Groupon - It's Like Getting Paid to Advertise

"It's Like Getting Paid to Advertise"

How would you like to book 100-200 intros, sign-up dozens of new students, and drive thousands of hits to your website? There’s an e-marketing program called Groupon.com - that can do all three of those things, and they’ll pay you to do it.

Groupon.com is an email program that connects local businesses with consumers. Several PADI retailers across the United States have already used Groupon.com to book dozens of new customers and bring in new income. 

One PADI store owner said, "It was like getting paid to advertise; I would offer a groupon every day if they'd let me."

To hear from retailers who've used Groupon, and find out how it can benefit your business, join us next Wednesday June 2nd at 2pm Pacific Time for a teleconference. The program is for PADI IRRA Members only, please contact your sales rep or regional manager for information on how to sign up.

How does Groupon work?

• Consumers subscribe to Groupon’s daily deal email.
• The daily deal, offered by a different local business everyday is a group discount
• There’s always a minimum buy in: 20-50 people have to purchase the daily deal (using a credit card) before it activates.
• The local business is flooded with calls and their website is inundated with visitors.
• Groupon collects the payments and keeps about 50% of the take

PADI Members who have used Groupon offered an “Introductory Scuba Lesson” (aka Discover Scuba experience). Sign-up rates have ranged from 94 to over 300. View scuba Groupons that have already run in: San Diego, Seattle and Pittsburg.
 

(email subscribers, please click through to view image above)

Get to know your local Groupon:
To view the Daily Deal for your city, visit Groupon.com, enter your email address and choose your city from the drop down list. You might even find a deal that will save you money! I've personally bought restaurant coupons and surf lessons. 

Click the chart below to view a list of the cities where Groupon is currently operator (or will soon).

If there isn’t a Groupon in your area – there are similar programs operating in other markets. Contact your PADI sales rep for more info.

And speaking of getting paid to advertise...
Read our recent article Matching Funds Available for TV Advertising.

PADI stores: check your mailbox for our June sales promo

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A new PADI sales promotion is available for IRRA members. The information was sent out via postcard so check your mailbox. If you have not received the information, contact your sales rep for details: 800 729 7234.

Matching Funds Available for Television Advertising

PADI Dive Centers and Resorts in the PADI Americas region can receive a 25 percent match (up to $500) to purchase local television advertising. More than $30,000 is available!

Increase your buying power by partnering with other dive retailers in your area. PADI Americas will match up to $5000 per group of retailers - so it pays to work together.

Choose Your Ad

1. Choose from three PADI Americas-produced commercial options (each is available in either 30 second or 60 second length) that can be customized with your store logo and contact information.
   
   To view the ads - visit the new PADI Pros site, Click on Toolbox, then Image/Video and view all three of our new TV spots.
   
   For More information on the PADI Television Commercials, contact Cambria McConnell at cambria dot mcconnell at padi dot com or 949-858-7234 ext 2313
   
   
2. DEMA members can also utilize the Be a Diver TV spot and qualify for additional co-op funds.
   
   
3. Interested in producing your own ad? Google has a TV ad creation marketplace where you can choose from a list of approved vendors. Vendor prices start as low as $750. Retailers in the SoCal market might contact the USC, UCLA or Chapman University film departments.
   
   
   
   
   • USC School of Cinematic Arts phone: 213.740.3317
   • UCLA email: info@tft.ucla.edu or call 310 206-8441
   • Chapman email: dhorne@chapman.edu or call (714) 997-6765 and ask for Derek Horne

Plan your Ad Buy
After determining your budget, contact a media buyer with your local cable company or use Google to schedule air time.

Contact PADI
Contact Cambria McConnell to secure co-op funds. Funding is allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Cambria dot McConnell at padi dot com or 800 729 7234 ext. 2313.

