Advertising Your Business

what is the best way to market and advertise your business?

We own Artisan Textures & Drywall in Cardiff, CA. We would like to get more exposure, but we are limited in funds. What would be the best way to market our business?

I agree that Google marketing could be a good idea. However, I quit using it. I have Christian references on my website and work with some churches. Google assured me that my ads would not appear on porn sites, yet they did. I can track where every hit from my website comes from and when I found links from porn sites that people actually clicked on, I stopped my ads and deleted my account – never to be used again.

Here are some ideas:

1. Everyone knows that you always charge more for a product or service than it costs you – it’s called profit. We also know the economy is tough right now. One market that’s having a really tough time is radio! Bad for them, good for us. Go visit a local radio station and see if they’re willing to trade work for spots (ad time). Make sure they’re generous… very generous. Hasn’t been a problem for me.

2. Print marketing! Dollar-per-pound, business cards are worth every single penny (and they only cost pennies each). Here’s the problem with most people and their business cards, though. They reach waaaaaay down into their pocket and pull out every penny they have. They want very nice cards (the quality of your card directly reflects the quality of your company) and are shocked at the price tag for 1000 cards. So, they go with 250 or 500 and still end up spending $200. So their cards cost about 40¢ each – pretty expensive. So, instead of investing their money, they hoard their cards. Bad idea – but lots of companies do it. Business cards are made to hand out. You should hand out at least 5 per day. I average about 25 per day. Stick them everywhere. When you fill up at the pump, find a nook to stick your card into so it hangs out like a mini flag. Drop one on top of the beans in the grocery store. Seriously – everywhere.

3. Make friends with a Realtor, especially if that Realtor handles rentals. You know what many renters do to homes.

4. Make friends with all of the pest control companies in your area. You have Formosan termites in California. Those buggers can collapse a wall in a month. Lots of drywall work, especially if you give them a ___% discount if they mention the pest control company. Talk to all of the companies, though. Oh, and LEAVE THEM A DOZEN BUSINESS CARDS! See if they’ll let you leave a card-holder too. Staples has them for $1.

That’s all I can think of off the top of my head – but that ought to get you headed in the right direction.

P.S. – I know of a printer who sells business cards at about half the price of his #1 competitor.

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