15 replies to this topic

[SNPG]

Hello,

Looking for your best advertising expense to date. How does everyone advertise, promote, market their business? Do you use the catalogs, e-mail blasts, cold calls, phone book, billboards, join chamber, join associations, become dealer for supplier?? I am a fairly new distributor trying to budget for advertising expenses. I would love to know what works/has not worked for everyone. So far I have done little advertising except joining the chamber and ordering ASI catalogs (have brought little business). I will be attending a show next month, hope to gain some knowlege in the industry there as well.

LOVE this board!!
All advise and help is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Anitra
Stay-N-Play Gifts

[m_glenetske]

Networking. Both chambers and other associations. People like to do business with people they like. Get involved, go to the networking events, sit on committees, volunteer your time,etc. Just joining won't help, but once you start to get to know others and they get to know you, it can open a lot of doors. Cold calling works well too, but it's DECEMBER here in Wisconsin :eek:

[Schlep]

It really depends on your business as for example I network, Royce I know is not allowed with people so he promotes himself by mail.

And yet as of today mail has not worked for me. Tried newspaper and radio and they did nothing.

Other than networking emails and fax outs have done well for me.

[Schlep]

m_glenetske said:

Networking. Both chambers and other associations. People like to do business with people they like. Get involved, go to the networking events, sit on committees, volunteer your time,etc. Just joining won't help, but once you start to get to know others and they get to know you, it can open a lot of doors. Cold calling works well too, but it's DECEMBER here in Wisconsin :eek:

So when else would you COLD CALL other than the winter? :D:D:)

[m_glenetske]

Schlep said:

So when else would you COLD CALL other than the winter? :D:D:)

Exactly! I prefer the "warm" calls in the spring:D

[SCPromos]

Best advertising dollars spent - Self Promos.

[SNPG]

Thanks for all of the responses. Always trying to learn more about the business and how to keep the business rolling.SNPG

[ridety]

Without a doubt...networking and self-promos...

The trick is networking within the right organizations (choose organizations that you care about/that interest you...that also have good potential prospects (biz owners/managers)...this will differ depending upon your locale...but consider chamber, rotary, lions, etc...really get involved...

Also consider a "formal" professional networking group such as BNI

...and doing the best self promos...

My personal faves:

~use a great looking business card at self promo price from tradenet
~the 2500 admint boxes (call 'em and ask for the flyers...)
~anything from Tradenet...(they've got some totally free...but every item is 50% off net for self promo)
~glass america- 50% off eqp.....no setup...awesome deal (call 'em and ask)
~the javelin, mardi gras, and commonwealth from HUB (call 'em and ask for the self promo flyers)
~consider some of the free spec sample offers (search this forum)

You GOTTA do some of the obvious self promos...some are just too good...

[LOGO emPower]

First, welcome to a great industry Anitra!

Self Promos are definitely the best advertising you can use. Use the medium that you believe in enough to invest your own time - promotional products.

Networking within the community, family and friends. Spread the word that you are in this business and welcome the opportunity to share your creativity with customers to show them that promotional advertising is a very effective medium.

[cmroma]

Get involved with charities and other groups in which you have an interest.
We have always been supporters of the United Way. We started volunteering wherever possible about 2 years ago (instead of just donating money). We have developed many new customers from the other volunteers.

Also, we belong to an informal Autism support group for my twelve year old daughter. We met some wonderful people that also turned out to be customers when they found out what I do for a living.

You never know where you will make the correct contact.
Just get involved with things that interest you.
As was mentioned earlier in this thread, you can't just sign up and hope that people find you. You must get very involved.
Volunteer your time, attend as many events as possible.

Craig

[LBehrle]

All of the answers are great. For me networking has been the best source of new business - but - it takes time - so don't give up if things don't happen right away. People need to get to know you and see that you are committed to whatever groups you join.

Also, regarding self-promos - we give them out pretty regularly. The best one we've done so far was last October. We gave our best customers an antique wooden truck filled with cashews. We got over $8K in new orders from a $550 investment. And now each of them has a classy item on display in their office with our name & logo on it, too!!

[ideaguy]

Anitra, please don't be offended.... the best piece of advise I can give you today to help advertise and promote your business is to change the name of your company. In sounds like a petsitting service, not a promotions company. At least, that is my perception, and this business has a great deal to do with perception.

An effective name, logo, and company identity is the best investment one can make. Branding your company....just like the big guys do. It works.....Then get your carefully crafted message out there to the right audience. Good luck in your endeavor....IDEAGUY

SNPG said:

Hello,

Looking for your best advertising expense to date. How does everyone advertise, promote, market their business? Do you use the catalogs, e-mail blasts, cold calls, phone book, billboards, join chamber, join associations, become dealer for supplier?? I am a fairly new distributor trying to budget for advertising expenses. I would love to know what works/has not worked for everyone. So far I have done little advertising except joining the chamber and ordering ASI catalogs (have brought little business). I will be attending a show next month, hope to gain some knowlege in the industry there as well.

LOVE this board!!
All advise and help is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Anitra
Stay-N-Play Gifts

[ideaguy]

Just my take on it Allan, and a good suggestion for Anitra. Take it for what it is worth. I know more than a little about marketing. A little market research would give her confirmation of same. But thanks anyway for the compliment....IDEAGUY

way

aapromotions said:

Dude, you have one great set of cajones. There is nothing wrong at all with her company name.

[Chris Miller]

Best money spent has been in niche markets that I ENJOY working in, and in my companies image (logos, names, trademarks)

I also agree with Jeff. Image is everything and your name better be in line with what you do. In my opinion (IMO), "Stay-N-Play Gifts" is not going to cut it. Do what you want, but don't forget, 50% of small businesses fail in the first year, and 95% of the survivors fail in the next 4 years. There is a reason for this.....they lead you to believe that reason is lack of capital, but it's really because of IGNORANCE in marketing. If you know marketing, you can grow a company with no money whatsoever. I did it.......

[ideaguy]

Chris, I am glad that you see eye-to-eye on the importance of the point that I had made. Absolutely, image is everything.... and the sooner one understands it, the quicker they and their clients will benefit from it. It is the best investment we can make in our business.

What people perceive about us from our name, our logo, our corporate colors, our trademarks, our images, our advertising, our marketing, etc. has a direct correlation to getting business and growing your business...of course, all of the other elements have to be in place as well such as how your operate your business, etc....IDEAGUY

Chris Miller said:

Best money spent has been in niche markets that I ENJOY working in, and in my companies image (logos, names, trademarks)

I also agree with Jeff. Image is everything and your name better be in line with what you do. In my opinion (IMO), "Stay-N-Play Gifts" is not going to cut it. Do what you want, but don't forget, 50% of small businesses fail in the first year, and 95% of the survivors fail in the next 4 years. There is a reason for this.....