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49 Replies Last post: Mar 30, 2009 1:53 AM by azren35

MARKETING/ADVERTISING

Dec 27, 2007 12:56 PM

Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007

How can I get good PR for my carpet cleaning business? Tried ads and mailers with no success. Best results came from hitting the pavement and referrals. In business 14 years which has continued to grow but nee more exposure for faster growth. What do you recommend? Carpetman
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Click to view DomainDiva's profile Mogul DomainDiva 1,732 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
1. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 12:58 PM
Have you tried carpet and flooring stores? They may be willing to refer your services to customers that have had new carpet installed.
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
2. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 1:10 PM
Carpetman, How about a Marketing Plan. I am a SCORE Counselor and SCORE helps business
people FREE with marketing and other services to help you succeed.
Two additional thoughts. You have been in business 14 years. How about some give away
with the word FREE in it. The other thought. Have the local newspaper do a story about your success.
Good luck, LUCKIEST
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
3. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 1:21 PM
in response to: DomainDiva
DomainDiva,
Thanks for the suggestion. Yes I have and continue to do so. Just about everybody has someone they work closely with in my area. I still continue to try though. My experience is that most of the time persistance pays off eventually most of the time. I use a dry foam system (not Chem-Dri) and most are unaware of it and the advantages it has over traditional steam cleaning which many of those places seem to still recommend. It has been an uphill battle but I have managed to keep climbing. I just need more exposure. Thank you again. Carpetman
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Click to view DomainDiva's profile Mogul DomainDiva 1,732 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
4. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 1:26 PM
in response to: Carpetman
This may sound crazy...but have you ever thought of getting a booth at a Home and Garden show? You could demo your process and sign up clients to get their carpets cleaned on the spot.
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
5. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 1:39 PM
in response to: LUCKIEST
LUCKIEST,
Thank you for the suggestion. I will give it a shot. I have worked hard to get my business where it is. I just need to have it pick up the pace even though it has grown every year except 1. It continues to grow about $5,000 to $8,000 more than the previous year, the last few years. But since I have had to hire help I need it grow more than that. I try to spend as much time on marketing my business as I am able. So thank you for you suggestion. Carpetman
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
6. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 1:41 PM
in response to: DomainDiva
No I had not. Thanks for the idea, I really appreciate it.
Carpetman

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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
7. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 1:45 PM
in response to: Carpetman
Suggestion, why not contact a marketing consultant or two.
Tell each about your business and how you want to grow. One or both might come up with interesting ideas.
I always like the idea of sponsoring the local baseball team. Great exposure. Kids wearing your shirts,
Moms and dads seeing the shirts at games and the rest of the town being exposed to the shirts.
Any way we can talk?? You can email me at " pdeig@juno.com "
LUCKIEST
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Click to view Lighthouse24's profile Mogul Lighthouse24 2,396 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
8. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 2:23 PM

When I first went out on my own as a consultant, I had big peaks (very busy) and big valleys (no work at all) -- but I was good with my hands and not afraid of manual labor. So when things were slow and no money was coming in, I'd load my pick-up with the appropriate tools, put on some clean work clothes, and park on the side of the road leading to the elementary school where all the "rich" kids went. I'd stand next to my truck early in the morning with a big marker board that said, "I can have your lawn mowed by noon!" (or your fence repaired or your carpet cleaned or whatever I was doing that day). I'd stand there in the afternoon with, "I could be mowing your lawn right now!" (or shoveling snow or cleaning your carpet or whatever). I had some homemade business cards with my phone number in case someone stopped and asked for one. It took a few days, but I finally got a job (hauling away junk from the yard of a rental house and mowing the lawn). Then some kind of "Mom Network" must have kicked-in, because I started getting more handyman jobs than I could handle.

I think if exposure is what you need, this technique could work for you -- and it's essentially free. Have your truck and equipment ready to go. Look clean and professional. Park on the way to (not in front of) a nice elementary school in the morning, near the entrance to a busy mall after that, in an area where professional people eat lunch at midday, then back to the elementary school. Stand beside your truck with a sign that basically says, "I'm available to work!" It may take a week or so, but if you do a good job at a fair price for the first one or two customers you get that way, I'll bet you'll be very busy soon.

