World Wide Travel Center

I went home today for lunch and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had won two round trip plane tickets to any international airport! The mail came in this very seriously marked tear away package with specific delivery dates and everything. See below:

It also had a 1-800-809-6310 with a corresponding offer # to verify after I call. So, not wanting to waste any time on redeeming my two newly minted tickets, I called in.

The woman that picked up the phone did not identify herself by “US Airlines” as the airline ticket I received in the mail said. She said she was from World Wide Travel. I was confused. She asked me for my “offer number” on the back of the ticket. I gave it and she verified the spelling of my name.

I am not as lucky as you might think. As it turns out it is for a company in Beavercreek, OH called World Wide Travel Center http://worldwidetravelcenter.com

She then started reading (funny how you can tell when people do that on the phone) me her canned pitch. It went something like this:

“Mr. Lewis, this free travel offer is not a timeshare. Also, it is only available for couples who make more than $45,000 per year and have a valid credit card. Do you fit that category? Ok, Great. We would like to invite you into our office for a 90 minute proposal to discuss your travel needs and at the conclusion of that session you will receive your two free tickets to any international airport. Can we schedule you tonight, tomorrow, or Friday at 6PM?”

*CLICK*

Unfortunately this type of “Advertising” goes on all too frequently. I felt like I was in Orlando trying to get free tickets to Disney Land after hearing how I needed to buy an $185,000 time share and how rich it would make me. These, probably bogus, offers are the worst way to develop a client base. It leaves almost everyone your business comes into contact with feeling slighted. Plus, imagine the sharks that would actually come to the travel “appointment” and sit there only to want to get something for free with absolutely no intention of spending a dime. Does that sound like good business?

Have any of you received this same mailing? Would you have gone to the meeting?

The most impressive thing about the iPhone - Hint: It's not the phone

Although the much hyped iPhone which is the latest convergence of technologies (one part cell phone, one part music/video player, one part Blackberry, two parts cool) that technological advancement is not the most impressive part of the iPhone.

What the iPhone should be remembered for is the ridiculous amount of hype that surrounds its entrance into the marketplace. I cannot remember or think of a more anticipated product. It all started with a video that I saw on C|net.com that had the iPhone encased in glass and rotating in a circle at some tech convention. No one could touch it or even get close.

After that first appearance the media blitz started. Steve Jobs did what he does best: Promote. He introduced it at MacWorld and the media still could not get their hands on it. He just played with hisnew gadget on stage. This caused what seemed like a diagnosable disease "iPhone paranoia". You could not go a week without reading about the iPhone. There were articles on cnn.com, in The Wall Street Journal, Businessweek, and on every single tech blog worth its' salt.

Seve Jobs, like all great magicians, presented his latest feat of engineering and then did a most unexpected thing: He pulled back. Nature abhors a vacuum. Next, it was the media's turn to step in and fill that void with wild speculation. Speculate they did.

So, what is the most impressive thing you ask? I'll tell you. The most impressive thing about the iPhone is that Steve Jobs manipulated almost every channel of media distribution and it cost him close to nothing. The iPhone was written about everywhere. Why would you pay for an advertisement on page 4 of the news paper when your story is already on the front page?

I hope there will be a case study written about this media manipulating product. Because the story is yet to unfold. As the iPhone is being released (as I write this that will be tomorrow) Friday expect throngs of teenagers, some of whom will be covered on TV at no cost to Steve Jobs, to use their Word of Mouth to ensure the iPhones' success.

I would say look for more examples of free marketing for the iPhone, but you wont have to. It will be everywhere.