Web directory and merchant network Switchboard Inc. yesterday launched a $25,000 sweepstakes and instant-win promotion to boost traffic to its advertisers' Web sites.
Incentives such as the cash grand prize and instant-win prizes including Palm Pilots, DVD players, gift certificates from e-commerce sites and a trip for four to Orlando, FL, are being offered to users who explore the business search and yellow pages services at www.switchboard.com.
Online promotions company RealTIME Media helped develop the campaign, which runs through March 27.
Switchboard, Westboro, MA, hopes to induce clicks by hiding instant-win game cards and grand-prize entries behind display advertisements within its yellow pages listings. When users click the ads, they get a pop-up window describing the promotion.
To strengthen its e-mail marketing effort, the company will hand out extra instant-win and grand-prize opportunities to users who opt in to receive weekly messages containing sweepstakes updates and promotions offered by Switchboard and its partners.
With its Tell-A-Friend component, Switchboard hopes to drive viral marketing by giving grand-prize entries to those who forward sweepstakes and promotion information to additional users.
Switchboard offers people and business search services, e-mail, Web site directories, interactive maps and driving directions to help small businesses promote themselves online.
