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A "Million Dollar" idea?

by midasman09 Banned
21 replies
Hey! I've been doing "advertising & marketing stuff" for many yrs and....I just got a HOT FLASH!

This afternoon I'm sitting in the lobby of the best hotel in my town (Roseburg, Oregon) and....in the lobby, as in most hotel lobbies, is a Rack on the wall, that holds a bunch of brochures of various biznesses of interest to "Travelers". MOST of these biznesses are "Attractions"! Biznesses MILES AWAY from this hotel.

So...as I'm watching people come in and register....I notice that NOT ONE looks at the "Rack full of Flyers"!

They give the clerk their info....the clerk gives them a Key to their room and....off they go to their room! NOT EVEN A GLANCE at the expensive, FULL COLOR Flyers in the Rack!

Well! THIS got me thinking! What If....there was a Plastic Display Stand sitting on the desk....in plain view....right in front of their noses that said;

"DON'T FORGET
YOUR FREE
"GUEST DISCOUNT CARD"
...GOOD FOR $1 OFF ANY PURCHASE
...AT LOCAL BUSINESSES!"

....with an Arrow pointing down to a "Business Card Holder"....holding a bunch of Cards!

Now...granted....most of you folks reading this...don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about! Which is OK....it just means there's MORE ROOM for "us folks" who DO....understand!

So....what if there were 20 biznesses on these Cards....offering "$1 OFF ANY purchase"....and...what if each of these biznesses paid YOU $100/mo for participating?

Well....I think THIS is a GREAT IDEA! Why? Because people who stay at hotels....are LOOKING FOR DEALS!

Those expensive, full color RACK Flyers are simply..."Here's what we have! Here's our address! C'mon over!

Yeah...right! NO REASON WHY hotel guests should visit OTHER THAN they are TRULY INTERESTED in what they have.

Now...granted...ONE DOLLAR is not much of an incentive to visit any of the participating businesses...BUT....it sure beats NO incentive!

So....yours truly will be spending the next few days putting together this Program that offers a "FREE...Disount Card" to people who check into local hotels.

So....thanks for reading. I just wanted to show HOW..."people like ME" get "Money-Making Ideas"!

I will bet ya I can find 20 local businesses willing to pay ME...$100 a Month to participate! In fact....I'm gonna try and see if I can get $500 A MONTH (for more rooms)....from some of these biznesses...for my "simple idea"!

Don Alm...."idea guy" AND...DOER!
#idea #million dollar
  • Profile picture of the author MrSDPromo
    Great idea Don! So would you just contact the businesses that are on the rack? Would you just ask them if they had an interest in getting more biz from guests in the hotel at $100 a month? How would you approach the hotel? I love this!
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  • Profile picture of the author kcom
    Don, your ideas are always golden, and I know you will succeed with this one as well. My only suggestion would be to up the incentive from a dollar, or maybe even the perceived value. To me 10% off seems better, but is only better if the value of the product or service is over $10. All the best, I know you will make bank on this one.
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  • Profile picture of the author MaxwellB
    This is just great. Awesome idea.

    Would you need to incentivize the hotel to display the cards?
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  • Profile picture of the author scottiek
    Great idea....now you gotta execute on it! : )

    Look forward to hearing the update. Have you tried calling or stopping by 4-5 hotels in your town to see what they think?

    Try a time when the front-desk is really slow, bring something snacky to share and see if you can't get the front-desk person to open up a bit. I'll bet you'd learn a ton.
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    • Profile picture of the author midasman09
      Banned
      My "experience" with "Hotel" promotion is extensive.

      I've placed 2ft by 3ft "Map-Info-Boards" on the walls of Hotel Lobbies. (Map in middle and 15 ADS around edges)

      I've placed "Restaurant Menu Guides" (a Scrapbook sized book with Menus and Photos (2 pages each) of TWENTY local restaurants)....in the Lobbies, on the Front Desk AND....at the Bell Captain's Desk and...in the Bar. (TEN Hotels in each town)

      AND....I just finished my FIFTIETH Hotel where I place "TV Channel Guides" in each room. These have a PIZZA delivery biz on front (along with TV Channels) and 3 to 6 ADS on the back.

      So I have SOME experience with Hotels.

      And....is a FREE $1 enough of an incentive to draw Tourists? When my wifee had an Antique Shoppe....each month I'd place coupons at the front desk of 10 hotels. The Hotels let me put my "BROWSER BUCKS"
      ($1 TOWARDS ANY PURCHASE) on their Front Desk and we got BEAUCOUP response.

