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Doan's dream book / Foster McClellan Co.

wellcomecollection.orgarchive-open-access

The pattern

This still is filed under Utility premium.

Define

The free thing is kept because it works (a calendar, a tool, a template) and the brand rides along.

Mechanism

Usefulness as media. Frequency of use is frequency of exposure. Distinct from a keepable card: here the object has a job.

Verdict

We can give something people will actually use next week.

Read the pattern

Why it works

It uses a Trojan horse approach, offering free entertaining content (dream meanings) to sneak in advertising and testimonials for a health product. The dream book ensures the booklet is kept and referred to repeatedly.

Steal this when

When you have a mass-market product and can provide a universally appealing piece of reference material to carry your ads.

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