Ideas On Lead Generation Competitions to get your advertising boards filled….fast!

Posted on March 1st, 2007.

If you like to get entrepreneurial about marketing and lead generation in general, then this section is for you! Generating leads for your business card advertising business should be a key focus for you at all times. No leads - no customers!

Dean
Popular Ideas Here

Email This Post | Make a Comment

Purchase Manual HERE

20 Responses to “Ideas On Lead Generation Competitions to get your advertising boards filled….fast!”

RSS Feed for 100% Dedicated to Business Card Display Operators! Comments RSS Feed

andrewinaustin

How to attract more people to take a card?

I want to make my displays a truly great advertising value for my customers. Any ideas people can post to get the public to take more cards and call more of my advertisers would be great. I’ll share one of my own, which I haven’t put into practice yet, but am working on:

It’s called the Bogus Business Contest. Every month I have a new business card made up and distributed to all my displays. The card is for a “bogus business,” some silly fake business that’s obviously not a legitimate biz. In addition to my regular signage, there’s a sign that says “Can you spot this month’s bogus business card? Enter to win” or something like that. Passers-by will have to look at all my advertisers’ cards to find the bogus card, then when they find it, on the back it says “fill in your name and phone number and you’ll be entered to win”…something donated by an advertiser. I’ll have a pen on a chain hanging on the side of the display, and a slot near the bottom to drop the cards in.

There’s my idea, I would love to hear others!

Feb 19, 6:01 PM —

deanc
March 2nd, 2007

Wow Andrew…your pumping out the ideas, having trouble keeping up with the responses here!

We need more Andrews…come on people, I know your reading (I can see the stats on the site).

That’s a great idea …ATTENTION GRABBERS are always great. I can imagine this idea working an absolute treat in a location that has people milling around waiting for something. I can visualise it right now….a pizza store where people are standing around bored, thinking about how crappy there day was and that they can’t even find time to cook, so they end up with pizza for dinner…THEN SUDDENLY… they see a display with a ‘question’ on it that snaps them out of there daize.

This is one powerful way to get them to view all the cards…great idea Andrew.

Notice Andrew used a question to get attention???

Thoughts and feedback and contributions please.

Dean

Feb 19, 6:14 PM —

deanc
March 2nd, 2007

bizcardexpert |

I had a simular idea that worked. I put a little box on the top of the display that said “leave your business card here to win a free month in my display”.

It works well, because it is 100% free leads! Everyone wins by the way. I jsut put them in any display I have a spare slot. Also, I tell them that I need to print the cards and i make a few $$$ while i’m at it.

Thanks Dean (haven’t spoken to you yet) for putting this blog idea together…I can see the value already!

Aaron

Feb 19, 7:26 PM —

deanc
March 2nd, 2007

Nattytude

I had the idea of getting a 1000 business cards made up and always carrying a bunch in my pocket that have a free offer.

The thought is that no matter where I am, I can stick it on car windows of parked cars (ones that look like business cars of course).

I think this could work with the right offer.!

Any thoughts?

Feb 20, 7:04 PM —

deanc
March 2nd, 2007

I hope I am entering on the right site. If you’ve read any of my submissions on this blog…you know I am big on golf courses.

I don’t know how it is in other parts of the world but many public and semi-private clubs in the US have display advertising on their score cards. I found out that many of the advertisers have been on the cards for years and they are buying on my card displays at about 100%. Not only do they like the concept…but they don’t want their competitors advertising with the course. Most of these have 12 to 17 ads…great source of leads.

dmiles

dmiles2
March 27th, 2007

I was in a large independent TV & Appliance Store…Looking at High Def Big Screen…anyway…pitched the display opportunity to the salesman…he liked it and he and another salesperson bought a spot…

This business is unbelievable…Prospects everywhere!
Oh…I am paying them 20% for referrals I end up selling and they have a lot of contractors…can’t wait to see if this works.

dmiles

dmiles2
March 27th, 2007

Great work with the ‘take every opportunity’ approach there Dave!

