ForumsAdvertising, Sales and Marketing

hi, i'm new at this and not very good on the computer but i need to learn to network and this is a good place to start. i have a small coffee shop just 10mins outside asheville nc its been in business for two years its not been easy either. since i opened a bunch of corp business have opened around me like vultures waiting to strike it rich. now that i'm still here they are starting to close all around me. score has not helped me a bit even though i have tried with them several times. the chamber of commerce has not either matter of fact they had flat out told customers you don't want to go there its to far from town really now what is that. either i'm stupid or just determined. i just found out that a local bbq place is opening in the store next door this is great it will bring lots of business to an end of town that has lots of money but very little knowledge of whats around them these kind of people is what builds a business if you can get them to your door. i have tried several kinds of marketing but it only works while paying lots of money for it and only during the duration your doing it so its not worth it. the only thing i have found that works is word of mouth. but in these crazy days of economic problems thats a big problem people are set in there ways and places like mc, cracker barrel etc its hard people are afraid their kids toys are from china what about the food they eat. i serve a healthy menu no fried foods organic coffees etc. and its still hard. what small local business needs to do is brand themselves but score or chambers etc don't teach you this and this is the hardest thing out there. so i thrive on word of mouth with my case its my cake and the awards i won for them. still its not enough richer people want more than what they pay for and thats hard image to keep up with. so help me out too.

Dao Marketing,

I don't know about the answers to your first two questions but for number 3, my suggestion is to try Craigslist.com. I have posted employment ads for seasonal part time employees and have been very successful. Another resource to try is Goodwill. They have employment counselors that can set you up with what you are looking for. Have also been successful with them as well. Plus they are still feeding me applicants even though I am not in need any longer. Still taking them as you never know when the diamond will show up.

I hear you and I found some commun issues with the Chamber of Commerce which will bring you nothing.

I will give you an example of what I have experimented with them when I was photographer, graphic design, and print broker. When I was member I asked kindly to display my brochures on a big brochures spot for members companies. I gave them around 100 copies, 2 weeks later my brochures were not their, and I asked why. The lady at the front desk was telling me that before to put my brochures, I needed to wait a free spot, 6 months later, my brochures were not there. I did in 1 year a one job for a member but nothing terrific. never had a recommendation by telephone, nothing. Paying for this kind of networking when all the new members are looking for business and not giving business, then old members are already set with companies they are working for a long time. I sent thousands brochures to members with no results, then send brochures to companies in Yellow Pages with a lot of results for free. No it wasn't a problem with my brochure but rather with this networking.

To help you I recommend you to make a fidelity card with rubber stamps, when a customer comes to the 10th time offer them the 11th coffee for free, also try to do a little menu with a coupon of $1 so people can bring it to work and talk to co-workers about your business, another thing, if you can create a delivery service with a minimum of $...it would be a plus.

Hope you will find this helpful,

Good luck

People love to get things for free, this is the best advertisement you can do for your company

Healthy Girl, have you personally used Pre-Paid Legal, i.e., did you enroll as a member (not an associate) and pay the annual fee -- and then use the service as a member to obtain legal assistance? Thanks for responding.

DaoMarketing: No. Why do you ask?

The comment to which you refer was not in this thread, but in another post where you asked all business owners in this community for their opinion of pre-paid legal services (and where you urged us to purchase it as a critical "life saving" benefit for our employees).

In response, I offered my opinion: that I would not use it myself, nor recommend it to my employees. That opinion is not based on past experience as a user or member, but it IS based on facts provided by the company itself to the Securities and Exchange Commission (public record) as well as on information published by consumer groups and the state Attorney General. Even so, I did not present any of those facts to this community -- I merely stated my opinion.

Does that address your question or concern?