Attracting Consumer Subscribers

[IconicDigital]

Hi

We have recently released a Groupon style business with offers that are hand picked. There is no purchase needed, we are hand picking the best vouchers, deals etc.

The customers receive the deals through a regular newsletter. My question is can anyone suggest some alternative promotion methods for expaning our subscriber base?

The site in question is offerwindow.co.uk.

Thanks

Oliver

 

[JamiePMortimer]

Alternative to what?

Also, is there any way you can change the landing page to show current deals? Because for me, your homepage tells me nothing about why I should give you my email address.

 

[IconicDigital]

Sorry, I didn't mention our current methods of promotion. At the minute our promotion methods include include Facebook and Twitter. Not sure whether or not to post on fourms etc. Don't want to be seen as spamming.

 

[JamiePMortimer]

Thats fine, I didn't want to suggest social channels if you were already using them. Another thing that wasn't obvious from your homepage.

So, I've done a little digging. Are you marketing on these channels af offerwindow or as IconicDigital? The only OW reference I can find is 2 tweets you've put out. I can't find anything on FB

 

[JamiePMortimer]

I'd get integrated into some of the forums of your target market, moneysavingexpert? mumsnet etc but check their T&Cs. You don't have to promote you brand if you do it correctly.

 

[IconicDigital]

We are a fairly new site, literally a couple of days. At the minute we are using Twitter but we are also in the process of integrating Facebook connect into the login process.

 

[IconicDigital]

At the minute we are promoting under IconicDigital but I think it would probably be better to advertise under OW.

 

[JamiePMortimer]

So it's probably worth getting the userids on FB & Twitter for OfferWindow & getting them set up with icon link on the homepage. That way any traffic that comes to the OW website & isn't yet convinced enough to give an email address can check out the FB page & maybe like it to get updates.

Plus if you are running your social media as OfferWindow, it's less confusing to people who dont know either of your companies.

 

[JamiePMortimer]

Right now you have zero brand equity, you need to start connecting with people who are going to be interested in what you have to offer. Make sure you are identifying your USPs over the competition because Groupon/LivingSocial/Wowcher are all over the place & becoming old news.

 

[IconicDigital]

Thanks for the advice, some really good stuff in there. I think the aim is to use the Facebook ids and signup and promote the business through wall posts etc.

I do need to build up the brand, as mentioned its a fairly new startup so interaction is going to be the key. Its just a case of finding the best places to promote the business.

 

[JamiePMortimer]

Depends on how much time & resources you can push at it. But I'd start at this:

Twitter: Create the OfferWidow twitter account - This is essential
Probably need a combo approach on this & A/B test responses
- Go to Twitter.com/search & search for key phrases relating to the offers you have & let people know who you are & what offer you have. This will be tricky to find the right approach at first, because its can come across as very salesy & people don't respond well to that.
- Find people talking about the brands you have offers for & ask them if they would like an offer for that brand & direct them to your site.

Forum: Research which forums are having conversations about offers or discounts, find out whether they allow brands to register.
- If you're allowed to post, don't mask your username it will only come out in the end & damage your brand.
- Offer advice to people in a general sense on how to find the best discounts or places to look or seasonal trends etc etc.

Facebook
- Post updates (pictures preferably) of the offers when they come up, but not too often prob 3-4 a day spaced out by at least three hours.

This is probably a basic starting point, it will take work & lots of tweaking as you find things don't work or no longer work.

If people feel like you are genuinely helping them out, they will appreciate it & respond.

 

[IconicDigital]

Thanks, some really good advice. I think I am going to setup the Twitter account as a priority and go from there.

The Facebook point is also interesting, I think it is important to not seem like you are spamming the users wall with adverts etc.

 

[JamiePMortimer]

I think it is important to not seem like you are spamming the users wall with adverts etc.

Totally agree, which is why you'd need to closely watch the engagement. Your situation works slightly differently than most other companies.

If you find yourself struggling with FB, you can alway look at what is working for your competitors.

 

[IconicDigital]

Yep, I think I will take a look at what might work well for competitors as well.

 

[JamiePMortimer]

Good Luck.

 

[John Forbes Nash]

well you can encourage custumers to send their adresses to get some discount or a draw winning ..

 

[tecsys]

Best place to start promoting your site is Social Media. It can be done at 0 cost. I would advice you to monitor your revenue and then go in for some paid advertising as well. You could basically invest 20% of your returns and watch your ROI which might be a good call to start with.

 

[IconicDigital]

Thanks for the advice, the site now has Facebook Connect functionality <URL removed> The system posts to the users wall on registration with Facebook so hopefully that will increase registration.