Monday
01Jun2009
Getting Noticed CostaVidaFred Style!
Monday, June 1, 2009 at 6:47PM - Door prizes: When I get to an event or at the time I am invited I ask "Can I provide a door prize?" The answer is almost always YES. When the time for the prize arrives I make sure to cheer for the prize and the winner. Ask anyone I get Noticed.
- Costa Vida Green Glasses: You don't know how many time I get complemented about my glasses. Then the person will notice the Costa Vida Green iphone case, the Costa Vida Green kindle cover... right down to the shoes. All pointing to the brand. Find yourself a prop that draws attention and wear it proudly and Boldly to every event.
- Speaking/presentations: become the expert in your field and start speaking about it. Use your own company as the example. As I started attending more and more events I would comment to the person next to me, "The speaker should have said this to really hit a home run with the audience." Soon I found more people wanting to sit by me during presentations to get my view of the subject being presented. A call for presenters went out and several people put my name out. So I agreed to do some of it. I have been told I am really good. Although still hard for me to ask to be a speaker, I am finding out people really want to hear my opinion. And they let me get away with saying Costa Vida a lot. Listen to the Word On The Tweet podcast where it has become a drinking game.
- Spinning Wheel: I had gone to a few events and saw some prize wheels. I thought this could be cool. I purchased the noisiest wheel I could find and created a prize for all 26 spots. I incorporated a carnival like experience to it with some shouts and step right ups. I am not asked to go to many event and bring the wheel. They even pay me for food.
- Spot CostaVidaFred: I have a life. And with that life comes day to day errands, exersize, getting gas, etc... So I decided to make it a game. I used my locals club newsletter to tell our customers where I would be on certain days and times. If they find me I'd give them a coupon for food. It worked and made some great pr. I took it to the next level around christmas a couple years ago and told my customers if they find me and sing "I'm dreaming of a Costa Vida Christmas" I'd give them a free meal. Some did which lead into some great conversations with people who witnessed this strange act.
- Spot Addicts: I decided it was time for me to spot customers. I sold ADDICTED T-shirts for $10 and told the buyers if I caught them wearing the shirt outside the restaurant area, I'd reward them with a free meal. It has been great to run into these people. There is a picture in the current Raising Maine Magazine with three ADDICTED Moms wearing the brand. The MiltMafia
- Street Team: As I couldnt always get people out wearing addicted t-shirts all at the same time, I decided to get some teens involved. I enlisted a couple to wear the shirt at the mall at a certain time. I told them to bring friends and each of them would get paid a meal at Costa Vida. It was so fun to see a dozen teens running around the mall with the shirts. I was in the right place at the right time to hear people say "What is with these ADDICTED people?" I then gave a coupon to the person I heard say it and invited them to Costa Vida to see what was up with those crazy teens.
- Bumber Stickers: People love the t-shirts but I found something even less expensive, Bumper Stickers. The show me your Bumper is simular to the t-shirt but obviosly I am now searching parking lots. One Portland GreenDrinks event several people stuck the sticker on their personal rear bumper. I created quite the buzz.
- Car Decals: The most effected thing we have done to date is the giant decals we have on three of our cars. I get honks from customers. I get asked when I am pumping gas. I even get occasionally aske while driving. One day while driving south from the store, about 16 miles away, A guy pulls up along side and asked where the store was. I told him. I get a call about 30 minutes later from my general manager telling me that guy was there eating and loved the food.
- Costa Vida Clothing: I am fortunate enough to have a commercial embroidery machine at home. I can now take all my clothing and brand the heck out of it. It's like my own personal line. I have logos, avatars and lately "Hello My Name Is...." embroidered on almost all clothes I have and I never go anywhere unbranded.
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Reader Comments (1)
Cool ideas, Fred. I'm not needing to market my work right now, but it's cool to get up to speed with the new social media.