Here is DEMA's Be a Diver Ad

(email subscribers may need to click through to the website to view)

 

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Using Google to Place your TV Ad Buy

Benefits of using Google to make your TV ad buy

• Purchase on a national, local, or demographic-based  perspective
• Schedule ads based on day, time, and network
• Bid against others for a particular time slot.
• Estimate how many people viewed your ad
• View the amount of time (on average) viewers watched your ad
• Find out if viewers clicked away from you ad and at what point

Check out the video below which explains a simple way to buy a TV ad on one or more cable networks using Google. Or, view the video in a new window.

Refresh and Review Scuba Knowledge Online

PADI Scuba Tune-Up Is Online Now - Student Price $50

How many times have you heard, "I'm a certified diver, but it's been a little while since I was in the water"?

For divers who's scuba knowledge is a little foggy: Scuba Tune-Up online is a convenient option to review diving fundamentals.

If you're a PADI Dive Center, you'd be crazy not to plug Scuba Tune-Up Online

There are thousands of divers who feel insecure about their basic dive knowledge - but may not openly admit it. At $50, Scuba Tune-Up is the online equivalent of an impulse buy. Just like you might pick up a pack of gum to refresh your breath, a diver on your mailing list might sign up for Scuba Tune-Up to "refresh" their skills. Har har...

Here is some sample copy to use on your website or in your enewsletter:

Quick: Answer the Following....

What are the five steps in a pre-dive safety check?

What is the maximum depth limit for recreational diving?

What are the signs and symptoms of decompression sickness?

If you're unsure how to answer one or more of the questions above: it may be time for a scuba tune up! You can get started online (your eLearning link goes here) for $50.

The online course is performance-based, you'll take a series of short quizzes to evaluate what you remember from open water. Correct answers will allow you to complete the course quickly. For incorrect answers, you’ll read a brief explanation to help refresh your memory. A pool training session completes the scuba review (your price here). Price includes a scuba review decal for your certification card.

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Scuba Tune-Up + Confined Water Skills Review = SCUBA TUNE-UP

The online program uses interactive videos to review basic dive skills, but urges participants to visit a dive center or resort for inwater practice (and to learn about the latest updates in dive equipment). The online program also includes a segment on diving with Enriched Air - promoting continuing education with your business.

From the Introduction:

Although Scuba Tune-up includes a Diving Skills review section, this does not replace an actual in-water review of diving skills with your PADI Professional. Contact your PADI Dive Center or Resort to schedule your Confined Water Skills Review.

From the Dive Skills Review Section:

During this section you reviewed important dive skills you learned during your entry level scuba course, but this is no substitute for spending time in the water with your PADI Professional going over these skills. During such a session you’ll have the opportunity to practice important skills such as buoyancy control, mask clearing, breathing from an alternate air source and determining the correct amount of weight to wear.

Want to preview the new course?
PADI stores and Instructors who've previously purchased an Access Pass can preview Scuba Tune-Up online (or any of our other eLearning courses). Here's how:

1. Visit elearning.padi.com
2. Click on User Maintanence
3. Next - click on Preview Course Sections
4. Choose Scuba Tune-Up online from the drop down menu

Need to get caught up on what's new with our eLearning programs?
Visit the PADI Instructor News eLearning page. This webpage will give you a brief overview of what you need to know about each program.

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See you at Scuba Show and NW Dive and Travel Expo

Dive Show-o-Rama

The west coast tour continues! Congrats to all the new instructors from the Monterey IE this past weekend. Next stop: Long Beach, CA.

If you're going to the Scuba Show this weekend or the NW Dive and Travel Show next weekend - please stop by and say, "aloha." 

PADI Diving Society members (which is every PADI Divemaster, AI and Instructor) can save money on admission. Print off the Scuba Show coupon or NW Dive & Travel coupon and present with your PADI Diving Society card (see image below).

We also have some free seminars going on at each show:

PADI is Booth #345

Intro to Digital Underwater Photography Seminar
11 AM, Saturday, 15 May (Room #308B):
Learn tips for taking better underwater photos by applying simple, proven techniques and see an immediate improvement in your underwater images. Open to novice shooters and divers interested in learning more about underwater photography.
Presented by Bob Wohlers, PADI Americas Instructional Design and Development Executive.


