Get credit for running your mouth!

[BBONET]

-Instead of treating this section like a Moderator heavy advertising section, I will use this space more as a blog. I will write things related to Big Blind Online from time to time - News, events, interesting stories, policies and promos. As Big Blind Online continues to grow, this section will eventually become a documented time line on the evolution of Big Blind Online - enjoy.



Big Blind Online Referral Program

During our first years in business, we faced a pretty interesting dilemma, how do you market when you have no marketing budget?

This fundamental problem is faced by most small companies in their infancy, and Big Blind Online was no exception. We knew we were up against some Goliaths in the industry, so we decided that a bit of outside the box thinking was the only way to go. At that time, we really had nothing to lose, so like all good companies....we decided to give out free stuff! Two years ago, we introduced a referral program for our local customers.

Let's hear it for the blabbermouths!

Big Blind Online keeps track of all referral sales simply because of the nature of the poker. You can't play poker by yourself! But what was even more interesting, we found that past customers who purchased tables from us usually hear the same question when they put on a game at home, "Where did you get that table?". Faced with this frequent situation, we needed to not only institute a program which thanks our customers for supporting us, but also give them incentive to tell their friends about Big Blind Online.

Given the unique situation (and no marketing budget, mind you) we decided to implement a referral commission program which offers customers a 10% in store credit for every new customer they bring in as a result of their testimonials and poker nights. The program featured referral credits which could be accumulated with no expiration date, or maximum credit limit. We keep a running spreadsheet for all qualifying customers, then we let it run until they redeem their commission.

So, did it work?

To date, we have given out over $5,000 dollars in inventory to our referring customers. The program has been so successful that one of the premier fund raising companies here in the Bay Area took us on as a sponsor, and now they don't spend any money with us, but do business only in referral credits. Last year alone, they received 3 free tables and about 5,000 chips for their events.

Essentially, this is how we are able to be blessed with customers who stand behind our company, our products and our business goals. We may not still be a Goliath in the poker retail industry yet, but we're diligently working on it.     

We extend the same courtesy to all HPT.com forum members.

-George