Power of blogging: Part 1
Last night I e mailed some friends about the Thresher 40% discount on all wine and champagne, from 30 November until 10 December. Want the discount voucher? You can find it here, with more information here.
The encouraging of folks to go and get merry this festive season, is a sideline here. I want to use it to illustrate the power of blogs. When I mailed that voucher, immediately I got asked how did I pick it up? The answer through blog reading: I ended up at Stormhoek via two other blogs.
This offer not being promoted anywhere, outside blogosphere, you won't find the promotion in stores, neither will you find it advertised elsewhere outside blogs. However, a week later (from when this offer first hit blogosphere) discount e mails and the mainstream is picking up on it, including trade press. Rumour has it that the Thresher website crashed 2 days ago, with so many logging into its store finder. (In fact the website is down right this minute: I wonder why?)
The benefits to Thresher, blogs are talking about them. Drip, drip marketing and everywhere. Bloggers respond to such marketing, and a market away from sticking an advert on TV or newspapers (with a dwindling readership). Furthermore, its not costing Thresher anything to get people to talk about them, this lack of advertising overhead can be used for a bigger discount. Furthermore Thresher is probably tapping into a market that would be more likely to buy from discounted online stores, say Virgin Wines, whilst ensuring those who are more likely to frequent their store, on the high street, pay the full whack.
This is one example, more examples to follow soon. In the meantime, go and find your local Threshers, open a bottle and get blogging.