Comments on: Unclog My Drain: Making Viral Marketing and Videos Work for Local Small Businesses http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html Exploring the trends driving small business Sat, 26 May 2012 02:28:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Go Small Biz Blog » Blog Archive » Unclog My Drain and Other Small Biz Social Media Stuff http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-660514 Go Small Biz Blog » Blog Archive » Unclog My Drain and Other Small Biz Social Media Stuff Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:19:26 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-660514 [...] Unclog My Drain: Making Viral Marketing and Videos Work for Local Small Businesses [...] [...] Unclog My Drain: Making Viral Marketing and Videos Work for Local Small Businesses [...]

]]> By: Tabassum http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659879 Tabassum Fri, 29 May 2009 19:43:25 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659879 These small business are the backbone of our economy. I am sure they have a competitive advantage in terms affordable pricing. I am also curious how they manage to keep price at this level and keep growing, amid restrained consumer spending coupled with high input business costs. Are there any additional variable costs associated with $49? ( like emergency calls, night and weekend charges etc ...) These small business are the backbone of our economy. I am sure they have a competitive advantage in terms affordable pricing.

I am also curious how they manage to keep price at this level and keep growing, amid restrained consumer spending coupled with high input business costs.

Are there any additional variable costs associated with $49? ( like emergency calls, night and weekend charges etc …)

]]> By: Unclog My Drain: Making Viral Marketing and Videos Work for Local … | Live News http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659784 Unclog My Drain: Making Viral Marketing and Videos Work for Local … | Live News Thu, 28 May 2009 03:27:35 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659784 [...] Go to post [...] [...] Go to post [...]

]]> By: Canonite http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659751 Canonite Wed, 27 May 2009 13:39:21 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659751 looking at this websites ranking, apparently their traffic has more than doubled from last month (compete.com) their quantcast traffic data is hidden (their ranking is still visible) and did anyone notice they have a blog too!!!! It is a sewer and drain company which seems to be limited to ny only, why are they trying to take on the net while they do not sell anything online? Are they planning on expanding and opening online plumbing shop? looking at this websites ranking, apparently their traffic has more than doubled from last month (compete.com) their quantcast traffic data is hidden (their ranking is still visible) and did anyone notice they have a blog too!!!! It is a sewer and drain company which seems to be limited to ny only, why are they trying to take on the net while they do not sell anything online? Are they planning on expanding and opening online plumbing shop?

]]> By: Frank Delano http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659702 Frank Delano Tue, 26 May 2009 20:34:33 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659702 Dear Anita, My name is Frank Delano, owner of A $49.95 Any Sewer or Drain, Inc. I appreciate your interest in our company and the positive feedback we have been getting. Approximately, 14 years ago I came up with the idea of $49.95 Any Sewer or Drain. My idea was to be different and think outside of the box but as I have been told, I'm so far away I can't see the box, which I have taken as a compliment. I have set a standard price for sewer and drain cleaning where there was none. I wanted a new business plan that would actually care about our customers. I believe we are the most customer oriented sewer and drain business in the NYC area. We spend a lot of time and money creating new ideas and unique ways of advertising to bring in new customers. Once we have that customer we do everything we can to keep that customer. Our best advertising is referrals from our customers. Our business has been growing steadily each year and we now have 30 trucks. We have been successful in building our company and now we are in the process of selling franchises. It is unfortunate that other copy cat companies are trying to benefit from us by using certain trademarks and because of that I have sent out numerous cease and desist letters in the last 2 years. I would like to Thank You Anita and thank both of the jingle contestants for participating in our contest and wish them Good Luck. Be sure to visit our website to see or participate in our new monthly contest. We were featured in the Cleaner Magazine, which is a trade paper for the whole United States. http://www.cleaner.com/editorial/815/2008/05 The link from the May 2008 issue of the Cleaner Magazine which featured our company. Thank You Frank Delano Dear Anita,
My name is Frank Delano, owner of A $49.95 Any Sewer or Drain, Inc. I appreciate your interest in our company and the positive feedback we have been getting. Approximately, 14 years ago I came up with the idea of $49.95 Any Sewer or Drain. My idea was to be different and think outside of the box but as I have been told, I’m so far away I can’t see the box, which I have taken as a compliment. I have set a standard price for sewer and drain cleaning where there was none. I wanted a new business plan that would actually care about our customers. I believe we are the most customer oriented sewer and drain business in the NYC area. We spend a lot of time and money creating new ideas and unique ways of advertising to bring in new customers. Once we have that customer we do everything we can to keep that customer. Our best advertising is referrals from our customers. Our business has been growing steadily each year and we now have 30 trucks. We have been successful in building our company and now we are in the process of selling franchises. It is unfortunate that other copy cat companies are trying to benefit from us by using certain trademarks and because of that I have sent out numerous cease and desist letters in the last 2 years. I would like to Thank You Anita and thank both of the jingle contestants for participating in our contest and wish them Good Luck. Be sure to visit our website to see or participate in our new monthly contest. We were featured in the Cleaner Magazine, which is a trade paper for the whole United States. http://www.cleaner.com/editorial/815/2008/05
The link from the May 2008 issue of the Cleaner Magazine which featured our company.
Thank You
Frank Delano

