Q: Dr. Margolies, I e-mailed you a month ago concerning placing ballot boxes out at subway sandwich shops. I had printed on them (Who says there's no such thing as a freelunch? REGISTER TO WIN A FREE DAILY CERTIFICATE FOR..... SUB AWHILE ........AND HEAR NOTED SPEAKER: DR. ME SPEAK ON: OPTIMAL HEALTH AND HEALING) Then I had them fill out a registration slip. I got a lot of names and a lot of people said they would come but no one showed up. I had three meetings and know one showed. How can I gane impact or change the words on the box. Thanks in advance, A: Thanks for the e-mail. Your problem is the same as if you were doing a public screening. If there is no value to the item people will not follow through. For example .. if you had the same box at a Steak House or a Shoney's and mentioned they would get a complimentary meal by signing the form and you collected and called these people .. the cost of a dinner at Shoney's would be valued more than at a Subway. But .. in either case .. if you called these folks a day or two prior to the meeting requesting a head count .. or determining (especially in the case of a resturant) what drink they wished or if their meal should vegetarian or not (just an excuse to reach them again) and that you are paying for their meal today so it's important to determine how many will be with them (now they may tell you they are not coming). These procedures often help solidify the numbers coming. For a Subway free meal .. the value is low. Therefore .. you must concentrate on making the message valuable. Push buttons of concern .. such as Stress .. Headaches .. Carpal Tunnel .. Low Back Pain .. symptoms that concern people. Mention that their coupon and a complimentary evaluation worth $100 awaits them if they take the time to learn more about themselves. The wording on the coupon is not as important as the message words on the background or flyers they can take with them. I would be sure to have the address on the slip of paper they place in the box and then send them an official invitation. If this doesn't work .. you have the choice of continued trying or move onto another location. I would also concentrate on community workshops which can be lunch and learns or brown bag during the lunch hour in office buildings or inviting local employees to your location or dinner workshops in a different setting. Give this some thought and let's work on it Have a Great day Dr. M