Groupon

[tmacsad]

Have any of you guy's/gal's ever advertised using Groupons?

 

[JasontheBeaver]

I participated in a Living Social campaign. It's similar to Groupon.

 

[tmacsad]

I participated in a Living Social campaign. It's similar to Groupon.

I was the outcome?

 

[DJsDetails]

I just did it in Orlando and sold over 400. Miranda Detailing has done the same in Atlanta. PM me if you have any specific questions. Just be prepared for your phone to ring off the hook non-stop.

 

[JasontheBeaver]

Just be prepared for your phone to ring off the hook non-stop.

You got that right!
The day of the sale we got absolutely bombarded with calls... all wanting to know what was including in the package, even though it was clearly stated in the ad.
We sold about 400 and even now we have to answer what's included every single time even though it says it right on the voucher in their hand.
We'll probably break even on the campaign this time, but we've been able to keep our employees working through the slow winter season so it's a major plus.
Also I've learned what I will do next time as far as what kind of offer.
Be prepared to get coupon-shopper type customers. This might be obvious but it's just so uncommon for us to get clients that are so concerned with price. A real learning curve and made us really appreciate all the full-price clients we already have.

 

[jdmser]

What's really going to be interesting to see is how many of those "coupon-shopper" type customers will return without a coupon. Did you set up any way to track that?

 

[JasontheBeaver]

Yes we can track the returning shoppers.
I think you have to look at it like this; you've directly exposed your business to 400 new people that wouldn't have otherwise known about you. Granted these aren't ideal customers but some of that is my fault due to offering a low-priced service. Next time I'll charge as much as Groupon/Living Social will allow and hopefully this will increase the odds of them returning as full price customers.

 

[tmacsad]

I think you have to look at it like this; you've directly exposed your business to 400 new people that wouldn't have otherwise known about you.

:exactly:

We ran the ad last year as well and gained a few new clients :bigups

 

[holland_patrick]

how much do they take?

 

[ShadeTreeDetail]

how much do they take?

Normally Groupon & LivingSocial have a cut of 50/50. LivingSocial had been 60/40, but changed it late last year.

 

[JasontheBeaver]

I've just negotiated a 70/30 with Mobba. They will come your way, you just have to lean on them, give them examples of other detail shop's campaigns around the country, things like that.
Also we had an advantage in that our first campaign (with Living Social) was hugely successful for them, sold 400 and generated around $30,000, which was way above their average. Now we have a track record so we stand in a better negotiating position.