Had a great meeting with a local magazine today....here's the plan.

jbpatlanta 13 years ago

What a great idea. I was just chatting with the owner of a local magazine the other day. Now I have a reason to call him back.

Thanks.

JBP
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- juice 13 years ago
  
  Great concept Mike! I am going to run with this as well and offer them a choice of the following items;
  
  1). Facebook Business Page
  2). Google Plus Business Page
  3). 3 Page Mobile Website
  
  This concept is a truly a winner and sure beats pounding the pavement, which I personally find very effective but hard to scale.
  
  Thanks for sharing
  
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  512 Designs 13 years ago
  
  I'm glad you all like this idea and I'm really excited about it.
  
  In my mind, I now have 2 of my own sales reps (that are employed by the magazine) hitting the streets for me and opening business owner's doors. I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.
  
  And please keep me posted on your results if you try this too.
  
  Mike
  
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Daniel LaRusso

13 years ago

Originally Posted by 512 Designs

In a previous post I mentioned talking to a local magazine sales rep about having her get me in front of her advertisers (local businesses) by offering QR Codes in their ads.

Well, today I had a meeting with the magazine owner and it went great. She loved the idea and how it will make their magazine stand out from their competition.

Basically, the deal is that the magazine will offer a free QR Code to their print advertisers that will go to one of the following...

1. A three page mobile site
2. A one page mobile coupon
3. An online video that they've already created
4. A mobile business card.

I will then create the QR Code and one of those 4 items for free for the advertiser. But in return the magazine will tell them that if they want anything more robust or need any other type of online service, they need to contact me directly. They will also give my information pack (in person and by email) to the advertiser which will describe all of my other services.

So basically I'm using the magazine reps to help me get my foot in the door and in front of these businesses. And since they already know and trust the magazine, then by association, they should trust and eventually get to know me

There are roughly 200 advertisers they deal with and a lot of them are in the health or education profession (doctors, chiropractors, dentists, private schools, etc.).

I guess you can say that I just recruited my own sales team that will work for zero commission

The only thing it will cost me is the short amount of time to create the QR Code and whatever it does.

Hope this sparks some ideas for you guys.

Mike

Fantastic idea!

I do want to ask one thing. The 4 things you direct people to when they scan the QR code - you do those for free, so your revenue from this could come in quite some time or possibly never, right?

What if you did what you're saying, and instead of doing it for free, gave a 50% commission to the magazine owner if a business bought, say, a $400 mobile website from you? Then, the QR code (which will be the freebie) can send people to a coupon page which is one page of their newly purchased $400 mobile website, of which you got $200 and the magazine owner got $200?

Basically, you'd make a FREE QR code to enhance the current ad, and monetize the 4 services you offer.

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korker

13 years ago

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ronr

13 years ago

Great idea but just wondering.

Are you giving away more than you need to?

What about just offering just a free QR code that would take readers to the advertisers website or any web page they wanted.

Wouldn't that be be enough?

Then you could charge a something even if it was small to have the QR take them to a one page offer or coupon you created.

again just wondering.

Ron

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512 Designs

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Daniel LaRusso

Fantastic idea!

I do want to ask one thing. The 4 things you direct people to when they scan the QR code - you do those for free, so your revenue from this could come in quite some time or possibly never, right?

What if you did what you're saying, and instead of doing it for free, gave a 50% commission to the magazine owner if a business bought, say, a $400 mobile website from you? Then, the QR code (which will be the freebie) can send people to a coupon page which is one page of their newly purchased $400 mobile website, of which you got $200 and the magazine owner got $200?

Basically, you'd make a FREE QR code to enhance the current ad, and monetize the 4 services you offer.

You could certainly try it, but I didn't want to over complicate this. All the sales reps want to do is offer a new free service to the advertisers. The goals are for them to add value to the print ads and for me to get my foot in the door. Making it too complicated to begin with would just confuse the business owner.

Originally Posted by ronr

Great idea but just wondering.

Are you giving away more than you need to?

What about just offering just a free QR code that would take readers to the advertisers website or any web page they wanted.

Wouldn't that be be enough?

Then you could charge a something even if it was small to have the QR take them to a one page offer or coupon you created.

again just wondering.

