How to make limited-time offers effective

Published August 25, 2014 at 8:25 am

The effectiveness of a limited-time offer has been discussed previously on this blog. With only so much time to take advantage of a great deal, consumers are moved to action. Many industries can take advantage of time-sensitive offers to generate buzz and drive sales, but the key to success lies in a sound campaign marketing strategy.

Recently, Burger King created an offer to “bring back” one of its popular items for a limited time. As AdWeek explains, this can be a great way for the restaurant to give customers more interesting menu options in addition to what is typically available. However, to make the most of this type of offer, it is necessary to effectively get the word out and generate some excitement.

To do this, Burger King turned to social media. As the article details, the hashtag #chickenfriesareback was used on Twitter, resulting in 380 tweets per minute. By using this strategy, the company was able to quickly spread the word about its offer. It also was able to use the appeal of a product that had previously been unavailable to create demand.

A campaign such as this one can create buzz not only for the specific offer, but for the entire company. An exciting limited time offer can make a big impression on current customers and even attract new ones. Companies in any industry can use social media in a similar way with their own campaigns.

The process of getting the word out about a limited offer can be a daunting task, even for a large marketing department with access to many resources. However, automated marketing software simplifies the process, making it easier for teams to implement a cohesive campaign across multiple geographic regions.