]]> By: Michael Hayes http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659701 Michael Hayes Tue, 26 May 2009 20:17:05 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659701 We have been using it for pr spots that have had us respond to help job seekers. Since we are a staffing company, many think if us as an expert due to youtube. take a look: http://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelHayesSpeaks We have been using it for pr spots that have had us respond to help job seekers. Since we are a staffing company, many think if us as an expert due to youtube.

take a look: http://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelHayesSpeaks

]]> By: Susan Dorsey http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659700 Susan Dorsey Tue, 26 May 2009 19:39:46 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659700 @ Anita Oh yes, I did NOT do any of the contestant videos - we shot the videos promoting the contests, we've also produced corporate videos and commercials for this client. I'm sure that would be a conflict of interest to produce contest videos! Of course, the one you chose to put on your website is adorable. He definitely spent some time on it - I wish I could claim responsibility! I'm glad to have found this website. Lots of interesting useful info! Susan @ Anita

Oh yes, I did NOT do any of the contestant videos – we shot the videos promoting the contests, we’ve also produced corporate videos and commercials for this client. I’m sure that would be a conflict of interest to produce contest videos! Of course, the one you chose to put on your website is adorable. He definitely spent some time on it – I wish I could claim responsibility!

I’m glad to have found this website. Lots of interesting useful info!

Susan

]]> By: Anita Campbell http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659685 Anita Campbell Tue, 26 May 2009 15:34:12 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659685 Hi Susan Dorsey, I assume by "all the contest videos" you mean the videos that the 4995.com company did to announce and promote the contests, not the entrants' videos, correct? Because the user-submitted videos would be created by those entering the contest. Just wanted to clarify so that somebody did not get the wrong impression. :) Thanks, Anita Hi Susan Dorsey,

I assume by “all the contest videos” you mean the videos that the 4995.com company did to announce and promote the contests, not the entrants’ videos, correct?

Because the user-submitted videos would be created by those entering the contest.

Just wanted to clarify so that somebody did not get the wrong impression. :)

Thanks,
Anita

]]> By: Susan Dorsey http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659684 Susan Dorsey Tue, 26 May 2009 14:54:41 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659684 Anita - you are right - the campaign was definitely created for buzz and not to get a jingle for a cheap price. (BTW if its a jingle you want I can get one for not much more than than that). While the idea came from the owner of 49.95 - we do some of his advertising and all of his video production. My company, Nelson Communications International - wrote and shot all of the contest videos. So I can confirm the idea is buzz and not to actually end up with a usable jingle - of course if that happens that is great - but considering the public votes for a winner - buzz is definitely the desired outcome. More questions? I can be contacted at sdorsey@optonline.net or 631-647-4730. Anita – you are right – the campaign was definitely created for buzz and not to get a jingle for a cheap price. (BTW if its a jingle you want I can get one for not much more than than that).

While the idea came from the owner of 49.95 – we do some of his advertising and all of his video production. My company, Nelson Communications International – wrote and shot all of the contest videos. So I can confirm the idea is buzz and not to actually end up with a usable jingle – of course if that happens that is great – but considering the public votes for a winner – buzz is definitely the desired outcome. More questions? I can be contacted at sdorsey@optonline.net or 631-647-4730.

]]> By: Amanda http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/05/unclog-my-drain-viral-marketing-videos-local-small-businesses.html#comment-659679 Amanda Tue, 26 May 2009 14:09:39 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=14127#comment-659679 Great idea to get customers involved and excited about your company and products. Now's the time to do whatever you can to stand out. This contest definitely achieves just that. Great idea to get customers involved and excited about your company and products. Now’s the time to do whatever you can to stand out. This contest definitely achieves just that.

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