best way to advertise

[Rodney Gold]

The first thing to do is make up a really stunning sample range and portfolio – spend time on this as its the first impression folk get of your work. Add to this a decent website.
An excellent business card is also vital as is your telephone manner , as it is also the first impression people get. You are trying to improve a customers image and trying to get more feet thru his door , so your approach needs to set the standard.
In essence , you have to understand EXACTLY what you are doing for the client , you are not merely “making” signs , you promote your customers bottom line by enhancing his image and are providing information about their products , the ultimate aim is to make more money for them.
Here are some ideas apart from the foregoing
1) Cold canvas people in your area , ask if you may see them and then take round that stunning portfolio etc and explain why you are better than the next man in the game
2) NEVER make price the main objective
3) NEVER give out cheap drek , never do single colour A5 leaflet printed on paper 1 notch better than toilet tissue , its very poor PR and makes you look cheap and it IS cheap!!!
4) Cull the yellow pages for folk who could use you and send them a well printed introductory letter and ask to set up a meeting.
5) Do a really nice A3 poster , listing your services etc , put them on community billboards at the local mall etc
6) Do a really good graphic on your car , less is more , and park it at various venues
7) Send press releases to local community papers and regional ones.
8) do freebies for good causes and get some local coverage
9) Word of mouth is excellent , ask your satisfied clients to spread the word and get leads from them
10) Cold call and hand out REALLY useful items as freebies , something like a memo holder that someone puts on a desk works well.
11) Existing customers are MUCH easier to suck in to giving you more and varied work , start THERE for the best bang for the buck re marketing results
12) Consider hiring a part time REP or add your poduct line to an exisiting REP with entree into your potential market.
13) If you do have a reception area/showroom , make it look REALLY good.
14) Advertise your website/services in the local papers if you have one (and in this day and age , you should have one)
15) Harvest your e-mail adresses for prospects
16) Send out a really USEFUL newsletter on a quarterly basis to your clients
17) NEVER send unsolicited mails or bulk fax , it pisses ppl off , keep it real short and never use other ppls consumables (like faxing a 70% coverage document to em)
Put yourself in your clients position , think of what YOU want a supplier to send you. If you wouldnt like getting it , niether would anyone else!!!
It’s NOT going to be cheap to advertise and market , look at it as a long term investment albeit there is NO direct correlation between advertising and sales in this game , what you want to do is implant your co in their mind!!
DO NOT blow the budget on one massive once off campaign , lots of smaller less in your face ads work better.
Hope this helps and keeps you busy for a while!!:)

[andrewzoso]

Thanks Rodney for the tips, i have already tried one or two of them but have taken the rest on board.

By the way good website you’ve got there

cheers andy

[Paul Rollason]

Hi Andy

I bet you didn’t expect such a comprehensive answer did you?

That is the fantasic thing about this site, people really do take the time to help you out.

Thanks for that Rodney there is something in there for us all

Cheers

Paul R(Mackerelbus Design)

[Andy Gorman]

I asked this exact same question a few months ago when I started. The best piece of advice I received and the the most effective form of advertising was to speak to people face to face. It seemed I was making little headway for a few months but then the phone started ringing and now I’m working like mental. Also, I have found, even the smallest jobs can be worthwhile. I have just completed a right nice little earner from a recommendation from a customer who spent 25 quid with me. Word of mouth is king.