September 2007
You are currently browsing the articles from Advertise My Business written in the month of September 2007.
Figuring out what to budget for trade shows as part of your overall marketing is as much an art as it is a science. The artistic side relates to the communication of a message that hundreds or thousands of attendees will understand and act on. The scientific side focuses on ROI, how many prospects must you reach to realize a payoff for your effort.
My rule of thumb for trade show and event budgeting is that for an overall marketing budget of 5%, 20% of this should go toward trade shows. Every company is different, however if you depend on relationships, market awareness, and can communicate your message in a visual way, then trade shows are a terrific investment. Where you invest, what shows have your target audience in attendance and how often you attend is going to be unique to your company.
Not surprisingly there are many hidden and not so hidden costs to attending a trade show. Transportation, for example, depending on the size of your trade show display and the amount of trade show stuff?you take can $250 to over $1000. In some cases it is required or financially smart to join the association or group that is sponsoring the trade show. This again can be from a few hundred to over $500. Below is a simple budget that can give you an overall picture of your next trade show and what the cost categories will be.
The key to success is understanding your market and the players or buyers and reaching them through trade shows in the most efficient way.
Trade Show Budget
Estimate Actual
1.Space rental $ __________ $ __________
2.Display & Graphics $ __________ $ __________
3.Marketing Material $ __________ $ __________
4.Promotional Gifts $ __________ $ __________
5.Freight & Shipping $ __________ $ __________
6.On-Site Services $ __________ $ __________
(electricity, setup, flowers)
7.Pre-show promotion $ __________ $ __________
8.At-event promotion $ __________ $ __________
9.Hospitality $ __________ $ __________
10.Personal expenses $ __________ $ __________
11.Miscellaneous $ __________ $ __________
(10 ?15% of 1-10) $ __________ $ __________
12.Travel, meals $ __________ $ __________
& accommodation
TOTAL SHOW BUDGET $ __________ $ __________
If you would like more information on this topic or if you would like to suggest a topic for a future article, please contact Peter Winters at: peterwinters@presres.com
For over 10 years Mr. Winters has been consulting businesses on strategic planning, marketing, and public relations.
He is the owner of Exhibit Warehouse a Richmond Virginia-based trade show display and trade show exhibit fabrication company.
Building Business With Free Online Classified AdsOne time sellers and long term sellers can cash in on the advantages of free online classifieds. Despite the service is given to you free of cost, free online classifieds ad websites offer great service in helping you sell your products.Free online classifieds websites generally are of two kinds ?some have an option for upgrading […]
Why Should You Use Google Ads on Your Website?If you are interested in earning income from your website, should you consider using the Google AdSense program to place targeted ads on your web pages? When I first considered this idea, I wasnt sure if it was right for me. You see, I have a number of websites that promote affiliate links […]
Generate Millions of Advertising Impressions and Drive Your Business Forward!What does your vehicle say about your business? You drive to work, commute through traffic, stop at the shop for refreshments, park up outside your business, take care of deliveries and run some errands during the day, finally, you drive home in the evening. How many people did you pass or meet today? All potential […]
Banner Stand ExhibitsBanner Stands are a high impact, inexpensive and attractive medium of advertisement. They are usually found at exhibitions, trade shows, retail stores ?just about anywhere the potential customer can be attracted by high wattage graphics.The attractive thing about banner stands is that they are portable, flexible and easy to set up. There are different kinds […]
Promote yourself on radio for freeUnless you have become extremely popular in your personal or business name, you likely need all of the marketing and promotion you can get. Now, you may say, of course, I’m aware of this, but who has the money? This a good and fair question. It may surprise you, though, when I […]
Written by info on September 30th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
No Teletrack Payday Loans
Admittedly, I have not seen your advertising flyer. Then again, I probably don’t have to. I have reviewed hundreds, if not thousands, of advertising flyers for small businesses. After 30 years I have found that nearly every small business ad flyer contains the same mistakes and missed opportunities. Avoid these seven common mistakes, and your advertising flyer - and your marketing in general - will be stronger for it.
Advertising flyer mistake #1: A Blah Headline (Your Companys Name)
Remember, your flyer is an ad. It needs to SELL. Your potential customers aren’t interested in your name. They’re not even interested in what you do. Sounds cruel? Well, it is but thats life. Get over it!
Prospective customers are interested in their own needs and wants. So, hit them with a headline they can’t ignore, because it addresses their needs.
Instead of:
Sheris Pet Grooming
Try: Smelly Pet Stinking Up The House?
Or:
We Treat Your Cat Like The Royalty They Are!
Or:
Mans Best Friend Deserves Something Special!
You get the idea. Figure out what’s important to your potential customers. Then, use your headline to immediately answer their question: “What’s in it for me?”
Advertising flyer mistake #2: Not Solving A Problem!
Although your ad flyer copy should include your key features or services, each feature or service should be attached to a clear, customer-oriented, benefit that addresses a problem, or hassle, or pain. Also, tell - or, better, show - how those benefits prevent or solve problems for your potential customer.
Think about all the problems, both real and potential, that could stem from not using your product or service. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes. Talk to them. Listen to them. Learn what their problems are. Identify benefits about your product or service that make a difference to your potential customers.
Emphasize in your flyer the problems and solutions that set you apart from your competition.
Advertising flyer mistake #3: Be A Friend!
People buy from people they like. One key thing your potential customer needs and wants is to feel good about you. Are you knowledgeable? Are you trustworthy? Do you understand my problems? Am I comfortable doing business with you?
The more comfortable someone feels about buying from you, the more likely they are to do so. That’s why I recommend that you have an “I” section - a section where you talk about yourself, your qualifications, your values, your personal commitment. Help them understand who you are and who they will be doing business with (hopefully).
Advertising flyer mistake #4: Going Quietly Into The Night!
This is the typical close to a flyer: “for more information, call 555-5555.” Instead, create a call to action? Here are three basic, proven closers:
?Buy before (DATE), and receive $10 off. This closer is effective at getting immediate action, and works especially well for one-time purchases or regularly purchased items.
?Act before (DATE), and get (VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT/SERVICE), FREE with your purchase! This closer offers an incentive for fast action. It also works “free” into your flyer. “Free” is a very powerful word.