Hope this helps. Best wishes.
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
9. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 2:24 PM
in response to: LUCKIEST
How can I decide who is the best for my needs and will work hard for my business?
Carpetman
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
10. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 2:35 PM
in response to: Lighthouse24
Lighthouse 24,
I appreciate your suggestion. The way I have built so far is going door to door when I'm able. Usually it takes about a couple of months before I get any calls. But I do find that those who call do so for 2 reasons: 1-They say they call me because they have already met me if only very briefly or 2-They say they call me instead of someone else because they figure if I am willing to work that hard to go out and get the business I will work hard to take care of their carpet. The problem is I do not always have as much time as I would like to do this. The only problem I would have with doing what you suggest is that it seems that people in my area re suspicious of a grown man hanging around an elementary school. Perhaps another location would be better in my location. Thanks.
Carpetman
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
11. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 2:45 PM
in response to: Carpetman
Carpetman, NOT Lighthouse, But am I missing something in your next to last sentence??
" it seems that people in my area are suspicious of a grown man hanging around an elementary school "
You have been in business many years (14) so you do know how to succeed.
Do you know about SCORE?? SCORE helps people in business (FREE, that word again) succeed.
Again, LUCKIEST
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
12. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 2:49 PM
in response to: LUCKIEST
I meant to ask, what is a SCORE consultant?
Carpetman
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Click to view Lighthouse24's profile Mogul Lighthouse24 2,396 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
13. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 3:19 PM
in response to: Carpetman
Yes, that's why I specifically said "not in front of" an elementary school, but in a visible high traffic spot on the way to one. (Besides being suspicious, you'd just be in the way of traffic flow if you park too close.) The goal is to BE SEEN (exposure). In my neighborhood (because there's a middle school on the same main road), you'd be seen by about 400 very real potential customers in 15 minutes. MUCH faster than door to door. (If you don't have time for that, but you don't have enough work to do either, I can't help but wonder -- how do you spend your time exactly?)
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
14. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 3:28 PM
in response to: Carpetman
Thanks for asking. SCORE is "Counselors to America's Small Business" It is America's premier
source of FREE
and CONFIDENTIAL small business advice for
entrepreneurs.
Most of the SCORE Counselors are retired business men and women who volunteer their time to help
other business people succeed.
Be happy to tell you more if you ask. LUCKIEST
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
15. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 4:06 PM
in response to: Lighthouse24
My mistake. I should read a little slower next tme. I do have enough work to keep me busy but now since I needed to have help, due to salaries I need to have more work just to keep enough of a profit margin to also pay my self. I try to save where I can but my cost continue go up. So I need more exposure than I am currently getting so as meet those ends.
Carpetman
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
16. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 4:27 PM
in response to: Lighthouse24

One more question. Would the signs on my van be sufficient? Also have you used signs in front of the homes you were working on to advertise who was performing the work and did that work? I have seen some do that and have been considering that. Carpetman
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
17. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 4:46 PM
in response to: Carpetman
I have always believed that a SIGN ON A VAN is FREE advertising.
You are going " door to door" or working at a house and your truck is parked in the driveway or
on the street. FREE advertising 24/ 7. If the advertising gets you one additional job, it is worth it.
Make it a News Years Resolution, LUCKIEST
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Click to view DomainDiva's profile Mogul DomainDiva 1,732 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
18. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 4:47 PM
in response to: Carpetman
Put a sign on your van, on your wifes car and how about some of those little signs you can post at street corners?
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Click to view Lighthouse24's profile Mogul Lighthouse24 2,396 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
19. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 5:03 PM
in response to: Carpetman
Anything that makes you visible to potential customers and says, "I available to clean your carpets" is good.

