The latest trend among new local startups companies is that of playing a guessing game. Months before they are suppose go live they open up part of their site and allow users to guess what the startup is all about and in return if you guess it correctly you could win something.
Latest startup to make use of this new unique way of marketing is Smokoo, they are asking users to do a pre-register on their site and guess what their new venture is all about, the person that gets it right will walk away with a brand new Apple iPad. Smokoo opened up their pre-registration only 8 days ago and already have more than 1000 pre-registrations for the new service according to their Facebook Page.
Another local startup where I have seen this marketing technique first was with Locl, but their prize it kind of bigger. Locl is not asking for a correct answer but a creative one, so my thoughts are whatever you suggest if its good they will implement it. Their prize? A one percent stake in the company, and like the man behind Locl, Shaun Trennery, says: “Imaging owning 1% of Facebook”.
Smokoo doesn’t really give users an idea of what the new startup is about, apart from a logo, iPad and countdown clock on their website. Locl however gives one more of an idea as to what the startup wants to be about, location, location, location. Its in the name, its on the homepage and the demo says it all by displaying all location based info near the area where you are browsing the site from.
Good luck to both these ventures and I already made my predictions and suggestions, why not give it a try and you could perhaps walk away with an Apple iPad or a one percent stake in a technology startup.
