Bounce Back Marketing: Quit Shooting Rubber Bands and Start Throwing Candy
There I was, peeking around the corner, with a rubber band in hand, to find my friend who had snuck around the other side. I saw him duck and try to hide, no cover was in site so I had a clear shot. I pulled back hard on the rubber band, stretching it to the limit, aiming carefully with my eye, and released! WHACK. I felt a sting. Did he get me with a counter attack? OK now the sting really hurt, in my eye. I had released the rubber band in the wrong direction, towards my eye, point blank. Not the best way to start off a morning rubber band fight.
Online marketing isn’t about shooting rubber bands back and forth at your potential clients and customers. Even if you write a compelling message on the band before whirling it across the room (think global), they are going to shoot it right back at you, empty handed, or worse yet, it might end up in the wrong direction. Think pain in the eye, not fun.
When attending parades as a kid, I always looked forward to being on the receiving end of the candy throwers. You know, the red convertible carrying the mayor, while his assistants would whirl tasty candy in the direction of the excited youth.
I found it even more fulfilling when I was on the candy throwing end a few times. While walking with some non-profits that were getting out the message, we threw out candy with messages attached. You could call this lead generation, and hey the advertising was cheap.
The idea of bounce back marketing isn’t new. Online and digital marketing changed the game years ago, and continues to hype it up. Your best bet is to continue working hard to tell a story your customers will repeat.
(Photo credit: Thomas Hawk)
