Posted on Sep 5th, 2007

The opportunities for getting free advertising for your
product or services are only limited by your imagination and
energy. There are so many proven ways to promote without
cost it’s truly mind-boggling!  Here are ten proven methods.

1.  Write an article relating to your area of expertise and
submit it to all the publications and media dealing in that
range of interest. Become your own promoter and writer. Get
the word out by establishing yourself as an expert on that
topic and "tag-along" everything you write with a reference
box listing your address for a catalog, dealership
opportunity, or more information.

2.  Write shorter articles for the Internet and send them to
broadcast houses free articles.  (These are known as "media-
matching medias.")  Here are a few sites to get you
started:

http://www.IdeaMarketers.com
http://www.addme.com
http://www.ezinearticles.com/
http://www.web-source.net/syndicator_submit.htm.

3.  Become a guest on as many radio, television talk shows,
or interview-type programs as possible. (Actually, this is
easier to accomplish than most people realize!) Write a
letter to the producer of the talk show, and then follow up
with an in-person visit or telephone call. Your initial
contact needs to emphasize how your product or service would
be of interest to the listeners or viewers of their program
- perhaps even saving them time or money.

4.  Post your advertising circulars on all the free bulletin
boards in your area, especially the libraries, grocery
stores, and beauty and barbershops. Don’t discount the idea
of handing out circulars to all the shoppers in busy
shopping centers, at bus or metro stops, and malls,
especially on weekends. You can also enlist the help of
students to hand out circulars.

5.  Print your product or service’s promotional ad on the
front or back of your envelopes or other people’s
envelopes.**

6.  Send programs announcements on post cards.  Shop for
maximum size at minimal price.  Use both sides for
information leaving half of one side for the addressee’s
information.

7.  Check the publications that carry the kind of
advertising you need and is compatible with your
product/service. Many new mail order publications offer low
rates to first-time advertisers; a free-of-charge insertion
for prepaid issues; or special seasonal ad space at reduced
rates. In addition, there are a number of publications that
will give you Per Inquiry (PI) space - an arrangement where
all orders come in to the publication — they take a
commission from each order, forward to you for fulfillment,
and send you a check for the balance.

8.  Ask about "stand-by" space. This means, you submit your
ad and the publication holds it until they have unsold
space, and then at a savings of 33% or more, you can insert
your ad.  Check all local suburban and neighborhood
newspapers for these opportunities.

9.  Do you publish any kind of catalog or ad sheet?  Get in
touch with other publishers and inquire about bartering an
advertising exchange. They run your ad in their publication
in exchange for you running a comparable size ad for them in
yours.

10.  Advertise a free offer. Simply run a print or
electronic ad offering a free report of interest to most
people or to a particular target market .  Announce it in
the "tag-line." Alternatively, include the report as a bonus
for their purchase.  The objective is to convert the largest
percentage of responses into sales, which is usually done
with a "tag-line" inviting the reader to ask for more
information or a free report.

Unleashing your imagination and have a powerful force
working for you to help increase your sales.

Catherine Franz, a Certified Professional Marketing &
Writing Coach, specializes in product development,  Internet
writing and marketing, nonfiction, training.  Newsletters and
articles available at:  http://www.abundancecenter.com
blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

Posted on Sep 4th, 2007

One of the keys to strong positive mental attitude is what you compare your personal performance to. Do you compare your sales results to the top producer in your industry? Do you compare your basketball playing ability to Michael Jordan? Do you compare your last presentation to a speech delivered by Ronald Reagan or JFK?

Or do you compare your results today, to those you had yesterday?

Sports, sales, and the media teach us to compare our success against that of others, living or dead. Consistently successful people however place their primary focus on their own progress, using the achievements of others as inspiration for what is possible.

By comparing yourself to others you risk feeling like you’re a failure, which could cause you to avoid working towards your goal. When you are comparing yourself to yourself, you create momentum behind your actions towards your goal because you feel great as you realize the progress you are making.

© 1999-2004 Shamus Brown, All Rights Reserved.

Shamus Brown is a Professional Sales Coach and former high-tech sales pro who began his career selling for IBM. Shamus has written more than 50 articles on selling and is the creator of the popular Persuasive Selling Skills CD Audio Program. You can read more of Shamus Brown’s sales tips at http://Sales-Tips.industrialEGO.com/ and you can learn more about his persuasive sales skills training at http://www.Persuasive-Sales-Skills.com/

Posted on Sep 3rd, 2007

Do you send email to your Online audience to let them know about an upcoming teleclass, your service or your book? Do you have a seminar "flyer" on your web site?

