Peace, love, and coupons!

Did you know that over one million trees are cut down each year to print paper coupons? In doing this, millions of gallons of fresh water are contaminated, greenhouse gases are released and tons of paper are forced into the waste stream. I learned this information when I came across an article published by PRNewswire on March 24, 2008. "EZ-PIC Paperless, Instant Coupons Offers Sound Couponing" provides an overview on how you can save the environment while still saving money.

EZ-PIC (TM) paperless was created in November 2006 and since then have more than doubled their in-store presence. These instant coupons provide consumers, retailers, and manufacturers an environmentally friendly way to create coupons. These eco-friendly coupons are found on over 650 store shelves across the nation and include retailers like BI-LO, Big Y, Coborn's, Food City, and Kings. Bob Longo, Vice President of Manufacturer Marketing at Unicous Marketing (the company that created EZ-PIC), says "Our goal is to make EZ-PIC (TM) the new industry standard. EZ-PIC (TM) offers a more effective, cost efficient marketing tool, which is poised to transform the retail, promotional industry, as well as our environment."

Many stores are attempting to minimize their impact on the environment and with the help of these coupons have a great start at just that. Some famous brands that have already started using EZ-PIC paperless coupons include Borden, Bumbe Bee, Land O'Lakes, McCormick and Ocean Spray. In addition to reducing paper waste, EZ-PIC (TM) will plant one tree for every 100 EZ-PIC (TM) coupons redeemed in stores nationwide in honor of Earth Day 2008. For this program they have also partnered with American Forests- "a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration and a pioneer in the science and practice of urban forestry".

I found this quote at the end of the article very interesting- "As EZ-PIC's use grows among consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers nationwide, America's communities will literally become greener." Just think, if you use less paper, less trees are wasted. You don't need to stop using coupons because they 'waste' paper. Use EZ-PIC (TM) coupons and you can feel good about clipping, saving money, and saving the planet!

Today's Class- Law!

Sometimes it just seems too easy. Give the people what they want by allowing them to actually make it. While reading an article published by Adotas.com on March 17, 2008, I began to question the success and legality of consumer generated marketing. "Consumer-Generated Content Got You BURNED?" by advertising attorney Gonzalo E. Mon, examines the laws surrounding promotions and contests in which consumer generated content is involved.

The article takes a look at Doritos and two of their successful contests that they have run in recent years. In these contests consumers submitted content for a chance to be featured in a Super Bowl commercial. The success of these contests made other products and companies begin to start their own consumer generated promotions. These types of promotions generate great publicity because people are talking about it, visiting the websites, and essentially turning it into a viral marketing campaign. However, not all companies did as well as Doritos and some even ended up in lawsuits. Some marketers fear that they may put to much power in the hands of consumers. The more control the people have the less control the company has. Whichever side you take, there are a few guidelines that must be followed to avoid a legal problem.

The article then goes on to discuss the laws surrounding promotions and contests. A few things I didn't know that I found interesting-

• All 50 states prohibit companies from running chance-based promotions in which consumers are required to spend a cent to participate.

• Although it may be lawful in most states to require a purchase or payment for a skill-contest, there are a number of states with broadly worded statutes (those are state laws- yay I learned something in Legal Environment of Business- thanks Gwen!) that could restrict a requirement.

And then a few helpful hints from the author-

• Evaluate all laws before offering any promotion in which consumers are required to pay money or purchase a product.
• In a contest, it is important to ensure winners are selected on the basis of skill- not chance. This may be easy if the sponsor of the contest selects the winner but can pose a problem when the public votes. Many people vote for their friends, thus throwing off the results.
• To help relieve this problem, Mon suggests to combine public voting with an internal judging process to ensure the fairness.
  
• You can also limit the number of times people can vote to eliminate fraud.
• HUGE THING- Make sure there is a good set of disclosures in the contest rules and advertisements.
  
• Sponsors of consumer generated contests should also clearly state that entrants may not submit content that contains any elements that violate a third party's copyrights or trademarks.
  
• In some cases, screening submissions may be helpful.
• Remove content immediately if consumers post infringing content.

The article also discusses a current news story involving competitors Subway and Quiznos. Subway is attempting to hold Quiznos liable for statements made by consumers, "notwithstanding the protections offered by the Communications Decency Act (CDA)", because Quiznos allegedly encouraged the statements. The CDA grants Internet service providers safety for publishing false or defamatory material as long as that material was provided by another party.