We have some strongly enforced rules governing signs and billboards here. To get around them, a lot of business owners have purchased small utility trailers and put a banner on the side (Kinko's or similar places can make them up) to advertise their businesses. Then they park the trailers in the parking lots of strip centers near busy corners (it's usually the farthest parking spot from any door, so no one usually cares, but lots of vehicles on the street pass by and see). Parking a "mobile billboard" like that in a center that has a carpet or furniture store might pay off if your community permits it -- just another idea.
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
20. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 5:18 PM
in response to: Lighthouse24
Thanks. I need to check and see what this city has in the way of regulations regarding signs.
Carpetman
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Click to view powerbrandz's profile Start-up powerbrandz 1 posts since
Dec 25, 2007
21. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 6:27 PM
Carpetman,

I recommend a marketing plan.

The foundation of a great marketing plan is understanding these three areas:

1. Know your target market (what do they want, need and desire?)
2. Know your competition (what are your strengths in comparison to them: emphasize these strengths in marketing)
3. Know your own company (what are your strengths, what are your core values, what is the "personality" of your brand?)

Once you know these three areas well, you should make a "brand promise" to your target market. The marketing plan is all about communicating the "brand promise."

In the end, if you go through the effort to understand what your market wants, then communicate (advertise) that you can satisfy their wants, then you are on the road to breakthrough growth.

all the best!
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Click to view CorpCons08's profile Mogul CorpCons08 1,128 posts since
Nov 14, 2007
22. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 27, 2007 9:56 PM
There is another member on the front page here who is in advertising.
Maybe you should see what options they have available.

http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread/2424

CC08
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Click to view puzzleman's profile Mogul puzzleman 293 posts since
Oct 11, 2007
23. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 28, 2007 6:36 PM
Carpetman, You have been doing this for 14 years. You should have a great database of customers.

You must have a good reputation to be in business that long so leverage your good name with the people who already know you. Send postcards or flyers to your customers that haven't been back in a certain time frame (a year?) and offer them a 5% discount if do within the next month. Make sure to put a timeframe in the offer so they react now and not later. What about a finders fee? Send your customers a flyer or card telling them for every referral job you get you will give them 5% off for each job? Or tell a friend and the friend gets 5% off.

Another thought is to go with commercial jobs as well. Everyone has talked about residential but what about a big building with lots of carpet? Or how about hooking with a building maintainence company and sub their carpet jobs?
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
24. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 28, 2007 11:14 PM
in response to: puzzleman
I do commercial as well as residential. My commercial clients are steady like a regular paycheck. But I love the residential because it is like my overtime. One a per job basis I make more doing the residential because most of my commercial client's place of business are much smaller than homes. Plus I find that industrial carpet is easier to clean and maintain while the carpet in some homes seems to take more of a beating and I do charge according not only to size but also condition due to some of the chemicals I may have to use. I do have a good customer base and they do refer people and I have given incentives to do so. The problem I face is that my business is growing just enough that I have had to hire help but not enough to meet the added expenses of doing so and still pay my self enough. I need to find away make it grow faster. I have tried paid ads and mailers with no success. When I talk to people many have told me that when it comes to carpet cleaning they just do not believe or trust those ads and mailers. I am currently trying to spend more time marketing and have my employees do more of the work which increases my payroll which is ok if I can add enough accounts. I just want to know some different ideas I can try and if hiring someone for PR is worth the effort and affordable. I do appreciate all the advise I have been getting so far. Thanks. Carpetman
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
25. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 28, 2007 11:23 PM
in response to: powerbrandz
Thanks. That is what I have been figuring out how to do. I have found thatg not to many outfits promote the system I use though it has been around for decades. It is like with some doctors, just because they have been used to a certain form of treatment used for years some are reluctant to try something new that comes along that is proven. I know because I used to work with them. Same with carpet cleaning. Steam cleaning has been the accepted way for years. Then came Chem Dry. The system I use is Dri-foam and has been around for years. So the problem I deal with is convincing people and companies that there is another good and acceptable method out there. It has taken alot of effort and hard work but it is paying off. I just need to more and better exposure faster. But do agree I need a better marketing plan. Thanks for the advise.
Carpetman
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Click to view Iwrite's profile Mogul Iwrite 1,101 posts since
Dec 29, 2007
26. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 30, 2007 8:20 AM
in response to: Carpetman
Carpetman,

In many communities, churches or religious or social organizations are the gateway to more customers. It can be as simple as offering the local congreagations and their members a discount that will be donated back to the youth group or special project. Partner with them in fund raising efforts. Don't forget the schools! Participate in the local PTA silent auctions. Visibility is the key. The more your name is out there the more people when think of you when the need arises.