Ron

One of my main gripes is when a QR code goes to a regular web page (not mobile optimized). By offering just a 3 page mobile site, I'm hoping the business owner will say something like "I'd like the mobile site to do even more". Then that's when I'll come in

For me, this idea is for lead generation and getting my foot in the door without having to cold call or pound the pavement as much. Not for getting a quick sale. I guess you could say it's similar to making a demo mobile site before an appointment. You're hoping that the demo site will lead to a full blown site.

However, if you can make some immediate money from this idea, by all means go for it

I just wanted to get your creative juices started.

Mike

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mickmccrory

13 years ago

Great idea, thanks for the info.

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NewParadigm

13 years ago

Soft money sales is a great way to make money. Why not even charge the magazine a "bulk discounted rate" to offer this stuff free to their customers. This works w/ many businesses. Any business that provides services to other businesses could be soft money targets. Banks, accountants, insurance agents etc Those businesses have advertising budgets and spend money to acquire customers too. ....they will pay for these customer "freebies" to offer to new customers AND you get to upgrade the customers.

Just a thought after your first pilot project test. Good luck!

As you said, its a great way to get warm intros and have a cheap (or even they pay you

virtual sales force/lead generators.

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Keith Green

13 years ago

great idea Mike. Thanks for sharing this informational stuff. Will wait for more informational threads like this.

Thanks
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512 Designs

13 years ago

So here's an update to this Free QR Code deal I made with the local magazine rep.

So far (for the last week) she's been out explaining this offer and I've received 13 free QR Code order forms from local businesses from the sales rep. These order forms are golden because they include the business contact person, name, phone number, and email.

Plus the ad rep is telling everyone that I'm the one creating the backend for the QR Code, so when I call them, they'll already know who I am. Instant credible foot in the door.

Well, today I had to call one business owner because he didn't know what a QR code was and doesn't own a smart phone. He told me that he doesn't even know what a website looks like on a smart phone.

So guess what? I set up an appointment on Monday to stop by and show him. His particular QR Code is going to his regular website but I explained to him that it's better to have it go to something mobile friendly. So I told him that while I'm there, I'll show him what a mobile site looks like and he seemed real interested.

He's also designing his own regular website and asked me if I knew anything about Wordpress or how to use Filezilla. I said sure and offered to help him (probably for free if it's not a big deal) to build our business relationship.

Now this particular business is a golf driving range and has a Jr Golf Team. Hmmmm. Looks like onilne videos may be in their future as well

I'll be contacting all of the businesses as a follow up once the magazine goes out the first of March to get their feedback and hopefully get some appointments for other stuff.

I'll keep you posted.

Mike

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sbishop

13 years ago

Originally Posted by 512 Designs

So guess what? I set up an appointment on Monday to stop by and show him. His particular QR Code is going to his regular website but I explained to him that it's better to have it go to something mobile friendly. So I told him that while I'm there, I'll show him what a mobile site looks like and he seemed real interested.

If you were offering just the free QR codes, all of them would be pointed to normal websites.

Every time they sell an ad you call up and say I need to set up your QR Code where do you want it to go to. Well I noticed that your site does not work on mobile devices. I normally carge $297 to build a mobile version of your site, but because you are advertising with "Magazine" I can build you one for $97

you get the idea DON"T GIVE AWAY THE FARM!

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512 Designs

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sbishop

If you were offering just the free QR codes, all of them would be pointed to normal websites.

Every time they sell an ad you call up and say I need to set up your QR Code where do you want it to go to. Well I noticed that your site does not work on mobile devices. I normally carge $297 to build a mobile version of your site, but because you are advertising with "Magazine" I can build you one for $97

you get the idea DON"T GIVE AWAY THE FARM!

Oh...I'm not building an entire mobile site for free. The free one is a simple 2 page site with a small splash page with phone number and a map. Any upgrades will cost them.

I do like your wording for the upsell, though. I'll have to use that.

Also, I was told today by the sales rep that most of the advertisers don't even know what a QR code is, so once it's printed in the magazine, it will give me a reason to stop by the businesses, show them what it does, and upsell them for the following month's ad. I'll be able to show them the possibilities better than the sales rep currently does. I guess you could say we're taking baby steps with the businesses now....but that will change soon.

