The Unexpected Survey Scramble

This blog post tells a story of a company that found itself in a tricky situation when they realized they were totally unprepared for their upcoming survey launch, just three days before it was supposed to go live.

The survey, aimed at gathering valuable insights from small businesses in the SaaS space, demanded a significant time commitment from respondents. The company knew they had to find a way to incentivize participation and reach a wider audience.

The Power of Desirable Prizes

One tactic the company used to boost survey participation was offering enticing prizes, a common practice employed by many successful companies. But instead of opting for a generic $100 gift card, they opted for a strategy that targeted their audience's desires.

• They assembled a "dream list" of prizes, considering what they themselves would be drawn to.
• Their list included valuable software subscriptions, signed copies of popular business books, and tickets to industry conferences, totaling over $7,000 in value.
• Surprisingly, all the companies they contacted to sponsor these prizes readily agreed.

Partnering for Wider Reach

Beyond attracting survey participants, the prize-sponsoring companies became valuable partners. Their logos were featured on the company's blog, creating brand alignment and increasing the reach of the campaign.

• These partners, with their own established audiences and networks, amplified the survey promotion through social media and email outreach.
• The company saw over 20% of survey click-throughs coming from social media posts by their partners.

Repetition and Content Marketing Magic

The company knew that relying on just one blog post wouldn't be enough to reach their desired audience. They adopted a strategy of repetition and content marketing.

• They dedicated several blog posts to the survey campaign, offering valuable insights and compelling calls to action.
• They also repurposed existing blog content, making it relevant to their survey and pitching it to other influential blogs for guest posting.

The Importance of a Strong Blog and Audience

The success of this last-minute survey rescue wasn't just a matter of clever tactics. It was built upon a foundation of a strong blog and an engaged audience.

• The company had already cultivated a loyal readership who trusted their content and were likely to participate in their survey.
• They had built relationships with industry influencers, making it easier to pitch them on guest posts and collaborations.
• They had valuable, pre-existing content they could repurpose, saving time and resources.

Lessons for Businesses

This story demonstrates the power of a well-executed content marketing strategy, emphasizing the value of an engaged audience, strategic partnerships, and consistent content creation.

• By consistently producing valuable content, building relationships with influencers, and strategically promoting their work, businesses can create a powerful platform for engaging with their audience.
• This, in turn, can be leveraged to achieve goals like boosting survey participation, promoting events, and building brand awareness.