?Purchase before (DATE) to take advantage of our slow-season! This closer attaches a negative consequence to any delay or hesitation. Note the more believable the reason for the limit, the more powerful this closer becomes.
Advertising flyer mistake #5: Forgetting There Are Two Sides!
With an advertising flyer, the printing or photocopying is but a small part of the overall expense. The larger expense, in time or money or both, is distribution. So, distribute a two-sided flyer, for twice the opportunity to make a sale! Just make sure your second side doesn’t compete with your main message side.
The second side could be used for:
?A comprehensive list of your services
?A map with driving and parking directions
?Customer testimonials
?Relevant tips or advice
?Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Use the second side to support, expand upon, or enhance the message on the main side.
Advertising flyer mistake #6: One Good Shot!
One-time advertising efforts are seldom effective. It is a rule of thumb among marketing professionals that you need to reach people at least eight times before they really notice you. Your prospective customers need to see the your ads over and over.
So, plan a series of distributions as part of your strategy. I recommend that you plan to hit each household at least eight times with an ad flyer. Mix the message up a bit! Change the color of the paper you use. Change the headline. Keep track of which flyer drives the most business.
If possible, combine your flyers with other localized advertising, so you reach those homes through a variety of media channels. At the very least, combine door-to-door distribution with posting in public areas where allowed. Community centers, schools, stores, and libraries often offer public bulletin boards.
Advertising flyer mistake #7: Flyers Gone Astray!
You should keep two objectives in mind when targeting neighborhoods for your flyer distribution.
?It’s much more cost-effective for you to have clients in convenient clusters instead of scattered all over town. Concentrate your ad distribution within and around your existing clusters of clients.
?Reaching the right people within the target area is also critical. An advertising flyer for a landscaper is largely wasted if it’s delivered to residents of an apartment building. The added advantage to walking your “territory” house-by-house will be giving you a better understanding for what services or mix of services you should offer.
Promotional flyers are one tool in the small business?marketing arsenal. Learn to use them well and you will create customers while saving yourself time and money.
Michele Schermerhorn calls herself a Corporate Freedom Fighter?dedicated to freeing cubicle prisoners. She has over 30 years experience in the business world and over 12 years running her own successful online businesses. She is President of Online Business Institute Inc. (http://www.obinstitute.com), authors a marketing blog (http://www.imarketblog.com), and regularly conducts free online seminars. Online Business Institute Inc. exists to Create Successful Online Business Owners One Person At A Time?
Advertising Made Easy, and Cost EffectiveAdvertising made easy, and your wallet will love it too!In today’s market, anyone in business knows that advertising is the backbone to the success, and without it, you are “dead in the water”. Even with the greatest product on the planet, a product that you know everyone needs and wants. Without advertising, it’s just […]
Where Should you Spend your Advertising Dollars?One of the most common questions people ask me is: Where should I spend my advertising dollars?? Their experience can typically be summed up as follows:I recently opened my business as an interior designer. I was so excited. But now ?two months later ?Im getting frustrated. I believe that my services […]
Advertising-The Best Marketing TipThe best marketing tip you will ever hear is to advertise your product or business. In fact, any marketing tip you hear or see will be related to some form of advertising. In this article, we will go over several marketing tips and the reason you should use them.One great marketing tip is […]
Banner Stand ExhibitsBanner Stands are a high impact, inexpensive and attractive medium of advertisement. They are usually found at exhibitions, trade shows, retail stores ?just about anywhere the potential customer can be attracted by high wattage graphics.The attractive thing about banner stands is that they are portable, flexible and easy to set up. There are different kinds […]
Promote yourself on radio for freeUnless you have become extremely popular in your personal or business name, you likely need all of the marketing and promotion you can get. Now, you may say, of course, I’m aware of this, but who has the money? This a good and fair question. It may surprise you, though, when I […]
Written by info on September 28th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
No Teletrack Payday Loans
The success of a business plan stands or falls on its ability to get potential investors to take a moment to read it. Nothing works better for doing this than well-written headlines designed to interrupt and engage investors. Here are five fundamental rules for writing and incorporating headlines into your business plan.
More important than anything else, try to get investors?self-interests into every headline you write. Make your headlines suggest to investors that there is something about your business plan or venture they want. This rule seems so obvious. Yet, absent omitting headlines entirely, it is the rule most often violated. Replace overused one word headings like “Company”, “Products”, “Market”, Financials” with headlines that appeal to investors?self-interests like making money, protecting their investment, or building trust.
Be sure to get news worthy information like new products, new uses for old products, or technological breakthroughs into your headlines whenever possible.
Avoid curiosity?headlines. Marketing and advertising professionals have proven through testing and experience that the effectiveness of the average curiosity headline is, at best, doubtful. For every curiosity headline that succeeds in getting an investor to read further, a dozen will fail. Instead, combine curiosity with news or self-interest to create a single, more compelling headline capable of drawing investors into your plan.
Take a positive angle with your headlines. Avoid headlines that paint gloomy or negative pictures of your business venture or markets. For example, if you are targeting a market with millions of suffers, emphasize in your headlines how the business venture can benefit them.
Demonstrate through your headlines that here is a business plan that will generate results and is backed by evidence. Let your headlines educate investors about the opportunity, risks, and the available options.
Of course it goes without saying that in using any of these rules be sure to make your headline believable. In most cases, too good to be true?headlines will not draw experienced investors into your plan.
