CheapTweet Blog

It’s seemed like a pretty slow deal day, so I asked our Twitter followers if they’ve seen anything good today. Here are some of their suggestions. Thank you for your help, everyone!

• @cbowers21 says: JCPenney has a big sale going on plus 15% off both in store and online. Also free shipping for orders $49 or more.
• @ElChileCafe says: 1/2 price house pizzas +$1 off drinks at The Red House Pizzeria [in Austin, TX] daily!
• @DailySaving says: This one was great, I used it today… RT: @thisfrugal_life 1-Yr Subscription to Shape Magazine Only $2.99!
• @doofard says: Breakthrupcb has 40% off all clothes.
• @asevans13 says: I heart this dessert company: RT @sweetstdesserts Take 10% off your New & Featured Product purchase w/code 498NWFTR010P
• @luischinea says: Check this one out: [printable coupon for $2.99 lunch at Quiznos]
• @heartsabustin2: 30% off my Christmas in July section until August 1! www.heartsabustin.etsy.com
• @CoupTessa: 65% off X-Treme Rock Climbing [in Miami, FL]!
• @Bestlaminate says: Roberts Harmony Silent pad – just $29 w/FREE s&H (at Lowes $63)

Twitter posted its first @earlybird deal today. We haven’t written or said much about @earlybird yet, partly because we wanted to see it in action before discussing it. But we’re really excited that Twitter is participating in the deals space and we’re honored to be among their suggested users for Deals and Discounts on Twitter.

The first @earlybird deal was a ticket offer for @DisneyPictures‘ new film The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. While we think @earlybird is a good idea, their first deal attempt hit some rough spots. They had to repeat (and reword) the deal a few times because redeeming it was a bit tricky.

If even Twitter can trip up a bit, then of course it will be difficult for all the merchants out there to get it right. We thought now seemed like a good time to revisit some of the things we’ve learned running CheapTweet. Posting deals in a real-time, short-form channel like Twitter is actually quite different than announcing deals in email newsletters, blog posts, or even Facebook.

Lots of people tweet about coupons and discounts; the CheapTweet search engine finds about 40,000 deal tweets every day. And each day, we tweet about a handful of these deals to @CheapTweet Twitter followers. We’ve seen every kind of deal you can imagine – the good, the bad, and the oh-so-spammy. And since we find 40,000 new deals every single day, there’s a lot of data to learn from.

We’ve written a few times about how to effectively tweet deals. There is our original post on Twitter Tips for Retailers and its updated companion, More Twitter Tips for Retailers. These posts are based on our experience aggregating and filtering the millions of deals we’ve seen on Twitter the past two years.

What we’ve learned is that tweeting deals comes down to three things:

• Keep it simple
• Don’t repeat yourself
• Offer something people want

Take a look below for some more info on these three things and some examples of where @earlybird tripped up.

Keep it simple

Deals must be simply worded and easy to redeem. The first @earlybird deal required several steps and a coupon code to actually redeem the deal. Ideally, there should be only one click to get to the product for sale. Don’t send Twitter users to your Facebook page before routing them on to your website. Don’t make them fill out long forms, remember complicated coupon codes, or take multiple steps to save a few bucks. Above all, make sure customers can quickly and easily purchase. Don’t make them ask you what to do.

The simpler the redemption process is, the more redemptions you’ll get.

Don’t repeat yourself (much)

On Twitter, it’s easy to miss a tweet. Things move so fast and many of us follow hundreds of other people. This means tweeting a deal a few times seems like a good idea, just to make sure everyone has a chance to see it. In fact, we often encourage that – over a period of hours or even days. But posting a deal a bunch of times in a row is overwhelming and unnecessary. Especially if you have to tweet multiple times to clarify what the deal is or how to redeem it (see previous point). This definitely tripped up @earlybird.

Offer something people want

Finally – and most important of all – a deal simply must be relevant to its audience. If it’s not relevant, it’s spam. Figure out what your customers are looking for and give it to them. Sure, there’s no way to tweet something that absolutely everyone will like, but you can definitely avoid tweeting a deal no one wants. For example, we know that if we tweet about a deal from Starbucks, it’ll get retweeted dozens of times – lots of people like Starbucks.

