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This is a much better idea. Instead of daily deals, realtime deals. Let the business offer a limited time deal (30mins, 1hr, or until they cancel). For example,
by seanos 15y ago
This is a much better idea. Instead of daily deals, realtime deals. Let the business offer a limited time deal (30mins, 1hr, or until they cancel). For example, an empty restaurant or bar could post a 50% discount for customers placing orders in the next 30 mins - not only giving their staff something to do but a busier restaurant/bar gives social proof attracting further customers later once the deal expires. Would also allow them to better manage the people taking advantage of the deal, by monitoring the response rates and adjusting the discount or ending the deal as they see fit. The scarcity factor of a deal that could end at any moment might also be especially attractive to customers. Loopt would be well positioned to do this, because the customers who would want to take advantage of a real time deal would be those currently in the vicinity of the business (to avoid travelling to a deal only to find it has ended) and I believe they have that data.
- gojomo 15y agoGroupon is headed this way with GrouponNow: "Introducing Groupon Now: Real-time deals that attract customers exactly when you need them." http://www.groupon.com/merchants/welcome http://www.groupon.com/merchants/welcome
- seanos 15y agoInteresting. Still, the realtime location data Loopt have would make this much more effective. People might not want to travel to a realtime deal running somewhere in their city, in case it ends before they arrive. But if the deal is running at a bar next door or on the street they are walking along then that problem is eliminated.
- dodo53 15y agoHow about combine this with book-in-advance? So say you get $20 of pizza for $10, coupon website actually runs the payment system - takes payment of $10 in advance, and then you show up to get your deal. Then limited-capacity places could do realtime deals available to limited number of people to reach but not exceed their capacity, and bargain-hunters would be sure they'd get their deal and not show up somewhere that just became full.
- khill 15y agoWhy wouldn't a business just use Twitter or Facebook for announcing a realtime, short-term deal like that? I follow most of my local businesses for that reason - many of them already tweet about on-the-spot deals which works the same way. Plus, it's an incentive for customers to follow their social media accounts which also helps with other types of advertising and promotion.
- masterzora 15y agoI'd guess because they'd have an audience including potential new customers with an app like that whereas anyone following them on Twitter or Facebook is already a customer.
- mistermann 15y agoI never look at my twitter, but I've been known to stop in for one drink and stay for 10!! ;)