Mike Elia is a chief financial officer and an advisor to venture capitalists and leverage buyout specialists. His business plan ebook “Business Plan Secrets Revealed” shows how to make your business the most appealing investment choice to venture capitalist, bankers, and other business investors. For his free business plan guide visit http://www.business-plan-secrets-revealed.com/free-business-plan-guide.html
Advertising-The Best Marketing TipThe best marketing tip you will ever hear is to advertise your product or business. In fact, any marketing tip you hear or see will be related to some form of advertising. In this article, we will go over several marketing tips and the reason you should use them.One great marketing tip is […]
Generate Millions of Advertising Impressions and Drive Your Business Forward!What does your vehicle say about your business? You drive to work, commute through traffic, stop at the shop for refreshments, park up outside your business, take care of deliveries and run some errands during the day, finally, you drive home in the evening. How many people did you pass or meet today? All potential […]
Banner Stand ExhibitsBanner Stands are a high impact, inexpensive and attractive medium of advertisement. They are usually found at exhibitions, trade shows, retail stores ?just about anywhere the potential customer can be attracted by high wattage graphics.The attractive thing about banner stands is that they are portable, flexible and easy to set up. There are different kinds […]
Promote yourself on radio for freeUnless you have become extremely popular in your personal or business name, you likely need all of the marketing and promotion you can get. Now, you may say, of course, I’m aware of this, but who has the money? This a good and fair question. It may surprise you, though, when I […]
Advertising InsertsOne of the best and easiest ways to advertise without having to worry about shelf life of those who would most likely use your services or buy the products from your small business is to use inserts in your local newspaper. A marketing piece might also be to insert our flyers in the daily newspaper. […]
Written by info on September 28th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
Jack Mitchell was my first boss advertising boss. He was a funny adventurous sportsman. His idea of a vacation was getting lost in the high mountains of Peru. He could spend the rest of the year holding the interest of all of us in the palm of his hand as he told his latest adventure stories.
Jack was the Director of Advertising and Sales Promotion at Remington Arms Company and his four questions have helped me get my ideas focused in every advertising challenge I have ever faced.
After all, some say 85% of all advertising does not work. But when it does, it is pure magic. Lets see if his four questions are your magic wand.
The Mitchell Four Questions.
Question 1: Who is your best or prime prospect?
The surest way to put your new business in the bankruptcy court is to think everyone is going to beat a path to your door. They will not. You will have a small group of customers who will account for most of your bread and butter business. That is what is meant by the 80/20 principle. Eight percent of your business will most likely come from twenty percent of your customers. Start to think and plan with that key fact in mind. If you do not, you will not have a clue who is buying from you and the media folks will be all over you like buzzards on a dead water buffalo. Get to know that prime prospect like you know your best friend. Develop a mental picture of that prime prospect. When you do, you will focus your efforts at those folks most likely to keep you in business rather than making large donations to the ad of the week club.
To paraphrase President Abraham Lincoln, you can reach all of the people some of the time; some of the people all of the time; but you cannot reach all of the people, all of the time.
Not even the giant Wal-Mart attracts everyone but you can bet they know who their prime prospects are and aim most their approach, right at them.
So where do you start? How do you find out who is going to be that best or prime prospect?
Start at the same place your business idea started. Why in the world did you want to start your business in the first place? Who encouraged you to take that giant step? What did you plan to do different that would attract customers in the first place?
If you have competition, go shop them. Get copies of their advertising. See who they are trying to persuade to come use their products and services. Go to your local community college and university and offer to let their marketing students do a research project on your business. Do online surveys.
Heres another way to gather information. Create a drawing with a significant prize. Money. A trip. An I-pod. Something cool. If you have a store, do the contest in the store. Encourage everyone who comes through the door to fill out an entry. Do the survey twice a year.
We are looking for demographics in the survey. Demographics are numbers we can measure. How old is your prime prospect? Is the prime prospect female or male? Married or single? Does your prime prospect have a family? How much education? White collar or blue collar? White or minority? How wealthy? Is fitness important? Do they like pets? Member of a church? What is their favorite type of transportation? (Yes pickup drivers and different that Lexus drivers.) Do they drink? Smoke? Play sports? Choose questions that apply to your business and what you offer.
If you havent opened your doors, head for the chamber of commerce office and in some cities, your local newspaper. Both can and often do have lots of demographic information on your prime prospect group.
The federal government can be a big help, too. Check out your local Small Business Administration office or check their internet site, http://www.sba.gov for documents that can be very valuable. Census track information is a good place to stick your nose for an afternoon, too. And, be sure to use your nose. Learjets have to be licensed. Learjet pilots have to take check rides. Learjet owners have to register their planes. All have the FAA in common. Do not forget those government agencies. You helped pay for them and in some cases, they are indeed willing and ready to help.
When you apply the answers to how many times the person needs your services–every day, once a week, once a month, once-in-a-lifetime–we start to get a picture of the size of the market. Clearly a small convenience store has a much different market than someone who plans to sell Learjets. The convenience stores my have 90% of its business coming from a radius of five miles while the jet company may have a market which is world-wide.
As you can see, all soon can be some. We are looking for focused marketing. Rather than take a shotgun approach to the marketplace, our aim is to take a rifle shot. We want to take a rifle shot and hit the bulls-eye rather than take a shotgun blast and blow the target away. Each time you can refine some information, you make it possible to define the prime prospect group. Yes, you will discover sub groups of prime prospects with special needs as you move along and that is GREAT! You can target those special prospect groups with targeted custom message aimed just at them using your PC. That is almost free advertising.
When you have good demographics, you can ask the media folks how many of those specific prospects the media rep has in their audience. If they do not have any, you do not buy. Its that simple. So much for the donation part of your advertising budget.
Question 2: What is their problem?
People buy for a reason. Its important you discover the reason why they are willing?to trade their hard earned money for what you have to sell. Here are my ten reasons why people buy something:
1. The nag factor.
If something needs to be fixed in a household it will go unfixed only as long as the fixer is willing to tolerate the nagging of the person demanding the fixing. If you offer the solution to the nagee or a suggestion to the nagger, chances are you will increase your business. An easy solution is more saleable than a pretty product. Sell the solution. Saturday mornings are filled with fix-it shows. Listen to them and see who is calling. Youll soon get the idea.
2. Acceptance and Entertainment.
If you are in the business of selling something interesting, and that can include the teaching of same, you are in a position to market relief from boredom. Promote what you have that is interesting and different and the information on how to do it and your response will improve. Make a trip to your business an entertaining event and you will profit handsomely. Get your prospects hands on something and you will have the upper hand on the sale. And do not forget to offer very high quality, cool, well done Tshirts. That is free advertising and a trendy solution. Just ask the Hard Rock Cafe.
3. Health.
No one wants to be sick, bald, fat, or look bad in Wranglers. In fashion or in the business of promoting health related products and services, the key thing to remember is the result. Its how you look and feel after you buy that counts. If you are in the business of selling health, sell the end result. Help your prime prospect get there. Also, set up a means of reward for your prime prospect.
