UK online newspaper, Guardian Unlimited has reported that 'Harry Potter fans will get the chance to appear in the franchise's next film, thanks to a deal between producers Warner Brothers and Microsoft UK.
Fans will have to complete an online quiz on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as part of the competition, arranged by Warner Home Video and Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions' UK division.
Those who answer all the questions correctly will get the chance to appear in the next film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.'
Do you think that Harry Potter fans or aspiring actors are likely to enter the competition and visit the MSN site each week until the competition closes on December 20th? As an ex work colleague of mine used to say 'Does a fish swim?'
Obviously, this is a brilliant prize that 'money couldn't buy'. However, you could take the competition principles and apply it to your web marketing to attract valuable customers.
Marketing tips that any business (large or small) could apply to attract new customers
- What competition prize could you offer that would be perceived as high value by your target customers (something money couldn't buy) but ideally be a low cost to you? - Having the winner appear as an extra for a few seconds is hardly like to have any impact on the film's production cost.
- Could you partner with another non-competitive company who shares your target audience? - This could either improve the prize or the marketing support or the number of target customers you could reach.
- How could you tailor the competition to not only appeal to your target customers but also effectively communicate your brand story & values? - Every communication should enhance your brand story and try to differentiate you from your competitors.
- How could you integrate the competition with your website and other web marketing activities as well as your non-web marketing activities? - The Harry Potter competition requires people to come back too the site each week to get the next question. Clearly, the effort needs to be linked to the prize. You are unlikely to get people to visit 10 times to win a £5 ($10) bottle of wine.
- How could you encourage the competition to be talked about and make it easier for people to involve their friends, family and work colleagues and to become a viral success?
Remember...web marketing is about solving customers' problems profitably.
Peter Hawtin is an internet marketing specialist with Brand New Way, a UK web marketing agency (based in Wiltshire & Bristol) which helps companies to attract and keep valuable customers online.
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