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SEO, Site Promotion, Marketing: Free offers don’t work!!!

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    Hi!

    Recently we run promotional campaign Free Custom website design for first 100 customers and basically aids for small businesses who thinking about getting online but have a tied budget. We run it for a month. The deal was you hosting with us for min a one year and we design for you custom website for Free. It was pretty much total disaster. We got only couple business from it. I guess FREE concept doesn’t really works.

    I wonder if somebody else has similar experience?

    Best, DS
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    It's a real shame when something like this, which is obviously good intentioned, does not work out well. I guess people equate free with low quality or junk, even though that may not always be the case. Offers like this are good, but you may want to charge something for the design, even if it is a low price. People seem to jump at low priced offers but not at free ones...
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    Hey there ...

    Not to sound like a pro at this, but I kind of am. I'm an interactive copywriter who (not surprisingly) writes for an interactive agency. Ruben does have a point when it comes to design, but more importantly than design is "how" you're saying "free" as well as a strong concept behind it.

    I can go on and on about all sorts of tactics and such, but the most important thing you should focus on is strong concept and make sure someone will feel a sense of empowerment by doing something they normally wouldn't. That's the secret to all advertising.

    Let me know if you need any more (real) help.
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      CommentAuthormaspick
    • CommentTimeApr 28th 2006
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    Dmitry -

    When you advertised the free designs to accompany a year's hosting, were you able to display a portfolio of designs you'd already done? We do almost no advertising, relying on word-of-mouth and our portfolio to sell us. Also, there have been recent campaigns via e-mail advertising and land mail that promoted a similar offer to yours, sounding like it was connected with student projects. Perhaps your campaign was assumed to be another like those.

    That's my 2 cents. :^{>
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    Hi there!

    We are established full range of ISP services company in down town and more oriented to local businesses. We used newspaper inserts to advertise our promotion by specific zip code target only downtown where a lot of small businesses located. In a past we tried email and direct mailing which was not affective at all. Basically we don’t do any internet advertisement only information that we have on website. We are small company so we don’t have marketing department or something like. Usually once a month a so we have a meeting and bring some ideas to the table how to extend our services and attract new customers.
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    @ dmitrysliv ...

    Seems like you've got a very basic start to a decent campaign: "you're a local business that's reaching out to local businesses." As far as DM and e-mail are concerned, you <em>really</em> have to make your offer stand out amongst the rest of the junk that going to fill a mail box (or inbox). Think of some approaches that go beyond traditional standards, too.

    You can also think about creating a small referal rewards program for current businesses. Just keep your mind to the grindstone. You'll come up with it.
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      CommentAuthormaspick
    • CommentTimeApr 30th 2006
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    Dmitry -

    >>We are established full range of ISP services company in down town and more oriented to local businesses. We used newspaper inserts to advertise our promotion by specific zip code target only downtown where a lot of small businesses located.<<

    Sounds like you're approaching your town like we did ours. I might suggest contacting your local chamber of commerce or city offices and discuss your desire to bring your community to the Internet, perhaps offering the chamber a reduced rate for members, which will help to showcase your talents.

    That's my 2 cents. :^{>

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