Advertising

brothersprinting · #1 December 7th, 2009, 10:32 PM

I was wondering if anyone can give me pointers on where to advertise or how to advertise. I've been in business for 2 years now and have not advertised once. I've gotten all my business from word of mouth and I'm doing ok seeing that its just part time. I'm ready to step it up and go full time so therefore I need a little more business to pay for some overhead. We have printed shirts to give away and I leave business cards everywhere. Any ideas. I'm going door to door to local businesses next week to try to let them know we exist. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks
BCP

tompainesbones · #2 December 8th, 2009, 06:55 AM

I'd recommend looking at Google Adwords, if you have fairly specific keywords especially local - it can be quite cheap and you only pay for clicks.

Worn Id · #3 December 10th, 2009, 12:05 PM

Between my co worker and I we have 5 kids in all three buildings that make up our local school. We print up shirts every once in awhile and put them on our kid's backs. Walking Billboard!! It is great for business from the HS kids who just want a shirt or two to support their fave player in a post season game or event!! We have 80-90% of all the clubs from the school as they know I will make what they want and be quick on getting it to them!
We recently got a new embriodery machine and so that is picking up too... there we have gone to local bbusiness and offered them a deal on polos or hats. Seems to be working thus far. What I am getting at is that we too, do little to no actual advertising, it is all word of mouth and right now that is still working for us!!

Laurie

Ghostwork Ink · #4 December 10th, 2009, 12:14 PM

Hahah, such a good idea Laurie.
Ive done that with my brother and sister in middle school

brothersprinting · #5 December 10th, 2009, 02:32 PM

Like I said we just recently printed shirts to give away and I have given a few to some family that is still in school. I gained one school group from it. I guess I'm just hesitant to make the move from part time to full time cause we are pretty busy all year round and I make just as much from our business as I do working most of the time.

Khanasohrab · #6 December 22nd, 2009, 04:56 PM

Hi:
Google ad words clicks are really expensive. I am paying $1.70 per click, whether some one gives business or not does not matter. Cheapest way I find out is KIJIJI Ads. That is free.......... and you get business. Kijiji is owned by big companies, like Ebay, paypal guys. So that comes fast on the first page. Try this and other free websites. I am getting good business from kijiji.
Sam
Signs 101 Canada Inc.

tompainesbones · #7 December 23rd, 2009, 08:02 PM

A bit US-centric :-)

DigitizingService.com · #8 January 28th, 2010, 07:48 PM

I agree 100%, every business should spend all they can on Adwords before you spend a dime advertising anywhere else. You can tailor your campaigns for specific regions (it's not perfect, but close) and advertise to anyone searching Google or one of their search partners. Experiment on content pages, but create a seperate campaign, so you can enter lower bids to start with. The content ads are a little more hip-slinging than search.

You also need to redesign your site to take advantage of those clicks. There are a lot of ways to "generate" a lead from your "click"-- newsletters signups, contact us, telephone numbers, directions and locations are also ways to generate the leads.

Measurement is the most important aspect. Adwords has some analysis but Google Analytics is one of the best applications. It allows you to add up the money you spent on clicks divide it by the number of conversions and you end up with your Cost Per Customer. If your cost per customer is less than average lifetime profit of a new customer, you are coming out ahead.

Adwords is really interesting and they seem to come up with more and more control over where and when your ads run every day. You can now run your ads just during business hours. This prevents fraudulent clicks from other time zones, since they are likely asleep.

There is no more qualified viewer of your advertising than someone who just sat down and typed "embroidered shirts yourtown, usa" or something similar. They are looking for you, spend money to let them see you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompainesbones

I'd recommend looking at Google Adwords, if you have fairly specific keywords especially local - it can be quite cheap and you only pay for clicks.

aksavarna · #9 February 5th, 2010, 05:00 AM

Hi brothersprinting

If you really want to make it big (your business), then you need to think out of box. Everything in this world has gone online and so is the business. I assume you must have your own website.

List your business in the local online business directories. You can list your business (including email, contact no) here http://www.hellotrade.com/.

If you even get 2-3 queries it would help your business grow vast.

emberrayne · #10 May 27th, 2010, 09:40 AM

A quick rundown of some easy ideas
Craigslist
Flyers-www.nextdayflyers.com
window decals for your car
cheap shirt sales to get the customer in the door, generally if you take care of them they won't leave
web presence
Good luck!

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