The Evolution of Sales Promotion Services

Traditional marketing methods like advertising posters and TV commercials alone can't guarantee success today. The competition is increasing with every passing year and with this, it is becoming difficult for brands to stand out. This gives rise to the need for more innovative sales promotion strategies. Instead of just relying on traditional advertising methods, brands are now focused on omnichannel marketing to target a larger customer base and drive desired actions. Even the top sales promotion services companies have significantly changed their approach to consumer sales promotions.

Let us dive deeper into the world of sales promotions and understand how sales promotion programs have evolved from traditional to digital strategies:

The Traditional Sales Promotion Strategies

Sales promotions in ancient times used to be way different from the digital promotions that we see today. The concept of using promotional tactics to attract customers has been in existence for hundreds of years. Even the oldest merchants used to offer discounts or free samples to acquire new customers and get more sales.

In the 1900s, businesses started using mass media channels to advertise their products and make people aware of their brands. However, the major focus was on the ‘awareness part’ and not on the ‘action part.’ The traditional advertising and print media strategies only focused on creating awareness. The other three stages of the marketing funnel, i.e. interest, desire, and action, were not given much attention in the early stages of sales promotions.

But as we move towards a more competitive world, it becomes essential to not just attract customers, but also encourage them to make a purchase. This is what modern digital marketing-based sales promotions ensure.

Modern Digital Sales Promotions

Digital sales promotions are focused on all four stages of a marketing funnel. From improving brand awareness to encouraging customers to perform a desired action, the right sales promotion strategy can help a brand achieve its goals faster and more efficiently. Modern strategies are based on omni-channel marketing, which is all about catering to the needs and interests of every individual customer. Instead of just relying on one single marketing channel, digital sales promotions use multiple channels to maximize their reach and make the most out of a campaign.

The focus is not just on advertising and making people aware of a brand, but is it more beyond that. Modern sales promotion services are more inclined towards keeping customers engaged and encouraging them to make a purchase by creating a sense of urgency through sales promotions. These sales promotions are not just restricted to the four key stages of the marketing funnel (awareness, interest, desire, and action), but can also improve brand loyalty and customer relationships.

Examples of Digital Sales Promotion Programs

Top modern sales promotion services companies like RewardPort analyze a brand’s objectives and come up with a sales promotions plan accordingly. The interests of the target audience are also taken into account in order to maximize engagement and make the most of a sales promotion program. Here are a few examples of some most popular digital sales promotions:

1. Online Scratch-to-Win Programs: Digital scratch cards work in a similar manner to traditional physical scratch cards. Customers get a scratch card once they perform a desired action and they can reveal their reward just by swiping their finger a few times on the screen. These can be used as welcome rewards as well as regular rewards for repeat customers.

2. Sweepstakes: These are among the most popular online sales promotion programs. If you aim to drive engagement to your online app or website while attracting more potential customers, you can run a sweepstakes contest. In this, customers are required to find hidden digital elements within an app or website. If they find the elements, they earn the reward.

This reward can be a discount coupon or access to an exclusive deal or anything that encourages them to make a purchase. It allows your potential customers to properly explore your website, app, or range of products that they might not have explored otherwise.

3. Gamification-Led Sales Promotions: The concept of incorporating gamification into sales promotions and loyalty programs has become increasingly popular these days. Gamification makes sales promotions more interesting to participate in and hence drives higher engagement. Some common types of gamified sales promotions include top buyers' leaderboards, social media giveaway contests, badges, spin to win, and more.

Summing Up

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work anymore in sales promotions. Consumers have plenty of options available today and they can easily switch to another brand if they don’t find value in your brand. Therefore, improving customer experience and satisfaction becomes a priority for businesses these days. Even if your goal is just to attract new customers and boost sales for a short period of time, you will have to ensure that consumers see value in your brand.

A well-planned sales promotion program can be highly effective in this. Sales promotion services companies like RewardPort can thoroughly analyse your business details to create and implement the most suitable promotional campaign for your target audience. Just make sure that you have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives that you intend to achieve with a sales promotion program.