Advertising wall planner

LJD1_2

Hiya
To get out of debt i'm trying to work as much as I can. Today I received a phone call from a company called Hamilton Forbes offering advertising space on a charity wall planner for £95. It sounds ok in principle but little alarm bells are ringing...has anyone had any dealings with them? Is it a good deal?
I don't want to get myself in more debt. I've asked them to send me all the details in the post so i've agreed to nothing yet. Any advice?

lynzpower

what is your business again?

Charity wallplanners/ back of diaries etc are cheap advertising, we have them a lot in Social services

LJD1_2

I'm do beauty treatments, aromatherapy etc. I'm thinking it's not a bad deal but it's just ringing bells from something I've read and i can't really afford to lose £95.

lynzpower

If you are worried about it, dont do it.

We got an email round the other month about someone who works in our council part time but does home visits for beauty treatments.

Could you set up an email messege advertising campign through those you know? Get some good pix off google images, and make it like an advert, then get everyone you know to forward it round to everyone they know. Might work, and even if it doenst, its free

LJD1_2

That's a brilliant idea, thankyou! My youngest started school last September so i've already managed to double my work load. Problem is, since coming on here I want to work more and more to get those debts down! It's addictive. Thanks again for the advice.

lynzpower

You could also do a "wedding package" Its something Ive been looking at and most seem to be around the 100 mark. Say if you offered 5% off with the e-leaflet you might get a slice of the big wedges

wuckfit

Don't do it. 'Charity' Wall planners are a total con. they prey on new companies who can ill afford the money on proven advertising, let alone waste-of-money scams.

I got suckered by a 'charity planner' by Barrington house about four years ago. I doubt that any of the money I paid went to the charity. additionally I suspect that the only planners that went out were the free copies that go to advertisers. I doubt that any were sold or distributed.

Barrington House have been investigated if not closed down by trading standards.

you'd be better making a £10 donation to the charity. they'd get more money that way, I suspect.

LJD1_2

It's Barrington House that I remember, I wasn't sure about this but definitely won't do it now. Thanks Wuckfit.

Lynzpower, I've put together a couple of packages including a wedding one. I'll put those on my email advert with the 5% discount. I'm also offering existing clients a £5 voucher if they introduce a friend and that's going down well.

Right, i'd best get back to work! No peace for the wicked!

all_hours

I agree with the above as advertising it will be next to useless and the charity will get very little of that £95.

You could get 1000 A5 B+W leaflets printed for under £30 and do a leaflet drop in your area.

tyllwyd

I used to organise the advertising for a local NCT newsletter - ours went out four times a year to about 200 members plus copies to maternity clinics etc. If you get in touch with NCT head office, they should be able to help you get in touch with your local branch.

milliejon

You have to be careful using email to advertise your business. Only use people you know as friends and relatives, who could in turn pass it on to other friends and relatives.

I used to run a small business, and I seem to remember that there is some law prohibiting using email addresses gained via the business for future business (unless they have expressed an interest in receiving updates). It's spam when it's not asked for.

I just thought I'd let you know this, as you may never know who may take it upon themselves to get upset by it.