A Question

[qwik5o]

I have a small quiz in school and I have to ask a small business owner some questions. I need responses ASAP if possible, don`t have to be very detailed.



Thanks for any and all help in advance,

Kevin R.



Here we go:



Do you have any specific advertising objectives?



What media do you use to advertise?



How do you evaluate an ad`s effectiveness?



What assistance do you receive in designing ads?



How do you determine your advertising budget?







Thanks again,

Kevin R. :wavey

[imported_mirrorfinishman]

Hey Kevin,



Here are a few answers that I have put together for your questions:



1- Do you have any specific advertising objectives?

The best returns for your advertising efforts will come from your ability to give someone the opportunity to discover your business. Thatâ€â„¢s what advertising is all about. Itâ€â„¢s about all of the things you do to allow someone to discover your business.



2- What media do you use to advertise?

Printed materials such as, padded tear-off coupons, business cards, seasonal flyers, newsletters. Also, use an internet website.



3- How do you evaluate an ad`s effectiveness?

This depends on the ability of the ad to; stop the prospect, hold the prospect, create buying desire, prove the price is right, prove it a bargain, make it easy to take action and give the prospect reasons to take action now.



4- What assistance do you receive in designing ads?

The only assistance you need is your ability to look around and analyze ad`s that are already in the marketplace.



How do you determine your advertising budget?

When youâ€â„¢re in the start-up phase of a business, you usually have more time and less money to spend on advertising. However, as a business becomes better established, you then begin to have less time and more money to spend on advertising. Most start-up businesses usually spend about 5% of their monthly income on advertising. Thatâ€â„¢s about $50 for every $1,000 of monthly income.

[qwik5o]

Frank,



Thank you so much for your replies. I am 100% I will be the only one who actually got the answers to those questions because no one else wanted to contact anyone.



Shows the many use of a good forum like this.



Thanks for your time and the in-depth answers.



-Kevin Rainwater

[jimmybuffit]

Kevin, I hope my reply is timely.



I STRONGLY AGREE with Frank`s reply.



MY situation is different.



I have a fixed location, in an affluent neighborhood.

I have open for just two years.



I advertise in FOUR versions of the `Yellow Pages`, and that is it.



Most calls from the `Yellow Pages` are shoppers, and my prices seldom win in that game.



I do have a White Van ($4,000) that serves as a Billboard for the 40,000 cars that go past each day.



But, after 2 full years, I can comfortably say that `word of mouth is the best form of advertising".



I`m as busy as I wanna be! I would point out that I pay a small premium for Rent, but I (mentally) write that off as advertising...



Good Luck!



Jim

[qwik5o]

Actually you are just in time. It will be turned in tomorrow. Thanks for your reply and they are greatly appreciated. Now I have not one but two sets of answers to these questions.



I will not have time to receive any more replies to these questions for my quiz but if anyone wants to answer them anyways I would enjoy to read the answers.



Thanks again Jimmy Buffit (dont know your real name)and Frank Canna.



Kevin R.

[Scottwax]

My situation is similar to Jim`s. I have a yellow pages listing and since `mobile` is part of my business`s name, I don`t have an ad. Someone specifically looking for a mobile detailer will see my name and know. I used to have a 3 line insert ad, but the prices kept going up while only 6% of my new customers were from the yellow pages. I switched to a listing only and it is still 6%.



I have my website as well and I get an ocassional customer from it as well.



Over 90% of my current business is repeat or referral and I am usually booked up at least 7 days in advance. Until I have some reliable help, I don`t have plans to do any marketing or advertising. No point in bringing in new clients if I can`t get to them quickly.