ForumsStarting a Business

My reply to IWrite:

Thank you for this response to my question about advertising locally. Having tried so many means I was coming around to what you have laid out for me and this is what I will concentrate on as soon as I get back home down there in Riverside, Southersn California. I was a very successful professionally employed construction engineer but now I am discovering, I hope, how to be a small businessman.

I rate your response the best for my circumstances but I very much appreciate the other replies too.

Thank you,

Frank O'Hare

MADMAN, you wrote Take a look at my Vehicle Wrap -- how/where can members see it?

There's no problem -- I'm asking if there's a website where we can see your Vehicle Wrap. I didn't find anything on the site in your profile. Thanks!

OK, thanks -- best wishes!

Here is another approach you can take...

Rather than spend your money on advertising, change your delivery to marketing public relations. What does this mean?

You have a unique talent and skills as noted in your posting. Your paying for your web siote, so start using it to generate potential business. Add both a blog and forum to your main page. Post topics on the foum for vistors to reply and give input. Let them sign up to your new community. Also, write about your business (weekly if possible) and these postings will go out onto the web as information. When people "Google" that particular topic, you will show up as providing useful advice. Over time, your "Google Juice" will increase!

Also, I would spend some of that advertising money on improving your web design and functionality. Remember, perceptions rein supreme on the web and most people decide to business with you based on their first look at your web site.

Hope that helps!

For me, it is very effective when I have a qualified list of prospects that I built and maintain (in other words when I'me e-mailing people who already recognize my business name, and are known buyers of what I sell). In my experience, it was only marginally effective to totally ineffective when I relied on someone else's list of prospects (i.e., the recipients had never heard of me, and may not have even been in the market for what I was offering). Even some of the expensive, supposedly well-refined lists/services appear to be hit-or-miss and the price per read/response for my projects ended up being higher than with direct mail.

I do think this is a rapidly evolving advertising method, however, so the fact that I was disappointed with the results I got two years ago doesn't mean I'd never try it again. Before I did, however, I find a business owner who experienced success with a project similar to mine and get a recommendation.

Hope this helps answer your question, carriong. Best wishes.