When it comes to finding a relatively inexpensive way to collect names and grow a database of prospects and interested individuals for your home business, there are few activities that can be as successful as a drawing. If you have public opportunities to meet and attract new people, holding a drawing for a free product or service can be a fabulous way to gather names of interested people. You can then follow up with these individuals in an attempt to cultivate them into customers.
Even for those of you who do direct sales or visit with prospects on an individual basis or have house parties–you can still collect names for a drawing. You don’t have to have a shiny box sitting on a counter (although this can be quite effective). It is important to make sure that individuals who sign up for any contests or drawings understand that they will be contacted or that their names will be used for marketing, however. You can include a simple checkbox on the drawing slip asking them if they give permission to be contacted.
What information should you collect? Name, address, phone number and e-mail are the basics. If you are looking for people who have specific interests, you can ask specific questions and collect short answers or multiple choice answers. You might also try to gauge a person’s likelihood to purchase or ask “demographic” questions such as profession or family status in order to see if they fit your prospect or marketing profile.
To make the most of a drawing, make sure you publicize it well and, if possible, get a photo or publish the name of the winner. This is a nice addition to a web site and will help you get plenty of mileage out of the activity as marketing, as well as help you collect prospective names to add to your mailing list or database.
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