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Another Offline Idea

by matthewd
11 replies
This is just an idea that popped into my head
last night. It may have already been discussed
and it may be complete crap, but sounds good
in my head, so I figured I would see what you
all think too.

Okay, so one of the big things about selling to
people offline is that they get sold to all the time
and can clam up very quickly when they realize
you are selling to them.

So, I was thinking of how you can disguise that
you are selling to them, and this is what I came
up with.

What if you were to participate in a charity event?
Let's say you were going to ride a bike for Alzheimer's.

So, you could go around to local businesses to get
sponsors for your charity event.

You tell them what you are doing (riding a bike in
[Insert Event Here] and are getting sponsors to
raise money for [Insert Cause Here]).

You then tell them who you are and that in return,
you will donate some of your time to them. You will
give them a "Free Consultation" on your own personal
time for their generous donation.

Now, you have your foot in the door and you get a chance
to give them that killer consultation that will surely show
them how much you can help them... right?

So, like I said, just an idea I got in the middle of
the night... may not be worth a dime but it
sounds good as I am going over it to myself.
#idea #offline
  • Profile picture of the author tomw
    !?!?!?!

    Do you really think that it's a good idea to exploit a charitable cause in such a way?

    I guess this idea is right up there with your cookie stuffing epiphany...

    Thomas
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    • Profile picture of the author matthewd
      Originally Posted by tomw View Post

      !?!?!?!

      Do you really think that it's a good idea to exploit a charitable cause in such a way?

      I guess this idea is right up there with your cookie stuffing epiphany...

      Thomas
      Are you kidding me?

      It is not exploiting... you are actually going to do the charity!

      It is raising more money for a good cause AND building you business at the same time.
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      • Profile picture of the author tomw
        Originally Posted by matthewd View Post

        Are you kidding me?

        It is not exploiting... you are actually going to do the charity!

        It is raising more money for a good cause AND building you business at the same time.
        Man, you're priceless...



        Thomas
        Signature
        STOP THE TRAFFIK: PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE BOUGHT AND SOLD
        Help Us Rescue, Rehabilitate And Reunite Victims With Their Families
        STOP THE TRAFFIK is a growing global movement of individuals, communities and organisations fighting to PREVENT the sale of people,
        PROTECT the trafficked and PROSECUTE the traffickers.
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        • Profile picture of the author radhika
          Good idea indeed ...

          One of the teachers on my daughter follows the exact principle. She will hand-over the brochures to class kids on a fund raidsing events for class/school. Same time there are pictures of Avon stuff on the back of it. You know girls and Avon? And she gets profits!

          .
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        • Profile picture of the author Corwinnx
          I didnt' read the cookie stuffing post, and I can't see Matt's post count now because I'm in reply, and I've never seen any of Matt's other posts that I can recall that may have sounded 'spammy' or 'underhanded' or 'blackhat' or any of the other derogatory terms that would lead me to believe that Tom's reaction is to more than just this ONE of Matt's post.

          But none if it is relevant, because I have to say that businesses very very very often will participate in and donate contributions to charities for the press and PR (Public Relations, not Page Rank) factors.

          Our business is no different. We GIVE AWAY loads of free tools, resources, ebooks, reports, etc in order to gain a prospects trust and hopefully turn them into a buyer one day.

          Is it 'exploiting' the charity?

          Maybe the charity is 'exploiting' the business.

          After all, Charities that raise funds to post their ads in sports arena venues are in effect 'exploiting' the massive audiences that the sport reaches.

          So in effect, the charity is exploiting the business to get their message seen by more people.

          The word 'exploitation' has such a negative association that it is rarely appreciated for what it is: An effective tactic.

          Everything in life, nature, business, the Universe, is connected. When a reporter does a story on the harsh living conditions of people in Afghanistan, the news outlet is in fact exploiting these people and their story becuase even if the story IS 'newsworthy' it's still going to boost their viewership and their ratings. BUT, it's also going to help a good cause as well.

          Whether or not helping someone else's furthers your own causes isn't relevant. If you're helping, you're helping and in the end, that's what counts.

          Call it "synergy", call it "The Law Of Reciprocity," call it the "Law Of Attraction."

          Not to go all flower child of the 60's hippie here but, putting out 'good vibes' will bring back 'good vibes.'

          -Marcus
          Signature
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          • Profile picture of the author matthewd
            Marcus - Thanks man. You understood exactly what I was saying and were able to defend my point with exactly what I was picturing but couldn't come up with the words to say it.

            It's an all around win for everybody participating... nobody is getting screwed over and numerous people are being helped in numerous ways.

            Originally Posted by Corwinnx View Post

            I didnt' read the cookie stuffing post, and I can't see Matt's post count now because I'm in reply, and I've never seen any of Matt's other posts that I can recall that may have sounded 'spammy' or 'underhanded' or 'blackhat' or any of the other derogatory terms that would lead me to believe that Tom's reaction is to more than just this ONE of Matt's post.

            But none if it is relevant, because I have to say that businesses very very very often will participate in and donate contributions to charities for the press and PR (Public Relations, not Page Rank) factors.

            Our business is no different. We GIVE AWAY loads of free tools, resources, ebooks, reports, etc in order to gain a prospects trust and hopefully turn them into a buyer one day.

            Is it 'exploiting' the charity?

            Maybe the charity is 'exploiting' the business.

            After all, Charities that raise funds to post their ads in sports arena venues are in effect 'exploiting' the massive audiences that the sport reaches.