If it is nothing more than a card that says We noticed how well you are doing…?it will go a long way in reinforcing what your prime prospect is doing. And, if you include a coupon in the card, chances are very good it will be used.
4. Security.
A promise of how to make more money is a good way to get anyones attention. That also includes such things as creating value by using your product or service.?/p>
You can sell a product such as art or jewelry and make people look and feel good but you can be their top choice if you also have a good eye for value. That means you not only appeal to their taste but also to their pocket book. Build a reputation for helping folks create value with their purchase from you. If you sell paintings or collectable, and if your data base is up to snuff, you should be able to create mini newsletters to keep your clients informed what their favorite artist is doing…and selling. Each time you remind them that they have purchased something very special from you, you have reinforced their decision to buy from you and that will make it easier for them to buy more!
4. Adventure.
Life is an adventure, right? Are you in the business of selling one? People who offer tents should sell?camping. People who offer campers should sell life on the road. People who offer back woods or outfitter trips should sell the outdoors. If you offer things to the adventurous, sell the adventure. Get good pictures and use them everywhere. Promote your expertise and share your expertise. Use teaching seminars to expand your market base. Teach the how to and your prime prospect will bring along the want to.
5. Security.
We all want to be safe and warm, even when dangling off the side of a mountain. We want to keep all of our money. We want safe transportation for our family. We want to make good investments that we can show off and enjoy. We all want to live healthy until one second before we die at 150. Anything that helps us do those things is likely to get attention. That is security. If you are in the business of offering products or services that focus on security, make sure you focus on security and how you do a better job of offering that than your competitors do. Do lie. Do.
6. Learning.
If you sell books, adventure, new technology, sports equipment, art, you are in the teaching business. A very important part of your ability to succeed is your ability to convince others that you are indeed an expert in your field and worthy of attention. Create mini seminars for the new-bees in your field and teach them about the sizzle of your business and show them the variety of steaks.
When you teach people about what you offer, you are actually creating customers and a brag factor–that can create word of mouth advertising for you.
7. Clothing.
Clothing is worthy of special mention. We spend tons of money on it not because we need it so much as how we think we will look in it. If you are in the clothing business always remember it is the look. Sell the look and reinforce the look. Develop your public eye and when you see a customer you know in public and notice how good they look, send them a note. They will look at you as a result.
Use local models. No, they do not have to be skinny New York types to get attention. Pick models in groups. Use high school kids in a group shot. Use seniors in a group shot. Use working moms in a group shot. Use small kids in a group shot. The groups will soon get noticed. Nothing attracts attention like a picture–especially if it is a picture of people you may know. Reinforce your customers decision to buy from you. Use the faces of local or famous folks who have!
8. Food & Water.
It must be fresher, healthier, or cheaper to get attention. Sometimes just being there is also a big factor. If you cannot compete with the price places, you will have to offer more service. Share expertise. Create event marketing. What if the small grocer brought in a gourmet cook, partnered with a gourmet cookware outlet down the street, and offered cooking classes for free or a nominal fee? What if clips from those classes turned into commercials and print ads? Think attendance and sales would go up?
Do not be a bump on the log of complaint that the big guys are winning. Be the branch that bends in the wind but is always getting stronger. Look for opportunity!
9. Love, companionship, sex.
No one wants to be alone. Not one wants to live by themselves. We all want to laugh. We all want close friends. We all want a good lover. Package what you sell and take advantage of the opportunity to make people happier and your advertising will be more successful. Sell the solution. Take another look at what you sell. Is it something that will help someone expand their horizon? Is it something that will lead to involvement? Position it. Show the situation. Sell the solution.
10. Social involvement.
Back to the sizzle. Marketers use to say anything red will sell in Nebraska. That is because the Nebraska football team is a state religion. It brings people together for parties of all kind and creates the third largest city in the state when the football stadium fills. There are people in Nebraska who make all of their money in just the few short weeks around a college football season.
They sell sizzle. They sell being part of the big red. Can you be part of something big? Can you create something social? Can you create an event? Event marketing takes time but it can also involve some of your very best customers. Invite them to be part of your event. It will help your word of mouth advertising.
As you can see, when you approach advertising as an opportunity to solve a basic need, the opportunity has a different dimension. Different is often the key. Different creates interest. Interest creates customers. Develop your profiles, both demographic and psychographic, and then study what needs you can solve. Solve those problems with solutions that address some of the things we have just covered. Become the expert who offers an honest, valuable, fun solution and youll become rich.
3. What is your product or service?
Now that we have covered the 10 top needs list, what is your product or service. What are you really selling? Your product or service MUST solve a basic need o get your prospect to ACT!
Paint the success picture. Teach people how to use what you have to sell. Show them how their lives will improve. Make your idea logical and reasonable. Make it fun.
Solve a basic need and you will get attention. Make your solution an easy and fun one and you will get attention. Remember to be friendly in everything you do. Three of the most powerful words in marketing today are, after allWelcome to Wal-Mart.
4. How do you break the boredom barrier?
Before the Internet, the average American is exposed to 2,400 commercial messages a day. That total is growing because we are expanding our access to information and anytime that happens we expand our ability to advertise. That is capitalism and that is good.
The problem is mud. Too many messages turn into forgettable mud. In fact, 85 cents of every advertising dollar is wasted. That is a lot of money. You job is to improve those odds. If you do, the rewards are tremendous. So, you have to?/p>
Put the right message….
in front of the right audience…
at the right time.
Message. Timing. Audience. Always consider those three factors when you plan your advertising program. Never spend a dime until you have considered the opportunity when measured against message, timing, and audience. Demand information on the audience from anyone selling opportunity to you. If the media cannot tell you about their audience, they are the ones with the problem, not you.
Now, thanks to Jack Mitchell, you have the basics of a good advertising program.
1. Who is your best or prime prospect?
2. What is your their problem?
3. What is your product or service?
4. How do you break the boredom barrier?
It will not be long before Mr. Mitchells questions will turn you into an idea factory! Good luck!
