This offline marketing idea will work and it will get you to fall for it every time.

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A lot of people talk about drop cards and dropping pens with your info ect and how they put them here and there. Well I came acrossed something the other day that will get someone to pick it up everytime hey I fell for it and if you would have seen it would would have to. So what am I talking about I was in walmart and I walked by a $100 dollar bill folded in half on the ground and boy did I think I scored I hurried up and picked it up only to open it and see that it was a drop card that looked so good you would have thought it was real but it was short and felt fake. These cards are so good and I almost bet they are getting picked up where ever they are since they look like real money. I thought dropping pens was a good idea now these were cool. There was a website on the drop card, but I don't want people to think I am promoting them so if you would like that info send me a pm. The best part and the funniest it to hide out and watch the suckers who think they found $100 dollars like I did pick them up lol.
#offline marketing #fall #idea #marketing #offline #time #work
  • Not sure this is a valid business strategy. People don't like to be duped and 99% of them would go straight in the bin.

    Oh....and successful business people don't hide out and 'watch the suckers' LOL


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    • we used that in real estate services last two decades, was very popular marketing method then. I think I read somewhere in another post (sorry do not remember the link now) where audio business cards are very clever as well. And you can put your audio message inside when you hand out the cd to the prospect. a very unique tool. If a person is very interested in the service they call. We've had success with this method.
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    • Looks like you've a lot to learn if you think this simple strategy doesn't work.


      I always laugh at comments along the lines of "Successful people don't do...".
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  • I have them myself, they work.
  • Well when I picked it up I didn't feel duped, I was like awh you got me. What you have on them is a saying sorry this cash isn't real but the opportunity to make real cash is with your website name on it. I wasn't saying hide out all day long or anything and watch people pick them up either I was just more thinking about like when I picked it up if anyone was watching me since I picked it up so fast is all I was saying. I plan on trying it out and see how it works out for me.
  • Funny to read this. I got duped in a Christian bookstore with one of those! I had a budget of what I wanted to spend and when I happened upon a $100 tucked in a book that one could easily think someone left on purpose, especially in this bookstore, it stopped me dead in my tracks. Needless to say I went over my budget, just thank God I didn't try to pay with it. Actually I figured it out before paying but I did feel duped. Good point is I read a fantastic book that I would have otherwise passed up.

    Now your tie to web and marketing is very good. That could be played out very effectively as a self promotion but I personally wouldn't put them in books!
  • Hello buddy.
    A lot of people talk about drop cards and dropping pens with your info ect and how they put them here and there. Well I came acrossed something the other day that will get someone to pick it up everytime hey I fell for it and if you would have seen it would would have to.
  • So much for the idea of targeting a qualified prospect.

    More like farting into a hurricane and hoping someone smells it.
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    • Quite a simplistic way to view this.

      Let's use the example mentioned above about finding a drop card in a book. What if the card was for a local Christian book club? Sounds pretty targeted to me.
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    • HAHA!! Now that's funny!

      Michael beat me to it. Basically, you are comparing apples to oranges. Here on this forum, we are helping each other with how to effectively help business owners grow their business and in return get paid for guiding them on that. This is NOT some Christian forum where we are discussing ideas to grow our local book club.


      EXACTLY!

      This idea is up there, in my opinion, with placing flyers on car windshields in parking lots that some here seem to think is a great marketing strategy.

      Dan Kennedy teaches the 3M's...Message, Market, Media. You must target the right message, to the right market, using the right media.

      Know the most important of the 3? Market. Random people wandering a book store is NOT your target market. Since you are missing the most important piece of the puzzle, your market, the message and the media is dead in the water.

      This also reminds me of people who use fake thumbnails for their YouTube videos just to get as many views as possible. Sure, you get the eyeballs, but if you've ever been duped by this, you probably felt annoyed at this person. I bring this up because last night I came across this. I clicked away 2 seconds in when I realized it was a bait and switch.
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  • These cards do work best for coupons.
    You can get them in different values.
    I have seen the $100, $20, $10, and $5.
    Then use them as a coupon. Hand someone a $5 with the card saying something like... "Save $5 on your next purchase of $30 or more"

    Toss Cards
    These people offer 5,000 for $79 (No, this is not an affiliate link)
    They also have a couple videos showing people stopping to pick them up.

