Mysteries for Businesses

Are you ready to connect with your clients in a unique, intimate and unforgettable way?

Shot In The Dark Mysteries presents….

There is a revolution occurring in marketing. Gone are the days when a company could pay for a 30 second spot on TV and get their message heard. The Internet has created a global marketplace, where user-friendly websites have given everyone a soap box from which to cast their opinions (good OR bad) and have them be viewed worldwide. Instant product reviews on all kinds of websites give a single person the ability to elevate a business, or sink its reputation on the spot. Even big business has trouble keeping up with all of the new marketing techniques: SEO, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Linked In, Viral, Video, Blogging, Vlogging, Ezines, product reviews – the list goes on, and changes and expands by the day (or even the hour!). It’s enough to make an entrepreneur’s head spin! In spite of all of these “Web 2.0” marketing “techniques” there is one marketing strategy that will always be effective, regardless of the latest marketing “trick”.

1. Offer unbeatable VALUE

2. Connect with your clients on a PERSONAL level

3. Get people talking about you, creating WORD OF MOUTH ADVERTISING

Remember all of those marketing techniques I listed above? I do all of those. Yes, all of those, and more! And do you know what? There are two “things” I do that gain Shot In The Dark Mysteries the MOST business and the MOST buzz. The first one you may have already guessed: The LIVE MURDER MYSTERY GAMES we put on at various events around the world. The second one may come as a surprise to you – I know it does to my clients. It’s my Halloween Card campaign!

Each year at Halloween, all of my past clients (yes, EVERY SINGLE past client) and the companies I do business with receive a hand written, personalized card from me (using their name) thanking them for their business or their partnership and wishing them a Happy Halloween. Why is a simple greeting card so darned effective? Because in these times of “web” this and “email” that, THE PERSONAL TOUCH STANDS OUT.

People buy from those they know, like and trust.

Think of those companies or people you give your business to on a regular basis – those you are LOYAL to. Your hairdresser. Your masseuse. Your coffee shop.

Now think of those you couldn’t care less whether they are your vendor or not (I’m willing to wager your bank and/or your cellular provider came to mind first!) Why do your loyalties lie with the first three and not the latter?

“Well, my hairdresser knows all my kids names, and even cuts their hair!”

“I have friends I consider soul mates who don’t know as much about me as my masseuse!”

“Every morning when I walk into my coffee shop, my barista says ‘The Usual?”

It’s the PERSONAL TOUCH that stands out these days, and delivering that personal touch will MAKE YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS STAND OUT TOO!

Okay, enough chit-chat, let’s talk about how Mysterious Marketing (that is, marketing with a mystery) can work for you and your business.

A sample scenario:

Jane opens a hair salon in a trendy neighbourhood that values small business and thwarts large chains from coming in and taking over. The residents like their “small village” feel, but are loyal to the businesses already open. Jane would like to become a part of the neighbourhood – a part of their “village”, so to speak, but knows she must do it with finesse so as not to make the wrong impression and lose her target market forever.

Jane decides to host an event – a meet-and-greet of sorts, and hires Shot In The Dark Mysteries to create a custom mystery game for her business. The game is delivered and SITD even helps out with the marketing by offering suggestions of how to get the word out.

The neighbourhood begins hearing about Jane’s salon and their mystery night. “What a cool idea,” people are saying. “I’ll swing by just to see what it’s all about.” “Hey,” says Felicia, who runs the coffee shop up the street, to a client. “Are you going to the mystery night at Jane’s Salon? We’re providing the cookies.” “Sure,” says the customer. “I’ll pop in!”

People in her target market are talking about Jane, her salon and her employees! Jane and her four employees each become “suspects” and as clients trickle in through the evening, they ask the stylists questions to try to solve the mystery.

To view the “Crime Scene”, the attendees enter the salon’s state-of-the-art esthetics room. “Oh, I didn’t know you offered esthetics!” clients say, and take a quick moment to view the treatment menu on the wall, as well as the Christmas Gift Certificate promotion Jane has put together.

The attendees can also wander through the tanning room to discover a clue to the mystery (and probably decide to beat the winter chills by purchasing a tanning package before they leave).

Jane and her stylists are mixing and mingling while being “interrogated” by potential clients and existing clients (when their heads aren’t covered in highlight foils).

When they think they have solved the mystery, the attendees fill out an accusation card and drop it in the draw box for a chance to win prizes for guessing correctly. At the pre-determined time, the solution to the mystery is revealed, and those who got it right cheer while those who guessed wrong groan! For the rest of the evening, as people mix and mingle, they joke about the “suspects” and talk about who they thought was guilty, and why.

Jane’s receptionist is busy handing each attendee a coupon for a discount on their next service as they leave – and taking bookings. The night ends but the effects of the evening don’t stop there.

The next day, this community is talking about Jane’s event. “Did you solve the mystery correctly?” “Yes, and I won a free haircut for guessing right!” “It was so nice to get to know Jane and her staff.” “What a unique evening!” Every time these people think about getting a haircut, highlights, a mud wrap, or even working on their tan before their big vacation, they think of Jane and the unforgettable, interactive mystery she hosted at her salon – FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME!

Jane’s potential clients have visited her salon, establishing familiarity. They ate her food and drank her soda and wine – a gift which human nature compels us to return. They know Jane and each of her stylists by name, and have unconsciously chosen a stylist they like best. The clients have connected with each of them on a personal level, and have experienced their shining personalities. They have also learned about the services Jane’s Salon offers, a message Jane could have spent a fortune on flyers and ads trying to convey. They have received a “suspect guide” profiling Jane’s stylists (complete with Jane’s Salon contact info), which most will take home with them and view on average five times before recycling it. AND they have spent a FUN evening at Jane’s Salon and are TELLING ALL THEIR FRIENDS! That’s the kind of publicity entrepreneurs pay a fortune for – and usually see no effects.

As a business owner you probably already know the power of word of mouth advertising. But, like most business owners, you wonder how to generate word of mouth advertising for your business. A mystery night is a great way to start!

Your mystery includes:

- Your choice of a murder mystery (adult themes) or a family-friendly (non-murder) mystery game

- A .pdf print kit – all you have to do is download it, have it printed and read the directions – the game plays itself

- Cheat sheets for your “suspects”

- Custom-designed “suspect guide” branded with your company info and contact information

- Invitations (optional)

- Brochures (optional)

- Other marketing material design (decided upon during a one-on-one consultation)

- Event marketing strategy session and suggestions for marketing your mystery night

Why Now?

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but Holiday Marketing is delightful! Christmas is THE BEST time of year to schedule your mystery and connect with clients. Why? Christmas is a time when people get together with those they value most. Connecting YOUR BRAND with the warm fuzzy feelings of the Christmas season has long lasting positive psychological effect on your clients. Once the stress of the season wears off, people remember the good stuff – especially the fun they had at events they attended.

We are now booking for the Christmas season, and because of the time it takes to create each mystery, we have VERY limited space – we only have space for 7 more clients.

Book your mystery night today!

For payments, we give you two options:

Branded: (We put our website and logo on your brochure) $1095 all inclusive

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Unbranded: (Our company info is nowhere on your materials) $1495 all inclusive