Although I am not a lawyer, and lawyers are probably not reading my blog, I still feel that these issues are important to be aware of. Consumer generated marketing can be a huge success for your brand- IF you do it correctly and legally. Just be aware of existing laws and don't let the public have so much control that you as the company lose control of your brand. That's all for today class- thanks for reading and stay tuned because next time we are discussing environmentally friendly coupons!

Ballin'!

It's finally here- the madness of March! Whether you follow college basketball or not it is pretty hard to miss the buzz surrounding March Madness. Now that Selection Sunday is over and the tournament seedings are in place, an online gambling site is ready to help you make the most profitable picks. According to the article, "Online Gambling Portal Features March Madness Bracket Contests" published by PRWeb on March 18, 2008, Online Gambling Insider is here to make you a winner in your office pool or online.

According to the site, the three weeks of March Madness are one of the biggest wagering events of the year. Ryan D, co-founder and editor at Online Gambling Insider, said "As is the case each year, our sportsbook sponsors report that they expect new betting records during the March Madness Tournament this year. We are here to give sports fans the tools and information that they need to make informed and safe betting decisions." For this year's tournament Online Gambling Insider has created a place for fans to receive live odds updates, live lines, proposition bets, and reviews of the top teams.

Another perk of using Online Gambling Insider is access to other betting contests. They feature seven different contests in which bracket smart fans can win numerous prizes including plasma TVs, iPods, gift vouchers, or even a million dollars! Online Gambling Insider has also teamed up with Intertops.com to offer betting fans an exclusive chance of winning an Apple iPhone. All you have to do to enter is place a wager on any college basketball game and you are automatically entered in the drawing! (For more information please go here.)

If entering into betting pools with your friends or co-workers is your thing, than you really should check this site out. In addition to gaining valuable insight into your picks, you could win big prizes and possibly a big check! It's definitely worth your time- good luck!


**Probably the wrong picture for this post- I know. But I'm still bummed because the love of my life Eric Devendorf and the Syracuse Mens Basketball team will not be participating! :( **

Small things making a big difference

While searching for what to blog about this week, I came across a heart warming article published by The Washington Post on March 16,2008. "Supporting the troops, a coupon at a time" tells the story of a small group of elderly women that have turned into a united and powerful army. It all began with some good intentions, scissors, and coupons....

They aren't exactly in peak physical condition. Most of them are actually quite frail and need the assistance of walkers and wheelchairs just to get around. Despite their appearance, these women in their 70s and 80s are coming together and doing remarkable things. Every day these women cut out a couple hundred coupons (a few thousand a week) and send them to military families in the Middle East and overseas. Families are then able to redeem them at commissaries. (For those of you who don't know- because I didn't- a commissary is a supermarket on a military base for military personnel and their families.) This generation remembers the days of war bonds and rations, and gives their time because they understand that every little bit helps.

The article features Lila Sclawy who is 87 years old. She started clipping coupons for military families shortly after her veteran husband died of pancreatic cancer in 2001. Four weeks after his passing, she witnessed our nation struck by terror on September 11, 2001. Sclawy looked for a way to cope and found one in clipping coupons with a group from Greenbelt, Maryland. They meet every Tuesday at the local American Legion Post #136 and clip and sort coupons for hours. The coupons are sorted by denomination- 25 cents off, 50 cents, a dollar- so they can keep track of how much they are sending in each package. On the bases overseas, the families of the troops can redeem these coupons up to six months past their expiration date to save some extra money.

Most of the women volunteering are wives of veterans who served during America's wars and a part of the American Legion Auxiliary. They know first hand just how hard war times can be on a family. Clipping coupons has become very popular among senior citizens because they too know and remember how it feels to be struggling during times of war. As much as $54 million worth of coupons a year have been sent to overseas bases and they aren't stopping there. Back to our friend- Lila Sclawy- although she can no longer climb the stairs to the Tuesday meetings, she still sends in her work from home. And even though her work has been cut from 20 hours a week to five or six because of arthritis and carpal tunnel, she still does it until her fingers are numb. She continues to clip because she wants military families to know that somebody back home is thinking of them. "The only thing it costs us is time," she said. "And we have plenty of that now."

No matter what you think about our current war situation, you have to admit these ladies are doing a great thing. Something as small as clipping coupons has grown into a nation-wide rally for support. Not support for or against the war, but support for families. That's really what it comes down to. They are doing this for the families that deal and struggle with tough times everyday. I think my life is hard and I have problems? If a little old lady can make such an impact clipping coupons, it makes me wonder what I small things I can do to help others. I think we could learn a great deal from these women who are doing extraordinary things with just some newspapers, scissors, and love in their hearts.

Curly haired girls unite!

