12 Tips for creating an effective coupon campaign.

Here are 12 tips for creating a successful coupon campaign.

Tip#1...Make A Solid Offer!

• Offer Discounts..."$50.00 Off!", "60% Off!", (percentage discounts are only good when they are high percentages and the value of the product or service is well known.) Dollars Off discounts work best.
• Offer Bonuses..."Buy One/Get One Free!", or "2 Free with Each Case Ordered!", "Free Batteries When You Buy One Super Flashlight", or "Free Drop Cloth with Each Gallon of Super Paint", etc.
• Offer Premiums...Offer premiums for a presentation, for a trial order, for a subscription, for a demonstration, for a new customer referral, for an order amounting to $xxx or larger", etc.
• Offer Free Information..."FREE booklet", "FREE brochure", "FREE estimate", "FREE details", "FREE samples", "FREE trial", "FREE consultation", "FREE quote", etc.

Tip#2....Use Bold, Commanding And Specific Headlines!

• "Save $50.00 on Any Portable TV....This Month Only!"
• "FREE BROCHURE...'Beauty Secrets for Career Woman'!"
• "Free Catalog Saves YOU 70% on Office Supplies!"
• "Rent Two NEW RELEASE Video Movies--Get One FREE!"
• "Buy One Dinner Entree--Get One FREE!"
• "Buy Five Cases of Copier Paper--Get the Sixth Case Absolutely Free!"

Tip#3...Use Line Illustrations Or Photographs.

• Illustrations work best when you show products in-use.
• Illustrations enhance credibility, aid understanding, and create desire.

Tip#4...Use Your Logo In Your Coupon.

• Use of logo: builds company identity and awareness in the marketplace, enhances your image, lends credibility to your offer, and improves response.

Tip #5....Make Effective Use Of White Space.

• Don't clutter. Don't cram.

Tip#5...Sell The Benefits.

• Save time, save money, increase profits, protect your family, improve your standard of living, be happier, improve your health, increase your income, increase your comfort, more convenient.

Tip#7....Appeal To The Self-Interest Of Your Customer.

• Your customer is only interested in what you can do for him or her. Your customer will only buy the benefits-of-use of your product or service. Let me say that again...your customer is only interested in the benefits of use of your product....not the product itself.

Tip#8...Make Effective Use Of The 18 Most Powerful Words In Advertising.

• free, now, new, how to, save, guarantee, money, easy, simple, you, proven, love, results, discovery, fast, amazing, sex, profit.

Tip#9...Always Up-Sell.

• Offer extras when a customer requests information or places an order. Always suggest related items. Point out the added features and benefits of a higher priced item and then show the customer specifically how these features will make his life easier, safer, etc.

Tip#10...Spread Your Specials Around--Consider The Traffic Pattern In A Retail Store.

• Set up product displays so that you force your customer to walk the entire expanse of your store. Your "impulse" buys will increase dramatically when you expose your customer to more products by well planned placement of "sale items".

Tip#11...Capture Your Customers Name, Address, And Telephone Number. Develop An In-House Mailing List For On-Going Direct Marketing Use.

• Your customer list represents your most valuable asset. Your greatest potential for sales and profits lies in the customer database. To ignore this potential is pure folly.

Tip#12...Don't Stop After The Sale.

• Create a planned program for continuous followup to your customer list.
• Use ride-alongs, invoice stuffers, new catalogs, new product brochures, special sale flyers, preferred customer sales and discounts, customer appreciation events, more coupons. Keep your customers coming back to YOU!

Source:Thom Reece http://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/couponing.htm