The biggest mistake professionals and entrepreneurs make is to announce, rather than promote themselves.

Each piece you send or put on your web site should begin with the #1 copywriting winner–the headline. You only have a few seconds to capture your potential client’s or customer’s attention. If your headline doesn’t sizzle, your Web site visitor will move on and never return.

Remember, the headline is far more important than the copy beneath.

Four Formats to Write Compelling Headlines

1. How to.

Most Online business people want to learn how to do something to increase their joy, money, relationships and fun. If they have already put up their Web site book descriptions, the table of contents, seminar flyers or coaching/consulting information, and not seen financial success, they too can learn how to do something–better.

Sample how to’s:

-"How-to Quadruple your Web Sales in Just Five Months."
-"How-to Put Ecstasy Back into your Love Life"
-"How-to Find the Person of your Dreams"
-"How-to Write your Print and eBook at the Same Time."

2. Pose a Question.

Asking a question puts the attention on "you," your reader. It involves them because we all respond to questions asked. An engaged reader is more likely to keep reading.

Sample questions:

-"Are you sick and tired of working for someone else?
-"Want to know how to create 5-10 new clients each month?
-"Want to make your book a best-seller?

3. Announcing your new teleclass, service or product.

You want the world to know about your great new book because it will make a difference in their lives, making the world a better place. How can you get your message across to compel your reader to click and buy or contact you?

Sample announcements:

-"Announcing a Brand New Breakthrough in ePublishing."
-"New eBook Helps Small Business People to Big Profits."

4. Use your Best Testimonials.

People pay attention to testimonials. They trust you more when someone else they respect has bought from you.

Sample testimonials:

-"Internet Marketing Exclusive is Pure Genius—Our Sales Have Increased by 40%.

-"Stop wasting time and money chasing agents. Read, "Write your Book Fast" for the fastest track to publishing success." Add the name and email below the testimonial to make it real.

Remember to include power words in your headlines that emotionally involve your reader.

Power word Examples:

Breakthrough, discover, easy, free, guaranteed, hidden, incredible, love, master, money, new, powerful, profits, proven, results, revealed, scientific, secret, shocked, shocking, uncovered, you, and your.

Here’s a few more powerful words: money, save, easy, love, health, proven, results, guaranteed, safety.

For every thing you email out, use headlines to reach your clients’ and customers basic needs and emotions–another step toward a contact and eventual sale.

Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," and "How to Market your Business on the Internet," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says…and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 140 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com

Posted on Sep 2nd, 2007

Typical methods of advertising-newspapers, radio and television are effective if used properly, but there are other, less expensive ways to get your company’s name out.

Local or cable television is an inexpensive alternative to the traditional forms of advertising. Even if you have no experience advertising in this medium, there are companies who specialize in lending a helping hand. Even if finances are a concern (as they are for most of us), you’ll be surprised to discover a 30 second spot television ad can cost as little as a few hundred dollars.

Many areas have public auctions on local stations that will advertise your product, if you donate up to a certain dollar amount. The number of advertising spots will depend on how much you donate.

Remember also to send press releases to your local television and radio stations. Many times they will come out and do a story on you, if it is of interest to the public.

We volunteered to do resumes for people out of work and sent releases to all the radio and television stations. One of the three major networks in our area, sent someone out to interview us, and we were on the 6 and 11 o’clock news.

As for radio advertising, check your local stations for rates. You’ll be surprised at how low some of them are. Again, if you send press releases to the stations, sometimes they will call you as an expert in your area, or for an interview. We sent releases to all the stations in our area when we started our support group, and this generated three times the number of people we expected for our first meeting.

Since most major newspapers are expensive to advertise in, check with the smaller local papers. You can advertise in many of these for as little as $25 a month. You could also offer to write a column for these publications, as an expert in the area, if appropriate.

We all need to advertise in one way or another. Which medium you choose will depend on your particular business.

Copyright DeFiore Enterprises 2000

Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest, it’s like having your own personal coach: mailto:subscribeHBS@homebusinesssolutions.com

Posted on Sep 1st, 2007

MANY INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS COME INTO PLAY MAKING A SUCCESSFUL AD:

1. PERSUASIVE SELLING COPY. The wording is the single most important element in determining a successful ad. What counts most is what you say and how you say it.

