WOW I can't believe this marketing idea worked!

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guscat

  • #1
    We are in the final stages of web development for the UK's most comprehensive dog owners directory and we are at the start of an extensive marketing & PR programme both on and offline.

    A novel idea for free marketing included writing the URL in the sand when walking our dog on the beach, for fellow dog owners to see!....We have just had 2 emails asking for information saying they saw the website in the sand!

    How amazing is that?? Wish I hadn't spent a fortune on flyers now! haha :)
     
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    DaveSUK

  • #6
    I remember something similar to this in Manchester instead of sand a company would write you message on the floor and walls in the middle of Manchester City Centre but instead of using paint or ink they would put a stencil on the surface and just use high presure water to clean your marketing message onto the surface which left it their for ages and because they where using water and not paint or ink is wasn't illegal
     
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    BusinessIdeas

  • #9
    Or better still, have wheelie bins made with your ad embedded into it and offer to swap them for customers who have dirty bins. They get a nice new clean bin and you clean up the old ones to replace the ones you have given out, obviously then putting ads on the re-furbished ones.
     
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    movietub

    Free Member
    Nov 6, 2008
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  • #15
    DaveSUK said:
    I remember something similar to this in Manchester instead of sand a company would write you message on the floor and walls in the middle of Manchester City Centre but instead of using paint or ink they would put a stencil on the surface and just use high presure water to clean your marketing message onto the surface which left it their for ages and because they where using water and not paint or ink is wasn't illegal
    Click to expand...

    That is genius! AND if the council don't like it all they can do is clean their walls properly for a change!

    You really can't sue someone for cleaning part of wall can you :)
     
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    guscat

  • #18
    Mind you - another part of my marketing campaign is just as unusual. We have got a giant inflatable Woof the dog costume (you zip yourself in, press the button and it inflates to 7ft high). Kids love it!

    And the best part - I will have to have my turn inside the costume - can't wait....It's fun.

    Woof will be touring the UK and making appearances at dog shows, pet shops etc everywhere - so we may see you in person real soon....

    See - Not just sand based marketing haha!
     
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    murdoch

  • #19
    great marketing idea!
    Good looking site too, I just checked it out.

    I looked at woofbook.com to see if you have competition there, and its a rather different site ...!
    (about gay pet lovers)... so I dont think you have too much direct competition on your 'brand name' at least
     
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    LicensedToTrade

    LicensedToTrade

    Free Member
    Nov 7, 2009
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  • #20
    murdoch said:
    great marketing idea!
    Good looking site too, I just checked it out.

    I looked at woofbook.com to see if you have competition there, and its a rather different site ...!
    (about gay pet lovers)... so I dont think you have too much direct competition on your 'brand name' at least
    Click to expand...

    Gay pet lovers you say? And what was the URL again? Er... it is for a friend :redface:
     
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    guscat

  • #23
    Quick update....

    Tried the same exercise in the snow but it didnt work....so sand is clearly the media of choice for those on a budget and better than snow LOL - just thought i would save anyone time who thought of snow marketing! haha :D

    Also - We are about to launch our woofbook roadshow soon and coming to a town near you to promote the site - if anyone has a good pet related venue that gets lots of visitors near them, please let us know.

    Come and say hi, and grab a freebie for your pooch :)

    Regards, Rachel
     
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    gogojonny

  • #24
    guscat said:
    Quick update....

    Tried the same exercise in the snow but it didnt work....so sand is clearly the media of choice for those on a budget and better than snow LOL - just thought i would save anyone time who thought of snow marketing! haha :D

    Also - We are about to launch our woofbook roadshow soon and coming to a town near you to promote the site - if anyone has a good pet related venue that gets lots of visitors near them, please let us know.

    Come and say hi, and grab a freebie for your pooch :)

    Regards, Rachel
    Click to expand...

    Dog owners prefer to walk their dogs on sand rather than snow.

    Very clever idea - there are a certain group of people who get up at 6am to walk their dogs. Although your message will be gone within a couple of hours, you have exposed it to this group of people. And at 6am there is not a lot to do, so any message will ring in their minds until they get home.

    I've seen ads sprayed on city centre paths - but here there are so many messages the customer is bombarded. Sounds like you've got a little niche!
     
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    gibby

    Free Member
    Sep 11, 2007
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  • #32
    I saw an advert on a stick by the side of the road "save Steve" with a simple web address. They got millions of hits a month as they did this at roundabouts where there were traffic jams.

    It was for a football site from what I remember, some story about steve not being allowed to watch the match by his wife.

    dead cheap but you can fined £1000 per advert by the council.

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    ADW

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    Oct 25, 2007
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  • #33
    The powerjet writing on pavements and walls has been about for few years and I am sure I read previously that a council got involved to try and stop it. Surprising how long it lasts as well.

    Glad the sand writing worked. We have supplied flip flops a couple of time where the sole leaves an imprint in the sand. Probably not big enough for a web address but good for a logo.

    How about sponsoring poop bins or whatever they are called?
     
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    devilmaycry

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    Feb 9, 2010
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  • #34
    An American football player shamelessly had a website shaved into the back of his head for the tv cameras at the Superbowl last year. Not that I would ever do it, but you could shave a website onto a dog lol???? Not sure that other dog owners or RSPCA would approve, but it would sure get some interest.

    Or a little less extreme, a doggy overcoat thing with the site printed on it?
     
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    gibby

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    Sep 11, 2007
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  • #35
    you can get you leaflets into targeted magazines for free.
    Simply go into WHSmiths & put them in. Other firms pay a fortune to advertise in those & yours will be local too.

    I got stopped once by a security guard in Tesco who was rather confused as to what to do.
    You can also go to the library & put them into relevant books

    G
     
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    BusinessIdeas

  • #36
    gibby said:
    you can get you leaflets into targeted magazines for free.
    Simply go into WHSmiths & put them in. Other firms pay a fortune to advertise in those & yours will be local too.

    I got stopped once by a security guard in Tesco who was rather confused as to what to do.
    You can also go to the library & put them into relevant books

    G
    Click to expand...
    Now that is sneaky :D
     
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