This was an open post to an associate in the magazine service industry. The post remains unrevised since written.
Check this, instead of free trip give something fairly inexpensive gift item that a customer might like in addition or in lieu of coupon package for example a bible,personalized item of some type, music type cds can be had cheaply just promise something fair like 3 gospel, or comedy or whatever high quality cd category they want worth $39.99 and all they have to pay is $4.99 shipping which is probably what it may cost you.
If they are younger you can offer free 500 idod downloads or some other nice item to try a partners system and actually get paid by the company to give away the free downloads. Its called affiliate marketing. Imagine that, the company pays you to put out their certs. Makes sense to me and I think it will make sense to business owners who are looking for every way to cut costs and improve the overall quality of service. Can you really do both?
I think so
Customer gets nice premium of new music to enjoy and discover. They say they arent traveling and gas prices are going up so they might as well enjoy some of your home time by reading great magazines like Oprah, Success, Organic Gardening, Ladies Home magazines and stuff like Rolling Stone and TEEN magazines and even Political mags like US NEWS and so much more, we are talking about magazine paradise all for your low weekly price and you can change your magazines at any time.
Adding a premium club for another level of customers who like a variety and reads alot of magazine they might pay an extra 69cents to 1 dollar per week for an extra title(s) and/or additional high value/low cost premium that could gross another payment. And if they read that much then they surely can afford one more payment for all that extra. It truly is one of the better deals around when packaged properly. Maybe they give out a gift trial membership 1 year gift to a friend for that extra payment.
Who loves magazines and more?
According to askville by Amazon the average American cable bill is about
$60-$65 per month. Magazine and music cds give more real entertainment at about 20% the cost of cable ie an immediate 80 percent savings on Entertainment.
On top of that get a certificate for 3 cd’s valued at nearly 40 dollars. Just pay the small handling cost of $4.99 added to your first months bill for your convenience. Those cd’s come to your home right away to enjoy and share with your family while your magazine order is being processed.
There you have it Real value added benefit to todays consumer with fairly minimal cost and high potential returns.
The main thing I learned from Mr. T is to hold yourself and employees to a higher standard. And if you like the quality and standard of my thought then I encourage you to do some research and figure out a product mix that works for you.
If you want me to come up and add some BIG THOUGHTS and BIG energy to an old school sales approach one day then I will give you the old school consulting rates. Trust me it would be great to try some new ideas about magazines promotions and feel a more relevant approach will keep the business profitable and worthy of significant value to you.
I know just enough to realize that I dont really know a damn thing yet. So the progressive thoughts are there. I just hope to know who likes my ideas enough to commit to incorporating them in their own business models.
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