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Which is Better?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by nostressmaven, May 23, 2014.

  1. #1
    People love deals, they always will love deals.
    I have seen a big debate going on over coupons vs contests.

    Coupons
    Some people think business owners should not use coupons for their business as they make it look desperate and cheap and hard up for clients and some think coupons are the best thing ever to get new traffic and sales online and at brick and mortar biz locations.

    Contests
    Most people love to win things. They dream of winning, they want the prize, but hate all the hassle of getting signed up or opted in or entered to win the contest prize.
    Today there are more options for running contests than ever before. Some are great and some are not.

    So what do you think?
    Coupon or Contest?
    Do you think running a contest is better or offering a coupon is better?
    And either way, you should be getting the opt in for the customer to be on your list so you can offer them something else even better down the road.
     
    nostressmaven, May 23, 2014 IP
  2. Dragon Knight

    Dragon Knight Peon

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    #2
    Both are good options. Don't limit yourself to one method. Alternate to get your customer interested in your offers. The most important tip: add value.
     
    Dragon Knight, May 23, 2014 IP
  3. nostressmaven

    nostressmaven Well-Known Member

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    #3
    I agree totally- add value. Short, sweet and to the point, the most important point- adding value. Thanks for sharing!
     
    nostressmaven, May 23, 2014 IP
  4. FTS!

    FTS! Member

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    #4
    Between these two I would choose contests.
     
    FTS!, May 23, 2014 IP
  5. Jen 101

    Jen 101 Active Member

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    #5
    I don't think coupons make a business look desperate. I've followed a number of big brands on Facebook as well as signed up for email lists simply to get their coupons. I agree with @Dragon Knight that I wouldn't limit it to one or the other. You might try a coupon and the next month try a contest and see what your followers respond to. Quick tip, when you do a contest make sure it's really easy to sign up, you'll get a better response.
     
    Jen 101, May 24, 2014 IP
  6. nostressmaven

    nostressmaven Well-Known Member

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    #6
    Jen, thanks for your valuable feedback. I am glad to see that you don't think coupons make you look desperate.
    I do local marketing for small businesses and some really fight the coupon and contest notion as desperation. I agree with you... and in my small town, most people look for coupons. So I am looking for valuable perspectives that I may not have considered before from others who have done this before me or who have good info that I can use next time someone says no to coupons or contests...
    Would love to like your post, however I am not there yet, so please accept my thanks for your personal perspective on the biz you follow and why and that some you follow for the coupons alone... I will pass that on to biz I work with in the future....
    I can just hear me now... well, there is this person on Digital Point named Jen who follows some big companies just for the coupons they put out...lol Thanks Jen!

     
    nostressmaven, May 24, 2014 IP
  7. nostressmaven

    nostressmaven Well-Known Member

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    #7
    After reading some of your replies, I think maybe my sales pitch needs tweaking...lol.... or my USP...
    I think coupons and contests are of great value. I live in a very small town and people here are a bit behind the times in online marketing, so I have to change my approach sometimes. However, they all seem to understand coupons very well, but contests not so much. They are the scary unknown. So I am going to offer a deal on my new contests I think or a buy one get one other offer free special (month of facebook posting or coupon set up) maybe so they can try without much fear. I do lots of facebook marketing and offer both coupons and contests but I also may need to look to bigger cities to approach biz and perhaps not stay just in my small town. I have clients in other areas and cities, however, when I try out a new service, I usually try it out here to test it... again, might need to go to a larger city. Mine is under 20k so that may be the biggest barrier I am facing instead of coupons vs contests.
    What do you think?
    Thanks again to you all for commenting.
    Mel
     
    nostressmaven, May 24, 2014 IP
  8. ArticleSpecialists

    ArticleSpecialists Active Member

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    #8
    I think it depends on your business.

    I cannot imagine doing business with an attorney or doctor who uses either strategy.

    For a retail store, coupons will bring more people into the store, but contests will help you build an email list. I'd do a contest to build the list and then offer exclusive coupons to ONLY that list.
     
    ArticleSpecialists, May 24, 2014 IP
  9. mediahost

    mediahost Active Member

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    #9
    The coupon, I find, gets people through the door that might not have spent the money initially to try the product. However, the experience of the product after the coupon is used is important.
     
    mediahost, May 24, 2014 IP
  10. tuppence

    tuppence Member

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    #10
    Coupons work quite well, however they should not be thrown around like confetti. I use them on occasion as specials for valued regular customers, or give offline coupon codes for people to give to family and friends. Using them constantly is like having a permanent sale on, which eventually loses it's appeal.
     
    tuppence, May 24, 2014 IP
  11. Jake The Competition Man

    Jake The Competition Man Active Member

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    #11
    you begin to think that "this or that make you look desperate" when you are desperate :) if you are ok, in good faith, anything is good and anything is cool. Coupons and contests both are cool, but your fans just need to feel your energy and your good faith. Never market something you think it's not a good product. Always talk about the products you like and explain why. That's even better than coupons and contests.
     
  12. serellived

    serellived Member

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    #12
    Contests would entice more people than offering coupons.
    While coupons may acquire prospects, running a contest is more appealing, especially when there's a huge price involved.
    But, if I can, I would go for both.
     
    serellived, May 24, 2014 IP
  13. janinaherz

    janinaherz Active Member

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    #13
    Both the options are good, but from my point of view Coupons have better advantage than Content. How?
    People generally hesitate to take part in contest (may be duo to shyness or some other reasons), if so you won't get more audience.
    On the other hand you can distribute coupons to everyone and have large customers.
    But I advice not to depend only on one option, always try this two and many more, because our ultimate goal would be to GROW.
     
    janinaherz, May 28, 2014 IP
  14. Jake The Competition Man

    Jake The Competition Man Active Member

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    #14
    you know, I was thinking that anyway coupon codes can go viral as well if distributed in other websites so the effect is multiplied. Yeah, absolutely coupons are much better.
     
  15. Coupons

    Coupons Active Member

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    #15
    My username clearly shows I advise coupons, but contests work very well though, it all depends on tracking results and see what works with your content and visitors.
     
    Coupons, May 28, 2014 IP
  16. John Pagulayan

    John Pagulayan Member

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    #16
    Test.

    What you do should depend on your niche/market.

    For example, if you're in the food niche, coupons works best and people will line up for them without thinking that it's cheap.

    For digital products, I find that contests work well and does not devalue the product.

    So again, depending on your niche...test.
     
    John Pagulayan, May 28, 2014 IP
  17. ivantk

    ivantk Active Member

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    #17
    All big ecommerce websites have coupons. Some say people are probably not willing to buy if they do not have coupons. So I would vote for coupons. It works for me fine.
     
    ivantk, May 28, 2014 IP
  18. chase_buie

    chase_buie Greenhorn

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    #18
    This is good. What else can you offer that others cant, what makes you unique in order to get the response that you want. Try both in various circumstances and situations and see what one works for you. Experience is always a good teacher.
     
    chase_buie, May 30, 2014 IP