worth or even how to use them,

      I personally don't use them now, but I am starting to see more of them
      My personal way of convincing people, is that even if only 1 in 15 prospects know of QR codes and think to use them, have you ever witnessed how some people are ADDICTED to their celll phones and techie stuff??

      Well, these same "addicts" will be VERY receptive to merchants who talk in their manner. Fewer prospects, but VERY receptive. And of course, would you want your competitors to be the first one to use this in your area?


      The other thing is QR codes are easy to show in person. Best part IMO is the clickable telephone number... on a cell phone, no less. One scan, one click on the number, one click on call, and bang, you've got somebody calling you. They are new no doubt, but they do have a "wow" factor into them. Basically, I see them as a great ice breaker, certainly not as the end-all-be-all business model.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3305431].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jay Rhome
    As for my own little plan, so far I'm AMAZED that the florists are not thrilled to offer their customer added value with my "QR code discount Valentin cards". I popped in person in their stores. I had to stress MANY times I'd do the code, the design AND printing of the cards, etc. for FREE to them.

    What I ask in return is to be introduced to businesses they know to be on the card as well, and of course they basically guarantee the distribution of those cards will happen on the 12th-13th-14th. I also pointed by their referral I could schedule a planned visit with them instead of popping up unannounced as I just did.

    So far one has said no (well I said no as he was a PITA), and 3 liked the idea, but I quickly got that they don't really network. They really don't! What I've got from them is that I can approach the other businesses with the guarantee that the cards will be distributed by the florists, and I can use their names as an introduction.

    Much less than I anticipated to be honest. I just wonder how to charge local businesses for this. I mostly want to cover my costs (500/1000 & envelopes printed). My own code will be on every card as well so I see this as advertisement for QR codes and my company as provider.

    I don't want to charge too much
    A. to make this a no brainer - I barely got 5 days to do this starting on Monday, I can't wait, it's now or nothing
    B. people don't know me (yet). It's obvious many have been conned and lied to before. I can expect people to be shy about paying upfront, but I sure ain't forking the bill and running after them. So a low number is almost mandatory here.


    I also got that while QR codes are great ice breakers as planned, we'd better target businesses that need CALLS, like insurance brokers, real estate, debt services, etc. Restaurants, florists, etc. are somehow wowed by this, but don't see the point of jumping on that bandwagon. Well not the few I've talked to anyway.

    I'm still finishing that campaign first and then moving to those markets. I'll have 0 to 4 cities covered by Feb 11 (0 only if there was not enough interest by local businesses - I won't pay the printing out of my own pocket).
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3313063].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author fgrimes
    I like this approach because you are dealing with a warm market. The concept is more inviting to get other businesses on board, as they are focused on themselves you are making some referral business. Such a fantastic idea.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3442999].message }}

Trending Topics