Last night my roommate showed me this card he had gotten on his car after leaving it at bar this past weekend. On the back it looks like a parking ticket that the city would give you, at least in Fargo. Then on the reverse side it you find out that it is actually a coupon for 15% your next visit including your guests. This is the first time I have seen a bar offer this type of service. The card proudly says you are receiving this because you were responsible enough not to drink and drive.

Big D’s is a bar and grill that gets most of its traffic and crowd from the local collages and office parks. They constantly play ads on the radio for their food and drink specials. It is no surprise that they will have a parking lot full of cars and some of those cars remain over-night. I think offering a discount on cars left over is a great way of bring return customers.

 First off, let’s rehash what probably happened. Some people made the choice to go out and enjoy themselves a little too much (visit #1). Then they either carpooled to the next bar or got a cab home for the evening. The next day they have to return to collect their belongings, since they weren’t in jail for drunk driving (visit #2). Bam, 15% discount coupon stuck in the window of their car. Can’t let 15% go, can we now? So they return to use their discount (visit #3). Perhaps, they are a slow learner or maybe a lush and the process repeats itself again. Now, I am psychologist but I do know that if you start visiting a place more than a couple of times it will produce a habit. Not all of the people who got this coupon will visit the bar every night of the week, but even if it becomes a once a week spot that bar is gaining. They are using the allure of a discount and yet another visit to their business in order to get your patronage. If they get a 5-10% conversion rate out of those cards and discounts they are out virtually nothing in the long term.
How are you getting people back your website or blog? Are you offering something that surprises people or something they would enjoy? What advantage does your patronage have over the average customer?

State Convention

What a week and weekend it has been here in Fargo, ND. Leading up to this weekend I have been preparing and helping to organize with the state convention for the Republican Party. This is my first election cycle involvement apart from marking a ballot with a check. The primary purpose of my involvement wasn’t due to my love of the Republican Party but rather to promote and represent the Ron Paul campaign. I am happy to report that Ron Paul will be receiving 11 of the 23 delegates up for grabs at the National Convention this September in St. Paul, MN.

End of the Month

With the end of the month being tomorrow I will be posting the final stats and accomplishments for March on April Fools Day . I will say that I have accomplished way more than I ever though possible for my first month of blogging.

A great April Fools Day prank

Here is an awesome prank and maybe a last minute idea any of you who don’t have a prank already lined up.

Hey everyone, I have been really busy with North Dakota State Party political elections and decided to post a video from our backpacking trip this last Monday. The video is a little cheesy but my first go at it, more to come. For those of you who do not know Lindsay and I went to Theodore Roosevelt National Forest over Easter weekend for a backpacking trip with our dog Ace.