Friday, January 15, 2010

A Cliff Notes First - A Readership Contest!

Every successful social networking program goes through a growth process as it transitions from cult phenomenon to widespread acceptance. The founders of My Space, Facebook or Twitter, all took important initial steps to market their creation to the masses. This is exactly the spot where Cliff Notes finds itself today. After a 18 months of growth, is Cliff Notes ready for the next level?

Recently the Cliff Notes executive team held a corporate retreat to map out its strategy. CEO Cliff Mulder pulled his executive team together to share ideas - marketing was the main focus. The Vice President of Marketing , Cliff Mulder, introduced the idea of using a contest as a method of cultivating feedback from the readership of Cliff Notes. Vice President of Readership Services, Cliff Mulder, noted that reader's comments had dropped off significantly in the last few months and suggested that the contest encourage readers to post comments. Chief Editor Cliff Mulder was assigned the task of designing the first Cliff Notes Readership Contest. So here it is:

THE CONTEST

You have three ways to win. The success reader(s) will each win their choice of an itunes or Starbucks gift card:

CONTEST ONE: The first reader to place a comment on this posting will win a $10 gift card.

CONTEST TWO: Any reader who leaves a comment on this posting will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card. The comment must be left by next Friday, January 22nd. One entry per person. It is that simple, just leave any comment and you can be a winner. The drawing will occur on Saturday the 23rd and the winner will be promptly notified.

CONTEST THREE - CLIFF NOTES TRIVIA: The first reader to correctly answer the following questions is the winner of a $10 gift card. Please place your answers in your comment on this posting. All the answers can be found in the historical postings on Cliff Notes:

1. On March 17, 2009, where did Cliff and Brenda spend their 25th wedding anniversary?

2. What name did Brenda give her white Ford Expedition?

3. For Halloween 2008, what did Cliff and Brenda dress up as?

4. What was the date of Cliff Note's first posting?

5. What did Cliff buy for himself on Father's Day 2009?
6. How many total posts have been placed on Cliff Notes since its inception?


10 comments:

Laurel said...

ohhh i love starbucks!

Philip said...

1. On March 17, 2009, where did Cliff and Brenda spend their 25th wedding anniversary?
At the new trump hotel in Chicago
2. What name did Brenda give her white Ford Expedition?
The “Beast/Bessie” (although I always preferred the Abominable Snowman, although it never did stick)
3. For Halloween 2008, what did Cliff and Brenda dress up as?
Billy and Roxy from the musical Chicago
4. What was the date of Cliff Note's first posting?
October 24, 2008
5. What did Cliff buy for himself on Father's Day 2009?
An IPhone 3G
6. How many total posts have been placed on Cliff Notes since its inception?
100!

I'll take my Itunes gift card, please. As for the rest of you, pwned

Cliff Mulder said...

Well, we have our first two winners. Laurel for being the first (although why was she reading my blog at 11:24 pm on a Friday night? Ann Arbor must be a boring college town). Philip wins for the trivia contest with all six correct answers.
Luckily, we still have Contest 3. Make a comment on this posting by next Friday and you will be entered into the drawing. Pass the word.

lisa mulder said...

I'm also a big fan of starbucks!! I do have to comment on the Mulder Kids update... not quite sure why I earned "the Lisa" in the title - hopefully just a typo :)

Craig Mulder said...

I hope this works well, otherwise you may have to let go of half of your executive team.

Jess said...

Because you're the not just "a" Lisa--you are the Lisa.

This comment counts for Bryan--still not logging out Jessie.

Gabi said...

hmmmm..... itunes gift card...... here's your comment uncle cliff.... =)

Anonymous said...

liza protests this blatant act of coercion. GIRL SCOUT cookies are the reward for ordering cookies, not increased readership on a blog...
:)
thanks for ordering!!!!!<3

bea said...

i need to check your blog more often. Bea

Ann said...

I knew I should have been checking out cliffnotes - this is much more lucrative than Grandma's trivia - no wonder no one participates in that anymore.