What is an Incentive

So, what form do these certificates take, and what do they offer. Basically they are a physical certificate, in one of a number of possible designs. they can offer any of a wide range of different incentives including 3 day/2 night hotel vacations, 8 day resort vacations, 3, 4 & 7 day cruises to Mexico or The Bahamas, 2 for 1 flights, and 2 for 1 promotions. The recipient generally pays only taxes and a small processing fee for administration.

If you want the certificates to reflect your business, you may want to personalize them or brand them to your company, where there are vouchers offering Referral discounts, Punch card discounts, your % off savings and even free golf clubs. There is a wide range and you can generally find something suitable for your business. However, it is the vacations and flights that are most popular since they represent a great deal and genuine hard cash savings.

The reason that hotel and vacation companies can make these offers is that they frequently adopt a policy of giving rooms and flights free to promotional companies in order to fill rooms and seats at times when occupancy is not full. Hotels and restaurants tend not to be completely full at weekends, regular holidays and conventions, and use the untaken rooms and seats to promote themselves. The same is true of spare airline seats and cruise cabins.

You might not be paying for the seat or accommodation, but it would not be paid for in any case, and by giving it free the resorts and hotels have the possibility of the recipient spending money in the restaurant, casino, bars and other amenities. It is also a good advert, and if visitors enjoy their two night stay, they might come back for a more extended stay.

The hotels have nothing to lose, and everything to gain and the same is true of your business and your customers and staff. They too have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It’s a no brainer, and that is why they are so popular and so successful. The vacation companies, hotels and cruise lines gain through money being spent and referrals from satisfied visitors, you gain through increased business, commissions on the certificates that are used and loyal staff, and your customers gain by means of free vacations, cruises and other benefits.

Applications & Suggested Uses for Premiums & Incentives

Financial Institution Applications:
New Loan Acquisition (Home, Auto, Boat, etc.)
Increase Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Real Estate Referrals
Acquire New Credit Card Customers
Increase Long Term Deposits – CD’s
Open More Investment Accounts
Increase Customer Base
Increase Cross Utilization of Products and Services
Activation of Home Equity Line of Credit

Retailers Applications:
Increases Employee Productivity
Punch Cards Rewards
Ability to Recruit and Retain Quality Salespeople
New Purchase Referral Program
New Service Activation
Choose Higher Margin Products
Choose Preferred Vendor Partners

Distribution & Manufacturing Applications:
Increase Sales from Existing Distributors
Outings with Giveaways for Competition
Increase Retailer/Dealer Base
Improve Employee/Salesperson Productivity
Reduce Product Breakage/Damaged Goods/On-the-job Injuries
On-going Incentive to Gain Shelf Display Space
Drive Value Added Reseller networks to sell specific products and hit higher targets

Media Applications:
Increase Advertiser Base
Increase Sales From Existing Advertisers
Cross Advertising
Improve Listenership/Viewership – Particularly during Ratings Periods (TV/Radio)
Improve Circulation (Newspapers)
Retain Advertisers and Employees
Generate Member Dues Income (Public Broadcasting – Fund Raising)
Increase Average Member/Subscriber Donation

Promotions & Sweepstakes:
Online promotion of products, services, and events
Retail promos
Scratch games
Event Marketing
Interactive Marketing
Collect and Win games
Attract traffic to websites
Respond and win
Leverage sponsorships
Fundraising auctions
Charity organizations

Sales and Customer Retention
Attract New Visitors to Your Store or Web site
Open More Investment Accounts
Business Gifts
Promote Closeout Inventories
Close More Sales
Create New Markets
Set More Appointments
Encourage Repeat Business
Thank You Gifts
Referral Incentives
Consumer/User Promotions
Sell More Products
Improve Direct Mail Response
Upgrade Sales and Purchases
Maintaining Price Integrity

Employee Improvement/Dedication
Acknowledge Milestones and Achievements
Increase Employee Loyalty
Create a Successful Sales Team
Motivating Sales Staff
Endure a Safe Workplace
Reward Employees
Exceed Sales Goals
Reward Extraordinary Service and
Top Performers
Foster Teamwork
Sales Incentives
Improve Attendance
Support Perfect Attendance

Others
Fund Raising
Increase Circulations
Trade Show Giveaways