Have you thought about partnering with home builders to provide regular serivces as part of the new home purchase, much like the appliance stores have done? Or working with local apartment complexes to to offer their reisdents regular cleaning - touting the advantages of your system over the older technology.

Once again, visibilty is the key. You have a lot of great suggestions already but I thought I would put my two cents woth in. Remember flyers and radio are great inexpensive ways to get your meeage out. I think you need more advertisng than PR, there's a difference.

I really hope this helps.

Iwrite
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
27. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Dec 30, 2007 9:17 PM
in response to: Iwrite
Iwrite,
Thank you for the suggestions. I have found that leaving business cards to be more effective than flyers. People hang on to them longer.
Thanks, Carpetman
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Click to view birdcity's profile Start-up birdcity 2 posts since
Dec 31, 2007
28. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jan 2, 2008 9:20 AM
in response to: Carpetman
Lighthouse has some great suggestions and I commend your efforts. Many of the examples given follow the principles of "viral marketing". Viral Marketing is a low cost method of gaining publicity by developing creative word of mouth campaigns.

Carpetman, you should considering consulting a marketing or PR professional to see what options are available to you. It's possible to sit down with someone who can map out an effective campaign that you can execute on your own. This is definitely a minimal cost alternative. If you decide to employ a firm, look for one that will guarantee their work. Also, look for someone who shares the same passion for their business as you have for yours. This will reflect in their customer service and outline a plan and cost structure associated with it.

Please check out my "before you hire a firm" page for more tips. My site is http://www.birdcity.net/beforeyoubuy.html.

Kijafa Dickinson
Bird City Communications
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Click to view CLT0672's profile Start-up CLT0672 3 posts since
Jan 2, 2008
29. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jan 2, 2008 2:55 PM
Something I would recommend to you is gaining exposure from the online side. Do you currently have a website? If not, get one! I have seen a big boost in my business when I launched my website. Plus, you can do pay per click and SEO work so targeted traffic will be drawn to your site when people are looking for carpet cleaning. I use a local firm in Charlotte to do all this for me www.accupros.com. They do good work and they are pretty reasonable.
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Click to view Carpetman's profile Professional Carpetman 14 posts since
Dec 27, 2007
30. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jan 2, 2008 10:29 PM
in response to: CLT0672
CLTO672,
Thanks for the advise. I am currently looking into that option.
Carpetman
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Click to view RongDesign's profile Mogul RongDesign 54 posts since
Jan 28, 2008
31. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jan 31, 2008 3:37 PM
in response to: Carpetman
He is right a good marketing took is always a website. But get a cheat one at www.websitequote.org.
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Click to view FCPainter's profile Mogul FCPainter 83 posts since
Jan 8, 2008
32. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jan 31, 2008 4:43 PM
in response to: RongDesign
One suggestion I would have from my housepainting business is to get involved in a charity that you think closely fits your business' mission. For us, it was getting involved in Christmas in April and Habitat for Humanity. We got good PR from some of the free work we did and enjoyed doing it. Plus, it gave some word of mouth as we ended up on committees and boards with other business people who were happy to use us and refer us.

so, that could be a good approach.
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Click to view cellotogo's profile Start-up cellotogo 2 posts since
Feb 2, 2008
33. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Feb 2, 2008 8:40 PM
Test out a geo-targeted SEM program on Google (paid sponsored listing on selected keywords - to be listed to those searchers who are within your service territory). You will see immediate results.
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Click to view davexblanc's profile Start-up davexblanc 1 posts since
Feb 2, 2008
34. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Feb 2, 2008 10:01 PM
Have you tried partnering with real estate agents? Most houses need carpet cleaning either before, during or after the sale. Maybe a small referral fee would get you some business. If you cna help them make or close a deal, your are golden. Another great tool is Google AdWords. More and more people look first on the internet for services.
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Click to view MADMAN's profile Mogul MADMAN 20 posts since
Mar 1, 2008
35. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 1, 2008 9:24 AM
Check out my Vehicle Wrap from Madman Signs & Reproductions, Inc. Post you may find it helpful
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Click to view Bemore's profile Mogul Bemore 33 posts since
Feb 10, 2008
36. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 1, 2008 9:49 AM
in response to: MADMAN

Here is some information about advertising that you may find interesting. This was the first draft for an article I wrote recentlly for a couple of local business publications. I own a sign company in the Indianapolis area. We specialize in "find a solution for effective marketing". Vehicle wraps and vehicle lettering/graphics will get you the most impressions for least money.