Most of you do not know this, because blogs are not televised or shown in pictures, but I have very curly hair. When I was little my hair was so curly that I had a huge red fro probably until I was seven years old. Strangers would stop at the store or on the street to touch my curly red hair. Now, think about it. You are a little kid and people you don't know start coming up to you and touching you. I was so weirded out by it! I hated my curly hair and the way it was always frizzy and unkempt. As I got older, I started to appreciate my unique hair style because it made me stand out. Now I spend an hour and a half straightening my curls, but that is another story. I was so happy when I came across an article about promotions for curly haired girls published by WebWire on March 5,2008. "How Curly Girls Stay in the Loop- NaturallyCurly.com Unveils a Dynamic New Look for 2008" announces a re-launch of the NaturallyCurly.com website as well as other promotions and contests.

The online community known as NaturallyCurly.com was founded in 1998 by two friends, Michelle Breyer and Gretchen Heber. Both have curly hair and wanted to create a place that empowered and united people of a common interest. In this case it was something that defined them- their curly hair. So the pair set out to attract people who both loved and hated their god given curls. They gained a lot of attention, and will continue to with the launch of the new website. To accomplish this, the new site is easier to navigate and has more graphics and visuals. Breyer and Heber hope this will expand their member base and attract new curly girls from around the would to experience their hard work.

Here is just a taste of whats new on the site:

• Dynamic Publishing- Articles published weekly to keep members up to date with the latest in curl news.
  
• Curly Categories- As we all know, not every curly hairstyle is the same. This feature allows users to pinpoint their own age and style of hair to get the best advice for them.
• Personalization- This gives users the ability to customize their experience with the site by selecting which information you want to read daily, review local salon experiences, and the ability to upload photos.
• Promotions- (Our favorite part!) This informs users of the current contests and promotions the site is running. One already in the works is the "Ringlet Scavenger Hunt"- you can gain "ringlets" by exploring the new site to accumulate points. Grand Prize winners will receive a trip to New York City, a Ouidad makeover, and other free products.

They have also made a few changes to existing NaturallyCurly.com sections:

• CurlTalk- An instant question and answer chat room option. Forums discuss everything from hair and fashion to relationships and politics.
• CurlProducts- Information and reviews on the latest curly hair products.
• CurlReading- Recommended reading material for tips and professional stylist's advice.
• CurlMart- An online store to purchase anything and everything curly. Products are top stylist recommended, only the best for those with naturally curly hair.

Finally! A little recognition for us curly haired girls! I was pleasantly surprised with my visit to the site after reading this article. The page is bright and colorful with links and articles very easy to find. If you have struggled with unruly curly hair, then fret no more! Visit NaturallyCurly.com and be one your way to a happy and healthy curl experience!

Coupons AND Promotions!

If you haven't heard of http://www.couponcrib.com/, it's time you checked them out. Couponcrib is an online publishing site for coupons that is free for consumers to use. Every Monday CouponCrib sends out a coupon newsletter that lists the most popular and latests coupons and discount codes. On March 3,2008 they announced their latest promotion; a chance to win a free DVD for the next ten months.

The article, "Popular Online Coupons Publisher Announces Free DVD Promotion" published by PrWeb, discusses the company and their commitment to providing their customers with the latest in free. The site was launched in 2006 and has been growing in popularity ever since. Spokesperson for CouponCrib Scott Johnson said, "Who doesn't like to get something for Free? We wanted to reward our frugal minded shoppers with a small token of our appreciation and it seems appropriate to give away free DVD's!" Seems to me Jeff that you could probably give away free cows or slippers and they still would appreciate all the discounts CouponCrib provides! To be eligible to win a free DVD all you have to do is sign up for the weekly coupon newsletter and you will automatically be entered to win a free DVD each month for the rest of the year. To sign up for the newsletter you simply go to www.couponcrib.com/coupon-newsletter-signup.php and for complete contest details you can visit www.couponcrib.com/free-dvd-rules.php.

CouponCrib currently offers coupons for more than five hundred popular stores like Target, Dell, Lane Bryant, Best Buy, and many others. While doing some of my own research on their site, I found that CouponCrib was very willing and helpful in answering any questions consumers may have. They even divide their site into separate pages for new coupons, expiring coupons, all store coupons, printer ink coupons, plus size coupons, contact lens coupons, and free shipping coupons. There is also a Deals and Saving section that includes links to online gift cards as well as clearance and outlet deals. So if you are looking for a place to quickly and easily find coupons by category and type, CouponCrib is a great option to try. Hey! You might even win a free DVD! Good luck hunting and winning!

**Wedding Crashers- one of my FAVORITE DVDS!

Way to go Phil!

