Most businesses create promotions they secretly hope no one will claim. "Get our product free when you refer 47 friends!" "Win a year of service by being our 10,000th follower!" They sound generous. But they're designed to be nearly impossible. A prime example? There's this restaurant in Mobile, Alabama that put up a sign in the 1930s. "Free oysters to any man 80 years old accompanied by his father." For nearly 90 years, no one claimed it. Last month, James Rush walked in with his 80-year-old son Jimmy. The restaurant honored it. Made headlines across the country. Generated more goodwill than any paid campaign could buy. Here's what most businesses miss when they create these "promotional unicorns." They think they're protecting margins. But what actually happens? Customers stop engaging entirely. Because when a promotion feels unattainable? People don't even try. Compare that to what happens when you flip the model. When you create promotions where everyone can win something. I've seen businesses run 24-hour auctions where every participant walks away with value. Maybe the highest bidder gets the premium package. Every bidder gets something useful just for participating. But it doesn't stop there. Simple one-to-one follow up gets up to 95 percent of bidders saying YES to an offer. One business auctioned a high-ticket $1,000 emails coaching package. Everyone who bid received the $1,000 email template. The auction generated hundreds of participants in 24 hours. The winner walked away with the full package for $8,200. But, those other participants became ready-to-buy-now leads who had already demonstrated buying intent. Within two days, the auction made a total of $30,000. The math works differently when everyone wins something. The restaurant's sign hung for 90 years. Cost them one dozen oysters. Generated national press coverage for a near impossible challenge finally met. The 24 hour FUN auction also creates a challenge. Hundreds of bidders challenging each other to take the top prize.

This came across my Facebook feed today and I wanted to share in case any Ace Ventura fans want to throw in a bid!