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Generating Leads With Online Chance-To-Win Promotions

Black Dog Promotions has partnered with caffeine and eprize to offer an explosive program to build your website traffic and email database thorough the use of online sweepstakes, instant win games and coupons. We offer everything from designing the promotion, to providing free prize pools and marketing the program for one low price PLUS when you start your promotion, we will market your contest FREE at SweepstakesAlert.com

Click Here To View PDF Of Brochure    Click Here To View Our Contest Promotion Website

Common Objections & Our Solutions:

I don’t have the time, I’m happy with what I have

Response: First of all, need more probing questions here because VERY few small businesses are content with the status quo. This may be simply a lack of trust and they are not (yet) opening up. Assuming the issue is time rather than complacency, the response is that Black Dog helps SAVE them time. First of all, they can build and launch a world-class, sophisticated promotion in 10 minutes. This same thing takes Coke and The Gap months to launch. Once running and they start to build an ACTIVE DATABASE of customers, it makes them more efficient overall. Saves time communicating and servicing clients by establishing direct, one-to-one relationships.

Sweepstakes are cheesy, they cheapen my brand

Response: It turns out the research shows otherwise. Chance-to-win promotions ENHANCE brand value by rewarding customers according to multiple studies. Further, Black Dog promotions are high quality and professionally designed. You are REWARDING your customers and standing out from your competition by offering real value. People of all walks of like love the chance to win – from the college kids up to multi-millionaires (think Las Vegas). Furthermore, the most luxurious brands in the world use promotions such as Mercedes Benz, Rolex, Bose, and Nordstrom.

The quality of the leads will be poor

Response: There are many features of Black Dog that help you get the right leads. You can define your own market area so you only receive and pay for leads in your geographic reach. There are built in fraud mechanisms which identify fraudulent physical addresses (not accurate and verifiable), duplicate entries from the same player, identity and household. In addition our S.A.F.E. technology utilizes image security and other methods to eliminate the use of bots or automated entry. All leads are cross-referenced against the US Postal Service database in real time to make sure these are valid consumers. And since most people will find your promotion by visiting your website or from advertising you are doing anyway, you are simply increasing the direct-response rate of your current advertising budget. Not to mention, at only $1.00 per lead….

It would be too expensive

Response: Until Black Dog, you would be absolutely right. The “old” world of promotions put the entire economic burden on the advertiser. You pay all the upfront costs (which could end up in the hundreds of thousands of dollars), and hope for the best. Black Dog has turned the model upside down by taking ALL the economic risks away from you. You pay zero dollars to launch and have no commitments or minimums. You simply set your budget, high or low, and pay ONLY for results. At $1.00 per lead, it is truly a “no brainer”. Don’t forget, you can turn Black Dog off at any time, and you’ll never be charged one cent more than your weekly budget cap.

It’s too difficult for me to launch

Response: Black Dog has taken all the “heavy lifting” out of promotions, allowing even the most novice advertisers to build an launch a professional-level program in less than ten minutes. In addition to the super-easy interface, Black Dog offers free and extensive expert advice and coaching to help you through each step of the process. 

I’m concerned about legalities

Response: So are we! That’s why we take all that burden on for you. Having run over 3000 high-profile promotions for major brands in 36 countries, we know how to handle the legal stuff right. We dot all the “I’s” and cross all the “T’s”. Included with your Black Dog promotion is complete Official Rules & Regulations, Bonding and registration in the various government agencies, 1009’s and affidavits to winners, and all the other headaches that you’ll leave to us. Not only that, we INDEMNIFY you against any legal issues relating to your Black Dog promotion. Again, you get all the benefit with ZERO risk. You can scale your promotion to reach all 50 US States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom… or you can limit the reach to a 5-mile-radius from your business. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

I’m confused about pooling / it seems suspect

Response: The concept of pooling resources is actually an accepted and long-standing model. For example, the multi-state Lotto is a Pooled Drawing. People can buy a ticket at multiple locations in multiple states (entry points). On drawing day, there is only one grand prize drawing, while each of the entry points offer a fair, legal, and legitimate chance to win. The chance to participate in a larger, single drawing. Similar “pooling” concepts are used in timeshare condos, executive jets, and even cars. The concept of sharing a large fixed expense (such as prizes) with multiple advertisers simple makes great business sense. Promotions are not about the only lucky customer who wins. They are about the thousands of customers that have the CHANCE to win.

I’m worried about privacy and security

Response: So are we! We take privacy and security VERY seriously. One of the big advantages of running a Black Dog promotion, is that we have you covered. You use the same state-of-the-art security technologies as the world’s top brands. Millions of dollars have been invested in privacy and security technology, making your program safe and ready. The customer information captured is YOUR information. We never share that data with others. You are simply getting to use the most advanced security, privacy, and promotion infrastructure in the world. You can sleep well knowing that your customers’ privacy will NOT be compromised.

