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Can this directory still work....?

by mobilemarketer2012
9 replies
I have read through most of the threads involving directories and I appreciate all the insight. What do you all think of this?

I am looking at making a deals/coupons and rewards/loyalty directory for geo specific area(s). It can be a responsive website or app or both. The rewards can be check ins, punches, or points based and can be managed on the customer;s smartphone through the mobile site or the app. The deals will be standard with images, expiration, etc...

Can this still work? There are a lot of coupon sites locally but not any reward directory sites that I can find.

Here are some other questions/concerns I have:

Should I build it for my whole metro area (3 million) , or should I segment it into suburbs or regions?

Do most companies already have a rewards program? Most chains and franchises seem to have one. The rewards program is entirely platform based and would not sync with an existing program.

Should I build a site/app that just lists a small bio on the business and includes their rewards and deals OR should I offer to build a separate stand alone mobile site for each business complete with rewards/deals? Then I could build a directory site or app that links to all the individual sites.

For promotion I could Facebook ads and hopefully get a lot of cross promotion from within the site/app itself. I can even allow the business to incentivize the customer by offering points for sharing on FB, Twitter, etc...

I know the subject of directories has been gone over quite a bit here, I'm just looking for feedback.

Thanks.
#directory #work
  • Profile picture of the author mobilemarketer2012
    Anyone have any thoughts on this?
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
      Banned
      There is only one answer to your question. "You'll never know until you try."

      Only you know if you have everything that it takes to make this type of project a reality. Be assured that it is a major undertaking.

      Cheers. - Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author savidge4
        Franks right, you wont know til you try. I am not understanding the discount model. I personally just dont get it. not only are you asking prospects to pay to be listed, but you are asking them to give discounts on top of it.

        There comes a point when you no longer are a "Marketer" and more of a "Discount Centric Media Provider" As a service provider I understand there are times to discount our rates... like in the development process. But there comes a time when you charge full price.

        The business you are looking to work with is in the exact same boat. They understand there is an expense in advertising. but then you throw in the mentality of having to offer more in the advertising itself. The reality is people are looking for products and service in the online environment 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

        Customers really don't need an incentive to choose your clients, they simply need a reason. Solid USP's, I have found in the local market environment work REALLY well.

        I know the communities I work in across the globe "NOW" is becoming my USP of choice. Come get them NOW. we have this in stock NOW.. get new <insert whatever> NOW... No shipping, no waiting, get it NOW.

        If you think for a moment when do you search something? when you want it right? Lets go out for diner.. where should we go? start talking to the customer in present tense and magical things happen. there is a big difference in "Come visit us today" and "Come visit us now" you all of the sudden are talking TO the customer and not AT them.

        I will make a request... go find me a working model of what you are proposing in another market. I believe you will have a hard time finding one actually. It sounds great on paper, but it is not a real world solution to the Clients problems. BE a solution and that is where success lies.
        Signature
        Success is an ACT not an idea
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        • Profile picture of the author mobilemarketer2012
          Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

          Franks right, you wont know til you try. I am not understanding the discount model. I personally just dont get it. not only are you asking prospects to pay to be listed, but you are asking them to give discounts on top of it.

          There comes a point when you no longer are a "Marketer" and more of a "Discount Centric Media Provider" As a service provider I understand there are times to discount our rates... like in the development process. But there comes a time when you charge full price.

          The business you are looking to work with is in the exact same boat. They understand there is an expense in advertising. but then you throw in the mentality of having to offer more in the advertising itself. The reality is people are looking for products and service in the online environment 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

          Customers really don't need an incentive to choose your clients, they simply need a reason. Solid USP's, I have found in the local market environment work REALLY well.

          I know the communities I work in across the globe "NOW" is becoming my USP of choice. Come get them NOW. we have this in stock NOW.. get new <insert whatever> NOW... No shipping, no waiting, get it NOW.

          If you think for a moment when do you search something? when you want it right? Lets go out for diner.. where should we go? start talking to the customer in present tense and magical things happen. there is a big difference in "Come visit us today" and "Come visit us now" you all of the sudden are talking TO the customer and not AT them.