Kenny Miller has been in the creative business for over 30 years. He has created two advertising agencies and is the author of two books: The Last Flight of Kilo Mike; and A Visit to Hartington. Kenny is also a highly experienced professional pilot; a published photographer; and a top-notch storm chaser. If it interests him, Kenny does it You should, too! His site is http://www.nebraskawriter.com
Advertising Made Easy, and Cost EffectiveAdvertising made easy, and your wallet will love it too!In today’s market, anyone in business knows that advertising is the backbone to the success, and without it, you are “dead in the water”. Even with the greatest product on the planet, a product that you know everyone needs and wants. Without advertising, it’s just […]
Where Should you Spend your Advertising Dollars?One of the most common questions people ask me is: Where should I spend my advertising dollars?? Their experience can typically be summed up as follows:I recently opened my business as an interior designer. I was so excited. But now ?two months later ?Im getting frustrated. I believe that my services […]
Advertising-The Best Marketing TipThe best marketing tip you will ever hear is to advertise your product or business. In fact, any marketing tip you hear or see will be related to some form of advertising. In this article, we will go over several marketing tips and the reason you should use them.One great marketing tip is […]
Advertising InsertsOne of the best and easiest ways to advertise without having to worry about shelf life of those who would most likely use your services or buy the products from your small business is to use inserts in your local newspaper. A marketing piece might also be to insert our flyers in the daily newspaper. […]
50 Surefire Business Card TipsBusiness cards are one of the most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools you can use. Here are 50 surefire tips to make the most out of your business cards:Your business card must communicate more than just your contact information. Make sure that your card includes a tag line that explains what you or […]
Written by info on September 28th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
Sure, everyone needs business cards. But why not make your business card do double or triple the work of an average business card.
Here are 4 proven ways to supercharge your business card into a powerful business tool.
1. Use the back of the card to include sales info. Good marketers know that customers need to be reminded at every opportunity how your product or service will help them. Even though business cards are small, you can still include some information on the back of the card that will remind customers how you are unique, better, and valuable. You could include a short bullet list of features and benefits. You could display some stats and figures, mention awards your product has won, or list a brief testimonial or two. Just a little bit of extra sales information can make a big difference in building relationships and encouraging sales.
2. Use the back of the card as an appointment card. Dr.s and dentists do this frequently. But other businesses can use the same concept. Sales people of all kinds, realtors, consultants, professionals and more can use the back of their business cards as an appointment card. This is a good idea for several reasons. First of all, it increases the likelihood that a prospect will keep your card close by ?at least until you have the appointment. Second, it gives you a reason to give customers more than one business card. The more cards they have the more likely they are to always have one handy when they need it. This is especially important if they are referring you to a friend or relative. They may have an extra card of yours laying around that they can give to someone.
3. Use the back of the card as a map to your store. Maps are important for people who are new to the area, or people who arent familiar with your part of town. Also, with just a mailing address listed on the front of the card many people dont know exactly where you are. A map will clear that up and again help increase the chances of them hanging on to your card
4. Place a 12-month calendar on the back of your card. This is a very clever technique that is sure to have people keeping your card handy at all times. Believe it or not a 12-month calendar fits nicely on the back of a standard size business card. I remember when I got my first card that had a calendar on the back of it. It was from an insurance salesman and I literally kept it by my desk at all times. I found it to be much quicker to glance at this card than to thumb through a wall calendar or even to visit Outlook. Each time I picked up the card I remembered who had given it to me. This practice is applicable to any business and in any industry.
Using even one of these 4 tips will greatly enhance the impact that you business card will have. With just a little creative you can turn your business card from a necessary evil, to a powerful tool.
Brett Curry is a Marketing Consultant and Marketing Director for Brochures.com. Brochures.com is the home of top quality, full color brochures, business cards, postcards and more at up to 70% off of retail.
http://www.brochures.com
marketing@brochures.com
Why Should You Use Google Ads on Your Website?If you are interested in earning income from your website, should you consider using the Google AdSense program to place targeted ads on your web pages? When I first considered this idea, I wasnt sure if it was right for me. You see, I have a number of websites that promote affiliate links […]
Generate Millions of Advertising Impressions and Drive Your Business Forward!What does your vehicle say about your business? You drive to work, commute through traffic, stop at the shop for refreshments, park up outside your business, take care of deliveries and run some errands during the day, finally, you drive home in the evening. How many people did you pass or meet today? All potential […]
Advertising Made Easy, and Cost EffectiveAdvertising made easy, and your wallet will love it too!In today’s market, anyone in business knows that advertising is the backbone to the success, and without it, you are “dead in the water”. Even with the greatest product on the planet, a product that you know everyone needs and wants. Without advertising, it’s just […]
Where Should you Spend your Advertising Dollars?One of the most common questions people ask me is: Where should I spend my advertising dollars?? Their experience can typically be summed up as follows:I recently opened my business as an interior designer. I was so excited. But now ?two months later ?Im getting frustrated. I believe that my services […]
Building Business With Free Online Classified AdsOne time sellers and long term sellers can cash in on the advantages of free online classifieds. Despite the service is given to you free of cost, free online classifieds ad websites offer great service in helping you sell your products.Free online classifieds websites generally are of two kinds ?some have an option for upgrading […]
Written by info on September 28th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
The logo and graphic elements that you include on your business card are quite important, but having the right text and contact information on the card is equally important. Here are our tips about the elements to include:
Your name ?Consider whether you want to include your middle name or initial,
degrees or professional credentials that are unique to your field.
Title ?Including a title on your card will help your potential clients to identify your
position within your company. Including a title can also make your company seem
larger. A reason to not include a title would be if you’re a consultant, and want to
market your solo nature as a benefit to your clients.
Address ?Always include an address on your business card, even if you are
operating a business out of your home. Including your address greatly increases
your credibility and makes your business appear established. If you’re concerned
about privacy, a post office box is a great way to go. When signing up for a post
office box, consider using a commercial mailbox vendor (such as the UPS Store)
instead of a box at the United States Post Office. At a mailbox store, you are given a
street address instead of the typical “P.O. Box”. The store also accepts shipped
packages from UPS, FedEx, and other carriers, so you won’t need to give out your
home address as a shipping address.
Phone number (and toll-free number) ?Include your phone number and, if you do
business long distance, consider including an 800 or toll-free number as well, as an
amenity for your clients.
