I have a boyfriend that would much rather buy me a trip to the mountains or to a city we have never been than get me diamonds. Gotta love him, right?
When trying to think up of something great to get him for Valentines day (you know women like to be artsy and crafty), I got nothing. He hates material things. When speaking with my roommates about this crisis, my roommates girlfriend said, “Why don’t you just go on Groupon, you can get him an experience for cheap! I got Warren a cabin in the mountains for like, $200 for the whole weekend”. Little did she know that she got my boyfriend and me addicted right then.
For those of you who may not know the glorious advantages of Groupon, Groupon is a deal-of-the-day website that markets great deals on just about anything, in your specified location. But not only does Groupon offer customers deals that you just cannot beat, they offer companies business. They help companies attract thousands of customers in one day.
When reading the case study of Chuck’s southern comforts cafe, you can tell how important advertising is. And more importantly, how online advertising can take you to the next level, in only one day. Chuck’s was happy with their business, but wanted to see new faces. And after trying other promotional medias such as newspaper ads and social medias, they realized they needed a more effective means. So after being a subscriber to Groupon for so long, they made the initiative to join them. They made the deal of $20 worth of barbecue fare and more for only $10- half the price! In result, Chuck’s success plummeted. They sold 3,078 Groupons and were successful in reaching their goal of gaining exposure to their restaurant outside of the Burbank Neighborhood. See their story and many others at http://www.grouponworks.com/sample-offers/all/yes
What Groupon offers business is the same as what online advertising offers as well. Being as Groupon is a major form of online advertising. Valuable new customers are guaranteed, publicity, efficient and measurable marketing, and an exposure that is bigger than word of mouth.
I always wanted to use Groupon! I feel like a lot of people who use Groupon use it for the same thing you mentioned - a boyfriend's birthday present. Groupon offers little excursions for two people but they may be a little too romantic to go on with your best friend if you are single. I think groups can get ideas from Groupon but then get as many people to go to split the hotel cost as possible, bringing air mattresses and find their own activities to do for cheaper than Groupon would offer for a group. As convenient as Groupon could be for couples I do not necessarily think it works for actual groups.
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on what the deal is being offered from Groupon, whether it would work for a group or not.
DeleteI think groupon is great as a consumer, but as a merchant, I feel like in the long run you wouldn't win. Especially since groupon doesn't guarantee that you would have repeat customers, which is essentially how you would make money back. How would, in the long run, groupon benefit merchants as well as consumers?
ReplyDeleteGroupon helps get recognition. So, their hope is to be discovered and show their customers how great their products and services are so they will return to their actual sites without Groupon, even without a coupon.
DeleteBut your suspicions are correct, Groupon is not a great idea for merchants in the long term. Most companies leave after one coupon and if they do return, you will only see their coupons falling in value, rarely increasing. Hope this helps.