Jeff Woelker : Chicago SEO, SEM, and Social Media Consultant

Well, I’ll be 27 in two days. It feels like yesterday that I remember thinking “Man, I can’t wait to be 16 so I can drive a car” or “Man, I can’t wait to be 21 so I can go to the bar.” And now it’s “Man, I can’t wait to get my W-2 so I can file my taxes and get a fat check from my mortgage interest payment.” How things change.

As part of my birthday, I have gotten cards and letters from loved ones wishing me well along with cards from a few different businesses. Express and Best Buy remembered my birthday They both sent little cards with discounts and free merch in them, which was welcomed, especially during the holiday season. Online businesses though have the most to gain from birthday reminders/gifts/offers. From a technical aspect, it’s pretty easy:

1. Collect date of birth.
2. Write script to hit database to find people who are born on day X or within Y days of Day X.
3. Send them promotion via email or snail mail. Done!

The first step is the most difficult, as it will vary by market segment, but I think it applies in most day to day interactions that people have. Will I give my date of birth at the Dentist office? Probably. Argo tea? Maybe, but why? Express? I think they got it from a credit application I gave them, but I probably would not have normally given it. You, as a business, will have to figure when it is or is not appropriate to ask for it from your customers and then market off of that.

Happy Marketing!

P.s. – If you have never been to Argo Tea – you haven’t enjoyed tea.

Update: Wine.com also remembered my birthday on the day of.