As we already know, people blog about everything. I blog on Coupons, Contests, and Promotions, my best friend blogs about Crisis Public Relations (Kit's Blog check her out!), and the list goes on. While searching for what to write about today, I came across a very interesting and motivating (at least for me) press release about a fellow blogger. The article, "Contest Blogger Taps into Growing Popularity of Online Contests, Sweepstakes", was released yesterday (March 3,2008) on PRWeb and introduces us to Cleavland-area designer Phil Van Treuren.

It all started when Phil Van Treuren decided to write a blog about online contests. (Wow what a concept!) Now less than nine months later his site, Contest Blogger, is visited by thousands of people a week and has allowed him to reap the monetary benefits. Van Treuren said that he knew a blog about online contests would be something different but did not expect it so grow in popularity so fast. "The idea was to write free reviews about contests that people were running on their blogs and websites," Van Treuren said. "I noticed that a lot of bloggers had started using giveaways as a way to get new visitors and links to their sites, and I thought that a blog that focused on these contests might interest a few people."


A few people? I'd certainly say maybe a little more than a few. Readers were drawn to Van Treuren's unique writing style and honest reviews about the contests. Technorati, a blog- tracking service that currently tracks more than 50 million blogs, even ranked Contest Blogger among the top 5,000 blogs in the world! Van Treuren prides himself on always being sincere and truthful to his readers. If a contest was a rip- off, he would tell them and in turn his readers showed their appreciation by racking up the hits on his site. He also said that he tried to make his blogs fun to read so people would come back and tell their friends. He started by writing reviews about every contest that was sent to Contest Blogger. However, submissions became too large and he decided to transform Contest Blogger into an online forum where people could post about their own contests for free.

Today, Phil still posts every once in a while, but Contest Blogger has become a place mainly for readers to share their own information. You can do anything there from searching and posting about contests to actually entering sweepstakes and receiving free samples or coupons. Although Van Treuren doesn't write as often, he still is able to enjoy the income he generates from advertising on his site.

Now, some of you might be thinking, "Brit, why did you write a blog on someone who blogs about the same things you do? Isn't that your competition?" Instead of being enemies, I would like to think that Phil and I are kind of on the same team, you know? Just two people writing and wanting to share what they love; free stuff. Phil also gives me somebody to look up to in a way. He started just by writing about a few contests and look at him now! Maybe someday I could follow his path to success. So, from all of us here at Coupons, Contests, and Promotions (basically just me), congratulations on all of your accomplishments Phil!

Vending Machine Marketing?

What will they think of next?  According to an article published by AmOnline.com, we will be seeing multi-promotional vending machines anywhere from colleges to shopping malls. AmOnline.com is an online version of Automatic Merchandiser Magazine that provides information about all types of vending industries.  "Vending Takes New Role in Marketing Promotions" by Elliot Maras introduces us to the new marketing world that involves using vending machines as promotional outlets. 

Now, I don't know about you, but all I've ever used a vending machine for was a soda and maybe a bag of chips.  But conventional vending items are not the only things we are seeing in them now.  Companies are beginning to look at vending as a way to get consumers to buy a wide variety of products from TV and financial services to even vacation packages!  Recently there have been devices developed that attach to existing vending machines that do more than just dispense soda.  They are touch screen video screens and coupon dispensers that allow marketers to reach consumers anywhere you can put a vending machine.  However, when first introduced, there was some concern raised about being able to reach consumers everywhere there is a machine. (Such as offices and school settings.)

The technology that is being used now was developed by Walker Digital, LLC, a company that prides itself in finding the newest ways to use technology to reach consumers.  For all of you tech savvy people, the first device was made in January of 2008 and was called the Quickstore24 TM.  This was a vending machine that had interactive video touch screens, multiple payment options, and dispensers for coupons.  In February, the SPIO system was put into use.  This device also used coupon dispensers and touch screens to provide a unique marketing outlet for products.  Coupons that are dispensed from the machine can range from a free item to $25 off of a purchase at a retail store.  SPIO also provides the dispenser at no extra cost to the vending machine operators.    As an added perk, SPIO will even provide the operator with coupons, plastic or paper.  

The article then goes on to discuss in detail the technological aspects of the vending machines themselves.  If you would like the full text please visit "Vending Takes New Role in Marketing Promotions".  I found this article very interesting and informative.  I think it is amazing how close companies can come to consumers during their everyday routines.  Something as simple as grabbing a soda from a vending machine can now be turned into an entire promotional experience!  Good or bad, think what you want, but you have to admit- that is pretty clever!