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Would this system work? Coupon service

by MySocialPromo
3 replies
So I developed a coupon service that allows someone to create a social coupon outside of any social network (it does not have to be inside a Facebook tab). It has a bunch of features that would be advantageous to a local business: friendly url to the coupon, customers have to share to Facebook before they redeem, able to grab the customers email when they grab the coupon, etc.

Anyway - my initial plan was to knock on doors and offer it to local business (which i have been doing). I sell it for $40 a month (30 days free trial). The businesses like it but it is slow going since I did not have an initial network in place.

So I brainstormed and thought of a new system - What if I targeted this service to small business consultants (SBC) and paid them 50% for every customer they signed up!

So If a SBC signed up Joe's pizza for $40 a month they would get $20 a month. They could help Joe's pizza set up their coupons, promos, etc.

Basically another tool for a small businesses consultants to offer from their toolbox.

So would this work? Would small business consultants be interested in this type of service to offer their network?
#coupon #service #system #work
  • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
    I strongly, and highly encourage you to focus on your product. What features can you eliminate right now? If you had to sell ONE feature, what would it be? I'm selling all sorts of stuff to all sorts of people, because in my business, I've decided to aggressively market ONE FEATURE. What some may call a "widget."

    You're putting your customers (business owners) in a position to tick people off. "I have to share, and then give my e-mail to get a coupon!? Piss off!" What's a more elegant way to do this?

    If I were you, I'd do more product research and product development, because finding true product market fit is ridiculously hard. Maybe you put this aside for now, and begin working on the aesthetics. Smoke test different product variations. In other words, create visuals for vaporware, and see what sells. Analyze what your bounce rate is. Build relationships with merchants through high quality blog posts. Engage with others within your niche for product feedback. Listen, build, measure, learn. Iterate.

    Read the Lean Start-Up by Eric Ries. It teaches you how not to be wasteful in product development. It teaches you efficient ways to get through the BML feedback loop until you achieve product / market fit.

    In order to get people to want to sell your product, it has to be great enough so that they ask to sell it! Stay, live, die, breathe on TechCrunch. If you're developing software, the best place / way to learn is from there. Reach out to CEO's ice cold and ask for help.

    Finally, IMPROVE THE PRODUCT! Change your colors, and site scheme. Check out the homepage for Dropbox, is has never, and will never change because it converts. There is a video and a button - that's it. You're dealing with business owners who are short on time.
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    FILL IN THE BLANKS!
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    • Profile picture of the author MySocialPromo
      Interesting points. Wonder it it makes sense to allow an option of just a straight up coupon with no sharing necessary?

      I am familiar with the "Lean Start-Up" by Eric Ries. Unfortunately I read it after I developed this idea/product.

      Thanks again for the advice!
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      • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
        Originally Posted by MySocialPromo View Post

        Interesting points. Wonder it it makes sense to allow an option of just a straight up coupon with no sharing necessary?

        I am familiar with the "Lean Start-Up" by Eric Ries. Unfortunately I read it after I developed this idea/product.

        Thanks again for the advice!
        Get in the door. Start birthday clubs. Aggregate a list. Use a method where you are able to track redemption's of birthday coupons, look for patterns (stay alert), and exploit the first pattern you see. Dominate your local area, and run test after test, experiment after experiment.
        Signature
        FILL IN THE BLANKS!
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