Cell phone number ?This is an option to consider if you’d like to make your
services available to your clients around the clock, or if your business often takes
you on the road. If you’d like to keep your cell phone number private, you can do
that tactfully by offering to make your cell phone number available to clients once
they have signed up for your services ?then your clients will feel special and know
that you’re taking good care of them.
Fax number ?If you have a fax number you should include it on your card. If you
rarely receive a fax, or if you don’t know if faxes will be useful in your business, you
can try using efax (www.efax.com). This is an online service that can provide you
with a free fax number that will email all of your faxes to your email account. They
also offer a paid service that is available as an upgrade if the number of faxed pages
you receive per month exceeds their free offering. That enables you to upgrade if
needed, without changing your fax number and reprinting your cards.
Email address ?Your email address is an often-overlooked opportunity to brand
your business. Instead of using a generic email address such as
“yourname@aol.com” or “yourname@comcast.net”, purchase your own branded
domain name to use as your email ?yourname@yourbusiness.com. It’s inexpensive
and easy to set up, especially if you use GoDaddy.com to register your name and set
up the new email address to forward to your existing account. This makes your
business look larger and more professional.
Website address ?A website is a must in today’s business world, even if it’s a
simple, one-page site that gives a few paragraphs of information about your
business offerings and your contact information. A website offers potential clients
an easy, no-pressure way to both learn more about your business, or to refer you to
new clients. This is also another way to take advantage of the branded domain name
that you set up to use for your email address ?using it for your website URL will
extend your business brand further.
Tagline ?If you have a tagline, including it on your business card will contribute to
your branding and memorability, and a graphic treatment of the tagline (font, color
and any graphic effects used) can add visual interest to the card as well.
License Numbers ?Include your license number if you are required to display them
by your industry regulations (i.e., insurance or contractors), or if your being licensed
is a benefit that you offer to your clients, or if it differentiates you from your
competition.
If you have room on the front, or would like to create a two-sided card, consider
adding:
A few bullet points about your business offerings ?This provides you with an
opportunity to further explain what you do. This is most helpful when your business
name is not specific, so potential clients can identify what you can do for them.
Your photo ?The people you meet while networking will remember who you are.
Putting a face to your business also makes your cards more personal for potential
clients. However, we recommend that you do this only if it’s appropriate, or
somewhat standard, in your industry (for example, with certain types of coaching, or
real estate).
A “next appointment” area ?If you often make appointments with clients (for
massage therapy or health care, for example), consider printing a line or two on
your business cards to make them into appointment cards as well. This makes a lot
of sense from a printing standpoint ?you’ll be able to print a dual-purpose card
for the same price as printing one card design
About the Author
Erin Ferree, Founder and Lead Designer of elf design, is a brand identity and graphic
design expert. She has been helping small businesses grow with bold, clean and
effective logo and marketing material designs for over a decade. elf design offers
the comprehensive graphic and web design services of a large agency, with the one-
on-one, personalized attention of an independent design specialist. Erin works
closely in partnership with her clients to create designs that are visible, credible and
memorable ?and that tell their unique business stories in a clear and consistent
way. For more information about elf design, please visit: Logo design at http://www.elf-design.com
Generate Millions of Advertising Impressions and Drive Your Business Forward!What does your vehicle say about your business? You drive to work, commute through traffic, stop at the shop for refreshments, park up outside your business, take care of deliveries and run some errands during the day, finally, you drive home in the evening. How many people did you pass or meet today? All potential […]
Building Business With Free Online Classified AdsOne time sellers and long term sellers can cash in on the advantages of free online classifieds. Despite the service is given to you free of cost, free online classifieds ad websites offer great service in helping you sell your products.Free online classifieds websites generally are of two kinds ?some have an option for upgrading […]
Why Should You Use Google Ads on Your Website?If you are interested in earning income from your website, should you consider using the Google AdSense program to place targeted ads on your web pages? When I first considered this idea, I wasnt sure if it was right for me. You see, I have a number of websites that promote affiliate links […]
Advertising Made Easy, and Cost EffectiveAdvertising made easy, and your wallet will love it too!In today’s market, anyone in business knows that advertising is the backbone to the success, and without it, you are “dead in the water”. Even with the greatest product on the planet, a product that you know everyone needs and wants. Without advertising, it’s just […]
Advertising InsertsOne of the best and easiest ways to advertise without having to worry about shelf life of those who would most likely use your services or buy the products from your small business is to use inserts in your local newspaper. A marketing piece might also be to insert our flyers in the daily newspaper. […]
Written by info on September 27th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
All sales begin with some form of advertising. To build sales,
this advertising must be seen or heard by potential buyers, and
cause them to react to the advertising in some way. The credit
for the success, or the blame for the failure of almost all ads,
reverts back to the ad itself.
Generally, the “ad writer” wants the prospect to do one of the
following:
Visit the store or website to see and judge the product for himself, or immediately reach for his credit card or write a check and send for the merchandise being advertised.
Phone for an appointment to hear the full sales presentation, or
write for futher information which amounts to the same thing.
The bottom line in any ad is quite simple:
To make the reader buy the product or service. Any ad that causes
the reader to only pause in his thinking, to just admire the product, or to simply believe what is written about the product–is not doing it’s job completely.
The “ad writer” must know exactly what he wants his reader to do,
and any ad that does not elicit the desired action is an absolute
waste of time and money.
In order to elicit the desired action from the prospect, all ads
are written according to a simple “master formula” which is:
1) Attract the ATTENTION of your prospect
2) INTEREST your prospect in the product
3) Cause your prospect to DESIRE the product
4) Demand ACTION from the prospect
Never forget the basic rule of advertising copywriting; If the ad
is not read, it won’t stimulate any sales, if it is not seen, it
cannot be read; and if it does not command or grab the attention
of the reader, it will not be seen!
Most successful advertising copywriters know these fundamentals
backwards and forwards. Whether you know them already or you’re
just now being exposed to them, your knowledge and practice of
these fundamentals will determine the extent of your success as
an advertising copywriter.