2. PLACEMENT IN APPROPRIATE PUBLICATION. This might seem obvious, but it is often neglected. If the right people don’t see your ad, they can’t respond.

3. SPACE/PRICE IN PROPORTION. You simply can’t sell high priced merchandise from a small classified or one inch ad space. These should be considered as a low cost means of building a mailing list by asking readers to write for more information. If you expect to sell directly from an ad, the size of the ad will have to increase in proportion to the selling price. Two or three inches of space for items selling for 42 to $5… half or full page for items selling for more than $5 up to $20. When the price goes above $20 it is usually best to run inquiry ads and follow up with a printed sales presentation. There are exceptions, but this is a fairly safe rule to follow.

4. TESTING ALL THE ELEMENTS. Unlike institutional advertising (toothpaste, cars, soap, etc.) which must rely on extensive market research, analysis, surveys and a lot of psychology to achieve success, mail order selling has a built-in "watchdog" to guard against waste and loss, and to help assure that every dollar spent will produce a profit…or at least tell you why it didn’t, so you won’t make the same mistake twice. This method (unique to mail order) is called KEYING. By inserting a number or letter (or combination) into every ad you run, you can tell which ad works in which publication and in which issues it works best. More sophisticated forms of this testing technique can be carried thru by trying a new headline, a different testimonials,guarantees, etc. The testing technique know no limits, but there is also danger in becoming test-happy. To use the testing principle effectively, be certain that the results will justify the time and expense of making the test. If it merely means adding to your paperwork without adding profit or reducing cost,it isn’t worth it.

Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
This article may be reproduced freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

Posted on Aug 31st, 2007

There have been several ads promoting books and reports on this
subject, or included as part of the contents in several mail
order books stating:

"SAVE UP TO 17% ON ALL YOUR ADVERTISING"

It’s legitimate, practical and effective, but like so many other
promises, there are pros and cons involved. The pros are fairly
obvious. By setting up your own advertising agency and placing
your advertising under your agency name, most magazines will
allow you the standard 15% agency commission plus and extra 2%
cash discount. If your annual ad budget is $5,000 this amounts to
a saving of $850 a year, which is a considerable piece of change.

The negative side to this operation involves the initial cost of
establishing your new agency, which isn’t very difficult, but it
might be considered time-consuming. To initiate an agency you
will have to have a name for it other than your regular business
name. Example: If your company name is Nationwide Electronics and
your name is John Smith, you could call your agency John Smith
Advertising or The J.S. Advertising Agency, The agency address
will have to be different than your company’s, but this can be
resolved by renting a post office box for the ad agency and using your
home or office address for the other. Next you will have to open
a separate checking account under the agency name because all
advertising payments will be issued thru your agency, and you
will probably be required to register your agency with your
County Clerk as a new business.

Once these details have been taken care of, you’re ready to begin
placing ads. You’ll have to have insertion order forms printed
with your agency name and address, and a separate form must be
prepared for each ad in each publication. When your advertising
schedule involves only a few publications, this will not be a
problem, but if you expand into 50 to 100 different magazines, it
can really cut into your time. Of course, if business gets large
enough, you can always hire a secretary to take care of that
chore.

Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer

This article may be reproduced freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

Posted on Aug 30th, 2007

SELLING DIRECTLY FROM A CLASSIFIED AD

Classified ads can be used to sell products directly from the ad.
This works best for items costing no more than
approximately $5. The best use for classified ads is to utilize
them in obtaining inquiries. This is called the two step
approach. The first step is to get maximum inquiries from the
classified ad, in the second step the promotional package is sent
to the prospect and as many inquiries as possible are converted
to buyers.

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR MAXIMUM INQUIRIES

Classified ads are substantially less expensive than small space
ads, but by no means are they cheap. Most national publications
catering to the mail order business charge from $3 to $8 per
word. A well laid out ad should consist of about 20 words which
includes the company name and address. It is important that you
remind yourself that only the purpose is to get the prospect to
take immediate action and write for more information.

Before you write the ad know exactly what it is you want to sell.
You must know very specifically what you are going to accomplish
through this ad. Once you have determined what you want to get
across to the reader, write it out in one or more complete
sentences. For example, you have the reproduction rights for
several reports and want to market them. So the objective is: "I
want to get the maximum number of responses to inquire about my
self-publishing material which has excellent income potential and
is easy to market, especially for a newcomer to the business."