    But, you can just Google: $100 Drop Cards
    You will see all kinds of results.
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  • Umm...yeah, not a good business strategy - especially if one is looking to build a viable, long term business - that would involve leveraging. Can't be done effectively driving around all day dropping off "cards".

    TD
  • Another way to look at this is....


    The website mentioned above says they are business card sized...

    A lot of people spend a lot of money trying to make their business card unique. Whether it be plastic cards or whatever... This would be a cost effective way to have a unique biz card created for you.

    They ask for your card... or you meet someone new and they want your contact info....

    You hand them what looks like a folded $100 bill... They are going to remember it... It makes for a good conversation piece. Creating an opportunity to billed rapport even further and make you likeable. After all.... people do business with people they like.

    Another thought would be to combine it with an offer.... maybe to create urgency. On the card... have the statement....

    "Mention this card to get your first quarter discount $100 off your marketing services!"

    The OP mentioned one idea that these cards are good for.... but really... if you put some thought into it... and think outside the box. I am sure you can come up with some kind of way to leverage the ingenuity of these cards....
  • Actually what's really funny is seeing the reaction of the self-annointed "experts" who scoff at this age-old and still very effective marketing technique.

    I often hand out full-sized "million dollar" bills with my contact info on the back whenever I go to seminars, conferences, chamber of commerce events, restauraunts, stores, etc. This has opened up quite a few lucrative deals for my company without much effort.
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    • Wait, so you guys like the idea of waiting around to watch "suckers" pick up fake money and then feel duped? What a great mindset to have. :rolleyes:

      Way to miss the difference here. YOU are going to where business owners are. It's a more targeted market.

      You also get to hand out the bill and interact with the person you are handing it to. They get to talk to you, get a feel for what you're like, see your body language, etc. A hell of a lot different than just dropping the fake bill somewhere and waiting for "suckers."
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    • That's not the context that was used to describe how the fake bill was conveyed to the prospect.

      Handing a fake bill to an already pre-qualified prospect because of your proximity isn't remotely how this was presented in context.

      I would bet my entire personal worth that you have never gotten a random phone call from a business owner who has picked up your silly million dollar bill off the ground at the gas station and thought, "Oh I have to hire this marketing consultant right this very second."

      Never happened. Never will.
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    • Exactly.

      It's more than obvious who has used drop cards and who hasn't.
    • So throwing stuff on the ground for people (prospects) to pick up is an age-old and still very effective marketing technique?? Hello!!

      How many people picking them up would be even remotely qualified prospects? 1%? Less?

      I can't believe this strategy is given creditability on an internet marketing forum.



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  • Michael is right about making sure we have a prospect that is a target.

    However, once we have a target, why not use something catchy?

    I use the audio business card because it looks classy in a nice DVD case and can be QUICKLY customized to specific markets.

    I also use a HIGHLY DETAILED CUSTOM $1,000,000 bill that is ENGRAVED and made like the real thing for impact. If you are chatting with someone briefly and they look to be a prospect.... leave them with something they won't forget.
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  • Yeah, but if you drop cards on the floor or street you can be prosecuted for littering
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  • And now we'll quote the OP to see if that's the example that was used.

    Tossing fake bills on the ground in Wal-Mart.

    And you stated that the odds are stacked against you in this circumstance.

    So it seems that you've agreed with me.
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    • We went over this in PM (I think? Can't remember the medium). It's fine for you to go off topic and tangents but as soon as someone else does, there's an issue.
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  • To address your edit:


    Show me where the OP said this was targeted for business owners.

    This sub forum is NOT "Offline Marketing For B2B", but simply "Offline Marketing". This include B2C.
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    • Offline implies that you're promoting online marketing to offline businesses.

      Isn't that the business you're in Michael per your sig links?

      Are you promoting online services to offline companies?
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  • Maybe my view is just construed because this is still just "marketing" to me, not "online/offline" marketing, as I started in this business when there wasn't such a thing as "offline marketing".
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    • We agree on this, but the context of "offline" on the Warrior Forum has a very specific meaning. See above.

      I've been in the marketing consulting business since before the internet.
  • What happened to using direct-response marketing?:confused:

    - Right MESSAGE
    - Right MARKETS
    - Right MEDIA

    I heard it's all the rage these days with guys like Dan Kennedy, Frank Kern etc.

    But that's right (your business is different) and this type of marketing wouldn't work for your clients/prospects.

