Give something away! Something big, something that appeals to your target market. Something that vividly shows prospects (that’s what they are, right?) how great your service or products are.
That’s the time-honored marketing strategy, and it’s exactly what IKEA is doing to promote its new website aimed at small businesses (rather than home furnishings). An online video contest, “Small Business, Big Dreams,” will award a design makeover to not one but a group of small businesses from the same neighborhood (a nice touch). To enter, entrepreneurs submit a short video showcasing unique aspects of their business and its role within the community.
Not surprisingly, the Ikea business site also includes a forum to share tips and techniques for creating the ideal business space, including visitor-submitted photos and videos of their workspaces.
The only gripe I have is the use of Flash animation to open every section. Even with my (fairly peppy) broadband connection, I find animations slow-loading and annoying. But hey, maybe that’s just me.
Have you ever given away a sample of your work (website design, for example) as a way of attracting a new set of prospects? Thinking about it for the future? Post a comment and let’s talk about it.