This ad may read as follows:

TREMENDOUS PROFITS THROUGH SELF-PUBLISHING! Start part-time. Easy
to do. Request free Special Report! XYZ Publishing/E, PO Box
1000, Frederick, MD 20908.

THE OPENING LINE

The first 3 or 4 words– are critical. Since there are hundreds
of classified ads in any given publication you must be able to
get the reader who scans all, or some of them, to stop in his
tracks when he gets to your ad and read your ad and then take
action.

Open any publication and review the ads and you will see that
many of those ads have absolutely no purpose. They are a total
waste of money. But that is good for you since I am sure you will
make a real effort to get your message across. Here are a couple
of examples of useless ads:

Still Looking For A New Beginning? Write…….

What do they mean by that? How does any of that pertain tome and
what am I supposed to make of that? Here is another one:

The Easiest Business On Earth. Valuable information mailed
free…..

Do you think many people are going to write in for an ad like
that. Especially not since there are hundreds of other ads in
competition for the readers’ time.

THE OBJECT IS TO GET THE READER TO TAKE ACTION - NOW!

In less that 25 words you have to create a message that will make
a reader stop; give him a reason - benefits to him - why this is
for him; tell him what to do - action; and provide the vital
information. It is as simple and as complicated as that. Simple
because you know what you want to accomplish, but complicated
because it has to be done with so few words. I think you can see
why it is virtually impossible to sell a $10 or $20 item from a
classified ad. You just would not have enough space to tell a
story compelling enough to convince someone to part with $10 or
$20.

SELF-CENTERED ADVERTISING COPY IS INEFFECTIVE

With some practice you should have no problem getting lots of
inquiries from your ads. Stay away from "Self-centered
advertising copy", copy that speaks about you. How great you or
your company are, or how great your product is.

The only thing the reader cares about is himself. What’s in in
for Number One! Nothing else.

SOME COST SAVING TIPS

Almost all weekly and monthly publication will charge for each
word including your company name and address. Most daily
newspapers have a per line rate. Since just the address can take
up from 6-10 words here are some ways you can save money.

The following ad has 23 words.

TREMENDOUS PROFITS THROUGH SELF-PUBLISHING
Start part-time. Easy to do.
XYZ Publishing Co.
Dept 12 P.O. Box 1000 Frederick, MD 20908

This ad has 21 words.

TREMENDOUS PROFITS THROUGH SELF-PUBLISHING
Start part-time. Easy to do. Free details.
XYZ Publishing/E (The E becomes the code instead of Dept 12
PO Box 1000
Frederick, MD 20908

Or this one which has 18 words

SELF-PUBLISHING, TREMENDOUS PROFITS!
Start part-time. Easy! Free report.
XYZ Publishing/E
PO Box 1000
Frederick, MD 20908

Some publications charge 2 words for the zip code and state, some
only one. If you live in a city which consists of several words
such as Palm Beach Gardens you are only charged for 1 word.

Evaluate the cost effectiveness of your ad by the cost per
inquiry and not the cost of the ad. Example a $150 ad generates
170 inquiries $0.88 per word versus a $28 ad which generates 15
inquiries at a cost of $1.87 each.

WHEN THE INQUIRIES START ARRIVING

If you have written and placed an effective ad and the inquiries
start rolling in, the most important job, or actually several
jobs have to be done. They are as follows:

1. Your sales/promotional package must be ready before the first
inquiry arrives and it must be answered promptly, preferably the
same day but certainly within 48 hours. The longer you wait the
more chances are that a competitor will win out over you.
Although some people will wait for weeks before they make a
decision, many will act within days.

2. The ad you are placing is just the beginning. The names which
are generated from the ad must be used again and again in order
for your total advertising effort to be effective in the long
term.

3. A percentage of your inquiries from this first ad will become
buyers. You need to send these buyers additional offers within
several weeks after their first purchase and thereafter mail at
least 3 times per year to them. You drop them from your list if
they have not bought anything for about 8 - 12 months.

4. The inquiries that did not buy buy this time may still buy at
a later time. You can send them the same material again, or a
similar offer. It is advisable to send 2-3 more mailing to them.

