FT.com / Business Life - Coupon clippers go digital

FT.com / Business Life - Coupon clippers go digital

PROMOTE U.S.

FROM THE DESK OF MARC WORTSMAN

Promotion marketing is all about “stimulus”. From a cents-off coupons to multi-year incentive programs we as promotion marketers help our clients sell their ideas, products and services to diverse groups nationally and often on a global scale.

The State of the Union address highlighted a number of critical challenges facing our country. We listened to the President speak in part about the economy, housing, job creation - and it got us thinking about how promotion marketing can be used to help stimulate our economy.

In response to the State of the Union here are some promotion tactic thought starters from our staff:

JOB SEARCH

Idea: When you spot a “Help Wanted” sign in a store window Twitter the ZIP Code, store name and address.

Idea: For Internet access providers, provide subscribers with “free internet access days” to help those using the Internet to job search.

RESTORING CONFIDENCE

Idea: Hollywood directors/studios create trailers highlighting examples of what’s being done by individuals to help create a “New America”.

Idea: Provide a tax credit to persons who volunteer a minimum number of hours monthly in their communities.

CONSERVING RESOURCES

Idea: Recycling centers offer free fluorescent light bulbs in exchange for empty bottles and aluminum cans. 

We’ll be adding more ideas to the PROMOTE U.S. list so check this page again soon. It’s our goal to offer tactics that collectively create a better future for all of us.

CBS Sweeps Administered by MK Offers Unique Prize: a Colon Exam

From PROMO Magazine:

http://promomagazine.com/contests/news/cbs-colon-exam-0225/

Promotion marketing agency Marden-Kane celebrates 50 Year Anniversary.

PRESS RELEASE

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 -- Marden-Kane, Inc., a breakthrough promotion marketing agency is celebrating their 50 year anniversary in a year long celebration. Marden Kane is synonymous with the creative development and implementation of all forms of promotional games of chance including sweepstakes, contests, and instant win games. It has won industry recognition and has received multiple awards from the Promotion Marketing Association (PMA) for work done on behalf of their Fortune 2000 client roster.

To honor the milestone Marden-Kane is launching a new website www.mk50in09.com where visitors will find a wealth of information including a sampling of their work, biographies of the staff, some fun and games plus an innovative sweepstakes. Visitors will earn points by interacting with the site and can then use points to enter many different drawings for prizes. The sampling of the sweepstakes application provides an interesting and compelling way to demonstrate to clients and potential new clients how this may fit with their 2009 promotion plans.

For more go to http://www.prweb.com/releases/Marden-Kane/50Anniversary/prweb2001064.htm

Women Over 55 Take Facebook by Storm

Women Over 55 Take Facebook by Storm

Better thinking beats bigger spending

It’s Q1 2009; budgets are freshly minted and everyone is off happily executing strategic plans created six months ago.  Not likely.  The current consumer malaise is spawning breakthrough approaches.  They DON’T need to cost more, just work harder.  Great evidence is Intuit Turbo Tax and their use of Twitter, MySpace and Facebook as platforms to run a trivia contest; www.superstatuscontest.com.  It’s a brilliant way to get the DIY tax prep crowd to talk up the simplicity of Turbo Tax.   Creating questions that directly reinforce the product benefit and posting answers in their status updates adds an element of authenticity.  Best yet is the extra leverage created by linking the three most popular social networks together by increasing chances of winning.  An experiment of sorts but a pretty safe bet this mobile army will respond enthusiastically.  Better thinking beats bigger spending any day.