      Sure....some people used the "Free Buck" to "buy" 4, 25cent marbles AND, others....sheepishly asked if they could use the "Free Buck" towards the purchase of a $2600 Antique Table.

      So....what the results will be....I won't know until I put it into action. However....I betcha my advertisers GET BUSINESS!

      It's interesting. I placed the same thread on the "General" section here and got a totally negative response.

      Don Alm....

      PS....my "Browser Bucks" program ($1 Towards Any Purchase) and my "BEE Back" cards program ($1 Off Next Purchase Card given to customers after their purchase...as an incentive to return)....have BOTH been successful for YEARS in retail stores, Gift Shops AND Restaurants.
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      • Profile picture of the author MaxwellB
        Originally Posted by midasman09 View Post

        My "experience" with "Hotel" promotion is extensive.

        I've placed 2ft by 3ft "Map-Info-Boards" on the walls of Hotel Lobbies. (Map in middle and 15 ADS around edges)

        I've placed "Restaurant Menu Guides" (a Scrapbook sized book with Menus and Photos (2 pages each) of TWENTY local restaurants)....in the Lobbies, on the Front Desk AND....at the Bell Captain's Desk and...in the Bar. (TEN Hotels in each town)

        AND....I just finished my FIFTIETH Hotel where I place "TV Channel Guides" in each room. These have a PIZZA delivery biz on front (along with TV Channels) and 3 to 6 ADS on the back.

        So I have SOME experience with Hotels.

        And....is a FREE $1 enough of an incentive to draw Tourists? When my wifee had an Antique Shoppe....each month I'd place coupons at the front desk of 10 hotels. The Hotels let me put my "BROWSER BUCKS"
        ($1 TOWARDS ANY PURCHASE) on their Front Desk and we got BEAUCOUP response.

        Sure....some people used the "Free Buck" to "buy" 4, 25cent marbles AND, others....sheepishly asked if they could use the "Free Buck" towards the purchase of a $2600 Antique Table.

        So....what the results will be....I won't know until I put it into action. However....I betcha my advertisers GET BUSINESS!

        It's interesting. I placed the same thread on the "General" section here and got a totally negative response.

        Don Alm....

        PS....my "Browser Bucks" program ($1 Towards Any Purchase) and my "BEE Back" cards program ($1 Off Next Purchase Card given to customers after their purchase...as an incentive to return)....have BOTH been successful for YEARS in retail stores, Gift Shops AND Restaurants.
        Can you elaborate on your communication with the Hotel's when placing these pieces of advertising. What deal do you have to make? Who do you speak to? What does it cost you to do these types of hotel advertisements?
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  • Profile picture of the author career21st
    Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained....
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  • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
    May have to be something more than $1 off to get people to make the journey/ call , also with all your previous threads mostly being about succesful promos in hotels, you'vemost likely already got a list of businesses greedily awaiting your next idea therefore the pricing shouldnt be much of an issue , within reason, if theyve already benefitted from your previous strategies
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    Mike

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  • Profile picture of the author Niks24
    Fantastic Idea,it makes me geared.
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  • Profile picture of the author xichabodx
    It's a good idea. I'd offer more incentive than $1 off, though. Not knocking your idea...that's just what I, personally, would offer in my areas.

    Also, what's the average day stay of these guests? Are they mostly business travelers or tourists?
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  • Profile picture of the author rackemup
    Good idea. I remember a few years ago some company had a similar idea. What this company was promoting though, was a little booklet type thing the size of a business card that unfolded like an accordion for lack of a better word. So you had all these color ads for neighboring businesses like dry cleaners, restaurants etc that offered specials. If I remember correctly they had this in a key holder type thing so guests would get it with their key when they checked in.

    It was a franchise protected territory kind of thing. Hope this gives you other ideas.
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    • Profile picture of the author midasman09
      Banned
      Yikes! I've got too much stuff on my plate and forgot one of my biggest money-makers..."Welcome Cards"!

      I set up a program for "New Movers" (people who either bought a house or rented an apartment or condo)

      I got a List of these folks, every month.....and sent them a "Fridge Magnet" that had;
      Important Numbers
      12 Mo Calendar
      24 Business Categories

      I ALSO included a "Discount Card" good for GREAT DISCOUNTS from the participating advertisers.

      So....on my "GUEST CARDS"....rather than a buck off....I'm including "Special Deals from each Sponsor"!

      Things like;
      Buy 1 Pizza, Get 1 Free
      Buy 1 Dinner, Get 1 Free
      Buy 1 Sandwich, Get 1 Free
      Buy 1 Shake, Get 1 Free
      etc

      These offers WILL get response from participating businesses.

