Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Methods of Marketing

Advertising on prime time television or becoming an Olympic sponsor is not an option for a small business owner.  They must be creative and find advertising avenues that give them full bang for their limited buck.

 

The closest possibility to you now is your storefront window.  Many business owners fail to take full advantage of the space on your business front.  Exciting colors and an enticing message will convert would be passers by into new customers.

 

Catalog printing and booklet printing allow for economical direct mail campaigns.  Ideally these should be targeted at an under served niche market.  Many business owners today fail to incorporate these tried and true methods into their overall marketing strategy.

 

The outdoors also provides many marketing opportunities.  This can range from a billboard to employing the power of poster printing.  A well placed poster can speak to thousands while costing less than your morning latte.

 

Television and radio are now affordable to the small business owner.  There are many programs providing discounted rates for unsold time.  Make your spot professional and place it on programs your market is likely to watch.

 

Obviously seeing you are reading this online you are aware of the multitude of interactive marketing possibilities.  However, don’t become too focused with your online segment to the detriment of other avenues.  A well rounded marketing plan translates to a successful one. 

 

Posted by sedated at 00:13:38 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Free is not Free!

Do you know what the most powerful word that elicits quick response in the marketing world is? We see it everyday; it’s the word “free”.

Just a word of caution though, this word is highly regulated. I mean, there are laws to ensure that this word is not abused. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission has been mandated to oversee how you can and cannot use that word.

The following is a review of rules that might relate to how you use this word for your advertising:

  • You only get to use this word for three times over a year with at least 30 days in between.

  • If the buyer must buy another article to receive the free one, she must not be charged more than the regular price for the second article.

  • If there is a catch to the word, an asterisk or a small footnote is not appropriate.

  • The word “gift” or “bonus” cannot be interchanged with the word “free.”

  • If you are in doubt about the use of the word, always your lawyer.

If you thought the word free is free for any use in your flyer printing or postcard printing then you are in for a surprise. This word, because it is the source of many complaints, is a regulated word. Often, business owners get into trouble because of the misuse of this word. Remember, ignorance is not an excuse so do not tell me I did not warn you.

Posted by sedated at 23:01:42 | Permalink | Comments Off