I think sending out a monthly newsletter would be enough with an option to subscribe. The content ideas that my customers may enjoy are:
1. Free pizza on Veteran's Day. The reasoning is active duty military love to get free stuff with no strings attached. Once the email gets to one senior enlisted or officer on base the word gets spread like wild fire. Not everyone goes to get free stuff but its nice to know its out there.
2. Open during federal holidays and extended weekend hours. The reason is there is always someone on base working during the holiday and weekends. Another reason is to have a place to hang out or sober up before heading back on base.
3. Free Turkey dinner on Thanksgiving and a place to hangout. Not everyone who lives in the barracks goes to the mess hall or someone's house for Thanksgiving. This is another option for them to consider when away from home.
4. Mention a significant event in military history during that month like for example 23 February 1945 the U.S. flag raising at Iwo Jima on Mount Suribachi. Make trivia questions and games related to Marine Corps history. The reasoning is to remind young military members of our past and what they do is part of our military history.
5. I would also use cartoons like from Sempertoons which are funny because they have a little truth to them. Active duty military members like satirical things about their way of life. It's one of those things that gets forwarded in an email or printed out.
It is a very well thought of email marketing strategy with varying contents to attract potential clients. The timing of the email campaign coincides with the significant holidays spanning the length of the whole year for the business to stay engaged with its clients. I can tell you understand the life and needs of military personnel and their family so well that you would provide them with excellent products and services that are tailored to their lifestyle and marketed effectively to them via the well designed email newsletters.
ReplyDeleteInteresting ideas on what to include in the newsletter. The idea of using cartoons is unique from what I've seen from other students and would be an added tough. In addition to free food, I bet your target audience also would appreciate a laugh once in a while. We all could use one.
ReplyDeleteKeying in on military holidays or significant events also is a good idea. It will show them you are one of them and they will probably be more compelled to come back.
I agree monthly is a good timeframe for a newsletter. Because you want it to be different from your blog, and if you're blogging and running your business, and doing a newsletter, it's going to take a lot of time.
Nice post, the idea of having a monthly post is a great idea for anyone that is interesting of following. Giving the dates and time when free stuff is going to get out is also nice because if everybody know which day it is, they will be ready especially if it spreads like wildfire and the good thing is that they will be more interested in the newsletter. The history information is also nice because as you said “remind young military members of our past”. To end it all a cartoon can make a reader laugh, making the newsletter more interesting.
ReplyDeleteOne idea for prime newsletter material might be any special or deep discount you can give for things like quarterly award winners or recent promotees. A local burger joint just off-base where I used to work did something like this and always did huge business on days we had quarterly awards/promotion ceremonies.
ReplyDeleteSomething I saw a lot of in my time in the Air Force was local restaurants and fast food joints getting in tight with various professional organizations on base, and coordinating special events that they could advertise both in their own marketing and by word-of-mouth through the Chiefs' Club (MGySgt?), First Sergeants, squadron booster clubs, military spouse club, etc. These almost always resulted in thank you letters and photos back to the businesses which could then be displayed at the business, which worked great in making military members feel at home.
The free pizza alone I think would have your customers interested in a monthly letter. Adding things for interest is a plus. Some may not of the funny cartoons and it is good to spread the info. for everyone to know that way they can trust in you to provide them with the latest in interesting things!
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