Promo 'widgets' ?

[Sheila]

Since we are a niche site, we place small ads in doll related magazines, sites and now we visit doll and bear Expos and Shows.

We don't pay for a booth, we just 'attend' the events and last year we gave away tote bags printed with our logo. This year the Event sponsors will be giving totes, so we need a 'gizmo'.

Since we only took 50 bags, it was fairly inexpensive {one contained a prize}. This year I'd like to take something smaller and less costly so I can give more away.

I could use some ideas in this area. What did you use that proved successful, or is there a widget that you usually 'pick up' if it is available?

[Matt]

I've never had cause to do anything like that myself, but I've noticed that some of the most effective things I've seen are small, handheld, items that are either useful, gimmicky, or both.

Pens/pencils with your URL on them are an old standby -- everyone needs and uses pens and pencils.

small keychains or lanyards can also work well -- not as much utility, but I always find it hard to trash such things for some reason...might be slightly more effective with a relatively younger audience

I don't really know your targeted demographic, but I'm kinda assuming folks with children for your doll site...maybe give out some small toy like a bouncy ball or something...something the kid's gonna want to keep around. Quickest path to a parent's heart is through their child.

But yeah, just some thoughts...take or leave what you will -- good luck and have fun. :)

[geomodules]

Marketing marketing....

I would take a DOLL and nice DOLL... take a picture of it. And simply offer a people a chance to WIN it. Make a set of business cards with the dolls photo.
Then put something to catch there attention. Log in now and win this DOLL.

In the registration form - A box where they wish to put in for the draw.... OR
Under the place ad section

Take the user list and pick one by random. Open a section on the site with Current winners. Ask the users who won if they could send a photo in to add to the page.

You could possibly say the more ads you place the better the chance to win. So every time someone places and ad there name goes in the box.

You could do it with Registering or placing ads. Another site I know 3 months before X-mas posted the 3 hottest toys. The more ads you post the better chance to win he did. Mind they where big toys... The new play station, new elmo doll I forget the 3rd....

But I would think you just don't want a maybe? Coming or not you would want to track if it is working. By saying they have to register or place ad or something or even offer a code box where they type in the code on the card to put there name in.

Now if you advertise say in a magazine and some place else in a newspaper you could put a different code for each advertisement. As the users register they will type this code. Then you can go back and review it. Now you will see which one is giving you the most bang for your buck and you know which one to stay with. :)

What do you think? :)

[alfred_bennett]

I always liked the small flashy balls at the linux expos in San Jose when I lived down there.

An idea (I don't know how much it would cost to do ) would be inexpensive dolls wearing your logo in a T-shirt... That would be fun and something folks would remember.

I'm no marketing guy or salesman, so it could fail dismally too... :D

[Sheila]

The dolls on the site are collectable type dolls. My users are mostly women {except for the male dealers or sculptors} and the majority are collecting realistic looking baby dolls.

I could run a contest to win a doll - it would be an investment of $500-$1,000 but since I already own several of these dolls, it would not mean a dollar outlay.


THIS raises a question - If I make the 'qualifier' for the competition/draw/sweepstake that a placed bid OR a placed listing {I have to include my buying only members too} equals one entry and then do the physical 'draw' at Expo.

Is there a simple method to track users by ID that have placed listings or placed bids each day?


I think I like the pen/business card combo too ---- sort of a mini laminated card attached to a pen or pencil. I'll toy with that idea.

Alfred, I already have that plan - using a doll in a logo printed onsie who will be 'holding' the business card holder

You guys all have some GREAT ideas, keep them coming.

[alfred_bennett]

It would be possible to run a query against your database to see who placed ads between certain dates, and return the results. This would get you your list of contenstants.

Along with that you could return the top three in random order (from one query) which could concievably return your top three contest winners. This would qualify your users as having placed ads within the time period, and also return your contestant winners.

[Parked]

We've had a "well used" 3 1/2" x 6" calendar with a magnetic backing on our refigerator from a local real estate agent for at least ten years (a new one sent free each year of course). We're exposed to it everyday and it does'nt get lost.