Many mail order companies may only make a small profit or just
break even when the actual sales results are measured against a
single ad. But over the life of the customers which are converted
from those inquiries and the subsequent purchases from the
inquiries who were not converted from the initial ad many
hundreds or thousands of additional dollars will be generated.

Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer

This article may be reproduced freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

Posted on Aug 29th, 2007

Mail order is a very complicated business. Every phase must be planned, analyzed and tested. The right demand products must be selected. The correct type of ads must be placed in the proper media and a multitude of other details must be attended to constantly.

A great number of people enter the mail order field every week. When they find in many instances that only three responses are received from 100 mailings, or that a $100 ad in a magazine with 4 million readers pulls 15 inquiries, it appears hopeless. Especially after reading the glowing ads portraying the $THOUSANDS$ that can be made overnight from your kitchen table! The mail order enthusiast is led to believe that he should be able to hit it big immediately with little work. Dream on. When he finds that this is not the case he drops out before he has a chance to learn. Many people do this because it will take too much of his prime TV time, or that it will cost too much to get started on the ROAD TO PROFITS! CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, IT DOES COST MONEY TO MAKE MONEY. Much more than the $10 or $20 often advertised as the total amount necessary to create a substantial income in the mail order business.

Many are continuously making fortunes in the mail order business. However, if they can do it and you are one who thoroughly enjoys the world of mail order, then there is no reason why you cannot make it also.

REMEMBER AS YOU PROCEED ON YOU WAY TO ULTIMATE SUCCESS, THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FAILURE . . . 95% of the people in mail order DO NOT FAIL IN THE MAIL ORDER BUSINESS . . . THEY JUST DO NOT SUCCEED ! ! ! !

Copyright DeAnna Spencer 2004

This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the content remains the same and the resource box is left intact.

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

Posted on Aug 28th, 2007

Any business needs effective advertising to be successful. Here are some words and phrases that will help you to write successful ads.

100 Excellent Words

  1. Absolutely.
  2. Amazing.
  3. Approved.
  4. Attractive.
  5. Authentic.
  6. Bargain.
  7. Beautiful.
  8. Better.
  9. Big.
  10. Colorful.
  11. Colossal.
  12. Complete.
  13. Confidential.
  14. Crammed.
  15. Delivered.
  16. Direct.
  17. Discount.
  18. Easily.
  19. Endorsed.
  20. Enormous.
  21. Excellent.
  22. Exciting.
  23. Exclusive.
  24. Expert.
  25. Famous.
  26. Fascinating.
  27. Fortune.
  28. Full.
  29. Genuine.
  30. Gift.
  31. Gigantic.
  32. Greatest.
  33. Guaranteed.
  34. Helpful.
  35. Highest.
  36. Huge.
  37. Immediately.
  38. Improved.
  39. Informative.
  40. Instructive.
  41. Interesting.
  42. Largest.
  43. Latest.
  44. Lavishly.
  45. Liberal.
  46. Lifetime.
  47. Limited.
  48. Lowest.
  49. Magic.
  50. Mammoth.
  51. Miracle.
  52. Noted.
  53. Odd.
  54. Outstanding.
  55. Personalized.
  56. Popular.
  57. Powerful.
  58. Practical.
  59. Professional.
  60. Profitable.
  61. Profusely.
  62. Proven.
  63. Quality.
  64. Quickly.
  65. Rare.
  66. Reduced.
  67. Refundable.
  68. Remarkable.
  69. Reliable.
  70. Revealing.
  71. Revolutionary.
  72. Scarce.
  73. Secrets.
  74. Security.
  75. Selected.
  76. Sensational.
  77. Simplified.
  78. Sizable.
  79. Special.
  80. Startling.
  81. Strange.
  82. Strong.
  83. Sturdy.
  84. Successful.
  85. Superior.
  86. Surprise.
  87. Terrific.
  88. Tested.
  89. Tremendous.
  90. Unconditional.
  91. Unique.
  92. Unlimited.
  93. Unparalleled.
  94. Unsurpassed.
  95. Unusual.
  96. Useful.
  97. Valuable.
  98. Wealth.
  99. Weird.
  100. Wonderful.

