I got this message from MyScoop Mississippi a while back and stuck it in my “idea file” under “great retail promotion ideas using Facebook.” In this case, the message was probably distributed other ways, but the only way I heard about it was through a Facebook message that I received as a results of being a member of their Group on Facebook. (If you’re not familiar with MyScoop, check out Mississippi Publisher, Elizabeth Fowler’s interview on ResultsRevTV).
Here’s a copy of the actual Facebook message promoting this special retail event:
Subject: Debit Cards Ready…Set…Sale!
Does your debit card love a good sale? Mine does!
I hope you will mark your calendar for a special sales event at Blithe & Vine and Cosmo Tots. Stop in this Thursday night (May 27) from 5 PM until 8 PM to take advantage of 30% off full-priced merchandise (sorry girls, handbags, shoes and jewels not on sale). If you’re already “booked” and can’t do a drive by for the event, stop in anytime tomorrow (Tuesday) through Saturday and ask to see the sale items.
Keep your eyes peeled for a sneak peek; My Scoop will be posting snapshots of our favorite sale items to our facebook group now through Thursday. If you live out of state, just give Blithe & Vine a call — they have UPS on speed dial!
All my best,
Elizabeth
Editor & Publisher, My Scoop Mississippi
Let’s analyze why this message and this promotion works:
1. Subject line is snappy, sassy and grabs attention. It doesn’t just say: Sale and Blithe & Vine starts on Thursday. BORING. This subject line is fun and attention grabbing.
2. Body copy is also snappy and sassy with the perfect level of attitude and cool for the target audience. How can you bring the perfect level of personality into your e-mail messages?
3. The offer makes a special event out of an everyday thing: a seasonal sale.
4. The offer is flexible and accommodates the customers – it’s EASY to participate. (insiders who got this message can ask to see sale items ahead of time or call and order and they will even SHIP it to you!)
5. Sneak peak of sale items will be posted using a Facebook photo album – great cross media promotion and engagement opportunity beyond this message!
6. It’s a personal letter style format similar to the letter style format for e-mail marketing that we recently discussed – except this letter was send through Facebook’s messaging system where you can send messages directly to all of your Facebook connections using your administrator options.
Great job by MyScoop Mississippi! How can you spice up your promotions, your promotional messages and get more out of ordinary business happenings? Share your ideas in the comments, and you might also get a featured post on this blog!
Love the example message blast. I have a question for you though:
We have a facebook page, so we (Old Town Cape) can’t send direct messages like a group can. I know we can send updates, but do average people actually check those??? I just checked and I personally have 88 unread page updates. They’re so hidden in the message box that I completely forget about them. Is this the norm, or do you think most people check them (unlike me)?
Thanks for great information as always.
They do show up in the list of “notifications” at the top of the Facebook interface, so they are going to at least get a glance. It’s like an inbox item that you choose to read if it grabs your attention. Again, reinforcing why subject lines matter so much!