Branding
Promotional Marketing Predictions for 2017
Every year at this time we discuss what the next big thing will be. Sometimes we can see it coming, and sometimes we don’t. So how did we do for this past year’s marketing predictions? Here they are so you can see! 2016 Prediction #1: Native ads will be booming – and promotions are part of that mix. Results: Native ads did turn out to be big news this year, especially because the FTC started to enforce native ad guidelines and brands became more aware of what disclosure was required. Some brands learned the hard way that disclosure is … Continue reading
4 Reasons Brands Should Embrace Sweepstakers
Sweepstakers, also known as “sweepers” and even as “compers” in the UK, are the people who put hours each day into entering sweepstakes and contests. Many of them consider it a full-time job. These people take promotions very seriously, and are frequently more well-versed in the ins and outs of sweepstakes industry than some brand marketers. Not all brands like the thought of a bunch of professional sweepstakers entering their promotions, though. They believe that people who are only in it for the prizes will not be brand loyal, won’t subscribe to their emails and won’t help the bottom line. … Continue reading
Father’s Day Promotion Ideas
Father’s Day is sneaking up on us. And if you have a product that speaks to dads, you should embrace all your dad fans out there by running a contest or sweepstakes to build up your fan base and increase brand loyalty. Here are a few promotion ideas to help your brand celebrate all the Dads out there! #DadLife Instagram Sweepstakes: New dads holding their babies. Dads coaching soccer games. Dads braiding their little girls hair. It’s all part of #DadLife. Ask people to share their dad life photos and short videos on Instagram that shows dads being dads and … Continue reading
Top Valentine’s Day Contest Prizes
Looking to make a big heart-shaped impression with your customers this year? Run a Valentine’s Day Contest and reward the winners with these amazing prizes. Here is a run-down of the best prizes you could offer in your Valentine’s contest this year: For the Winner of the Most Embarrassing Love Gone Wrong Contest A day trip to a spa for some time to get over the embarrassment and recover. The trip should include at least one massage and a giant bottle of champagne to help get over the sting. For Winner of the Most Romantic Couple Photo Contest A room. … Continue reading
Things To Consider When Working With A Celebrity — Risky Or Rewarding?
Rosemary Stein, VP from our Chicago office, wrote this piece for MK on what to consider when you want to run a promotion that involves a celebrity. There are advantages and disadvantages to using celebrities in your promotions. Athletes, actors and musicians can influence purchase especially when they align themselves with a product that is relevant to the brand’s target demographic. Very popular celebs can appeal to a broader audience and increase brand awareness. When using specific real-people endorsements it is preferable to tie professional competence to character or quality of product; an endorsement by a NASCAR driver for … Continue reading
Promotional Marketing Predictions for 2016
What will be the new thing in 2016 that will drive promotional marketing? Here are our predictions (with a bit of Zoltar’s help): Native ads will be booming – and promotions are part of that mix. As ad blockers become more of an issue for advertisers and brands, the only logical solution is to turn to more creative ways to get a product in front of people. And that means more native ads. Native ads simply mean using networks of bloggers or sponsored articles or social posts to get the brand-needed exposure without using traditional ads. The trick is … Continue reading
Sweepstakes Prizes: Regift or Keep?
When offering prizes in a sweeps, you have to offer what people want. We generally tell clients to keep prizing simple: offer cash, electronics, trips or cars, depending on your prize budget. People want those the most. But we wanted to put this to the test! So we polled people on a short nine item list of potential sweepstakes prizes to see if they would keep or regift the item if they won it. Here are the prizes people were asked to weigh in on: $10 gift card Drone helicopter with camera Tablet computer GoPro Golf clubs Fitbit New … Continue reading
50 Reasons to Run a Sweepstakes or Contest
Looking for a reason to run a sweepstakes, contest, instant win game, rewards program or loyalty campaign? Here are 50 of them! To create an email opt-in list. To create a mobile opt-in list. To give away your products. To build your brand. To encourage brand loyalty. To encourage product try-on. To encourage product usage. To encourage product trial. To reward your loyal customers. To introduce your customers to a new product or service. To launch a new campaign. To gain new customers. To create a mailing list. To encourage user reviews of your products and services. To have … Continue reading
5 Things That Scare Promotional Marketers
It’s not easy to scare a promotional marketer. We have run contests and sweepstakes all over the world on shoestring budgets and with impossible deadlines. We have assisted our clients in navigating through the freak show that is the world of promotional marketing. However, in the early planning stages with a new client there are a few key phrases that will always make our blood run cold: We want to run a sweepstakes next week. Can you do that? Um. Sure. WE can – but can your company really get rules written and approved by legal in less than … Continue reading
2015 Digital Marketing Survey Results
In May of 2015 we ran a Digital Marketing Survey and asked respondents to answer thirteen questions about their company’s digital marketing practices, both current and in the near future. For completing the survey, we offered a chance to win $100. Our survey winner was Ruby L. Congratulations, Ruby! A few things we discovered that we weren’t expecting: 1. Snapchat may be big, but brands aren’t ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet. Only 5% of our respondents said they used Snapchat – and only 5% were even considering using it for their brand. Why this surprised … Continue reading
Our Services
Recent Articles
- Federal Lottery Laws Explained
- 10 Amazing Prizes Under $600 Your Customers Will Want to Win
- How Do I Run a Text to Win Sweepstakes?
- From the MK Promotion Archives: Marden-Kane Advertisements Through The Years
- From the MK Promotion Archives: Hunt’s Great Recipe Hunt