70 Action getting phrases.

Act now! Send your name. All sent free to introduce. Amazing literature. Free. Ask for free folder. Bargain lists sent free. Be first to qualify. Booklet free. Catalog included free. Complete details free. Current list free. Dealers write for prices. Description sent free. Details free. Dime brings details. Everything supplied. Exciting details free. Extra for promptness. First lesson, 25 cents. Folder free. For literature write. Free booklet explains. Free plans tell how. Free selling kit. Free wholesale plan. Free with approvals. Full particulars free. Get facts that help. Get started today. Get your copy now. Get yours wholesale. Gifts with purchases. Illustrated lists free. Interesting details free. Investigate today. It’s free. Act Now. Literature free. Mail material to: Money making facts free. No obligation. Write! Offer limited. Send today. Only 10 cents to introduce. Order direct from: Order Now. Don’t delay. Particulars free. Postcard brings details. Request free literature. Revealing booklet free. Rush name for details. Sales kit furnished. Sample details free. Samples sent on trial. See before you buy. Send for free details. Send for it today. Send no money. Send postcard today. Send 15 cents for mailing. Send today. Send your want lists. Stamp brings details. Stamped envelope brings. Test lesson free. Unique sample offer. Valuable details free. Write for free booklet. Write us first! Yours for the asking. 37-cent stamp for details. $1 brings complete 32-page catalog free.

The key is to combine your words: EXAMPLE: “The Magic Mammoth Miracle”; “The Three ‘M’ Program”. This has already caught the attention and interest of your prospect. Now for example, say: The Money Making Facts Are Free. Simply fill out the form on my website or whatever action it is you want them to take. Fill in with a few details and you have an excellent Profit Pulling Ad. Of course you should be creative, but make sure to build your ads around these words and phrases. Make sure that your follow-up material is as interesting as the ad so you can get orders.

Copyright 2004

This article may be reprinted and redistributed as long as the resource box remains intact.

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

Posted on Aug 27th, 2007

Advertising is an important part of any business. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Here are some suggestions for free advertising. Make sure that you check your local laws before you do any of these things. It’s not worth going to jail or getting fined to get free advertising.

1. Place copies of your circular on bulletin boards throughout your community, such as in coin-operated laundries, grocery stores, barber shops, etc. Concentrate on Fridays and Saturdays when shopping increases.

2. Check with local newspapers. Before going to press, many smaller newspapers have space left that needs filling.. Your ad may be just the right size to occupy this unfilled space and they will run it free.

3. Place your circulars on windshields of parked autos, Youngsters will be happy to do this for you for a dollar or two. Check first with city ordinances to see if this is permitted in your locality.

4. Leave sales literature on doorsteps of homes & businesses in your area. Do this on weekends in residential areas; weekdays for businesses. 5. Have your best pulling 1 inch or 2 inch ad made into a rubber stamp. Stamp this on envelopes of all of your outgoing mail.. Check rubber stamp dealer’s ads in current mail order publications for price information.

6. When you have envelopes printed with your return address, have them also print your best ad directly beneath your address. It costs noting additional to have this printed on the front of your envelopes.

7. If you publish a mail order magazine, newspaper, adsheet, etc., contact other publishers, If your circulation is equal to theirs, many will be happy to exchange an equal amount of ad space with you.

8. Many publishers will give you free adspace for mailing a few copies of their publication. Simply write to them and ask if they will give you a free 1 inch ad in exchange for mailing 50 to 100 copies of their pub.

9. Write informative articles for mail order trade publication. Most publishers will give you free ad space for the use of your article.

10. Take advantage of advertising specials. Many publishers offer ads on a 3-for-the- price- of -2- basis, or 4-for-the-price-of-3, etc. This saving is the same as getting one ad free of charge.

11. Some publishers offer a free classified ad with your first display ad. Watch for such specials. Use the free ad and pocket the savings.

12. When starting a new publication, many publishers will offer reduced ad rates to help fill space. Watch for ads regarding such offers.

13. In your ads, request a SASE. Then insert some of your other offers in regular outgoing mail. This is the same as getting free advertising.

14. Become a mailer. Get your printer’s lowest price for printing circulars on both sides of the sheet. Contact other dealers and state you will print and mail their circulars for this price with no conflicting ads on the back. Then print your circulars on the reverse and distribute them with your outgoing mail. There is no extra cost for postage and envelopes, and your side of the circular is paid for by your customers.

15. Offer a free commission circulars. Print one of your regular offers on one side; a commission offer on the reverse, leaving space where the mailer can rubber stamp his name & address, Your offer gets a free ride.

16. If you use a postage meter machine, use the ad space directly left of stamp imprint for a free message.

Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

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