I don’t know what to do with an email list

Response: Your customer database will likely become your single biggest asset in marketing your business for the future. Establishing and nurturing direct, one-to-one relationships may be the most important thing you can do to build your business. You cut out the middleman of traditional advertising, and can speak to your customer with MUCH more relevance. 

And the good news is… it is much simpler than you think. Black Dog’s High Performance Dashboard ™ provides a powerful, state-of-the-art email tool for you to use at any time. Just like Black Dog, there are no set up costs. You only pay a nominal fee per email sent. This tool lets you send and manage email campaigns, special offers, newsletters, etc. You’ll now be able to regularly keep in touch with your customers, and drive more business. Throughout the process, our Expert Advice and Coaching section will provide step-by-step guidance on how to maximize your impact.

Why wouldn’t I do this myself?

Promotions are extremely expensive, complex, and risky. The same reason you wouldn’t ask your untrained neighbor to perform heart surgery, a promotion gone wrong could become a PR nightmare. 

The costs to build and launch a similar promotion are extraordinary. Here’s a rough idea:

Website design: $15,000
Custom game experience / flash: $8,500
Database, security, reporting: $20,000
Prizes: $15,000
Legal, fulfillment: $8,500
Aspirin (for all the headaches): $15
$57,015

You would have spent nearly $60,000 and wasted weeks of aggravation. And you would have taken ALL the financial risk. If the promotion was a complete flop, you’d be stuck with nothing but a big bill. Black Dog’s model is the opposite. We pay all the upfront costs, you launch for free and pay ONLY for results.

Besides the costs, launching these programs are pain-in-the-neck. Between dealing with lawyers and Attorney General’s offices, to web architects, to flash game designers, to prize winners…. Who has that kind of time? 

Your web designer may claim they can do it, but ask how many interactive promotions they have run and administered? This is a complex field. Leave it to the experts.

How do I promote the promotion?

Response: Promoting the promotion is one of the key ways that you can maximize results. A great promotion with no exposure is not going to yield strong benefits. Therefore, we suggest you do the following:

a) Your website – make sure the promotion (via Black Dog-generated banner ad) is clearly positioned on your website.
b) Online advertising – paid search via Google, Yahoo!, or MSN should include information about your promotion. This makes customers click you instead of a competitor. Also consider running the banner ads on other websites that your customers may frequent to drive traffic to the promotion.
c) All other ads and marketing – Take an inventory of all your marketing efforts, and make sure your Black Dog promotion is prominently featured. Print ads, TV spots, outdoor, in-store displays, signs, business cards, flyers, etc. Your Black Dog promotion will INCREASE DIRECT RESPONSE RATES so you will want to let your audience know all about it.

Why would I want to do an online promotion?

Response: Black Dog was built for small and medium-size businesses who are having trouble getting more new customers, or getting the most out of current customers. Many smaller businesses have a hard time competing with the “big boys”. Customers often tell us they have done some internet marketing in the past, but had trouble driving real results from all the anonymous “traffic”. We’ve heard that their current marketing isn’t working very well, and that traditional ads have become too expensive and less effective.

For businesses facing these and similar problems, Black Dog is the answer. It can drive immediate results:

• Lead generation
• Increase value of existing advertising – a “reason to react”
• Drive immediate sales
• Build direct relationships to get most out of customers

How do I install this on my site?

Response: Once your launch your Black Dog promotion, you’ll receive a series of five custom banner ads. These are all standard sizes, so you can run the banners on your own website or on any site on the Internet. The banner includes your design theme, your prize, and a strong “call-to-action”. The installation process is easy, and typically takes less than five minutes. We’ll walk you through each step of the process, so it will be fun, painless, and fast. From there, your focus is only on results… no technical skills required.

I’m just a local business

Response: Great. We’re here to help. Black Dog was specifically designed to take the power of interactive promotions enjoyed by the biggest marketers in the world, and inject it right down Main Street. You’ll enjoy the same key benefits, without the risk and cost. You can limit your Black Dog market area all the way down to a five-mile radius from your business address. You’ll attract, capture, and engage new customers ONLY in your geographic area. Black Dog was designed for the smallest of local businesses. Just because you aren’t a billion dollar company, doesn’t mean you can’t act like one!

I don’t do anything on the Internet

Response: There’s no time to start like the present. Internet marketing is here to stay. Imagine a business 50 years ago with no phone number. The Internet is the most powerful and cost effective way to reach your audience. And chances are, that’s where your customers are spending a lot of their time. Many small businesses haven’t taken the plunge because it feels scary and overwhelming. We’re here to help. In addition to offering you the single most powerful mousetrap online, we’ll point you in the right direction to build a website, advertise, and launch email marketing. Don’t wait until your competition is too far ahead. Begin today!