Mike

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mojo1

13 years ago

This has turned out to be rather promising.

In my local city, one of the local coupon mailers have already gotten hip to this.

Right smack in the middle of the mailer there's a page dedicated to QR code advertisement.
It seems that every other merchant in this mailer now has a qr code on their advertisement.

It would appear the time is ripe for approaching these types of companies for partnerships.

Thanks for this post and sparking a multitude of ideas.

Thanks
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512 Designs

13 years ago

Originally Posted by mojo1

This has turned out to be rather promising.

In my local city, one of the local coupon mailers have already gotten hip to this.

Right smack in the middle of the mailer there's a page dedicated to QR code advertisement.
It seems that every other merchant in this mailer now has a qr code on their advertisement.

It would appear the time is ripe for approaching these types of companies for partnerships.

Thanks for this post and sparking a multitude of ideas.

I'm sure some cities are more advanced with QR Codes than others. According to the sales rep, most of the advertisers she's talked to have no idea what a QR code is or does. But then again, I live in a city where if the world ended tomorrow, we wouldn't know till a week later.

But I agree that we're in the beginning stages of something big so if I (or you, or anyone else in the offline marketing world) can become the official educator of QR Codes with local businesses, we'll be sitting pretty in a few years.

Mike

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512 Designs

13 years ago

Oh. I forgot to mention this !!!!!!

I was at a networking group meeting this morning and the magazine sales rep was there.

She told me that since this is a success so far and I've been so helpful with their advertisers, they are giving me a 1/6 page color ad in the next month's magazine (and hopefully more after that).

So now I'll be advertising to over 20,000 people and businesses.....FOR FREE!!!!!

Mike

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BizGrabbers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by 512 Designs

Oh. I forgot to mention this !!!!!!

I was at a networking group meeting this morning and the magazine sales rep was there.

She told me that since this is a success so far and I've been so helpful with their advertisers, they are giving me a 1/6 page color ad in the next month's magazine (and hopefully more after that).

So now I'll be advertising to over 20,000 people and businesses.....FOR FREE!!!!!

Mike

A M A Z I N G ! ! !

This post really made me smile with wide open eyes.

Thanks, Mike, for sharing.

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Benjam1n

13 years ago

Originally Posted by 512 Designs

She told me that since this is a success so far and I've been so helpful with their advertisers, they are giving me a 1/6 page color ad in the next month's magazine (and hopefully more after that).

So now I'll be advertising to over 20,000 people and businesses.....FOR FREE!!!!!

Mike

That is awesome, what are you going to put in the ad, maybe run with the same offer that's worked for you so well already "FREE QR code for your business"

Originally Posted by 512 Designs

So far (for the last week) she's been out explaining this offer and I've received 13 free QR Code order forms from local businesses from the sales rep. These order forms are golden because they include the business contact person, name, phone number, and email.

Mike

Thats gold dust, like the old saying goes, you have to speculate to accumulate. What a great strategy.

Good luck!!

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somacorellc

13 years ago

Great job! I'm slowly but surely working towards the same thing with my state's biggest newspaper. Talk about bureaucracy. I wish you all the best - keep us posted!

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Quentin

13 years ago

Link it up with some QR Code tracking and you will close a lot more deals.

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Q

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512 Designs 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Quentin

Link it up with some QR Code tracking and you will close a lot more deals.

Membership options

Q

Thanks Quentin. I tried scanning the QR Code in one of your previous posts about the tracking but it never worked. My scanner just kept bouncing around the little blue dots but never did anything.

I would like to here more details about what you're offering, though.

Mike
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Das Ich

13 years ago

Congrats! That's a great way to approach potential clients for mobile sites, thanks for sharing! As it is for free, it is for once not a problem that most people don't know about QR codes.

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NewParadigm

13 years ago

512, you will probably want the magazine to dedicate a section to familiarize readers w/ QR codes. Maybe a few different spots, how to d/l the apps etc.... There will be plenty of readers that will be new to them as well.

Good job!

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Russel Mogul

13 years ago

This is a superb idea, I'm subscribing to this thread .

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DJL 12 years ago

I see almost a year has gone by since this lonely thread was updated.
Maybe the world has ended, and the news hasn't reached my neighborhood yet?
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DJL 12 years ago

Duplicate post.
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