Is your business vehicle paying for itself?


Certainly with the price of gasoline today, it becomes a larger and larger expense to travel the roadways today. Why not use that vehicle to advertise your business? Today small businesses often undervalue and certainly underutilize the advertising power of their company vehicles as a rolling billboard.


The Outdoor Advertising Association of America and the Transportation Advertising Council state that vehicular advertising generates between 30,000 and 70,000 daily impressions. The Indianapolis area is around 35,000 daily impressions.


Arbitron, Inc., an international media and marketing research firm shows that mobile advertising reaches virtually all demographics as 96% of Americans travel in a vehicle each week, while 35% of heavy commuters come from households earning $75,000+.


Now if you are the person who likes numbers, here are some facts and figures compiled by Driving Revenues, a Washington D.C. based advertising firm. They found that $20,000 spent on advertising produced the following ad impressions by type of advertising placement.

  • Mobile advertising garners 8,400,000 impressions in a 12 month period
  • Radio attracts 900,000 listeners in 6 weeks with 10 to 12 30-second spots
  • Val-Pak offers reach 600,000 households
  • Direct mail campaigns reach 20,000 names with one post card mailer
  • 7 city buses get 600,000 impressions in 2 months

The average price of a full vehicle wrap is around $3,500. The average life expectancy of a vehicle wrap is 5 years, but let us assume the business vehicle is leased for only 4 years. That is $72.91 per month. But perhaps a full wrap is too much. Vehicle lettering can be done on a van for around $500. Over four years that is just over $10 per month to effectively advertise your business getting over 8,000,000 impressions per year.

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Click to view MADMAN's profile Mogul MADMAN 20 posts since
Mar 1, 2008
37. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 1, 2008 10:04 AM
in response to: Bemore
Great article Bemore, and yes my buisness vehicle pays for itself time and time again. It is my daily driver I drive it everywhere the response is far better than any yellow page or direct mail ad I could ever do.
I even have my web adress on there now not that my site is running yet still working on it so that should bring some visitors to the site also. I think they are by far a great way to advertise, but it does cost but it still is very comparable to direct mail but with no limit on who it's going to reach every month or day. I can accredit a 20% increase of calls and buiusness from my first wrap the first 6 months people saw it.
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Click to view SJCarpentry's profile Mogul SJCarpentry 30 posts since
Feb 6, 2008
38. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 11, 2008 2:17 PM
in response to: MADMAN
seems like you got some great suggestions - have you tried any and have they worked?
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Click to view TheMediaHog's profile Professional TheMediaHog 7 posts since
Jan 18, 2009
39. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jan 20, 2009 8:02 AM

psst... PR! Don't forget your PR. PR is great for all involved because it gets everyone involved. You, the community and the media. We've all heard that advertising is what you pay for and PR is what you pray for. Well, I believe the fact that you pray for it makes the difference.

Not sure how to get involved? Just ask me, I've got tons of ideas...

Get the Attention You Deserve....with www.TheMediaHog.com

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Click to view MadmanSigns's profile Mogul MadmanSigns 21 posts since
Nov 17, 2008
40. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jan 20, 2009 11:19 PM
Join a leads group through your localarea chamber of commerece works good for me
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Click to view lincolnb's profile Professional lincolnb 4 posts since
Jan 20, 2009
41. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jan 21, 2009 4:06 PM
If you could give away gas and groceries would that increase
the number of subscribers, customers or sales you'd get?
Promo Code: F7B8N to watch our 2 minute video first or to send me an email.
Visit http://www.gasandgrocerydepot.com/

then call me an let me show you how! 401 433 1455

If you Give away gas and groceries that would INCREASE
the number of customers or sales you'd get?