          I will make a request... go find me a working model of what you are proposing in another market. I believe you will have a hard time finding one actually. It sounds great on paper, but it is not a real world solution to the Clients problems. BE a solution and that is where success lies.
          Thanks Savidge. I suppose they wouldn't have to offer a deal, it could be a featured product that they have NOW. Or they could just do a rewards program.
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  • Profile picture of the author eccj
    I don't know how you could pull this off. Every business would need to be connected into your system.

    The basic idea is one that a lot of people have had for a long time but nobody has done it. The only way I know that you could do something like this is with a credit card type program. There used to be something like this in Vegas a few years ago but a quick Google search and I can't find it.

    If say you got ten customers tomorrow do you how you would handle them?
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    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      Originally Posted by eccj View Post

      I don't know how you could pull this off. Every business would need to be connected into your system.

      The basic idea is one that a lot of people have had for a long time but nobody has done it. The only way I know that you could do something like this is with a credit card type program. There used to be something like this in Vegas a few years ago but a quick Google search and I can't find it.

      If say you got ten customers tomorrow do you how you would handle them?
      The Vegas thing was awesome, I don't remember the name of it. Awesome as in freakin impressive to the amount of business' they sold to.. but it just didnt last long... like many of these things the return for the lister simply is not there.
      Signature
      Success is an ACT not an idea
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    • Profile picture of the author mobilemarketer2012
      Originally Posted by eccj View Post

      I don't know how you could pull this off. Every business would need to be connected into your system.

      The basic idea is one that a lot of people have had for a long time but nobody has done it. The only way I know that you could do something like this is with a credit card type program. There used to be something like this in Vegas a few years ago but a quick Google search and I can't find it.

      If say you got ten customers tomorrow do you how you would handle them?
      Hi ECCJ,

      I'm not sure I understand your question but I'll try to answer. If you are referring to the rewards program, it's platform based. It does not sync with the POS system. The customer joins up on the site (you can make an app to, they would have the same functionality.) then when the customer comes in to a business and makes a purchase they would log in and click on that business's listing. They hand their phone to the employee. The employee enters a code and then can either enter in a "punch" or a certain amount of points. It's all done in the cloud. I hope that answers your question. Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Freebiequeen1999
    Years ago the "entertainment" books were books..now more online (and IMHO not too great)

    there are still lots of coupon sites...my local newspaper desperately tried one and failed horribly...and it had the ability to push it all over its various newspapers, website etc

    One thing that hurt "discount" sites was groupon, living social....just hard to compete with them....
    a small biz will go with them with stars in their eyes (even if not really good) cause there is no money up front

    the idea of getting the biz to pay can be hard. Those with a rewards program may be turned off - and there are lots of reward companies out there

    You also need to consider the turnover in small biz....new manager, new owner says "no more I don't want this, I won't give the discount"

    Customers complain when the venue won't "honor" the stated deal and so forth

    JMO this is a whole lot of work ....it might work but you would really need to streamline your process, get it moving along.

    I deal with real biz in the real world and they are not near as easy as you think LOL..."have to ask my brother"...."I don't know where the files are for our logo"..."my former manager set up that facebook and I don't want it on the site, I need to get it deleted and get new or get control..so I need to wait" and so forth..and so forth...and so forth....
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    • Profile picture of the author mobilemarketer2012
      Originally Posted by Freebiequeen1999 View Post

      Years ago the "entertainment" books were books..now more online (and IMHO not too great)

      there are still lots of coupon sites...my local newspaper desperately tried one and failed horribly...and it had the ability to push it all over its various newspapers, website etc

      One thing that hurt "discount" sites was groupon, living social....just hard to compete with them....
      a small biz will go with them with stars in their eyes (even if not really good) cause there is no money up front

      the idea of getting the biz to pay can be hard. Those with a rewards program may be turned off - and there are lots of reward companies out there

      You also need to consider the turnover in small biz....new manager, new owner says "no more I don't want this, I won't give the discount"

      Customers complain when the venue won't "honor" the stated deal and so forth

      JMO this is a whole lot of work ....it might work but you would really need to streamline your process, get it moving along.

      I deal with real biz in the real world and they are not near as easy as you think LOL..."have to ask my brother"...."I don't know where the files are for our logo"..."my former manager set up that facebook and I don't want it on the site, I need to get it deleted and get new or get control..so I need to wait" and so forth..and so forth...and so forth....
      Thanks for the feedback. I deal with small businesses too, just not in this realm. Again, thank you for your candor.
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