I like it, but I need to think about it more

Response: What’s there to think about? All kidding aside, we went through the list of every possible reason why a small or medium business would NOT do a Black Dog promotion. We then build the product to make sure that every objection was eliminated. There is no risk and high rewards. You get to take advantage of millions of dollars of investment with no upfront costs or commitments. You’ll drive your business, win new customers, get more from your existing customers, and level the playing field with big brands. All for the price of a cup of coffee. Just like a candy bar or other low-cost investment, this is something you try. If you like it and it performs, great. If not, cancel at any time.

My advertising budget is stretched too thin already

Response: All the more reason to launch Black Dog. Interactive promotions are the most potent form of marketing. Not only will you enjoy major results from the promotion itself, your Black Dog promotion will make your other advertising more effective as well. The chance-to-win (or receive a coupon) will help cut through the noise and get your other ads to stand out. You will improve direct response rates and get people to react. 

Once you build a database of customers and leads, your advertising dollars will be go even further. No longer will you need to waste money on expensive and ineffective ads. Instead, you’ll build a direct channel of communication to keep you customers in the loop about product info, specials, and other marketing materials. 

Prove to me that it works

Response: That’s why we’ve put our money where our mouth is. We’re so sure it will work, that we’re charging $0.00 to launch. We are taking ALL the economic risk. So in your case, there is NO risk. Either it works (which is great, and you enjoy huge benefits at only $1.00 per lead), or it fails and costs you nothing. Don’t you wish everything in life was like this?

I don’t want to pay for my existing leads that I already collected

Response: Good news. Repeat visits are only $.15 each. This nominal cost isn’t for the lead itself, but for you to enjoy the benefits of FREQUENCY. Marketing 101 teaches us that results equal Reach + Frequency. By offering your promotion daily, consumers are exposed to your brand and marketing message again and again. Each “impression” is a powerful connection between you and your customer. You are rewarding the customer for his or her attention. And building your relationship by offering exciting prizes or coupons. At only $.15, you are paying with pennies and receiving DOLLARS of value in return.

I don’t want to pay for my existing customers who are frequent users of my website and who will play my promotion 

Response: You are still rewarding your customers with a promotion, cutting through the noise, getting people to react. The $10,000 prize alone is a huge benefit to your customers. Rewarding them at $1.00 each to actively engage in your website and have exposure to your brand is a great deal. Plus, the data you have may not all be opted-in to receive future offers from you. This gets everything in one consistent list

Other features of Black Dog that make re-marketing to your existing customers well worth the small cost of $1.
1. Try a coupon only promotion to reward your existing customers and drive transactions into your store
2. Advertise your promotion to help build traffic to your website to provide other key messaging about your business and new services and products, proven to out draw standard search ads by 20-40%
3. Improve your referral mechanism and network through the use of our Tell-A-Friend viral marketing feature
4. Obtain key data on their satisfaction with your service by turning on the 3 questionnaire fields .(purchase intent, satisfaction, frequency)

My competitor could have the same promotion, I don’t like that

Response: With over 60,000 design themes (and growing), it is unlikely you and your competitor down the street would be identical. Not to mention, you can customize your promotion with your logo and other aspects to really make it your own. You can choose from 39 exciting prize pools to fit the taste of your audience. And don’t forget, you aren’t paying tens of thousands of dollars for design and custom software. You launch in 10 minutes for free. Finally, future releases of Black Dog will add more customization and choices to make your ability to customize your promotion even more profound.

Does this work for my business type?

Response: Most likely, yes. Other than a very few types of businesses, Black Dog is a universally strong marketing choice. A good test would be …. Do you currently, or could you envision buying keyword ads on Google, Yahoo!, or MSN? If the answer is YES, then Black Dog is a fit. Further, let’s compare your business type against the 28 most popular business categories list to see if you are already in the top area.

My customers won’t believe that I can offer a prize of this magnitude

Response: The prize pools have a lot of variation. While some offer very expensive “dream” prizes, others are more practical ($25 gift cards, etc). The “believability” factor is important, and the prize selections should help you find just the right fit. Also, people are much more concerned with their own finances than yours, frankly. If you are offering a big prize, they are thinking about winning it more than your ability to cover the cost. Again, the best thing is to give it a try and see how it performs. You can change the prize offering at anytime. Have fun with it, and experiment which prizes draw best for you.

I don’t have a website

Response: This may be a great time to take the “online plunge”. Black Dog can work as a stand-alone website for your business, or you may want to consider building a site of your own. There are many free and low-cost services available, and we’d be happy to steer you in the right direction (www.register.com, www.godaddy.com, smallbusiness.yahoo.com). Let us help you craft your overall online solution, and boost your business into the future.

I don’t have anyone to manage an email list

Response: Through Black Dog’s High Performance Dashboard™, you can now do this yourself. Our simple and powerful tool will help you not only capture leads and customers, but communicate with them as well. With no upfront costs and only a nominal per email sent fee, you can keep the communication flowing. There is Expert Advice and Coaching to teach you all you need to know to become an effective email marketer. 

Still feel like it’s too much work or time? Let us know, and we’ll refer you to a full-service company who can help you run and manage your email marketing strategy.