Finally Started advertising :)

[Reality Hosting]

Well, I've been in business for a year and I've finally managed to pay off my start-up debts and start advertising. I have a small 2.5 inch by 1.25 inch ad running every day for a month starting tommorow. The paper told me that the ad would see 264,000 circulation. There is only one local company competing with me and they charge like $40 a month (including a $10 charge if you want them to host a domain hehe) so I'm hoping to get at least one sign up :)


I'll let you guys know how it goes.

[Chicken]

Good luck and congratulations! It's pretty cool to see your ad in print the first time (OK, so I still like it!) What type of paper is this? Regular local newspaper? Where is the ad running (section?), and keep in mind, don't limit advertising to one month's worth to be effective (if it is effective at all in the paper you're advertising that is).

[Reality Hosting]

It's the local newspaper for my area. The ad will be in a special Business & Service directory the newspaper prints every day in the paper. (The paper itself isn't big enough for more than one section :)

I'm just kind of running the ad every day for a month to see if it generates any kind of response. If it does well, I may sign on for a yearly contract at a lower rate. I'm just not sure how long it will take to soak up the business in my city. I don't want to be stuck advertising somewhere that's returns aren't worthwhile. I'd rather move on to the next biggest city around here :)

[Chicken]

Well, I would go B2B and look into direct mail (maybe both, first a mailing, then a visit: "Hey did you see my card I sent you?"). Advertising in the paper can be hit and miss (often times miss), though I used to run ads in small local papers when I had a photography business and it's amazing that people actually read through all that stuff :D There are many reasons why an ad may fail though, so don't think "Ohhh well, it didn't work." -and give up.

[net-trend]

Originally posted by Chicken:

Advertising in the paper can be hit and miss (often times miss)

Oh, how true. But anyways, Mr. Reality, how much did the months worth of advertising cost you? If you don't mind me asking.

:)

[Reality Hosting]

It was only $131 (Canadian hehe). I'm planning on doing some radio commercials too (My cousin has a recording studio across from my office and he'll help me make a commercial for free...so :)

Also, it's funny that you should mentiona direct mail Chicken :) I just finished stuffing about 700 envelopes with my brochures. I'm writing a sales letter to go alone with it as well. My plan is to hand address them (to increase the chance that they'll actually be opened) and then follow up with a call a week or so after they've been sent. One thing I'm nervous about is getting past who ever answers the phone and talking to the boss.

[Karen]

Originally posted by Reality Hosting:
One thing I'm nervous about is getting past who ever answers the phone and talking to the boss.

The trick I use for this is to call a head of time, and ask for the name of the boss (or person who would be receiving this time of information). Then I mail out my information and I address it to this person directly.

In the mailing, I indicate that I will be doing a follow-up phone call in a week, with a time and date. I also always mention that I know their time is important so if the time / date I have choosen is not convenient for them, to have their secretary call me with a different time / date.

Then when I call, I ask for the person by name, and indicate the he /she is expecting my call.

It usually helps get past the secretary when I call. More often than not, the secretary will have it scheduled in her book that I am calling so she is expecting my call.

One drawback to this method (and there is always a drawback) is that it is left open for the contact to have his secretary call to cancel all together. However, in my opinion, that is perfectly fine.
You still managed to get your name and contact information infront of the person you were trying to contact. They may just contact you at a later date.

Karen

[Reality Hosting]

Thanks for the great advice Karen :)