A little-known piece of Internet marketing is an incentive marketing platform. As it turns out, incentive marketing is an effective way to define the multitude of stimulating types that an incentive plan can carry out. From prizes and awards programs to contests and scavenger hunts, games and trivia, incentives are everywhere. The Incentive Marketing Association even uses simple terms to describe the incentive plan, it is an organized plan to have people do what you desire them to do on a regular basis.
The motivational reward is an example of incentive marketing in action. Incentive programs like employee recognition, customer incentive programs, career incentive programs, and student incentive programs all encourage members to engage. Engaged individuals, or "active" participants, are more likely to take part in company-sponsored events and to complete company surveys and questionnaires. Other types of engagement include group participation, consumer awareness, and community participation.
One important concept behind incentive marketing is the development of channels for communicating messages. These channels can be physical such as mail or television, or digital, such as the Internet. Incentive programs that communicate messages in the form of prizes, promotions, or discounts can all come in the form of a physical incentive product.
Digital channels, on the other hand, offer a number of options for communicating with the public. A physical channel incentive marketing platform can be combined with a digital video recording, to deliver the message to the right audience at the right time. Audience participation is also an important concept of incentive marketing since participating in company programs is one way for participants to receive rewards. Surveys and focus groups are also examples of digital channels that can be combined with a physical brand incentive program.
The combination of physical and digital channels allows incentives to be designed to target specific groups of people. For instance, a consumer survey can provide incentive marketing opportunities by allowing participants to choose rewards that apply to their individual situations. An incentive marketing campaign can use different programs to reach different demographics. This is especially important when the target audience is not geographically defined. An example of this could be the production of a documentary about the environmental impact of a particular brand of jeans. The jeans brand will likely appeal to a certain demographic, but if the film includes images of polar bears, a new niche market will be formed.
The creation of new niche markets is only the beginning of incentive marketing strategies. Most companies realize that it is not always possible or practical to design and create a traditional TV or radio campaign. There are, however, many innovative ways to distribute digital business cards and coupons. Additionally, these materials can be distributed on a more widespread basis, including through social media sites such as Facebook. As an incentive marketing campaign grows in size and scope, it is important for businesses to consider the most appropriate form of media for their particular target audience. Each medium has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Television and radio advertisements are usually considered the best way to introduce incentive marketing programs. While they are a great way for companies to receive feedback from customers, they may not necessarily be the best medium in which to introduce brand images or other types of incentive marketing messages. Television and radio advertisements should be designed to create a long-term relationship with the customer. The ads should appear in front of the consumer on a regular basis, and they should offer information that will help consumers make buying decisions.
Digital loyalty programs provide another way for companies to use incentive marketing strategies to promote their products or services. These programs work differently than traditional loyalty programs in that customers interact directly with the company via the Internet. The rewards provided by the program should be significantly greater than those offered in traditional loyalty programs. This is because an Internet-based incentive marketing strategy can reach a much wider audience than a traditional program could. Incentive programs based on an Internet platform should use targeted keywords to ensure that the ads generated through the program are relevant to Internet users.
