Opinion? - Donating "Give to Get" Certificates

[David J]

Hi everyone,


I was hoping to get some opinions on an idea here. I specialize in Sports Massage and injury rehab, so obviously a good source of clients for me are road races, bike races and the like. A marketing tool that has worked well for me in the past are the "give to get gift certificates".

Now that spring is here, there are a lot of races coming up and I would like to give some "give to get" g/c to these races as awards or raffles. However, I feel like it isn't exactly "donating" them since it is a free 1/2 with an optional uprgrade. Some of the races are for charaties, and I would like to donate them for the charatie's sake also.

Do you guys think it is appropriate to donate these g/c or should I phrase it another way. I couldn't really think of anything else.

In addition, I will be volunteering my services for pre and post race free massages.

Thanks for any opinions!!

 

[Sarcastic B1@tch]

You are providing massage as these events as well?
If you are donating this time (providing massage) and the raffel chances are free, I wouldn't feel bad if the raffel winners chose to upgrade and paid money for it. If you want to donate everything, make a donation later from any money you receive from the raffels.

If you have to pay something to be at the event/s, I would at least try to recoup those costs. The upgrades might accomplish that for you.

Just a few thoughts.
Welcome to the board!

 

[dickie]

i'm not really understanding what it is you're asking. is it that you think you should re-word the actual g/c itself? or re-word the advertising? i just don't get it.

you ARE donating them. if it's a free 1/2 hour massage, how isn't that a donation? just because they have the option of adding a 1/2 hour for a small charge doesn't mean they haven't received a gift of donation.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I agree with terab on that last part. Either way the recipient gets a free 1/2 hr massage, right? So you are donating your time.

 

[nysenutz]

Good points.

The question I did have was about how I was advertising them. It is a donation in the sense that I am giving free 1/2 hour massages away. However, it is a marketing tool which makes me money. I think that is where I was having the dilemma. Thanks for the help!

 

[Amrud the Tacosupremo!]

The question I did have was about how I was advertising them. It is a donation in the sense that I am giving free 1/2 hour massages away. However, it is a marketing tool which makes me money. I think that is where I was having the dilemma. Thanks for the help!

It sounds a terribly cold thing to say, but donating treatments at charity events is a marketing tool, and often a very profitable one. Some charity donations I will make because the cause is so close my heart, others because I feel it is a worthy cause and one that I want to support and feel through the exposure will raise my profile and hopefully lead to some clients.

Mat xxx

 

[Mark D]

It's what's called a "Win-Win" situation.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

Why on Earth anyone should expect anyone else to engage in "Lose-Win" behavior (meaning the MT "loses", while the charity "wins")?

Much of the charity given in this world is to gain some sort of benefit for the giver.... and the rest of it is given to make the giver feel good inside.... for "emotional benefit", you could say.

There really is no such thing as a truly selfless act.

If you can feel good about yourself for doing it AND build your business... so much the better.

And if you still feel odd about it. Just realize that the bigger your business grows, the better position you'll be in to give charity in the future... for any reason.

 

[sledge250672]

When I donate gift certificates for auctions, charity, etc., it is always for a half hour massage (that way, I'll usually donate 2 or 3 instead of a one 1-hour one) and when they call to make an appointment, I will offer them the option of upgrading to an hour for $20 (it's usually $25) and most of them take it. Either way, they are getting an hour massage for a heck of a deal!