Guerilla Video Marketing Tip: Use Statistics to Sell
Listener tip from Jeremy Miller
Was reading an article from emarketer.com entitled “Marketers Eye Online Video for 2009“
“Marketers in the US will take a closer look at online video in 2009, according to a survey conducted in December 2008 by PermissionTV. More than two-thirds of respondents said they would focus their budgets on online video this year.”
“Wow!”, I thought, “do website designers know about this? There are tons of design houses in my local area – they must know about this, right? ” Thinking deeper: “after all they’re so focused on designing websites this likely flies over their heads or they don’t have the resources to make it happen OR they’re too swamped with an overflow of need THEY may need some help.”
Then a quick idea popped into my head:
Tell web design houses about these statistics and offer your services in the meantime! Have someone else do all the networking and hit upon tons of leads through one design house. “Kill two birds with one stone” as they say.
Looked through my contact list of all website design houses in the area with email addresses. Most of them I came in contact with briefly at a business event or social gathering – so they know who I am. Dropped all of the email addresses into bulk email software and sent the same message to all 42.
Here is what they received:
A few notes about this email:
1. It’s short, simple and in text form. No fancy HTML or graphics so no one is alienated.
2. It gets to the point.
3. Mentions the benefits and what’s in it for them.
4. Has contact information with phone number (deleted out of screenshot above for obvious privacy reasons.)
5. Notice the subject line: “I need a website with video”
6. “Wholesale prices?” hopefully this communicates doing tons of work at a good price.
The clock ticked away and ten minutes later…..a call from a desperate designer with a deadline. One of his clients are in need of a short video to put on their website. “Hmm,” i thought, “should I take advantage of the situation and charge more then usual or charge less to set the foundation for future business?”
A little listening of their needs, a reasonable quote (with future business in mind) and a scheduled shoot date. Ka-ching! Not sure if it was the timing of the email or the content itself, but cash flow from 1 out of 42? Not bad.
Guerilla marketing at it’s best.
I could harvest 42 more from the web and drop a casual email on a daily basis, even automate the delivery, but this could be a long, tedious process of searching yellowpages.com for local designers, visiting their website and cutting and copying email addresses- but that would be considered uninvited spam. You will lose business by doing this – not recommended or endorsed.
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