Go Pro with PADI
3 PM, Saturday, 15 May (Room #308B)
Learn what it takes to earn the most sought after professional dive credential in the world. This presentation maps the necessary path to become a dive professional.
Presented by Michael Janssen,  Pacific Regional Manager and Adam Wucherpfennig, PADI Americas Sales Consultant.

Is There a Tec Diver in You?
2 PM, Sunday, 16 May (Room #308B):
Learn more about PADI TecRec courses and new options available to recreational divers. An overview on the PADI Public Safety Diver course will also be presented. Open to divers of all levels.
Presented by Steve Mortell, PADI Americas Technical Diving Division’s Director of Cave Diving.

Stop by PADI booth - #625

Is There a Tec Diver in You?
10 AM, Saturday, 22 May (Room #405):
Learn more about PADI TecRec courses and new options available to recreational divers. An overview on the PADI Public Safety Diver course will also be presented. Open to divers of all levels.
Presented by Steve Mortell, PADI Americas Technical Diving Division’s Director of Cave Diving.

Go Pro with PADI
2 PM, Saturday, 22 May (Room #407):
Learn what it takes to earn the most sought after professional dive credential in the world. This presentation maps the necessary path to become a dive professional.
Presented by Barry Dunford, Northwest Regional Manager and Megan Denny, Sales Consultant.

Intro to Digital Underwater Photography Seminar
3 PM, Sunday, 23 May (Room #406):
Learn tips for taking better underwater photos by applying simple, proven techniques and see an immediate improvement in your underwater images. Open to novice shooters and divers interested in learning more about underwater photography.
Presented by Barry Dunford, PADI Americas Northwest Regional Manager.

Updated Rescue Cue Cards Now Shipping

Rescue Diver Instructor Cue Cards
New revision date: 09/09
Version 2.02
Product 60205
member price: $53.30



We've just started shipping the updated instructor cue cards for Rescue Diver. Which means (drumroll please) all the updated instructor cue cards are now shipping!

Are your instructor slates current?
Here is a list of all the PADI instructor cue cards with part numbers and current revision dates. We updated all the slates last year to match the 2010 instructor manual. Some of the slates hadn't been revised since 2000.

What's the difference between this version and the old one?
The 4th Quarter 2009 Training Bulletin will give you an overview of what's changed on each set of slates. Check out pages 5-7, or you can compare the standards from the 2010 Instructor manual.

We are not shipping the updated Skill Evaluation Slate yet. Last I heard, this item will start shipping this summer.

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Undersea Journal Reader Survey

The Undersea Journal staff wants to hear your opinions. Please visit padi.com/readersurvey for a short, anonymous readership survey. 

How well does The Undersea Journal meet your needs as a PADI Member? What do you like? What don’t you like? What works? What doesn’t?

The survey will be up until 15 July 2010.

Please contact PADI Americas Market Research Executive Cheryl Gilmore (Cheryl dot Gilmore at padi dot com) for any survey-related questions.

Did You See the New Movie Oceans?

Has anyone seen the new movie Oceans? I was skeptical at first. I was worried there would be a canned storyline. You know...something like: Leonard the Lonely Whale migrating from Hawaii to Alaska and making new friends along the way. Luckily, Ania from Project AWARE saw the film and told me to stop being such a movie snob and go see it.

Oceans is very much a documentary - not a Disney story. There isn't a story line besides the dramatic story of nature itself. Some of the material is familiar: ethereal jellyfish, migrating whales, adorable sea otters and spinning dolphins. But there is some amazing how-did-they-get-that-shoot footage. One shot in particular - of a diver swimming next to a Great White - really sticks in my mind.

They also have footage of a blanket octopus. I'm an ocean movie nut (big fan of Blue Planet, Planet Earth, etc). and I'd never even heard of this amazing creature.

Did you see Oceans? If so, please leave a comment or vote in our poll. Email subscribers may need to click through to vote. The poll is located in the right column toward the top.

Did You See Oceans?