Did not get as many responds to the question of what is best form of promotion for your business and the followup question of who has a formal program for referrals.
One post did prompt me to make this post about basic marketing. If you recall the poster indicated that they use referral and word of mouth because all other forms of adverting did not work.
To say advertising does not work is inaccurate. Whatever this person did, unfortunately did not work, but it may have been more a case of poor marketing or no marketing before advertising dollars were spent.
You must develop a marketing strategy before spending one cent on promotion, advertising, etc.
Marketing does not have to be complicated all you have to do is simply answer some questions:
1. What am I selling? Is it just detailing or is it protection of investment; protection of leisure time or ego gratification? You must know which customers you are targeting.
2. Who will buy it? You must profile the customer and what they are buying
3. Where are they? Do they work near your shop; live near your shop. If mobile do they work or live in your market service area.
4. How do you reach them? That is, what media do you use to reach them? Direct mail; handbills; newspaper advertising; radio, TV, what?
5. What do you say to them to get them to call or come by?
You advertising must answer these questions quickly:
a. Who are you?
b. What do you want?
c. Who says (testimonials)
d. What's in it for me? (what does the customer gain)
If you can answer these simple marketing questions you will get the most bang for your advertising buck.
Never buy advertising because it is cheap. It may not be your market. For example what if a local radio station offers you 30 - 30 second spots a month for $30. Great deal right? But what is the station is a rock and roll station whose listening audience is the 18 to 25 crowd. Not going to get much bang from that crowd are you?
Wouldn't you rather reach the 35 to 55 crowd?
If you answer the questions and send me the answers I would be happy to give you some suggestion.
REgards
Bud Abraham
One post did prompt me to make this post about basic marketing. If you recall the poster indicated that they use referral and word of mouth because all other forms of adverting did not work.
To say advertising does not work is inaccurate. Whatever this person did, unfortunately did not work, but it may have been more a case of poor marketing or no marketing before advertising dollars were spent.
You must develop a marketing strategy before spending one cent on promotion, advertising, etc.
Marketing does not have to be complicated all you have to do is simply answer some questions:
1. What am I selling? Is it just detailing or is it protection of investment; protection of leisure time or ego gratification? You must know which customers you are targeting.
2. Who will buy it? You must profile the customer and what they are buying
3. Where are they? Do they work near your shop; live near your shop. If mobile do they work or live in your market service area.
4. How do you reach them? That is, what media do you use to reach them? Direct mail; handbills; newspaper advertising; radio, TV, what?
5. What do you say to them to get them to call or come by?
You advertising must answer these questions quickly:
a. Who are you?
b. What do you want?
c. Who says (testimonials)
d. What's in it for me? (what does the customer gain)
If you can answer these simple marketing questions you will get the most bang for your advertising buck.
Never buy advertising because it is cheap. It may not be your market. For example what if a local radio station offers you 30 - 30 second spots a month for $30. Great deal right? But what is the station is a rock and roll station whose listening audience is the 18 to 25 crowd. Not going to get much bang from that crowd are you?
Wouldn't you rather reach the 35 to 55 crowd?
If you answer the questions and send me the answers I would be happy to give you some suggestion.
REgards
Bud Abraham