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Business Card Referral Strategy

Today, I went for cheap lunch: Little Ceasar's $5.30 (with tax) for a large pizza!

While paying the five bucks and change, I noticed a very cool marketing trick (that anyone can use and profit from, but very few actually do.)

At the checkout counter were a bunch of white business cards with some words in blue on it. The business cards had "Little Ceasar's" written on it in bold. But they weren't actually Little Ceasar's business cards!

Instead, the cards were for "Marvelanes" - a bowling lanes outlet!

The card simply read:

Bowl Free Compliments of
LITTLE CEASAR'S
This card good for one FREE game of bowling anytime lanes
are available. One free game per person per day.
Expires September 29 2005
MARVELANES
(Address of Marvelanes)

The back of the business card asked for the

person's name
address
telephone number and
birthdate.

And stated "Above Must be Completed for Redemption"

Thats it.

Lets analyze the business card in a bit more detail:

Marvelanes gave a free offer to attract a new client base
The business card specified that the free offer was conditional and could only be taken advantage of while lanes are available (Marvelanes don't lose any business by giving the free offer)
The business card had a deadline - making people take action and avoid procrastination
Marvelanes asked for peoples names and addresses. Thus, they'll build a big mailing list because of their free offer. And they can generate business anytime in the future by just sending a reminder to the mailing list and probably giving them a discount

And Marvelanes then persuaded Little Ceasar's to place these business cards next to the checkout counter. Little Ceasar's earn some goodwill by giving a goodie to their clients. And Marvelanes wins some new clients - all for the cost of printing a few simple business cards!

What a win-win referral strategy!

Action Summary:

Create business cards that offer free goodies or free samples of your product.
Ask other complimentary businesses to give away those business cards to their clients as a "Thank You Reward"
Make sure you collect the names and addresses of these new clients who take you on the free goodie offer. And then convert them into loyal clients by following up with them.

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Posted on 5/24/2005 | Permalink | |

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