"So why does this one in particular say expires 20 nov 2011.
Yours says 25 March 2012 which is well worked out in order to keep your normal business going, although I can't quite see the 500 sold though, but I guess some of them were because of Groupn and not directkly through Groupon" -
Ok guys - This is what actually happens - Groupon contact you and ask you if you want to take part - We number cruched this for a couple of weeks and carried out further feasibility studies.
You then agree with Groupon when this offer goes live.
The first day is normally the most successfull (sales).
People pay for their groupon voucher (or they contact you directly like most did). This is the classed as the main feature.
The second day Groupon advertise your offer as a previous deal and yet again sales are made or the customers contact you directly as before.
To cut a long story short - on the 5th day customers can still purchase Groupon vouchers or still contact you directly.
The vouchers are valid for 6 months in our case because thats what Groupon stated was the norm.
This works for us very well as it allows us to mix groupon work with our regular work and the customers that have contacted us directly - every day we have a selection of groupon, regular and new customers.
So far to date we have obtained various commercial contracts including a major carpet retailer chain store group, schools, churches, property investors, estate agents etc - without Groupon none of this would of happened as the Groupon Marketing methods are excellent as they reach the customers that you alone would never be able to reach and all this comes with no financial outlay.
Next - Jason if you have actually carried out the Groupon offer please be so kind to explain to these good folk how you go about redeeming the voucher !!!
Anyone want to know anything else ?