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WAY Off the Wall Marketing Methods

by Marvin Johnston
8 replies
As I was sitting here (recuperating from a bad cold), I was thinking about different ways of marketing and qualifying prospects.

So what types of off-the-wall marketing methods have you used or thought of?

I'll start. But first the back story.

Several years ago, I was chosen to be on a local jury. One of the questions the defense attorney asked was if we had pets and who fed them.

What???

While he said he would tell us why later, he never did. My best guess is that the type of juror that would be able to relate to his clients issue (workout machine failure resulting in injury) was the type that would also have pets.

Qualifying prospects is important. So what if you stood like a homeless person asking for handouts. But instead of taking their money, you gave them a card offering something that someone who gave money to such causes would be prequalified for.

I think this qualifies as off the wall thinking .

Marvin
#marketing #methods #wall
  • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
    It's funny that you mention a homeless person because I always wondered what the ROI would be to pay a homeless person to hold up a sign with a URL on it and how many people would actually go to the site.

    There are homeless people on almost every on and off ramp in my city so it would be a great way to get eyeballs on the URL. As for how many people would actually go there is another story.

    -Ben
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
      Originally Posted by Warrior Ben View Post

      There are homeless people on almost every on and off ramp in my city so it would be a great way to get eyeballs on the URL. As for how many people would actually go there is another story
      Well, you could make it easier for them to visit the URL by adding a QR code.

      In either case, think what would happen if it hit the news and became viral.

      Or what could be done to make the campaign go viral. Kind of like the man with the golden voice a while back.

      Marvin
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      • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
        Originally Posted by Marvin Johnston View Post

        Well, you could make it easier for them to visit the URL by adding a QR code.

        In either case, think what would happen if it hit the news and became viral.

        Or what could be done to make the campaign go viral. Kind of like the man with the golden voice a while back.

        Marvin
        Yeah, the QR Code is a great idea. People would be able to scan it on their phones while in their cards.

        Also if it did go Viral that could be a huge boost. On the flipside, there are probably some homeless "activists" out there who would want to make people think the homeless are being taken advantage of. For a lot of things though, any publicity is good publicity.

        -Ben
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        • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
          Originally Posted by Warrior Ben View Post

          Also if it did go Viral that could be a huge boost. On the flipside, there are probably some homeless "activists" out there who would want to make people think the homeless are being taken advantage of. For a lot of things though, any publicity is good publicity.
          Well, under the heading of "How We Change the World", what if we got a local Rescue Mission to help sponsor this? That would certainly deflate any of the "activists" ... unless they wanted to be associated with helping to keep people homeless.

          And ESPECIALLY in this Holiday Season, with a bit more thought (and ACTION), this could help a variety of useful causes that could continue well past just the holiday seasons. And benefit everyone associated with it.

          Marvin
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  • Profile picture of the author IMSince2003
    This already did happen and it did get big exposure for a while. I don't remember what city it was in, but the news was all over it.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    A Homeless Person, as far as eye contact, may get lets say 200 impressions on a good day, which converts to maybe 5% of those impressions dropping a quarter in their bucket... However if you added yet another necessary action for the people viewing the ad, such as having to scan or, remember a web address till they get home... I think you may convert one site visitor or two per day per homeless person with a sign.

    How may visitors would it take to create a "sale" who knows, but it definitely does not seem like the best plan.

    You would be better to stack up a bunch of product around him and catch the prospects at the point of sale... Customers having to go an extra mile and remember you when they get to their PC, puts you long out of site and outta mind (As opposed to striking when the iron is hot). In any event its not enough impressions per homeless person to amount to much, unless they are also a salesman!
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      A Homeless Person, as far as eye contact, may get lets say 200 impressions on a good day, which converts to maybe 5% of those impressions dropping a quarter in their bucket...

      In any event its not enough impressions per homeless person to amount to much, unless they are also a salesman!
      Thinking along the lines of off the wall, this takes us back to the idea of giving back instead of selling.

      One thing I occasionally do at swap meets is ask the price. When the seller says (for exaple) this is $2.00, I ask if they will take $3.00 . It is worth it to watch the responses on peoples faces. And I will do the same when I run across someone who has grossly underpriced what they are selling coming back with a more reasonable offer. Funny. My offers have never been refused .

      I think this same type of surprised response would be possible if a homeless person were giving something away instead of asking for donations.

      Okay another possible example, what would happen if the people collecting donations for the Salvation Army would give out candy to kids as they came by? Would that trigger the reciprocity reflex in enough people to make it more worthwhile giving candy away as opposed to merely asking for donations?

      I've heard that Hare Christna (spelling???) made a lot of money by giving away flowers, and people would donate.

      Marvin

      BTW, a number of people keep recommending a couple of marketing books. One I have not heard recommended, but I really enjoyed was about a con artist school in New York. People were taught a variety of quick methods of influencing people to give them money.
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    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      A Homeless Person, as far as eye contact, may get lets say 200 impressions on a good day, which converts to maybe 5% of those impressions dropping a quarter in their bucket... However if you added yet another necessary action for the people viewing the ad, such as having to scan or, remember a web address till they get home... I think you may convert one site visitor or two per day per homeless person with a sign.

      How may visitors would it take to create a "sale" who knows, but it definitely does not seem like the best plan.

      You would be better to stack up a bunch of product around him and catch the prospects at the point of sale... Customers having to go an extra mile and remember you when they get to their PC, puts you long out of site and outta mind (As opposed to striking when the iron is hot). In any event its not enough impressions per homeless person to amount to much, unless they are also a salesman!

      Yes... but a homeless man at a popular intersection holding the sign, while you call some local news stations for the anonymous tip of some business offering a job to a homeless man holding a sign... could lead to something.
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