The Downtown Marketing campaign will be an evolving and layered approach as we realize there isn't one idea that works for all of us.

Please review the word-of-mouth proposal explained below and let us know if you are interested in participation.  We also welcome your input at the next DNB, Inc. Marketing Committee meeting set for May 17th at 8 am in the DNB office.  

Word-of-Mouth Coupon Details
Please respond with interest in the word-of-mouth coupon initiative. To  explain the program -- the word-of-mouth coupon will be free of charge to DNB, Inc. members. We will utilize our website and our social media accounts to promote business who want to offer a word-of-mouth coupon. So if a patron visits your business and says, "Downtown New Bedford, Inc." they will get a discount.

You decide what the discount is and duration.  Discounts can be long term [say, 6-months, $0.50 off a coffee] or short term [say, one-day-only, 50% off your entrées]. Please submit your coupon idea before Wednesday, May 11th. All those who submit an idea for a coupon should attend the next DNB, Inc. Marketing Committee meeting Tuesday, May 17th,8 am in the DNB office  to finalize offers and promotion.

Future Coupon Ideas  - We will discuss future coupon initiatives at the May 17th meeting. Please attend to provide your feedback.

NOTES - Marketing & Muffins Meeting  – Wednesday, April 27
Introduction made by DNB, Inc. Ex. Director Diane Arsenault
Program presented by Keri Cox, Owner of mediumstudio/DNB, Inc. Board Director and Marketing Committee Chair and Ben Couto, Director of Enterprise Solutions– Reynolds DeWalt
 
Capitalizing on DNB Web Site

• Generate more traffic
• Cross with other web sites
• Social Media Account – DNB/Members/Facebook
• Word of Mouth Coupon -eg: .25 coffee by mention DNB, Inc.
• Scavenger Hunt –use photo postings on Facebook
  

Word of Mouth Coupon

• Easy way to advertise – younger generation uses smart phones
• Students – 2,000 in downtown – captive audience
• Be creative and offering should target certain people as well as certain time of the day – morning, noon, and evening.audiences
• Time line – Set up 1 week to get word out about the coupon  and 1 ½ weeks to have coupon offer

Ongoing discussions:

• Advantage of the coupon is uncertain – need information on who is our target audience.
• How are the smaller businesses getting the advantage of this service even if they are not computer literate
• Those patrons who already frequent an establishment anyway are being offered a discount.  How does that support a struggling downtown business?Not one solution – each business is different with different needs

Several Positive Comments:

• Downtown Community – It shows that the downtown is thinking like a community instead of each business on their own.
• Different businesses have a different market that need to be addressed
• Start the ball rolling for community thinking by putting the coupon idea in place
• Sell coupons in a booklet hard/copy for those who are not computer savvy or too small to accommodate the web coupon
• DNB is the link to downtowners and its role is to bring the downtowners together
• Media Outlets: S/T, Business Journal, New Bedford Guide, DNB Web Site
• Community Service offering something to the community free brings more business your way by giving back to the community
  

Other Ideas

• Web site links – how do we accomplish
• Sponsor a web site suggested
• Active Calendar for downtown
• Emails blasts for downtown activities, events, special offers, etc.
  

Short Term

• Partner Referral
• Cooperative
• Next 2-4 Weeks -Discount Coupon – Word of Mouth – Web site
• Paid Coupon Book , more expensive to print and distribute/sell
• Route 18 – Progress and Traffic Updates  part of  DNB's Weekly Update
• Photo Gallery – pictures draw more attention to events and catch people’s attention
• BCC – Coop Program and Marketing Program offer help to businesses – web projects and intern programs

Social Media

• Web site more traffic – Offering a Word of Mouth Coupon – easy
• Utilize the Calendar – New Bedford Guide
• Web site – multi tier – utilizing twitter, each others web sites and facebook
  

Matt Newman from NB Guide offered everyone a Social Media Conference on June 24 at 9:00 am., free, hands on experience at the Whaling Museum