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"Groupon-like" e-mail campaigns?

by Rick Wagoner
4 replies
Since Groupon seems to be so successful, and is based entirely on e-mail, has anyone used e-mail to set up "Groupon-like" campaigns up for local businesses? I know the focus is now on mobile, but I'm curious if anyone has emulated the Groupon concept with a similar e-mail type strategy. Or, does it make sense to combine both email and SMS marketing at the same time?

Thanks-
Rick
#campaigns #email #grouponlike
  • Profile picture of the author freemen14
    Originally Posted by rawagoner View Post

    Since Groupon seems to be so successful, and is based entirely on e-mail, has anyone used e-mail to set up "Groupon-like" campaigns up for local businesses? I know the focus is now on mobile, but I'm curious if anyone has emulated the Groupon concept with a similar e-mail type strategy. Or, does it make sense to combine both email and SMS marketing at the same time?

    Thanks-
    Rick

    I've been doing this locally for about six months now and use both email and sms. What I have found it that the SMS aspects of the campaigns have been more effective than the email. People open their texts at a greater rate than email.
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    • Profile picture of the author jrobconsult
      From my experiences, the average small business owner using groupon is wasting their money. They are giving large discounts and sharing their revenues. In addition, every groupon deal my wife has bought( plenty of them) have never followed up by email or give a special deal pack to get customers coming back.

      However, if you use their large discount % and target a mailing list of a non-competing business or their inactive customers especially using SMS could be huge.
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      San Antonio Estate Liquidators
      Estate Sales San Antonio
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      • Profile picture of the author Russell Hall
        Originally Posted by freemen14 View Post

        I've been doing this locally for about six months now and use both email and sms. What I have found it that the SMS aspects of the campaigns have been more effective than the email. People open their texts at a greater rate than email.
        Yeah,.. I've got to agree and say that there is clear proof that the average open rate for text messages is something like 96% whereas for email it's like a fraction of that. Maybe that'll change as more business climb on the SMS marketing bandwagon but it's still very early days and the prospective real results that local businesses can expect from SMS are easy to get excited about.

        Originally Posted by jrobconsult View Post

        From my experiences, the average small business owner using groupon is wasting their money. They are giving large discounts and sharing their revenues. In addition, every groupon deal my wife has bought( plenty of them) have never followed up by email or give a special deal pack to get customers coming back.

        However, if you use their large discount % and target a mailing list of a non-competing business or their inactive customers especially using SMS could be huge.
        Whilst there's no arguing the enormous popularity and growth of the likes of Groupon companies, the entire concept from a marketing perspective is flawed. Stats already are showing that the average Groupon purchaser just hops from one deal to another and couldn't care less about consumer loyalty. Yes,.. there would be some spin off benefit to many of the businesses, and the smarter and bigger businesses may be able to turn it to their advantage, but what business can survive by giving away a minimum 75% discount away (50% to the consumer, and 50% of the remainder to Groupon)? Personally I sense there will be a big shake up with this type of marketing in the next 18 months,..maybe Groupon should've grabbed the Google offer of $6bn while it was available?
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        Mvlti svnt vocati, pavci vero electi - Many are called [but] few are chosen

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        • Profile picture of the author jrobconsult
          Originally Posted by Russell Hall View Post

          Yeah,.. I've got to agree and say that there is clear proof that the average open rate for text messages is something like 96% whereas for email it's like a fraction of that. Maybe that'll change as more business climb on the SMS marketing bandwagon but it's still very early days and the prospective real results that local businesses can expect from SMS are easy to get excited about.



          Whilst there's no arguing the enormous popularity and growth of the likes of Groupon companies, the entire concept from a marketing perspective is flawed. Stats already are showing that the average Groupon purchaser just hops from one deal to another and couldn't care less about consumer loyalty. Yes,.. there would be some spin off benefit to many of the businesses, and the smarter and bigger businesses may be able to turn it to their advantage, but what business can survive by giving away a minimum 75% discount away (50% to the consumer, and 50% of the remainder to Groupon)? Personally I sense there will be a big shake up with this type of marketing in the next 18 months,..maybe Groupon should've grabbed the Google offer of $6bn while it was available?
          My wife is a perfect example. She goes from one offer to another. I agree the offer is flawed and in fact a couple of businesses she went to told her it was hurting them instead of helping. However, creative minds can take their general concept and use out of the box marketing and create a goldmine for small business owners. The hard part is convincing the owner.
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          San Antonio Estate Liquidators
          Estate Sales San Antonio
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