You continue to take advantage of every different opportunity which is an inspiration to us all. Who would of thought that selling a salesperson on the idea of putting their cards into your busness card dispenser is a good way to go…of course it is…thanks Dave!

….here I go again with my ‘thoughts’ about what Dave has said.

Did you know that you have a ‘Reticular Activating System’ (RAS) in you? What this means for those of you who don’t know, is that your eyes suddenly start seeing things they wouldn’t have prior to you being aware of it. For example….

Let’s say you see a car on the road that looks unique, and you think you might like to buy it because not many people have them….well guess what, you will start seeing them everywhere! Why? Because your RAS is tuned into that.

How about before you got interested in business card dispensers…I bet you didn’t think about advertising concepts and ideas a whole lot, but now, you are on the lookout wherever you go for places to locate you displays right?

So Dave’s RAS saw an opportunity in the appliance store…and he took it! And succeeded!

All good…stay out there everyone and the money will come.

Dean

deanc
March 27th, 2007

I sold 3 ads at a car dealer this morning…try this…I walked into a car dealership and asked for the GM. His sales manager came out and asked “What’s this about?”…I simply asked him for permission to talk to his salepeople about placing their business cards around town in my business card dispenser. Of course I pulled it out immediately and he loved it. In fact here is what I suggested and what happened. The dealer bought one location with my suggestion that he place the #1 salesperson on it each month and use it as an incentive; He then agreed to pay half of the cost for any other display for any salesperson that would pay the other half. Two took advantage…walked out with 3 ads…Going back to talk with the service dept and other salespeople…

Also I am printing the cards and here is what we are putting on the card that will show through the display…”ASK ME HOW YOU CAN MAKE $250!” That’s the “bird dog” they are paying for referrals that buy…by the way…this is a Mercedes Dealer that wants on my golf course locations.

try it.

damiles

dmiles2
March 28th, 2007

Now this post above is a classic example of being smart….and very logical.

Why worry about getting to the boss, when it’s the sales people who want leads! To be able to walk into a car dealership with your business card dispenser under you arm, and walk out with deals in your pocket from the salespeople aswell, is truely awesome.

I also like how you pitched the owner on buying the advertising space as an incentive for his salespeople…that’s a whole new angle I haven’t heard of in the past…totally makes sense! It’s even better if the salesperson is standing right there when your showing it to the boss…it really puts the ‘guilt trip’ on him/her if they say “no”.

Make sure you understand Dave’s post above, because you will always run into these situations now the idea has been brought to the surface.

EXCELLENTO

Dean

deanc
March 28th, 2007

With all these great ideas, I am reluctant to post my ever so simple idea. I spent yesterday morning going around to restaurants, auto repair and others collecting business cards that I found on counter tops. I discovered that most of them had email addresses. I got on my computer and sent this email to them…Under Subject: I found your business card! In the text I put…

“I found your business card on a local businesses counter top.

Would you like your card displayed around town in locations
like the Monroe Aquatic & Fitness Center, Monroe Country Club,Eagle Chase Golf Club and others?

I have an economical way for consumers to get your message, keep it handy, and act on it?

Find out more… www.xxxxxxxxxxxxa and let’s talk!

I received 5 responses with 5 appointments set next week. I sent 43 emails.

Just a simple idea!

dmiles

dmiles2
April 5th, 2007

You are a machine dmiles…great idea and the results show.

The subject line is just perfect, because you know their going to open it….and the 10% + response rate says it all!

Simple is best…and that is a gem. So everyone, make sure you give it that idea a go! This technique is also good because it’s a simple and non-threatening approach.

Dave…did you personalize each email with their first name?

Dean

deanc
April 5th, 2007

Yes, I did…personal works. It works better than a broadcast mail. By the way…Constant Contact is great when you mail a lot of emails.