When choosing what other deals to tweet about for our followers, we think about ourselves, our parents and our kids (well, our friends’ kids, but you get the point). If any of those groups would like a deal, then we’ll tweet it. If none of them would like it, then we won’t tweet it. You can’t really blame Twitter for this one, since Disney’s usually a pretty good bet, but the Sorcerer’s Apprentice hasn’t exactly gotten rave reviews.

Really, what we’ve learned is that, like other interactions on Twitter, posting deals is more than just tossing out 140 characters of text. We’re happy that Twitter is posting deals through @earlybird and we can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s deal will be. Social media channels like Twitter are a great place to post and find deals. And even with today’s hiccups, today’s @earlybird deal worked and saved people money.

If you post deals to Twitter, you want our search engine to pick up your deals and post them on CheapTweet.com, make sure you’re following our deal tweet guidelines. Or just ask us! We’ve seen it all and can help you figure out the best way to make sure your deals are clicked on and retweeted. Find us on Twitter at @cheaptweet.

In this edition of Happy Hatchling, Heather – mom and CheapTweet blogger – shares some of her favorite kid-centered iPhone applications. Be sure to follow Heather on Twitter!

My family travels a lot, mostly because both sets of grandparents live far away. My parents are three hours by car, while the other set is four hours by plane. We also enjoy attending sporting events and eating out with friends. Co-workers, friends and family wonder how we are still able to do so much with a toddler who is not yet two (but already experiencing the terrible twos). My secret is our iPhone. Four hours forced to sit in my lap on an airplane? iPhone. Three-hour drive? iPhone. Two hours at non-baby-safe friend’s house? iPhone. One-hour dinner at resturant? iPhone. Now don’t get me wrong, my child doesn’t just play with my phone all day long. We use it almost exclusively for times when we’re out of the house and on the go. That makes it fun and exciting for her and keeps her occupied for short spurts of time.

I have spent a great deal of time searching and purchasing kid iPhone apps, and let’s be honest, there are a lot of apps that are duds and a waste of 99 cents. However, there are also some educational apps that I am proud to let my child play. Here are my picks for apps that are both mommy and baby approved. (Note: I am not sponsored for this post and these are my honest-to-goodness favorite apps.)

Baby’s First Apps (6 months and up)

1) Itsy Bitsy Spider

Love, love, love this app. This is a great first app for babies because it’s not complicated and everything on the screen is interactive. When you touch the spider it moves to a different scene, the flowerpot blooms, a window opens and shuts, or a banana slug eats a banana. Very entertaining and if your little one loves this app, they make others such as “Wheels on the Bus”, which is fun but not quite as easy or interactive.

2) Balloonimals

This game is fun to show off because it surprises people with its creative cuteness. Kiddo loves it, but there are not limitless options so she tires of it more quickly than other games. It may also require some parent help to play. My own mother sometimes fights my daughter for playing time on this game.

3) Elmo’s Monster Maker (pictured)

Who doesn’t love Elmo? This is app was made by IDEO, the same company responsible for Balloonimals.  The graphics are amazing… It’s like watching Sesame Street. In this app, you create your own monster muppet.

4) Peekaboo Wild

Another great first app for babies. It is a peekaboo game with wild animals (they also have a barnyard version). Your child taps the screen and the next animal is revealed. The animation and noises are cute and not annoying compared to other animal games.

5) Baby’s Animal Show

This is a basic flash card application with pictures of real animals and animated animals. It’s not very flashy, but my daughter likes to see the animals. This one is good for when your kid is learning animal noises.

Apps for Tots (1 ½ years and up)

1) Monkey Preschool Lunchbox (pictured)

Many different puzzles with many different concepts. Although, your child may not be ready for some of the games, they are designed to be solvable even if answers are chosen at random by your tot. This way your child can learn the concepts over time without getting frustrated.