Get CONTENT For Your Website
http://www.InstantAuthors.com
Building Business With Free Online Classified AdsOne time sellers and long term sellers can cash in on the advantages of free online classifieds. Despite the service is given to you free of cost, free online classifieds ad websites offer great service in helping you sell your products.Free online classifieds websites generally are of two kinds ?some have an option for upgrading […]
50 Surefire Business Card TipsBusiness cards are one of the most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools you can use. Here are 50 surefire tips to make the most out of your business cards:Your business card must communicate more than just your contact information. Make sure that your card includes a tag line that explains what you or […]
Advertising InsertsOne of the best and easiest ways to advertise without having to worry about shelf life of those who would most likely use your services or buy the products from your small business is to use inserts in your local newspaper. A marketing piece might also be to insert our flyers in the daily newspaper. […]
Banner Stand ExhibitsBanner Stands are a high impact, inexpensive and attractive medium of advertisement. They are usually found at exhibitions, trade shows, retail stores ?just about anywhere the potential customer can be attracted by high wattage graphics.The attractive thing about banner stands is that they are portable, flexible and easy to set up. There are different kinds […]
Why Should You Use Google Ads on Your Website?If you are interested in earning income from your website, should you consider using the Google AdSense program to place targeted ads on your web pages? When I first considered this idea, I wasnt sure if it was right for me. You see, I have a number of websites that promote affiliate links […]
Written by info on September 26th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
Push vs. Pull Advertising - Understand the Consequences for your Product or Service
You will save yourself a considerable amount of time and money if you first determine your products (or services) suitability for “pull” and “push” advertising.
Pull advertising is geared to draw visitors to your website when they are actively seeking your product or service. Prime examples of pull advertising are search engine optimization, cost per click search engines, directory listings, yellow page ads, and shopping portals such as mySimon and DealTime.
Push advertising refers to all efforts to get the word out to an entire group of potential customers in order to hit the few that many be currently interested in your product or service. Most traditional offline advertising efforts (magazine, billboard, newspaper, tv, classifieds, etc) as well as online banners ads and email broadcasts are considered push marketing.
Understanding which approach is best suited for your product should become the cornerstone of your advertising strategy.
Take as an example the results of our wine accessories company (not wine, but accessories like corkscrews and wine glasses). Each of our push advertising efforts failed. We have tried ads in targeted magazine, opt-in email campaigns, banner campaigns at wine industry websites, ads in gourmet website newsletters, you name it. We have yet to receive a response (measured in customer orders) to justify the cost.
It all comes down to the fact that as much as we would like to think so, people don’t really need $50 Austrian crystal wine glasses. There are simply too many product and vendor substitutes to command the purchase of even avid wine drinkers.
Pull advertising, on the other hand, has been extremely effective at acquiring profitable traffic. When someone does a search online for terms such as wine decanters?we have found that these people are ready and willing to spend money the very first time they visit our site.
If you are fortunate enough to sell a product or service that falls into the need?or unique?category you may be able to take advantage of all of the push and pull media outlets available to your industry. Your job will be to simply find which advertising channels offer you the best return on investment.
Be realistic and objective about your product. In order for small company push marketing to be effective you must be selling either a universally desired or a truly unique product.
Is your product or service so desired or unique that by simply introducing it to your audience you will be able to acquire a sale? If not, you should work to maximize your exposure in every single pull advertising vehicle. You may grow a little slower than you would prefer, but slow profitable growth is always better than going out of business while waiting for an ad campaign to pay off.
–
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at mailto: info@lessonsfromthefront.com.
About The Author
Henry Coleman is an experienced entrepreneur and the primary author of Lessons From The Front - A Practical Guide to Starting & Growing Your Internet Business. Visit http://lessonsfromthefront.com to get an inside look at how you can build a real business from the ground up.
info@lessonsfromthefront.com
Where Should you Spend your Advertising Dollars?One of the most common questions people ask me is: Where should I spend my advertising dollars?? Their experience can typically be summed up as follows:I recently opened my business as an interior designer. I was so excited. But now ?two months later ?Im getting frustrated. I believe that my services […]
Generate Millions of Advertising Impressions and Drive Your Business Forward!What does your vehicle say about your business? You drive to work, commute through traffic, stop at the shop for refreshments, park up outside your business, take care of deliveries and run some errands during the day, finally, you drive home in the evening. How many people did you pass or meet today? All potential […]
Building Business With Free Online Classified AdsOne time sellers and long term sellers can cash in on the advantages of free online classifieds. Despite the service is given to you free of cost, free online classifieds ad websites offer great service in helping you sell your products.Free online classifieds websites generally are of two kinds ?some have an option for upgrading […]
Promote yourself on radio for freeUnless you have become extremely popular in your personal or business name, you likely need all of the marketing and promotion you can get. Now, you may say, of course, I’m aware of this, but who has the money? This a good and fair question. It may surprise you, though, when I […]
Advertising InsertsOne of the best and easiest ways to advertise without having to worry about shelf life of those who would most likely use your services or buy the products from your small business is to use inserts in your local newspaper. A marketing piece might also be to insert our flyers in the daily newspaper. […]
Written by info on September 26th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
Many business organizations that needs to disseminate late-breaking information to a large number of people. Out door sign boards are the perfect solution for them that command the attention of all who pass underneath.
Out door sign boards utilize LED lights, which is immensely more efficient and brighter than standard incandescent lighting. Fluorescent lamps give off heat as a waster by-product, while out door sign boards do not. In fact, they are considered a cold light?technology, which means that all of the energy going to the lamp is directed to making light, without any wasted heat. Out door sign boards are thus very energy efficient as well as very bright.
Traffic management system, passenger information system, advertising, public notices, health and safety, time and temperature displays, company promotion are some the areas where outdoor sign boards are used most efficiently.
The out door sign boards come in multi-lingual and in one line, bi-line or multi-line versions up to around 40 characters per line, which one colour, two colours or multi colours options and full colours in addition.
Out door sign boards are connected to local power supply and can switch on and off automatically at pre-programmed times. The specially used anti-reflective acrylic?allows the displays to be read clearly by passers-by, even through a shop window on a sunny day. These sign boards can be mounted anywhere and manufacturing department of Jayex Technology also takes very much attention on the buyers need for mounting the sign board and its related accessories.
