Joe's Hotdogs video segment 4 of 9

Click on the title to watch the video on YouTube.

The sign saying “this way up” was all that you needed to go up to Joe’s Hotdogs. There didn’t have to be someone standing there waving you up the bluff. There didn’t have to be a sign saying "Happy Hour discounts until such-and-such a time." There didn’t have to be any incentive for you to go to Joe’s Hotdogs and order your ten-to-twelve dollars-worth of food – other than your own curiosity about the Joe’s Hotdog experience. So, “this way up” was all you needed to interrupt your wonderful walk, along the beach on Vancouver Island, and go to check it out.

The sign only had to say Joe’s Hotdogs to bring to mind a whole menu. Which turned out to be much more various than just hot dogs. You didn’t need any incentive other than your interest in the Joe’s Hotdogs experience.

All Joe’s Hotdogs needed was a sign for you to know that he or she is there; all you need to know is the way to find Joe’s Hotdogs. Specifically, this is the path up the bluff to go find him. No flashing lights. No people waving you in unnecessarily. This may go to show you that sometimes coupons and "Sale Ends Friday" or other kinds of buyer incentives are extrinsic motivations that people don’t need, because, if they are intrinsically motivated to explore your business, or to check you out, then they don’t need extrinsic motivations.

Extrinsic motivation is never heartfelt. Loyalty is.

Many companies use discounts and "Sale Ends Friday" tactics, and other extrinsic motivations, to get people to spend money with them unnecessarily. In fact, sometimes it is a little bit too much. People are often turned off by "Sale Ends Friday" and things of that nature.

Somebody’s own hunger, by the way, is a great way to sell food.