ORM Method: Customer Complaint – With A Twist

[netmoney1]

Ok, so all weekend I was at my friends office...brainstorming with him. He is starting to "get it" and understand that you need to be creative to stand out...the method we tried the past week secured him several seo clients and some more design projects. He is now swimming in work and happy as a pig in sh#t. I simply enjoy marketing - so I am hooked on helping him explode his business.

Anyway we were tossing ideas around...he was previously doing ORM for clients at no additional charge...which was great for them...but not for him! All that extra work for not a dime more! I tell you, he is too nice! Lol - But I am breaking that mindset of his - he is slowly turning into a shark haha

Also, I feel that someone with NEGATIVE information showing up on the top is WAY easier to get to sign up and pull out that credit card!

So, being in a tourist area with TONS of hotels I started searching them and creating a list in order by address. In a 5 mile stretch there is literally a hundreds of hotels, motels, etc. An endless supply as you go up and down the coast!

And GUESS WHAT? They ALL have negative reviews. Try to find some where every review is 5 stars and happy. Impossible. It doesn't take long to find "our room was gross" or "horrible service" etc etc...also google "(hotel name) reviews" and you have more ammo!

So, just like in the 7878 ORM thread print out all the details - find as much "DIRT" as possible. And hand write in bright red all over the pages...pointing out every bad review.

Now, you will need large manila folders for this. Write in big bold red marker: "Customer Complaint" - nothing else...not addressed to anyone, nothing...the hope is that this will get into the hands of the manager


"To Whom It May Concern

Please take a look at the enclosed reviews of your hotel - not so favorable huh? This is NOT good for business, but I can help. My company offers a very effective Online Reputation Management service designed to give your hotel a more positive image online. I know you are extremely busy, so I will not bore you with details - simply call me or email me at your earliest convenience - my contact information is below.

PS - here is a gift certificate to _____________________ - grab a couple cold ones after work and review the information I provided you. I look forward to hearing from you."


This is just a test - we wanted to put something in the envelope besides contact info and the shitty reviews - chances are they are fully aware of bad reviews. Now, 95% of all the hotels have a hotel bar - as you go into one to drop the envelope off swing by the bar and grab a $10 gift certificate. Or, if they do not have one grab one from the nearest location (neighboring hotel bar etc)

This may grab their attention and give the request priority - or it may be a waste of $10.

Either way, I thought it was worth it. This morning we delivered 50 envelopes. Total cost was about $10 for supplies and $500 in gift certificates. One deal the first month covers it - hoping to get more than 1 out of it. Then each month after it is gravy.

This could be good or a flop - BUT - you never know unless you try!

So...I will keep this thread updated...hopefully we see something good come of this attempt.

 

[vaxop]

hahah thats an awesome idea

 

[upl8t]

Great idea. Best of luck with your test. Subscribed to see the results.

 

[netmoney1]

hahah thats an awesome idea

Hey, you never know...after all, who doesn't like a couple cold ones after work...especially working in a hotel dealing with all that BS lol :drinking2

 

[kboxer7]

+Rep and thanks for continuing to post creative ideas that often approach "old" methods with a fresh perspective.

 

[netmoney1]

Great idea. Best of luck with your test. Subscribed to see the results.

Thank you!

+Rep and thanks for continuing to post creative ideas that often approach "old" methods with a fresh perspective.

Always have to think outside the box...we will see. Maybe beer is the secret to success haha

 

[LanceV]

Why would a hotel mananger want a gift certificate to the bar at their hotel?

 

[netmoney1]

Why would a hotel mananger want a gift certificate to the bar at their hotel?

To grab a couple drinks...why not? The bars within the hotels are typically separate companies - not owned by the hotel - not like they can go drink for free. It is just a simple idea - to see if it gets a response - that is all.

 

[LanceV]

Certainly puts your aquisition costs up signifigantly, also I can't say I've seen many places where the bars in hotels wouldn't fall under that hotels administration unless you are in a big tourist destination where it's popular to outsource.

