The key to effective mobile coupon marketing is showing consumers that they can be and are relevant enough to be used locally. While looking for mobile coupon sites to add as entries to Code.com, I came across GreatLocalCoupons.com; a coupon site that, as the name suggests, provides consumers with great local coupons.
The site primarily is a regionally organized database for more traditional, promotional coupons and offers, but it features an option for sending and storing coupons on mobile devices. While the site doesn’t actively send mobile coupons to a user’s phone, it still uses the user’s phone as the tool for utilizing such coupons. More importantly, GreatLocalCoupons actually promotes local businesses and offers. A search of “Boston” on the site yields a pizza/calzone savings at a pizzeria down the street from the Code/Codespotter office. A map is also included so that users can see visually where the savings are.
In addition to their coupon offerings, the agency facet of GreatLocalCoupons also has some value for other companies. It isn’t shy to extend advice to other mobile advertisers and marketers. In a series of blog-style postings and advice pieces, the site extends their thoughts and musings on effective trends in the mobile marketing industry.
While the site itself doesn’t offer anything that is uniquely groundbreaking to the world of mobile coupons, GreatLocalCoupon’s greatest strength is that it capitalizes on proximity-based coupons and offers, which is a key trait for using coupons effectively. Savings that are accessible to users are the ones which they will capitalize on, and GreatLocalCoupons knows it, sticks to it, and does a great job doing so.
October 23rd, 2008
If there was one week this year for a health-conscious Codespotter to take a break from counting calories and eating nutritiously, this would be it. This week marks the start of the yearly McDonald’s Monopoly contest; a wildly popular instant win game that boasts, among other things, daily $100,000 cash prizes. The game’s premise is simple: selected McDonald’s menu selections come with game pieces that contain a unique 10-digit code (a “dice roll”). Each code represents a Monopoly property and a winning combination of properties yields a prize. For example, collecting the green properties of Pacific, North Carolina and Pennsylvania Avenue wins $25,000.
Players can play the game either in store, online, or via text messaging. In store instant-win prizes include McDonalds food and other smaller instant win prizes. By entering these game piece codes online at PlayatMcD.com, you can also instantly win cash (anywhere from $50 to $100,000), Shell Gift Cards, or 25 MyCokeRewards points. To play with text messaging, register your phone online and then text game codes to 96363.
Buying and eating more of those selections gives you a higher chance to win prizes. 2 pieces, plus one bonus piece, are found on Medium and Large Premium Roast Coffee (excluding iced coffee and specialty coffee), McSkillet Burritos, Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches, Big Macs, Premium Chicken Sandwiches, Large French Fries, Medium & Large Fountain Drinks, and Hash Browns.
McDonalds Monopoly is wildly popular and certainly delivers a great deal of prizes. An online ticker keeps track of winning prizes that are redeemed and when I started writing this post, the number of winners was around 17,000. It is currently at 19, 271 (edit: The game is currently at 171,005. 2:07PM, 10/08/08). Literally there are people winning almost every second. These are pretty good odds and the contest is definitely worth a play or two. The contest will be running at a McDonalds near you from October 7, 2008 to November 3, 2008. Rules and conditions can also be found on PlayatMcD.com.
October 7th, 2008
