Tell a friend
One of the most powerful things you can do: ask a customer to tell a friend.
I spoke to Leo van der Walt a few months ago about establishing his new Spa the Magalies Mounain Lodge. I suggested that he find a way of generating word of mouth following the principle of finding the talkers, give them something to talk about and a way to talk about it.
So he did, he printed a discount voucher in full colour and on decent paper. The voucher worth R1oo is given to his guests when they check out. He ALSO gives them a whole bunch more vouchers asking them to tell a friend. He has also created a simple mechanism to track them.
He asks his guests to tell a friend, gives them a way to do it and rewards them for their loyalty. They get home talk about their weekend away and hand their friends a discount voucher suggesting they also try it.
I had coffee with Leo yesterday talking to him about a new project he wanted to pick my brains on and asked him about how it has worked. Well its only a few months later and his Spa is booked three months in advance.
Simple effective marketing.
photocredit diamondduste on flickr