These out door sign boards are easy to set up and operate as they can be operated remotely, they allow the outlet to simply and clearly present the content; these contents are changeable and/or updateable.
Dynamic presentation of information, effective public communications, rapid and easy updating of information, enhancing company image, low maintenance are the features provided by the leading manufacturer of Outdoor sign boards ?Jayex Technology, a pioneer company in manufacturing LED signs even offers customized options all along having large range of out door signs.
About The Author
Paula Jones
Jayex Technology Limited, based in London specialise in advanced information display systems. Established in 1978 we have pioneered the development of the LED display market and now have over 18,000 customers worldwide. We offer, probably the largest range of models from small single line signs to big screen Megavision screens that can display live video and action replay in stadia.
jayex.co.uk
Advertising Made Easy, and Cost EffectiveAdvertising made easy, and your wallet will love it too!In today’s market, anyone in business knows that advertising is the backbone to the success, and without it, you are “dead in the water”. Even with the greatest product on the planet, a product that you know everyone needs and wants. Without advertising, it’s just […]
50 Surefire Business Card TipsBusiness cards are one of the most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools you can use. Here are 50 surefire tips to make the most out of your business cards:Your business card must communicate more than just your contact information. Make sure that your card includes a tag line that explains what you or […]
Banner Stand ExhibitsBanner Stands are a high impact, inexpensive and attractive medium of advertisement. They are usually found at exhibitions, trade shows, retail stores ?just about anywhere the potential customer can be attracted by high wattage graphics.The attractive thing about banner stands is that they are portable, flexible and easy to set up. There are different kinds […]
Why Should You Use Google Ads on Your Website?If you are interested in earning income from your website, should you consider using the Google AdSense program to place targeted ads on your web pages? When I first considered this idea, I wasnt sure if it was right for me. You see, I have a number of websites that promote affiliate links […]
Building Business With Free Online Classified AdsOne time sellers and long term sellers can cash in on the advantages of free online classifieds. Despite the service is given to you free of cost, free online classifieds ad websites offer great service in helping you sell your products.Free online classifieds websites generally are of two kinds ?some have an option for upgrading […]
Written by info on September 26th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
Sorry, I Don’t Seem to Have a Business Card With Me…
Those could be the “famous last words” of the forgetful entrepreneur.
If you habitually find yourself without a business card, you’re habitually losing money; or at least the chance of making money. Your business card, more than any other marketing weapon in your arsenal, is what prospects and colleagues rely upon to remind them why they should do business with you.
Forgetting a business card is a marketing mistake of significant proportions. We’re so inundated with advertising messages that most of us learn to tune them out. Yet every time you’re asked for a business card, and sheepishly reply that you don’t have one with you, you’re missing an honest-to-goodness invitation to market to someone.
Worse, leaving your business card behind when you may need it is a social faux pas as well.
Being asked for a business card is a compliment. Not having one with you at that critical moment is subtly offensive. It puts both you and the person requesting the card in an embarrassing situation. And it nonverbally tells your prospect that you’re not quite the business person they thought. You’re not really serious about your business, or too careless and forgetful to be entrusted with theirs.
If you’re determined not to be caught “cardless” at a critical meeting again, here are some tips to help you remember:
Develop a strategy for using business cards to actively promote your business
It may be as simple as deciding to give 5 or 10 cards away every day. It may mean printing labels describing your current promotion, sticking them to the back of your cards, and pinning them to bulletin boards. Whatever! The point is that if you consciously figure out a way to use your business cards to bring in business, you’re much less likely to forget them.
Invest in new cards
If you haven’t ordered business cards within the past two years, there’s a good chance that the information or photo is out of date by now. And if your last order was for 1000 cards and there are still 990 cards left, ask yourself why you haven’t been passing them out. If it’s because you dislike the cards, pitch them and get business cards you’re proud of!
Draft and practice a business card presentation
Unless you’re comfortable and confident when handing out your card, you won’t do it. Besides, the words and actions that accompany your business card when you give it to someone can really cement a positive first impression.
Invest in a quality business card case, one that you’re proud to show off and to use
Business card cases can be conversation starters in and of themselves, since there are so many unusual, classic and artistic choices available. I suggest investing in a few cases; a more professional, elegant case for formal business occasions and a flashy or fun holder for social situations.
Tuck a few business cards everywhere
Your car’s glove compartment. Your briefcase. Your gym bag. Your wife’s purse. Next to the front door on the table where you keep your keys. Your desk drawer. Your secretary’s desk. The pocket of your coat. Your suitcase. Never leave home without them!
About The Author
Recent advances in online technology allow you design business cards online in your web browser. No special downloads, no hidden costs, easy WYSIWYG design.
Choose from thousands of photographic quality backgrounds. Browse one of the web’s largest collection of business card articles and learn how to make your cards a powerful marketing weapon.
Advertising Made Easy, and Cost EffectiveAdvertising made easy, and your wallet will love it too!In today’s market, anyone in business knows that advertising is the backbone to the success, and without it, you are “dead in the water”. Even with the greatest product on the planet, a product that you know everyone needs and wants. Without advertising, it’s just […]
Generate Millions of Advertising Impressions and Drive Your Business Forward!What does your vehicle say about your business? You drive to work, commute through traffic, stop at the shop for refreshments, park up outside your business, take care of deliveries and run some errands during the day, finally, you drive home in the evening. How many people did you pass or meet today? All potential […]
Building Business With Free Online Classified AdsOne time sellers and long term sellers can cash in on the advantages of free online classifieds. Despite the service is given to you free of cost, free online classifieds ad websites offer great service in helping you sell your products.Free online classifieds websites generally are of two kinds ?some have an option for upgrading […]
Banner Stand ExhibitsBanner Stands are a high impact, inexpensive and attractive medium of advertisement. They are usually found at exhibitions, trade shows, retail stores ?just about anywhere the potential customer can be attracted by high wattage graphics.The attractive thing about banner stands is that they are portable, flexible and easy to set up. There are different kinds […]
50 Surefire Business Card TipsBusiness cards are one of the most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools you can use. Here are 50 surefire tips to make the most out of your business cards:Your business card must communicate more than just your contact information. Make sure that your card includes a tag line that explains what you or […]
Written by info on September 25th, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Advertise My Business.
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