2 ) Shape Builder

Simple puzzle game where your kid drags the puzzle pieces into the correct shape. Very simple, but there are lots of different puzzles and it helps with your little one’s hand-eye coordination.

3) AniMatch

This is a simple matching game. This game makes the list due to the cute animal noises and animal faces. This app is for an older tot (2 to 3 years old) because there are lots of puzzle pieces to match. There is also a free version of this app available.

4) Monkey Preschool: When I Grow Up

Similar concept as the Elmo game, except here you select an occupation for your monkey. It has unlimited play with many options.

5) Alphabets in the Zoo (pictured)

There are four parts to this app. The play mode is actually a video of the animal alphabet song. The graphics are sometimes blurry, but the creativeness and the song makeup for it. The other nice feature is flash cards of the animals that were in the song. The flash cards have four buttons, which tell your kiddo more about the animals featured in the song. There is also a karaoke option, which is totally pointless because it the same video without sound, and finally there is a poor quality matching game with annoying sounds. All in all, the alphabet video is adorable and the flashcards are informative.

To make it as easy as possible to find the deals you want when you want them, here’s a list of the official pages for some of the most searched-for brands and stores on CheapTweet.

Amazon

AmazonMP3

American Eagle

Babies R Us

Banana Republic

Barnes & Noble

Best Buy

Borders

Dell

Dell Outlet

GameStop

Gap

Home Depot

JCPenney

Jockey

Lowes

Macy’s

Old Navy

Starbucks

Target

Toys R Us

Walmart

Woot

If you can read this sentence, then it’s possible that you’re familiar with the ‘Twilight’ series of books and movies about vampires and werewolves. Maybe. I know, it really hasn’t been very popular, so it’s possible that you’ve missed it. Oh wait, I mean the exact opposite of that. Of course you’ve heard of Twilight – everyone’s heard of it. Babies know what Twilight is.

So, if you’re a fan of the series – or if you just want to take advantage of a good deal – we’ve got good news. This week’s release of “Eclipse”, the latest movie in the series, means there are a ton of Twilight-related deals on CheapTweet. Here are some of the best.  Some of these are expiring soon, so check the details before purchasing.

• Mary Kay $10 off a $30 purchase from @MaryKay_Diane. Just put “Eclipse” in comments when ordering.
• Twilight cast autographs on sale from @canadagraphs
• Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition for $18.15 from Amazon. Was $29.99.
• 22% off Eclipse soundtrack from Barnes & Noble
• Free shipping on jewelry inspired by Twilight from @Curly_Rocks
• 10% off vampire fang ice cube trays from WeeCanShop. Use code “tweet”.
• Free drink and Twilight cup from Cineplex Theaters. Valid with purchase of popcorn.
• Twilight DVD on sale for $14.99 from Amazon. Was $25.99.

Also, we made a Twilight-themed happy hour video a few months ago. Here it is again if you missed it. Hayes is totally on Team Jacob.

PS – I considered these (really terrible) alternate titles for this post. Can you do better? Add them in the comments.

• Deals with a Real Bite
• You Just Can’t Eclipse These Deals
• There’s no Twilight to These Savings
• (Were)Wolf Down These Good Deals
• These Deals Will Really Slay You
• Twilight + Twitter = Great Deals
• Forget Team Edward or Team Jacob – How about Team Savings?

Here’s a really quick video wrap up (only 1 minute!) of this week’s best deals. These deals are only good for a few a more days, so check them out now. Links are posted below.

• 30% off at Old Navy, ends 6/29
• BOGO entrees at Hard Rock Cafe, ends 6/30
• 20% off in-stock games from EA
• 10% off refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers at Best Buy, limited time

Check out the CheapTweet DealStream – get a personalized, constantly updated feed of deals just for you.

At CheapTweet, one of the most common requests we get is for specific online coupon codes, usually for a national brand like Old Navy or Victoria’s Secret. This makes sense – you can almost always save yourself a few dollars by finding a coupon code before you check out. In fact, if you shop online at all, you should always check for a coupon or promotion code before submitting your purchase.

