5 Web Features That Every Business Should Utilize Part Five: Give A Way Program

In the first part of this series, “5 Web Features That Every Business Should Utilize”, I mentioned what benefits you can expect to gain by implementing a Give-A-Way program inside of your web site. In this article which is Part 5 of 6 we will get more in depth about these benefits.

The Give-A-Way program, no matter what your products or services, is a great way to generate new referrals, new leads, and new income. The best part about it is that it can be done in a variety of ways. You can do this program like a raffle and charge to enter (this way you make a small fee per registration) or let people enter for free (and make cold leads and referrals). Generally, it only takes a small investment to create a large return in either money or prospective customers.

As for what to give away it can be your products or services, or something related to a holiday like a dozen roses sent to the winners choice of recipient for Valentines Day. To be more in depth lets look at this from a variety of industries.

If you sell electronics and are just starting out you can offer a free ipod to the winner and gift certificate to the runner up. If you are in business and doing good remember bigger is better. Try giving away a 19” Flat Screen Monitor or a 32” TV to the winner. You will certainly receive a better response.

If you are in a service industry I advise you to take a look at my give a way program for an example. (http://www.businessamerica.us/give-a-web/index.html). I call it the Give A Web program because I offer the winner a free website. Now are you starting to see how this can work for anyone?

If you are educational tutor give a way a semester of free services, when their grades improve they will tell others. If you are a vet give a way one free rabies vaccine a month. If you are an automotive dealership give a way a set of free tires to the winner.

No matter what you decide to give a way just remember to make it something worthwhile so that it will be taken seriously and appreciated.

If your business is already open and making good income this is still a valuable program to expand your company. Instead of the above-mentioned programs you should think about a monthly or quarterly or seasonal give a way program. For example you can offer a dozen roses and a box of chocolates for valentines day, a gold heart charm for mothers day, a simple mans watch or ring for fathers day, a frozen turkey and all the “fixins” for thanksgiving, etc. The total per month you will spend on these items is around $100 to $125. The amount of new customers and word of mouth advertising will make is well worth it.

If you do something like the roses DO NOT put your name or business on the dozen roses or chocolates. Send it to the recipient in the winner’s name. Things like that go a long way and are not easily forgotten.

If you do decide to do this I suggest you also remember to grassroots market this program. For example everything that you offer in the way of programs make available only to people in your local market. By doing so your applicants will feel they have a greater chance of winning. To promote your program print up 1000, or more, simple black and white flyers with only a few words in big bold letters like:

__________________________
Free Ipod

www.yousitename.com/program-name.html
__________________________
or
__________________________
Free Turkey Dinner

www.yousitename.com/program-name.html
__________________________
or
__________________________
Free Valentines Gift

www.yousitename.com/program-name.html
__________________________
or
__________________________
Free Website

www.yousitename.com/program-name.html
__________________________

Then distribute these on car windshields and bulletin boards at local shopping venues like grocery stores, malls, strip malls, commerce parks, business parks, etc. Places where people go shopping and spend money. When they come out, having spent money they are incited buy the offer of something for free. Give it a try. You just might be surprised.

Joshua M Cox, Owner and Creative Director for Business Solutions of America, has been active in the design field for over 5 years. With a background in design and business he worked his way up through the industry freelancing before launching BSA in 2001.

In addition to his own personal experience, Mr. Cox is privileged to work with an exceptional network of talented industry professionals on a project basis in the areas of photography, illustration, website coding, and multimedia development.

Web Site: http://www.businessamerica.us

Email: jcox@businessamerica.us





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