Counterpoint Promotions: Intelligent Incentive Solutions

Savvy Silver Surfers

2011-05-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

Long gone are the days when your Nan didn't know how to switch a computer on let alone go online. With the massive outbreak of Silver Surfers (unsurprisingly as the Government have yet another initiative promoting this), online redemption of rewards is now widespread with the ability to offer a choice of online rewards, means that no demographic is excluded in this modern age.

Online rewards are definitely the future, this solution means that rewards can also be added and deleted as required over the period of a promotion allowing flexibility for both client and customers alike. With many companies not being in direct contact with their end customer, the Internet allows communication whereby surveys, newsletters etc. can be issued and information and feedback gathered. Rewarding their interaction with a low cost reward for genuine opted in data is a nirvana moment for some marketers who view their customer records as a perfect vehicle for ongoing Customer Relationship Management (CRM). CRM for those companies who don’t normally interact with their customers is a godsend as all manner of contact can be devised including sampling, testing, research and even selling!

If rewarding customer interaction with incentives sourced at a margin busting price then there is salvation for the dormant, unstimulated Marketing Manager whilst keeping the bean counters happy…a total solution!

Decisions, decisions

2011-05-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Consumer Marketing Managers have never had it so easy! With corporate dictates descending down to the Marketing Manager’s office firing off instructions to “offer price discounts” and “free products” it’s no wonder that the art of creativity has largely gone out of the window.

Alongside this then of course budgets get cut and margins likewise as those reductions kick in. How can the Marketing Manager therefore make their mark on the business?

Well offering an incentive other than product and price is one avenue where companies can extend the consumer’s brand experience.

Why not visit our website www.cpromo.co.uk or contact us today on 01606 855215 to hear about the wide range of incentives we can provide for you.

Customer Loyalty – An Attitude of Mind?

2011-05-10T08:21:00.001-07:00

There seem to have been enough books and articles written about Customer Loyalty to fill The British Library – the reason is that in a business sense ‘Loyalty’ is a word related closely with the business objectives of the company.

Wikipedia defines Loyalty as “Loyalty, is faithfulness or a devotion to a person, country, group, or cause”.

Perhaps the dilemma for marketers could be highlighted by redefining this as “Loyalty, is a disposition towards the purchase and/or recommendation to others, of a brand, product, service and any combination thereof”.

In other words there many elements of a company, its branding, its products and its customer service contribute towards this “holy grail” of customer Loyalty.

“Relationship marketers” will tell you that it is vital that you build “a relationship” with your customers to enable you to develop customer loyalty. They are of course correct but this “relationship” can be on any number of levels depending on your business objectives and your budget!

Perhaps the simplest and most straightforward start is to provide additional “value” to your customers (members) and a reason for them to benefit from this value outside the normal purchase cycle of the company’s products thus providing an additional reminder of your company, in a positive light!

For example, this can be done highly affordably by using “3^rd party benefits programmes” – packages of valuable offers, relevant to a wide range of consumers, branded to your company but effectively funded by the 3^rd parties in return for access to your customers. A “Win Win Win situation” where you, the 3^rd party suppliers and your customers all benefit.

A great example of this is the “BESTrewards” programme from Counterpoint Promotions which for a few pence per member and offers include promotions such as Free Flights to worldwide destinations, Spa Days, Adrenaline Junkie Days…and many more, catering for a wide variety of tastes.

So what is the difference between the use of many current marketing techniques and a Customer Loyalty initiative?

The answer is of course very little!

When does the spectrum of Discount Coupons / In Store Price Discount / BOGOF/ On Pack Money off next purchase / Collect 3 ring-pulls and get…. / Collect 10 stamps on this card and get a FREE cup of coffee / present this membership card and collect points which can be redeemed for……. cease to be a promotion and become a loyalty initiative?

To a great extent is as soon as the customer is considered as a long term asset with whom an ongoing relationship can be forged – and the understanding of the customer across several purchases and even between purchases can be used to focus resources (£) to building better returns on marketing investment, then the attitude of mind of the marketer as started to move from “How can I reach my targets?” to how to I build the invaluable asset of a loyal and profitable customer base for the future – and “How will it enable me to reach targets this year and every year!”

Closed user discount sites blow all the other bargain sites out of the water

2011-03-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

I know it is a part of my job and I don’t often question the cause so to speak, but recently I’ve found myself wondering how closed user discount websites can still be beneficial in today’s online bargain-flooded society.

Given time, anyone who’s anyone both online and offline can pretty much find any discounted offer for a product or service they wish to use. Whilst we’re busy searching away we’re also being targeted by a never-ending list of companies wanting a slice of our hard earned pennies. They offer us a bargain (or what seems to be at first); in return we give them something worth far more than cash… our data! From this point on we’re targeted by telephone, SMS’ed morning noon and night, e-mailed not only to our home, but at work, and even mobile phone. They even seek us out via our most precious commodity of all, our facebook page! Is there no safe place for us to hide?

This is why I feel closed user discount sites are the alternative, secure and sensible choice to anyone who wants a bargain without the added hassle. *Nodding our heads* ‘yes’ we all want a deal, but only to pay for it in ways we can afford without getting stalked in this Big Brother society.

Which brings me to the point, why are ARE closed user sites better for everyone? I can see many benefits for both customers and suppliers in a closed user market. Customers get what they want, they are given choice, something that is current, new and useful and above all they don’t feel pestered. At the click of a mouse they can be rest assured that they are getting the very best deal, something that (in the past) would normally have taken hours of searching.

Here at Counterpoint we take all that stress away from our clients which allows them to spoil their members and really make them feel they’re pampered little pooches. We don’t waste our time with measly offers such as ‘free delivery’ or ‘3% off when you spend £50’… we only accept real reductions in spend that make a genuine difference in the purse.

How and why do continue to get better offers than anyone else? Our suppliers know that they can trust us, it’s a closed user site so any offers we have won’t go viral (nobody wants to go out of business), they know we can get the offers directly to the people that want them, because of this we get the offers that no one else can, with our constant hard work and commitment we can ensure all our offers are up-to-date with expiry dates being renewed on an ongoing basis and finally we can track exactly what discounts are being used and when so you’ll get all the MI you need. Do you know what we get in return for all this? Loyalty.