Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hey all,

Just started up a small printing business in the Philly area and have a limited advertising budget. Was wondering what everyone thought might be the best medium available? I did some research and promotional products and billboards seem to be great at gaining the most impressions, but billboards are very expensive and I'm not sure about promo products. I asked a friend of mine about them and he sent me a bunch of stuff including a research study and video that sing the praises of promo products. here's the vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w8VxgUqQzc

Can someone else give some advice on cost effective advertising for small business?

Thanks!

-- Mark E.

Billboard?  unlikely.

Use direct marketing.  Put together a sales letter, pricing samples, a bullet list of promises you can keep (delivery, etc), and mail to likely prospects for your services.

You'll mostly be looking to get clients to switch to you so identify areas of dis-satisfaction with their current supplier and build your promise around that.

You're in a commodity business, which will make getting clients a price-sensitive thing.   A bad position to be in, but common for many B2B services.   Try to find a way you can set your offer entirely apart from the competition and be on parity in terms of pricing.

If you build your client file by being rock-bottom cheap you won't be able to make it up on volume and the clients will walk when somebody comes along who's cheaper than you.

Hi there, Mark,

Based on the fact that other small businesses would fall within your market - and without getting niche specific, which is always better - one idea for you would be to connect with other local businesses who share your market.  For example, this and every tax season, convince local tax preparers/accountants to simply include a piece of your promotional material as an insert with the documents their clients take home after doing their taxes - and preferably with just those clients who are filing their corporate taxes.

Won't cost you much - you have a printing operation after all.

What exactly you'd want to put on your flyer to encourage a positive response and attract clients is another conversation entirely - but done right this strategy could most definitely yield high results with little cost.

Hi Mark,

If I were you I'd go for promotional products! Because no. 1, as you've quoted billboards are way expensive, and if you are running a small business, you don't want to spend all your money on advertising. Also, by choosing promotional products you'll save more. There are several promotional products that you can choose from, there's pens, t-shirt's, mugs, etc. Furthermore, do you know what they say about promotional t-shirts? It's like your turning that individual who's wearing your brand into a walking billboard.

Have a look at these promotional polo shirts right here!

Jimmy

You may want to look at digital signage solutions.  As far as stretching your advertising dollars, this is a unit that you purchase once and can change and upgrade as your business changes as well.  Good luck!

Billboards. I think we've all agreed that's out.

Promo items. Better; but how will you distribute them?

Bottom line is you need to get out and network or go door to door. You're a B2b type business, make a list of about 100 medium sized businesses in your area, print up some nice samples with your business card and then get out there and find out who makes the printing decisions in those businesses. Then follow up with a letter. Maybe host a seminar on direct mail in your shop. You need to engage your potential customers.

There's all kinds of passive ways to market, but when it comes down to it, it's face to face contacts that makes business happen.

Good Luck

Its always a nice thought to market your services. try giving out something which people would keep or utilize. There are a lot of choices these days from usb's to carabiners etc. Check out the range of promotional merchandise available with few of these companies. I have used a mix of them for my retail business and seems to work for me.

As far as stretching your advertising dollars, this is a unit that you purchase once and can change and upgrade as your business changes as well. :)

I'm all for the useful promotional items like multi-tools and bags.  The people who receive them will use them in a variety of areas and your logo will be visible to many.

promotional products Canada

Now a days there are lots of choice in promotional products and most of products are cost effective, you have good collection of promotional products. We can put logo in an attractive way on these products.