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Click to view massagefever's profile Mogul massagefever 51 posts since
Feb 11, 2009
42. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Feb 28, 2009 5:40 PM
in response to: lincolnb
I am sorry if this was mentioned in earlier posts, I couldn't read them all, but my website has been my most effective marketing tool. I actually made it myself a long time ago, updating as I need to. But I have key words set in the meta file so that when someone searches "massage spartanburg" (that's me btw" I am one of the first few to pop up on google. And if not the first, my site has the most information and looks the best so I get the most attention.

I actually had a guy from TX tell me last week as he ordered a gift certificate for his girlfriend that I got his business because of my webpage and information it contained and it was the best in our city.
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Click to view americangirl1's profile Professional americangirl1 6 posts since
Feb 28, 2009
43. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Feb 28, 2009 6:04 PM
Carpetman,

So many of these ideas are GREAT! DEFINITLEY get signs for the lawn, signs for your truck or van, etc. Another thing you can do is have an ad on the internet, but in specific zip codes since you don't need to be known nationally.(Not yet, anyway!) If you can take a look at this web site, it will show you what I'm talking about. Go to www.localadlink.com You will be able to upload photos, coupons, and even videos (which could be demonstrations or testimonials of satisfied customers!) for as little as $50/month and up to $200/month. Let me know if I can be of help. I know how it can be frustrating and mysterious all at the same time as to how to promote your business. With this service that I just mentioned, you won't need a web site (which can be costly). Hope this helps, and best of luck to you!

americangirl1
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Click to view CARWASHKING's profile Start-up CARWASHKING 1 posts since
Mar 5, 2009
44. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 5, 2009 1:34 AM
Carpetman,
I have worked in advertising for over 12 years. I have experience with small business and currently run one Most of the gorilla markeing feet on the street methods obviously make sense. But, don't you think you need to try and target buying need? I can look at a Claritas study (shows buying trends in a market place) and hit about 50% of the buying population from one source. Dex Media is the phone companies phone book in this maket and there I can purchase yellow page print and internet and get a managable SEO campaign to target search engines with measurable results. Go out and optimize the internet in other areas of no cost and for a reasonable amount of money I can keep one or two guys busy no problem and grow at a safe rate. Everyone that complains about the phone book or other advertising for that matter of fact bought the wrong program and did not have reasonable expectations. I can easily go get a 3 to 1 return and most of the time average over 8 dollars of return on my programs. Why wouldn't you advertise? That is the thing most of the guys that complain, run crappy businesses! When you get right down to it the only people they can sell are their own mothers. when you look at success or failure that is what it comes down to how good are you on the phone. Most business owners I see answer the phone and give a price and let the caller go without ever asking for the sell or heaven forbid actually giving them a reason to purchase what they have. You ever heard of a General Benefits Statement? I bet you 100.00 we could ask everyone on this site to give us two reasons why we should use there business and it would be becuase I'm better than the rest and I'm friendly or something stupid like that. Take it for what it is worth and good luck. Key points are understand why you are better than the competition, Gorilla maketing is a given and go out and buy as much active buyers or ready to buy customers as you can or the match you desired level of growth and you will find success. Watch out for those crazy people that tell you it is all internet, I did a study one time and only 4% of the traffic converted to cusotmers, compared too 40% in more traditional areas. Good mixture is a must, but the leads are not cheap on the internet. I would ask for a bundle when working with your advertising people. Best rates and product mixes are there. Good Luck-
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Click to view FlAdMan's profile Mogul FlAdMan 36 posts since
Feb 21, 2009
45. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 8, 2009 4:50 PM
Try my website, www.freewebs.com/cheapadz, it is helping small business survive in these difficult economic times. It really works. See for yourself and research it some. Then call me directly to set up your ad! Good luck!
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Click to view payperclikfl's profile Professional payperclikfl 6 posts since
Feb 28, 2009
46. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 8, 2009 7:09 PM
Here are some search volume figures for February on a national basis...your search volume would be much less..this gives you some idea of the possibilities.