            So in effect, the charity is exploiting the business to get their message seen by more people.

            The word 'exploitation' has such a negative association that it is rarely appreciated for what it is: An effective tactic.

            Everything in life, nature, business, the Universe, is connected. When a reporter does a story on the harsh living conditions of people in Afghanistan, the news outlet is in fact exploiting these people and their story becuase even if the story IS 'newsworthy' it's still going to boost their viewership and their ratings. BUT, it's also going to help a good cause as well.

            Whether or not helping someone else's furthers your own causes isn't relevant. If you're helping, you're helping and in the end, that's what counts.

            Call it "synergy", call it "The Law Of Reciprocity," call it the "Law Of Attraction."

            Not to go all flower child of the 60's hippie here but, putting out 'good vibes' will bring back 'good vibes.'

            -Marcus
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            • Profile picture of the author Corwinnx
              Matt,

              No Worries Mon. I have my soft spot charities myself and understand their needs as well as a businesses needs for good PR, so bringing the two together just brings about a natural JV in which everyone wins. Not to mention, it allows me to kill two birds with one stone.

              As a side note, let me offer you a suggestion.

              If you're working with Offline business to provide them online services, think about setting up a blog about what you do. In your charitable sponsorship requests, offer them a free 'post' (read this 'ad') about your experiences with their company. This can even be a review.

              UPSELL: Video of the charity event you participate in, edited with 'a break from your sponsors,' and/or a product placement opportunity for them within your video.

              Tom,
              Hope I didn't offend you in any way.


              -Marcus
              Signature
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              • Profile picture of the author tomw
                Originally Posted by Corwinnx View Post

                Matt,

                No Worries Mon. I have my soft spot charities myself and understand their needs as well as a businesses needs for good PR, so bringing the two together just brings about a natural JV in which everyone wins. Not to mention, it allows me to kill two birds with one stone.

                As a side note, let me offer you a suggestion.

                If you're working with Offline business to provide them online services, think about setting up a blog about what you do. In your charitable sponsorship requests, offer them a free 'post' (read this 'ad') about your experiences with their company. This can even be a review.

                UPSELL: Video of the charity event you participate in, edited with 'a break from your sponsors,' and/or a product placement opportunity for them within your video.

                Tom,
                Hope I didn't offend you in any way.


                -Marcus
                Matthew moved the "emotional" goalpost with a subsequent post.

                My original post was made in response to his first post.

                Having worked with more charities and their marketing departments than I can remember, on countless tactical and awareness campaigns and being involved in many many reciprocity promotions set up between them and advertising clients as well as many other related activities, of course I understand the concept of reciprocity and leverage in these relationships.

                However, I would be very surprised (hence my original post!) to hear of a charity condoning or agreeing to being party to someone "disguising" the fact that they intend to exploit...sorry "leverage"...such a charitable cause for some form of obvious "foot in the door" tactic for personal monetary gain.

                The businesses would also, I would suspect, take a dim view of using the plight of those in need as a stunt to acquire some of their business. And I would be *really* surprised if they didn't see straight through it.

                However, as the intentions have been made clear(er), I understand that I misjudged and misunderstood what you wrote, Matt.

                I apologise.

                Marcus, offend me? Not at all

                All the best.

                Thomas
                Signature
                STOP THE TRAFFIK: PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE BOUGHT AND SOLD
                Help Us Rescue, Rehabilitate And Reunite Victims With Their Families
                STOP THE TRAFFIK is a growing global movement of individuals, communities and organisations fighting to PREVENT the sale of people,
                PROTECT the trafficked and PROSECUTE the traffickers.
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      • Profile picture of the author chrisnegro
        Originally Posted by matthewd View Post

        Are you kidding me?

        It is not exploiting... you are actually going to do the charity!

        It is raising more money for a good cause AND building you business at the same time.
        LOVE THE IDEA MATT -- don't worry about Tom...Ive noticed he craps on threads like this alot. He did one of mine a while back and many others. He likes to chime in with his little "turd comments" once in a while.

        HEY TOM:

        Doesn't wisdom say... seek to UNDERSTAND FIRST, (then if necessary) CRAP on threads later?

        You got to love his style of saying comments like this (without even knowing your motives):

        Stupid Comment #1: "I guess this idea is right up there with your cookie stuffing epiphany...

        Stupid Comment #2: Man, your priceless ... (your basically calling him an idiot after you failed to find out first what his true motives were).

        Stupid Comment #3 (Here you see him crap on another Warriors thread...just read it you will see the pattern of his turd comments.) http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...tml#post410775

        TOM...Yes...you said your sorry LATER in the post....but this negative/egotistical pattern I've seen you display on the forum has got to STOP

        Chris Negro
        Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author matthewd
    Thomas - I can understand saying the idea wouldn't work or something, but I do not see how you can say it is exploiting in a negative way.

    If I were to use this method, I would actually do the charity... I would be raising money for the charity... I would be able to donate more money to the charity.

    I am looking at it as a way to do several things that are important to me all at once... raise money for a charity, build relationships, build a business and ride my bike.

    Maybe it would be best to just contact a charity official and see their take?

    Are offering gifts/rewards not allowed for charity events?
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  • Profile picture of the author Richard Tunnah
    Matt,
    I've actually done a local 'how to utilize your website for more sales' conference for charity. It works very well as businesses like to be seen supporting charities plus they get a good seminar. It builds your 'brand'.

    Rich

    Ps. The idea came from Willie Crawford.
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