    Dave
  • I guess by saying watching the suckers pick them up was a wrong choice of words. Mainly I would like to see there response to it when they pick it up as to hiding out if it looks like money on the ground it wouldn't take long for someone to pick it up. This type of drop card mainly depends on the type of product you are selling or promoting for it to work. As for it working at walmart if it's a work at home opportunity then I am sure there are a lot of people who are at walmart or even working at walmart who would like to know of a way to make more money. The person who posted the link about the 5000 drop cards that site was even cheaper to the one that I found on the card so thanks for that info. It is interesting to read everyones ideas and thoughts on this type of marketing.
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    • I'm not sure what this has to do with my statement or it's relevance.
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  • Hmmmm I'm going to have to try this for my Local Business Marketing Clients....sounds like this works in alot of different fields. Has anyone offered this as a service?
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  • Was just having a laugh on skype w mgtarheels... We agree there is ONE thing more effective than telemarketing: A national halftime superbowl ad on TV.
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  • @ Mr Grant

    I was being sarcastic on that one... but thats interesting. I can see it working for a pizza shop just not an offline marketer.

    When some mother shopping for toys picks up the drop card is the campaign over?
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    • Not if done correctly. Many people don't want to throw them out because of the novelty of the $100 bill ones. They often show them off to other people.

      It's a bit like viral marketing.
  • I can see for a pizza shop how it might work bigtime, but for an offline marketer I see it as a way for a sale to drizzle in here and there... nothing quantifiable, predictable or scalable... could be wrong.

    As many streams as possible are good.

    ...and we all are going to spend eternity in hell because we wouldnt listen. "If only I had believed". lol
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    • As with all methods, it's all about the HOW. There has to be a method to the madness, and my method of showing them off as an ice breaker seems to work wonders
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  • John,

    I respect your opinion but I think much of the evidence is tainted because people don't want to make an effort to just go out and meet people. This makes it appear that telemarketing is being more successful and as it stands now, its what most people are doing so I see your point.

    However,

    I'd pit any closer who goes face to face against a telemarketing appointment setter any time. While the sales people are waiting for appointments, the closer is already out writing business.

    Again, I'm not saying telemarketing isn't effective, I am sure it is. I just don't think its the "MOST" effective.
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  • That's a pretty good one. I'm surprised there weren't any kids who had a string tied to it, pulling it along.

    Bandit signs have worked really well for any marketing I ever do (the 18X24 plastic chloroplasts signs)...
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  • I like this idea sounds like it should work. I will have to give it a try where can I order drop cards like these? Thanks
  • I saw one for an apartment locator that said: "We pay you a $100 rebate when you let us find you your new apartment home!", or something along those lines. Since half of the poplulation or more live in apartments, I would say that one is pretty darn targeted. Why not get a free $100 bucks back the next time you move?

    Seems like this method may not be for everyone, but may just be a perfect compliment to an established marketing strategy for some.

    BTW: When did this forum grow so many smart asses?
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    • I have a business partner on a project locally that recently got some "drop cards", and I must say, they're pretty cool and everyone I've shown them to thinks they're really neat.

      With that being said, these will work best for B2C marketing that appeals to a relatively broad market. I believe Michael Hiles and a few others have pointed this out throughout this thread.

      The ONLY way I could see these working in a B2B setting is to use it as your business card and hand it to someone in a networking setting, etc. They are unique if used as a business card, and you will definitely stand out more than you would with a traditional business card, but dropping these hoping a business owner will pick them up is a waste of time in my opinion.

      Joshua
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    This offline marketing idea will work and it will get you to fall for it every time.

    A lot of people talk about drop cards and dropping pens with your info ect and how they put them here and there. Well I came acrossed something the other day that will get someone to pick it up everytime hey I fell for it and if you would have seen it would would have to. So what am I talking about I was in walmart and I walked by a $100 dollar bill folded in half on the ground and boy did I think I scored I hurried up and picked it up only to open it and see that it was a drop card that looked so good you would have thought it was real but it was short and felt fake. These cards are so good and I almost bet they are getting picked up where ever they are since they look like real money. I thought dropping pens was a good idea now these were cool. There was a website on the drop card, but I don't want people to think I am promoting them so if you would like that info send me a pm. The best part and the funniest it to hide out and watch the suckers who think they found $100 dollars like I did pick them up lol.