Tags: Businesses, Go Charleston Deals, social commerce, social coupons, social media, social media marketing, social networking, The Modern Connection[ × ]

With our current economic status, it’s no surprise that couponing has hit a frenzied high.

Valassis, one of the nation’s leading media and marketing services companies, reported that in 2010, marketers distributed 332 billion consumer packaged goods coupons – the largest single-year distribution quantity ever recorded in the United States, exceeding last year’s prior record by 6.8% or 21 billion coupons.

So, it should be no surprise that social couponing has also experienced an increase in popularity. In fact, social coupon services received top billing with 2011 social media trend predictions and thus far seem to be living up to the performance expectations.

We were interested in gaining an insider perspective on the couponing 2.0 trend and reached out to Holly Roberson, creator of Go Charleston Deals, a group coupon service that specializes in partnering with local businesses to offer very region-specific deals for its customers. Go Charleston Deals is slated to begin service in June of 2011 and it should be noted that they are a client of The Modern Connection.

TMC: Why do you think social couponing has seen such success?

GCD: Consumers are at a place right now where they understand the value of a dollar and know that there are services out there to help make that dollar stretch. Social couponing is easier to use than clipping from a newspaper because the savings come directly to you via email or mobile device. Additionally, the sharing options available through these services work as a distillery – if I see something I know a friend would like, I can forward it to them and vice versa. Essentially, social couponing helps consumers save time and energy and we all know time = money.

TMC: What type of reaction have you seen from merchants to your service?

GCD: Mostly reaction has been very positive. When I get to meet the proprietor, it’s because they have taken the time to meet with me and we both know that we’re there to foster each other’s business. It’s important for my clients to know that my goal is to bring them customers, not consumers. I want their customers to come back in again.

TMC: What advice can you give merchants considering social couponing?

GDC: Remember that this is not a promotion; it’s marketing. Don’t just jump into group coupons because you want a quick bump in sales. If you don’t have a marketing plan, consider who you want to attract. Is there a specific aspect of your business that you want to use to attract customers? How much is it going to cost you long-term to invest? What will give you the most bang for your buck and what makes the most sense for your business? Sit down with your social marketing rep and put some thought into your deal.

TMC: What do you want potential clients and consumers to know about Go Charleston Deals?

GCD: Our service is based locally and we completely support our local economy. From our marketing to our graphics, resources and the clients that we partner with, we strive to support the Charleston area – we want to be an integral part of the community. We’re also extremely excited to be partnering with local non-profits to donate 5% of all sales – that’s money coming out of our profits, not something we expect our clients to provide. We want to build long-term relationships – personally with our clients and the community and also between our clients and their customers.

Have you tried social coupons? If so, what was the outcome? If not, what are your hesitations?

As a social media specialist for The Modern Connection, Jessica provides innovative and strategic solutions that help businesses connect with their customers.