So, given how many people are searching for online coupon codes, here are a few ways to help you find coupons quickly and easily, for any store you can think of.

Sometimes a quick Google search for the coupon you’re looking for will work. You definitely will get a lot of results. For example, a Google search for “Walmart coupon code” returns more than 2 million results! The problem with a general Google search is that you almost always have to click through a bunch of websites only to find expired or fake coupon codes.

You could look around on Twitter or Facebook for a coupon. This works well for currently popular coupon codes that people share on their profiles. But it can be hard to weed through all that information to make sure you find a code that works. Plus, Twitter only lets you search tweets from the most recent seven days, so if the code isn’t brand new, you might not be able to find it.

But usually, it’s better – and easier -  to have a designated coupon website that you trust that you check every time you need a coupon code. Of course we think CheapTweet is the very best deals search engine, but there are a ton of coupon sites that are almost as great. Wise Bread has nice list of the 50 best deals and coupon websites.

CheapTweet has thousands of coupon codes for online shopping and printable coupons for in-store shopping. We even have grocery coupons and restaurant discounts! Best of all, these coupons are all free for you to use. You don’t even have to sign up for an account to access the coupons, discounts and codes on CheapTweet.

So, however you find it, always check for a coupon before checking out when you’re shopping online. Got any other coupon-finding tips? Share them in the comments!

In this edition of Happy Hatchling, Heather – mom and CheapTweet blogger – shares some of the lessons she learned from a recent family beach vacation with her toddler. Be sure to follow Heather on Twitter!

1. Diaper wipes do not effectively remove sand. The only thing that removes sand from your baby’s bum is a shower. Period.

2. One-piece suits are a pain if you need to change a diaper and you aren’t near a hotel room. I found that the two-piece UV bathing suits are great for a diaper change on the go.

3. Go get a shaved ice and save the cup. It makes for a great pool/beach play item.

4. If you bring your own toys to the kiddy pool, expect them to be communal items and don’t get upset if you lose them.

5. A bucket and shovel set is cheap and will provide many hours of entertainment.

6. Use the kiddie pool to find out the kid friendly restaurants and hang outs from other mom’s.

7. Look for a restaurant with a patio deck on the beach… preferably with your table on the sand, so your little one can play in the sand before and after mealtime, which means you can relax!

8. Also look for spots with live entertainment. This is great for happy hour or restaurants because it again gives your kiddo another source of entertainment, so you can eat and drink in peace.

9. If your tot uses utensils, bring your own kid friendly silverware. Restaurant forks are often larger than normal and too heavy for easy tot use.

10. Umbrellas that come with fruity cocktails or smoothie drinks look like fun to your kid, but are dangerous toys. Ask the waiter to leave them out of your drink to avoid a tantrum or poked-out eye.

11. Ask for a side item other than french fries. Suggest fruit, beans or rice even if it is not routinely offered on the kids’ menu. (Otherwise, fries may be all your tot consumes for the whole vacation.)

12. Enjoy spending time with your baby/tot. Use this time to introduce them to new things and experiences.

Ever taken your kids to the beach? What lessons did you learn? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

It’s summer! To celebrate our most favorite season, Hayes and I share some deals on fun summertime activities. The deals we talk about in the video are listed below.

What are your favorite things to do in the summer?

• Buy one, get one free swimwear at Babies R Us, ends 6/6
• 55% off kids’ apparel at Sears, includes swimwear
• Discounts for Six Flags admission and food
• 25% off at Hilton hotels
• 40% off second passenger on Galapagos Islands cruise
• Discounts on Father’s Day gifts

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite parts of summer is travel. It probably stems from childhood, when my family would take long road trips to all kinds of fun (and often educational) destinations. As an adult, I look forward to summer trips to the beach, long weekends driving around the state, and visits to see friends and family.

The only problem with summer travel is that it can be expensive! With transportation, accommodations, entertainment, food, and everything else, vacations can cost a lot of money. So here are a few ways to keep costs lower when traveling this summer.

