Cheapest forms of advertising advice for a small business and other questions

david.robinson_2

Hi I am new here and have a few questions and need a bit of advice.

I have recently got my own shop and have setup doing computer repair/ web design as it was very cheap and is in a village away from a lot of other computer shops. I am 23 and have been fixing computers for years and also created websites for quite a few companies in the local area.

My question is what are the best in your opinion cheapest forms of advertising this business? I am kind of brain storming at the moment and would really appreciate any help.

So far I have had 2000 leaflets printed and have delivered them myself (with a good response), business cards to hand out and have ran a classified ad in the local paper for very cheap. Today I spoke to a women from the local paper about running a quarter page ad and have been put off by their prices. Surely there is another way of getting the word around without spending hundreds of pound per month.

I need advice on the best one-off payment advertisement my ideas so far are vinyl on the back window of my car, tshirts and one I am unsure of is putting a board up in my garden? does any one know if thats legal as I don't see anybody else doing it. ( I live across from a primary school so its very busy twice a day). Can anyone think of anything else?

Any help would be great and I may have a few more questions/ideas so I may update this.

Thanks in advance

whitewing

Word of mouth is spot on so make sure you are professional at all times.

Are there any local monthly town/village magazines (maybe by the town council).

More leaflets.

Join the local business group perhaps.

Speak to the local schools and see if you can advertise in their school newsletter.

lloydard

Hi David

I've seen small business owners advertise outside their houses so I don't see that as an issue. I think its a great idea. I'm of a similar age & have just completed a business degree. If you'd like to brainstorm PM me and I'd be glad to help :beer:

lr1277

There is a radiator cover maker and a carpenter near me, both of whom put boards up at the end of their driveway. The radiator cover maker also leaves out an example of his work.

Can you put up cards in your local (or not so local) newsagent?

How far are you willing to travel to fix computers? This may affect the suggestions you get.

david.robinson_2

Thank you to all of you, responses are great and much appreciated.

I do have local schools and churches very nearby to my business so I will get in touch with them tomorrow. I also think I have seen both of thier newsletters in local shops.

I am willing to travel to all the local towns I would say a 5 mile radius.

Do you see local papers as an important way to advertise a small business? I know it is probably the quickest way of advertising but I see it as alot of money if it were to go wrong and other local computer repair shops advertise in it so I would like to advertise in a more personal way.

Thank you for clearing up the advertising in my garden idea I will get onto that right away, I haven't seen anybody else doing it in the local area so wondered why. I want to spend most of the money I've budgeted for advertising on things that will last years but will be effective.

and lloydard I will send you a pm asap. Thanks again everyone!

Savvy_Sue

Schools of course are no use until September for advertising (mind you we're nearly there, aren't we!), but can be inexpensive. You need to strike a balance in contacting them: the first few days of term will be manic and the last thing they need is some random person wanting to know about advertising or whether they could do a satchel post leaflet drop (not that I'd expect that to be very useful!)

You may have to wait until the Christmas Fair and advertise in their programme for that, ask if someone from the PTA can contact you. Maybe you could donate a raffle prize?

I'd be in touch with churches and community magazines now if you want to advertise in their September editions. Would expect that to be much cheaper than local paper, but you may need to advertise several times to see returns. I know I've used advertisers from that kind of thing, but generally I've seen the advert several times before it's 'stuck'.

texranger

A good website and then on sites like WHT (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/)

Maysie

Get reviews from happy customers on some review sites like qype. My friend has and its moved her up on google for zero outlay! You can also make vouchers on their site and everyone likes to feel they are getting a great deal. https://www.qype.co.uk . There are lots of review places online.

mrsingh

Hi, If you really want to reach the parents via the school route, I would recommend having some letter headed paper with all your business details ,i.e. logo & contact details made (you want them to be fairly big and prominent on the letter as possible).

Then just hand them to your local primary school or nursery saying that they are old letters that you dont need anymore and you'd rather see them being used then just "throwing them away". Hopefully, they will give them to the kids to draw or paint on and when those kids take them what do most parents do with them? put them on the fridge hopefully, where they will be displaying the pictures along with your contact details for all to see.

It might not work with all primary schools, but certainly with nurseries and childrens day care centres/creches who will be happy for the free resources. It will be relatively cheap to produce the letterheads (i've used these guys before for all my printing - http://www.printcarrier.com/gb/category-10658/4-1-coloured-double-sided-print-(CMYK-black).html).

Marketing is only effective when applied in layers, its no good just sending out some flyers and waiting. We say that on average it'll take 4 "exposures" to your business/products for someone to act. This is explained in the acronym AIDA (A - Attention from 1st exposure (they will notice), I - Interest, from the 2nd exposure (they will research), D - Desire, 3rd exposure (they want it) and lastly A - Action, 4th exposure (they will do something about their desire for it).

Your marketing mix can be a combo of any 4 methods, it doesn't have to be 4 delivery drops of flyers for example. Dont take the following example literally for your situation but It could be flyers, newspaper ads, a local radio ad and then a local bus add placement for example, all spread out a few days or week apart, any longer and it may not be so effective (strike while the iron is hot!) whatever works for you.

You should work out which methods will allow you to reach the same audience consistently for the best results

Best of luck with the business mate, if you ever need any help pm me or anyone else for that matter is also welcome...

InsideInsurance

Check any covenants (if you own) or clauses (if you rent) about advertising as some preclude you from doing this - in renting cases your also often not allowed to run a business from your address.

Best advertisement is word of mouth but there is the usual vicious circle of not being able to get referrals as you cannot get the initial business to generate the referrals.

I would assume you are really more interested in the slightly lower value but more long term prospects of repeat business rather than the higher priced but more infrequent one off bits? If so, try offering your services at a discount to a well connected organisation. Once they're onboard run a "refer a friend" type programme where they'll receive discount in their future services for each new customer they introduce to you that goes on to buy.

deadfish

How about a sticker that you put on the front of the customers computer? This computer was fixed by ..... Then any friends or family that saw it would see it as a recommendation...

Maybe you could offer a yearly cover service... they say the best customers are the ones you have already had. You could use the sticker as a 'guarantee sticker'?