Gamification is a hot topic in the advertising industry right now. Gamification, or game-based marketing, applies the fun and interactive elements of gameplay to non-game applications, like marketing and advertising. A great example of effective game-based marketing goes back to the late 1970s when airlines rolled out the very first frequent flier promotions. These frequent flier programs offered airline customers the ability to accumulate free miles with every flight. The concept was extremely popular, and frequent flier programs still exist on many airlines today.Like frequent flier programs, BestBingoPromo.com offers brands and newspapers the opportunity to engage their customer base in a fun and interactive way.
Bingo Promotions Engage Readers
Game-based advertising works because it engages readers and gets them to respond. An ad on a bingo card or with the call number does not get lost on a page that will be casually skimmed over. Bingo promotions elicit response and action. Bingo sponsors have the opportunity to play a game with their target customers, making the advertising experience a two-way interaction instead of one-way communication.
“Gaming has become ingrained in culture,” said Ann Mack, Director of Global Trendspotting at JWT. “The consumer has become more and more engaged, and [gaming] allows them to spend more and more time with your brand, and gives them incentive to do so.”
Sponsors often offer the game’s winner a handsome prize as well. It doesn’t get much more engaging than that!
Bingo Promotions Spur Goodwill and Community Connection
When a newspaper and local businesses team up to run a Bingo promotion, the game often results in a strong sense of camaraderie in the community. Local residents discuss the ongoing game, compare Bingo game cards and numbers, and even get excited about each other’s chances of winning.
Individuals in the community look forward to each new edition of the newspaper, and some even feel a sense of gratitude to the local business sponsoring the game. Even though most game players recognize that the Bingo game is a vehicle for advertising, they still appreciate the opportunity to have fun and win a prize.
Bingo Promotions Incentivize Advertising
Perhaps the biggest reason game-based advertising is so successful is because human beings are inherently competitive creatures. People love to compete; they crave the excitement of a quest, enjoy overcoming a challenge, and ultimately, relish the feeling of accomplishment after a big win.
“It’s the system that’s engaging, not the reward,” said Gabe Zichermann, author of Game-Based Marketing. “That’s what game designers know really well, and this is what gamification is unveiling to the marketing world.”
Businesses all over the world have embraced the opportunity to leverage gamification while marketing and advertising their brands to prospective customers. What’s stopping you from doing the same? Give your audience something to look forward to next Sunday. Contact us to incorporate a game-based Bingo promotion into your newspaper today.