1. Look for vacation rentals and home swaps.

Instead of going straight for a hotel, see if you can find a more creative and cheaper place to stay. Vacation and home rentals are wonderful deals – they’re usually less expensive than a hotel and give you a lot more space. If you’re traveling to a popular travel desination like a beach or mountain town, there will likely be hundreds of homes and condos for rent. You’ll get a full kitchen, lots more living space, and many rentals have amenities like board games, beach chairs, bikes and other fun stuff. Check out VacationRentals.com.

Or, you might consider participating in a home exchange (also known as home swap) program. Essentially you let someone stay in your home while you’re on vacation and stay in theirs (or someone else’s). You’re not the only one who wants to save money on their summer vacation, and it’s a great way to really experience how locals live. Start with HomeExchange.com or your destination’s Craigslist site.

2. Don’t rule out flying to your destination.

Gas prices tend to rise in the summer, and driving almost always ends up being more expensive than you plan for it to be, after you calculate the cost of repairs, wear and tear, an extra oil change and other pre-travel service. And lately, airlines have been running a lot of fare sales, so you might be able to fly to your destination for less than you could drive. Of course, once you factor in rental cars and transportation to and from the airport, flying is likely to be the more expensive option, but if you’re heading somewhere more than four hours from your house, just check around first for discounts on airfare. You never know what you might find.

Also, check out Yapta.com for tracking price drops in airfares. I personally used it to keep track of flights to Las Vegas this spring and saved almost $100 on my plane ticket (which I promptly lost in slot machines once I got to Vegas!).

3. Get a parks pass.

The United States has numerous national and state parks, and they are definitely worth checking out this summer. Summer is a great time to get outside, and there’s bound to be a park in or near your travel destination.

Most of these parks charge entrance fees, usually per vehicle. However, you can purchase a year-long pass that grants to entrance to all parks in the system for one price. If you’re going to visit more than a few parks in a year, this could be a great deal. The national parks pass is $80. State park passes are cheaper (for example, a Texas parks pass is $60). And most state and national parks also have deal days when entrance fees are reduced or waived (for example, park entrance fees are 75% off in Florida on Father’s Day).

4. Go camping.

Speaking of getting outside this summer, camping can be a lot of fun, especially if you’re vacationing with a group. It’s a great way to get away from your house without spending a fortune on a hotel. If you don’t consider yourself an outdoors person, many campgrounds have cabins for rent and actual indoor showers and toilets. KOA campgrounds in particular have a ton of amenities and some of them even have Airstream trailers and other unique accommodations to rent. Plus, there’s nothing better than s’mores made over a real campfire after a day hiking and swimming outside.

5. Explore locally.

No matter where you live, there’s bound to be fun things to do nearby. Instead of taking one long vacation to a far-flung destination, take day or weekend trips in your area to save on transportation and lodging costs. CheapTweet is headquartered in Austin, Texas and there is so much to do within a few hours of our office. For example, we could take a dip in a swimmin’ hole, go on a wildlife safari, hike through Hill Country, visit art museums, tour wineries, experience the Alamo, see dinosaur tracks, visit the Gulf coast, and so much more. All of this is within three or four hours of our office! If you haven’t spend much time exploring your town or state, summer is a great time to be a tourist in your own home. I bet you’ll find something you never expected.

6. Use coupons.

Before you go, check for coupons or discounts for the attractions you plan to visit. We often see coupons for theme parks like Busch Gardens and Six Flags on CheapTweet, but you should also check the attraction’s website. Or, a month before you leave, sign up for email newsletters from the places you plan to visit; most places send out discounts in their newsletters. Just check for a coupon or sale before you buy. Those savings can add up.

Bonus! Remember that you get what you pay for.

The New York Times has a great article about how to protect yourself from travel scams. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Just make sure you read the fine print, pay attention to deadlines and expiration dates, and get everything in writing. Because, no matter how much money you save, it’s not worth getting ripped off!

Do you have any advice or tips on how to save money on summer travel? We’d love to hear them – leave them in the comments!