Are Daily Deal Sites Worth It?

(Groupon) It seems like a great idea: Daily deal sites offer customers heavily discounted goods and services to get them in the door of local businesses, and business owners get a boost in sales and—hopefully—grow their customer base. But while the Daily Deal has exploded in recent years (according to Daily Deal Media the industry attracted over $1.6 billion in…

(image source) Have you ever looked up your business at SocialMention.com? Does it come up with no strength, no passion, no results, or no results that actually match your business. Would you rather it looks like the profile above? Then you have to get people to start talking about your business! When people start talking about your business, you’ll see…

As social networks continue to pick up steam, more and more companies are seeking new avenues to get more eyeballs on their advertisements. The truth is that when people are browsing through their social streams they pay little attention to ads placed on sidebars and banners at the top of the page. But the game is changing as social sites…

Source The idea is simple: Stimulate the local small-business economy by offering large groups of consumers one-time introductory discount prices for goods and services. Customers love the deeply discounted prices, and businesses get an instant spike in sales. This functional formula, known as the “daily deal” marketing strategy, has become enormously popular. Sites like Groupon and Living Social have seen…

Source What is one of the best – and most legitimate – ways to market your business? Get it in the press. Positive publicity is a fantastic way to get visibility, gain credibility, and legitimize your business. And here’s the best part: It’s free. That means small businesses don’t need the pricey services of a fancy PR firm. You can…

The way in which humans have traded and purchased goods has been in constant evolution since before history began. In ancient times, things like furs and shells were traded person-to-person in exchange for goods and services. Today, monetary transactions between humans utilize sophisticated technologies that make the process simple and intuitive. Let’s take a walk through history and see how…

Source You might not know what Humphry Slocombe is. But its 311,982 Twitter followers do, and you should, too. This unique ice cream shop in San Francisco, California, is notable for both its social media presence and its interesting flavors. Purveyor of such exotic ice cream flavors as Boccalone Prosciutto, Peanut Butter Curry, and Government Cheese, the company has gained…

Source The push for social media marketing has been growing in recent years, and any modern marketing campaign must include it. But what good are social media efforts if you’re not analyzing their efficacy? Surprisingly, many people overlook an essential part of the equation: marketing metrics. These allow you to track progress and measure your ROI – both essential parts…

It is well known that referral marketing is one of the most effective – and inexpensive – forms of marketing. According to the 2010 study “Referral Programs and Customer Value,” released by researchers at the Goethe University Frankfurt and the University of Pennsylvania, referred customers tend to have a higher initial contribution margin and tend to be more loyal than…

Lavishing your clients and customers with gifts and attention can often become a 24-hour job. With that in mind, it’s best to be aware of how customers will respond to your generosity. Let’s take a look at the wining & dining lifecycle to see how some of these scenarios play out.