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15 Replies Last post: Feb 18, 2008 7:16 AM by puzzleman

need help with advertising!!!

Feb 12, 2008 12:06 PM

bullin82 2 posts since
Feb 12, 2008

I have posted adds on craigslist, pennysaver, countless forums even ebay and i havent seen a single person visit or view my site. is there any advise out there??

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Iwrite 1,101 posts since
Dec 29, 2007

1. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 12, 2008 12:30 PM

Bullin,

The very first thing everyone is going to tell you is that we need more information. What type of business? What are you selling? What is your website? Who is your target?

The more information you provide the better advice you will get. And there are some great resources on this site. So, give them something to work with to better help you. You could always talk to a SCORE volunteer in your home city. But even they are going to need some information.

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bullin82 2 posts since
Feb 12, 2008

2. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 12, 2008 12:42 PM

in response to: Iwrite

i kind of figured i was being to vague. i am basically a reseller or the dreded "middle-man" i supply catalogs and a web site for people to browse if they find something they like they buy it from me at a given price and i turn around and buy it from my supplier for a smaller price and so on. all the iteams are geared towards the home decor/gift area theres tons of stuff for everyone from what i have seen. on my own i have been targeting mainly women with it being more on the femanine side of things though there are iteams for males and children. if you would like to check it out and see what you think the url is www.TheStuffShack.com. (hmmm maybe the name???)

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longshot270 2 posts since
Feb 12, 2008

3. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 12, 2008 1:13 PM

in response to: bullin82

After viewing your website, I would say that it is a very eloquent and professional looking site, however the catalog system is very flawed. As a customer, you want to be able to browse products very easily and be able to search for what you want. At your site, it appeard the only way to browse is by a PDF version of a paper catalog, which is very difficult and frustrating. Personally, I simply quit after one or two pages of browsing.

My advice is to create a more traditional product browsing interface for your store before putting time and money into advertising. Advertising can only do so much, once people find your site they need a reason to stay there, and right now I'm not sure they do.

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puzzleman 293 posts since
Oct 11, 2007

4. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 12, 2008 1:55 PM

I agree with the previous post. Set a more traditional way to search for products. It's what people are used to.

As far as the ads that you are posting, are they targeting you market? You can say that my products work for all people, which may be true but only a certain type of person will buy your product. What is that person's social-economic group? Where do these people currently shop? What do you offer that is different or better that where they shop currently? Once these questions are answered, you have a starting place of where to put your advertising.

Another tactic to use is PPC.

Jim

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aallc01 26 posts since
Jan 9, 2008

5. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 15, 2008 7:31 AM

Many companies find direct mail to be highly effective. I can put you in touch with an inexpensive direct mail agency that will help you with your ad and supply you with leads and statistical analysis to see how effective your ad is.
Please contact me at sales@affinityalliancellc.com

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LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007

6. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 15, 2008 7:45 AM

82, Welcome to this web site. You need help with advertising.
You have gotten GOOD answers so far. Do you know about SCORE??
SCORE is FREE and has a Virtual Learning Center with FREE Courses on both
Advertising and Promoting your Business as well as developing a Business Plan.
Help yourself advertise: Go to the Members page and add few words about your business
LUCKIEST

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2go2Marketing 24 posts since
Feb 15, 2008

7. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 16, 2008 12:48 AM

That is where we come in....

2 go 2 Marketing, our company, provides Internet Marketing Solutions for Small to Medium-Large Businesses. What we do, is we work with you on what your budget is, what your possible target reach can be and track it throughout our business relationship. Too many people run in to the very same problem as you and many hire consultants whom either do Internet and Internet Search marketing incorrectly but the comapnies don't track and help with improvements throughout the whole process.

Take a look at our website and see if it is right for you.

Also... I can post a free link to your site on our Company's forum to help promote your business. We understand how hard it is geting started as a small business amrketing your service or product.

Best Regards,

Brandon
2 go 2 Marketing
http://www.2go2marketing.com

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2go2Marketing 24 posts since
Feb 15, 2008

8. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 16, 2008 12:50 AM

in response to: aallc01

Direct mail is very costly. I wouldn't do it. Wired Magazine recently had an article on this. Some .21 Cents per postcard mailed out and something like less than 1% even keep the card and go to your site or use your service. See the (I believe) December issue of Wired magazine on the details because I can't remeber the exact numbers.

Internet Marketing is the way to go IMO.

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Bemore 33 posts since
Feb 10, 2008

9. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 16, 2008 11:25 AM

in response to: 2go2Marketing

We use Constant Contact email marketing. Cost effective and a great way of keeping in touch with existing customers.

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puzzleman 293 posts since
Oct 11, 2007

10. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 16, 2008 2:04 PM

in response to: 2go2Marketing

Direct mail marketing can work if you know your numbers. I direct mail to specific zip codes that meet my criteria and get a return of 1.5% that make an order with a good drop and about 0.8% with a bad drop. I go into the mailing with the minimum return that I need to break even and that number is .01% of drops to make an average order.

I like direct mail as it puts something into their hand, they can file it for later use and they see it when they ar not looking for a particular item. (When opening mail, we are more receptive as our mind is looking for something to jump out.)

Direct mail is like any other advertising, know your numbers, watch your response rate and test new formats.

Jim

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2go2Marketing 24 posts since
Feb 15, 2008

11. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 17, 2008 1:46 AM

in response to: puzzleman

I guess I agree to disagree. Lets look at Ron Paul's presidential campaign... little money spent yet a ton of people reached. Why so? Google and You Tube... in short, the internet provides a cheaper more cost effective solution for advertising. Hel, TV is better than mail marketing. I lie, half the time when I fill out warranty cards, nyone else do the same?

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bigdaddy02817 2 posts since
Feb 17, 2008

12. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 17, 2008 5:07 PM

Hi,
I agree with puzzleman. If you know your target, direct mail is the way to go. Do you know what type of mail gets open 12 times more often than any other form of mail? Well, it is a greeting card. Greeting cards work because they are personal. Not perceived as junk mail and they get opened and that's the biggest thing when sending mail. If you would like to try the system I use, go to http://trysendoutcards.com . There are 13,000 cards to choose from and each can be a greeting card or a postcard. Check it out. It's affordable and easy to use.

Bob

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LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007

13. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 17, 2008 6:06 PM

Go to Members page and add a few words about your business

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Bemore 33 posts since
Feb 10, 2008

14. Re: need help with advertising!!! Feb 17, 2008 8:04 PM

in response to: bigdaddy02817

Hey, I agree with bigdaddy. I use Send Out Card as a way of having another touch with clients after the sign work is done. We usually take a photo of their new vehicle graphics or new sign, create a custom card with their new sign on it. It has been a big hit and is really very cost effective. I hadn't even thought about using it for marketing. Duh! Where have I been? Thanks. Will get on it immediately.

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