Anybody that leaves a card on a counter wants their cards in the hands of interested people…This is what we do…It’s funny…there were all kinds of businesses on the counters…chiropractors, lawn care, plumbers, you name it. For those that didn’t have a email address…I will call them…assuming I need them.

Good Luck everybody…have a great weekend! When you are a T to T man (Tuesday to Thurs. Ten to Two) …it’s the weekend.

dmiles

dmiles2
April 6th, 2007

I have two things that I have settled into to get me in front of prospects. Both are working great. The first is I am paying the location 15% to get me warm fuzzy leads…I’m talking they are ready to write the check. The second I started Monday. I have a housewife that wants to make a little spending money…making appointments for me. I tried this before with disappointing results. The difference is if she can’t set the appointment while on the phone…she refers them to my website and then she calls back. Only problem I have…she made an appointment for Friday…I am going to Myrtle Beach and forgot to tell her…Oh well…she can reschedule.

Good luck.

dmiles

dmiles
April 17th, 2007

Hi Dave…

Myrtle beach…isn’t there good golf there…why are you complaining?

That’s a great idea about getting an appointment setter to do the work for you. It’s a nice easy entrance in the door by showing them your website aswell. As i’ve mentioned many times, most people are visual and need to SEE what it’s all about, so this method you are using is quite a good one.

When you say you are paying 15% to the business owner to refer people to your business card dispenser, are you also coaching them what to say?

Dean

deanc
April 18th, 2007

I coached them a bit…but seeing a display up on the wall in the business is enough.I only want them to show the display…dispense a few cards and tell them the price and call me. I will go write it up…I WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF THEM…because they may decide to buy in other locations.
It’s simple…

By the way Dean…this week I am a T to W man…Tuesday to Wednesday…
Going with a friend and try to qualify for the Senior PGA…Gotta love the freedom this business gives you. FORE!

dmiles

dmiles
April 18th, 2007

Great to hear you have a great friend that will caddy for you!

So you just give the business owner the basic instructions on how your business card display works, and what to say…that sounds good. I’m only assuming that when the business owner demonstrates how the dispenser works, that he dispensers one of your business cards right?

Dean

deanc
April 19th, 2007

I got a call yesterday from a potential advertiser that I simply had not thought of before. He saw my display at a location and called. He is a minister in a small church near this location and he wants to advertise his church. Now this is not a downtown cathedral…but a small rural church that wants to grow. Gonna meet him Wednesday. Just shows that there are plenty of advertisers out there that cannot afford traditional advertising mediums. Keep you eyes open for opportunities and think outside the box.

dmiles

dmiles
May 1st, 2007

Good suggestion Dave, and thanks for sharing that location with us.

It’s interesting, no matter business or organization is operating, they all want to attract new visitors, and this church example is no exception.

Maybe you could also approach the visitors who go to that church and tell them that if they advertise their business in your display (just like their minister is), then you’ll donate a small portion back to that church??? This would be a great win-win all round, and i’m sure the regular visitors to that church would have a hard time saying “no”.

Good one Dave.

Any other recent examples?

deanc
May 1st, 2007

I took the idea of a church advertising on my displays and approached my church about hosting a display. The minister gave me a verbal ok but has to run it by the powers that be. I know it will be approved because I am splitting the ad revenue 60/40. It will be offered exclusively to church members only and I told them I would put as many displays in as they could fill. They are going to sell the ads…write the order and give me my 60%…how easy is that? Opens up a whole market!

dmiles

dmiles
May 7th, 2007

That’s really nice Dave…anytime you can get people selling the spaces for you take it!

The best part about this is the fact that there is a good chunk of profit that will go back to the church to progress with whatever projects they may be working on…and the members would certainly like this idea because they get new clients from advertising in the displays PLUS they are no doubt fully made fully aware that a percentage goes back into the church fund.

Nice win-win-win for everyone!

Dean

deanc
May 8th, 2007