      And....along with scanning a QR Code to get these deals....I'll also include ACTUAL Physical Cards on a display at the front desk!

      Whala!

      Don Alm....idea guy
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  • Profile picture of the author bhuff85
    Good stuff Don! You've actually sparked an idea that I had to promote my local restaurant/bar directory.

    I had a few thousand business-size promo cards I had printed up about a month ago to hand out to people as I'm out and about around my city. Nothing more than a simple advertisement to get people to use my directory to help them find local restaurants and bars.

    I'm actually on a website now and ordering up some 5x7 plastic sign displays with a business card holder and plan to take them to local hotels throughout my city and ask them if they can display them at the front desk.

    I know when I'm out traveling, I'm ALWAYS trying to find places nearby to eat. Not only that, I try to find places that are local, just because I want a different experience I know I won't get at a franchise or chain restaurant. With that said, I have a feeling that putting these displays across hotels should be a breeze.

    My assumption is that this wouldn't take much more effort than approaching the front desk and asking them to place them at the front desk. Any tips or ideas that I should know before I approach them with this?
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  • Profile picture of the author kmalikis
    Don, great idea but I must be missing something, how do you get
    20 businesses info onto a card?

    And in your experience what's the pitch to get the hotel to display the cards on
    Their desk?

    Regards,
    Kam
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Makarski
    Don, you always come up with good stuff! Thank you for sharing this idea.

    There are several people suggesting that the discount should either be a higher amount or a percentage off. I think you folks are missing the mark and messing with a near-perfect plan. Here's why:
    - $'s off in split tests almost always outperforms % off
    - your $1 off offer is competing with no offer, so it should work well
    - you probably won't notice much difference between $1 off vs $5 off vs $10 off
    - if you were to offer $10 off, you'd make it much harder to sell this deal to local vendors as not only you are now giving away most if not all their profit, but you also expect them to pay a $100/m subscription on top of that. $1 off makes is attractive enough both to the customer and the advertiser.
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  • Profile picture of the author bluecoyotemedia
    Donaldo

    when Donaldo speaks I always pay attention because this guys is one of the real street sales people that are a dying breed.

    I keep telling him he should NOT be sharing his ideas for FREE since people often discount free as being no value.

    My very first business venture that got me sold on never working for the white man again was his FAXBUX program

    made a nice penny of of that and never looked back
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  • Profile picture of the author bluecoyotemedia
    Donaldo

    when Don Alm speaks I always stop and absorb everything he sais. this man is part of that dying breed of face to face salesman.

    my very first business was one of his programs and I made a nice living.

    thanks don

    eddie
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  • Profile picture of the author Dseal
    Great Idea Don though i would offer a percentage off versus a dollar amount truth be told most people cant do percentages in their head and 5-10% off looks a lot better than $1 off

    awesome idea though
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    • Profile picture of the author RRG
      Originally Posted by Dseal View Post

      Great Idea Don though i would offer a percentage off versus a dollar amount truth be told most people cant do percentages in their head and 5-10% off looks a lot better than $1 off

      awesome idea though
      Actually, you have that backwards.
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      • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
        Don, I know its only been a week since you started this thread but you usally put your ideas into action right away. Have you implemented this strategy yet? Do you put the same discount card in nearby hotels to increase the reach for the advertisers?

        Looking forward to your reply.

        Eva
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  • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
    ? rather than have a clutter card display on the desk which would probably fall by the wayside as people took blind vision to it ? a bit like banner blindness why could you not have a great pack that was handed to the client with their keys or a personal saver pack in the room where the client could enjoy sitting down and reading them over a coffee.

    The only real issue I see in this idea is that one your asking the hotel for their space for your idea and would they want their desk to be cluttered with your rubbish, and secondly hotels / motels are already bombarded with these things, in the walls, desks and rooms / guest books and really as an experienced traveler or someone that travels all of the time all of these offers are like a TV commercial or some road sign, you simply really do not care about them.

    Also as a traveler I may be forking out 200 - or a lot more for a room with a meal and breakfast - Most travelers are cashed up and paying $ so a $1 as a saver really does not swing the cat, save a buck on my pizza when i am dining in the restaurant on a fillet steak is not what i want.

    The $1 saver would be workable maybe in the low end budget accommodation where you see junk stuff on the counters and the guests go out an buy a burger to eat and that probably where the main market would be. given that if there was a burger shop across the road then it would still grab a lions share of the market regardless.
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