carpet cleaning 74000
carpets cleaning 1300
carpet cleaning machines 12100
chemdry carpet cleaning 590
rotovac carpet cleaning -1
dalworth carpet cleaning 2400
bonnet carpet cleaning 320
coit carpet cleaning 1900
chem dry carpet cleaning 1600
carpet cleaning business 1900
professional carpet cleaning 1900
commercial carpet cleaning 1900
carpet cleaning service 12100
carpet steam cleaning 2900
carpet cleaning machine 3600
carpet cleaning services 3600
home carpet cleaning 880
best carpet cleaning 720
dry carpet cleaning 2400
cleaning berber carpet 1000
quality carpet cleaning 390

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Click to view FlAdMan's profile Mogul FlAdMan 36 posts since
Feb 21, 2009
47. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 8, 2009 8:33 PM
in response to: payperclikfl

I never said that Local Adlink is a replacement for Google? I agree Google is THE search engine and their volumes are incredible, and that is why we are successful. We get our members ads to the top of google searches(based on the keywords they submit in their ad), for MAX $200 per month. Compare this to how other companies get to the top of google?

Each one of those clicks costs that company up to $5 PER CLICK. Ridiculous. how can you expect to make a profit when you have to pay that much?

Local AdLink works with sites including Google, Ask, About, MySpace, YouTube, Photgraphy.com, and over a hundred more. When someone is on an affiliates site searching for a particular product or service, it pulls our members' ad ad places it on the top or on the right of the page. Then when it is clicked by the person searching, they are routed to the ad, which displays the name, address, directions, pictures, videos, coupons, links to website, description, and keywords.

This directory is a way to get ANY COMPANY seen on Big Brand name sites that have these volumes you mentioned.

I suggest you take 5 minutes and go to my site for proof(or any other local adlink site) and you will see exactly how it works and the benefits it provides.

http://www.freewebs.com/cheapadz
www.cheapadz.com

just for giggles... just imagine if you were paying say, $4,000 per year for a yellow pages half page(low estimate), and you run a local magazine ad for $1,000 per year, and then you have a PPC budget of $500 per month($6,000 per year).

Now if you were to buy the most expensive ad we have for one year in 50 ZIP CODES it would cost $2,040 per year unlimited clicks and allows you to change your ad weekly, reduce the yellow pages ad to a quarter page for $2,000 per year, smaller local magazine ad for $500, and reduce max PPC to $200 per month($2,400 year).

$11,000 current
$6,940 projected

You are able to get the same results, STILL utilizing Google and others WITHOUT having to spend an absorbant amount of money. You will see how it works on my site, click contact me for a callback.

Good luck.

http://www.freewebs.com/cheapadz
www.localcheapadz.com
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Click to view MissHippie88's profile Professional MissHippie88 3 posts since
Mar 26, 2009
48. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 26, 2009 10:48 AM
I've recently started using Biz Ad Splash to promote my crafting business. So far it's been easy to use which has allowed more time for me to focus on my actual business. I'd definitely give it a look if you haven't already. The site is www.bizadsplash.com
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Click to view azren35's profile Professional azren35 4 posts since
Feb 6, 2008
49. Re: MARKETING/ADVERTISING Mar 30, 2009 1:53 AM
Carpetman,

Most businesses are moving online to some sort of PPC or SEM. These are marginally good choices depending on your budget. If you are in a city that is covered by craigslist, you should place some remnant pieces or sale there, give away some advice on how to pick the right carpet or how to remove and install new carpet and so forth. You might try to add your information to as many local search engines as possible. Many of them are free and may give you some results.

I market for one such company that is fast becoming a top 1000 visited websites. Ours is not free, it runs $50 to $200 per month depending on the area you want to cover. We focus the advertising for our clients down to the zip codes they are interested in. We don't wait for people to find our website, we push your ad out over our ad network of close to a million websites(and growing) and onto 109 search engines.

I'm offering anyone who would like to try our service a 50% discount for the first three months.
Write me if you'd like more info.

Aziz
azren22@yahoo.com
www.azren.mylocalads.biz
323-420-9026
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