Personally I've found though when including a gift in mail-outs I got less responses, people don't like to feel like they are being persauded, and if they do I can't see it being something so readily available to them, or them wanting to drink where they work - may even be frowned upon. Just my two cents.

 

[netmoney1]

Certainly puts your aquisition costs up signifigantly, also I can't say I've seen many places where the bars in hotels wouldn't fall under that hotels administration unless you are in a big tourist destination where it's popular to outsource.

Personally I've found though when including a gift in mail-outs I got less responses, people don't like to feel like they are being persauded, and if they do I can't see it being something so readily available to them, or them wanting to drink where they work - may even be frowned upon. Just my two cents.

Well it is a test - simple as that. Actually, most of the hotel bars here are completely different entities...

Either way....it will work and bring in business or it won't and it is a $500 loss.

not trying to solve all the worlds problems here - just a simple test and figured some people may like it.

 

[markkk]

Pretty good start, I think your 10$ gift certificate was pretty nice, not something the business owners see coming from marketing mails. If I may ask, where would you be located?

 

[netmoney1]

Pretty good start, I think your 10$ gift certificate was pretty nice, not something the business owners see coming from marketing mails. If I may ask, where would you be located?

United States

 

[plessard]

If you can afford it, it never hurts to test an idea As you said one sale takes care of it.

 

[netmoney1]

UPDATE

Today's response: 5 calls

1 call to say thanks for the gift cert but their budget is $0 and all used up
1 call to inquire about a design job they need done (a postcard design)
1 call to say that they paid a company 8 moths ago and saw NOTHING (they paid $6,000 upfront for a 12 month service contract - original price was $1k per month - the manager then said that after they wired the $6k the company soon disappeared and their site was gone - CRAZY that #1 they would pay for a full year upfront and #2 would WIRE money - retards!)
1 call to say "take us off your marketing list" lol
1 call to set up a meeting for Fri (99.9999% sure this is a done deal - as he asked how much to start and who do we make the check out to lol)

Sooo...1 day in and if the client on Fri signs then the cost to acquire him is covered...and its now a monthly recurring income.

I was hoping for more calls....but we will see what tomorrow brings.

 

[hateandbreak]

That is still great that you may have one potential ORM client!
Keep it going you got this, that was a great idea.

 

[fbfans]

hi netmoney.... not a stalker I promise just been reading a few of your recent threads and its stuff like this that makes me realise my new venture is gonna be a huge success with you on board hopefully once the work is up onsite I can put some of these creative ideas to the test.

 

[netmoney1]

hi netmoney.... not a stalker I promise just been reading a few of your recent threads and its stuff like this that makes me realise my new venture is gonna be a huge success with you on board hopefully once the work is up onsite I can put some of these creative ideas to the test.

LOL yeah your business will be great - and that is the point of these posts...for people to get ideas. The success of your business will be because of you...we are just providing you with content

 

[BHopkins]

I will be honest with everyone reading this. Netmoney1 is financially successful already, and will continue to do so because he is clearly valuing his time (brainstorming then taking action), has a good plan (Gift certificates to Starbucks would work well for $10 too), and is executing a plan that can easily scale.

Congratulations!

 

[netmoney1]

I will be honest with everyone reading this. Netmoney1 is financially successful already, and will continue to do so because he is clearly valuing his time (brainstorming then taking action), has a good plan (Gift certificates to Starbucks would work well for $10 too), and is executing a plan that can easily scale.

Congratulations!

Thank you! The gift certificates to the bar may not have been the best - but hey we just wanted to try something different...

Starbucks...iTunes...those are on the whiteboard right now for next time

Also...we tossed around the idea of scratch tickets....cheaper....a $1 scratch ticket with a message of "if you don't hire us you may as well gamble and hope you hit it big"

 

[radarsurge]

For every success you have a half dozen failures. that's how it goes. Good thread + rep for showing people what it means to do something and not just sit here and post comments all day.