We’ve all been in that meeting when someone says “anyone got an idea for a promo for my new client?”
Everyone looks uncomfortably around before someone says either: a cue to call promo, a bumper sticker promo, or… ‘lets do something on social media’.
But here’s an insider idea that works when a business wants to do something with you – ask them what ideas they have that they have seen done well in their industry! AND, ask them to show you their product or service. It’s that simple!
You don’t want to end up doing the same thing that you did last month – last quarter or last year – you want something different!
And because today, people are inundated with sales messages – from the moment they wake to the minute their eyes close at night, they are bombarded on the radio, TV, billboards, magazines, newspapers, mail, email etc… YOU WANT YOUR PROMO TO STAND OUT!
By asking someone who works in a different industry – you get a different perspective. You get inside knowledge about what the ‘best’ promo was they have seen in their industry – and sometimes the ideas are really wild! Other times just getting your hands on a product can give you an idea.
- Tell them to start with a story about the BEST promo they’ve seen.
Everyone loves a good story, that’s why they’re such a powerful communication tool.
Ask them to tell ‘YOU’ a story about a promo event that really worked – recently for example we had a client tell us about a mini-golf competition that was held in the back of a giant mining truck, but the twist was that the grass was replaced with a new tough surface cover that could take a beating – great idea!
Simple to do, and it looked great out on location too!
Using a real life situation like this to not only demonstrate a product or service, will not only slip the message under the radar of a prospective client, it will also show how it benefits someone – something your potential customers can relate to
2. Ask them to SHOW you how their product or service works!
By teaching you how to use it or how it works, you will then see ways that you might be able to do a promotion with them.
A couple of years ago we had a Car Jet Wash company open in town, they were demoing the wash to the sales guy and myself when he said that the jet wash was powerful enough to push a bowling ball – and this a jet wash bowling challenge promo was bought into existence.
Your promo ideas don’t have to be the same old boring things you have always done. Ask your clients, get your hands dirty and discover a promo that might take the radio world by storm.
