How do I advertise my small new business effectively?

Question

I've just started a mobile holistic therapy clinic & selling my own aromatherapy blends, I have a website and I have been distributing leaflets in my area. What else can I do to advertise my new business venture? Some friends are also trying to help me put the word about. Any other effective way of drumming up some business? Thans all.

www.pampami.co.uk

Answer 1

Absolutely!

First of all I recommend an Ebay account. Do some auctions or fixed price sales for slightly less than you would usually sell your products for. Generally I sell the first few at cost. This will get people on your bandwagon and get you some word of mouth advertising. When you send an order refer them to your website. This will then get them into your business as well as give them a place to refer their friends to. Eventually you won't need the Ebay auctions anymore as you will have drummed enbough business in to your site.

Radio advertising is also a great venue, and depending on who you work the deal out with it can be very reasonable. I personally charge as low as $5 for a spot on my radio show on WESN 88.1 FM. Make friends with a DJ or call in during a dedication show and dedicate the song to your business. That is a rgeat way to get airtime.

VIral advertising is also a great option. I once advertised a clients website by making a video similar to the creepy one in the movie "The Ring" and putting their web address at the end of it. I them left the tapes at bus stops and restaurants for people to find, become curious and visit the site on the tape.

There are lots of ways to drum up customers for any business, all it takes is a little imagination. If you would like some more help, feel free and e-mail me.

[e-mail]

Answer 2

Have you thought about pay per click programs? The two biggest, I think, are Yahoo! and Google

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

4) Advertise on Craiglist

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

Based on experience as a Business Adviser for an Holistic Alternative therapy centre there are a number of "cash free" ways of getting your business advertised. Some apply to all businesses some are specific.
1. Give local press a "press release" a catchy story written by yourself announcing the arrival/ opening etc of your new business, it may get hacked about by the editor, they have to justify their Job, and may not appear the exact day you want, but it looks like a real story and will appear.
2. Join the Local Heath areas procurement forum, doctors can only refer to those who appear on this forum, it is minimal cost only time, and a great networking service.
3. Check out the local senior citizen homes they often take on visiting therapists.
4. Try local radio, get a chat with a reporter maybe they are having a slow patch particularly during the "silly season" and are dying for a local interest story.
Hope this of help

Answer 4

Compared to offline businesses, the investment required to start an online business is minimal. A popular way of earning money on the internet is by providing information and services. This can be monetised by advertising or charging a subscription. You can also make money online by selling products on auction websites like eBay or through your own website. More information available at http://tinyurl.com/syw6m

Answer 5

The local paper is a great way of gettng business in your area - especially if you do an 'advertising feature' with photos and a story - not just a small ad.

Answer 6

for cheap advertising go to your local radio stationa and ask them to advertise on there, you could also put ads in local newspapers and create business cards. another effective way is posters in shop windows which people can see everyday as it is available to everyone! one suggestion is competitions and hire people from local colleges to give out leaflets with them on as college students would be glad for the money and you can get them to target your main audiences! i would suggest changing the colour of the writing on your website as it makes me dizzy. no offence!

if you are willing to pay a little bit extra you could try and have billboards and television ads which are really effective as everyone can see them.

Good luck anyway i hope you succeed!

Answer 7

Make yourself a website and get posted with business directories in your area. Most people will do a search and if you're not in there then how will people know about you?

Ask if you can put leaflet in you local pubs and in town, also also retailers, some might oblige. You don't know until you try.

Also add your details to this question so we know who you are and how to find you........

Answer 8

For service businesses, door hangers often work better than flyers. Customers are more likely to keep them around longer than a flyer. As mentioned before, craigslist would be a good choice also. Just follow the rules and post your ad every 48 hous.

Answer 9

Mobile clinic. Sounds original. Stress is more & more of an issue in big companies so contact some of these. Some will have recreation clubs that might be a way in, or there is occupational health or human resources parts of big organisations. Contact businessess via local chamber of commerce etc.

Answer 10

There are a number of free resources available to advertise your website and increase traffic. You can advertise on relevant free classifieds ( www.craigslist.org) , directories (dmoz) and relevant forums. Major search engines like Yahoo, Google , MSN search are a major source of visitors for most websites and you can submit your website to these search engines for free. You can also run contests offering prizes to regular visitors. I have found the following website useful
http://tinyurl.com/n547z