Help needed... IDEAS FOR ADVERTISING

[Jeremy Darwin]

To all those guys who log in here...
I would like to ask for ur comments and suggestions

1. How would u attract customers with the use of limited funds?

[jack]

whats ur product or service?

[p.i.joe]

You forgot to mention what business you're in. Let's say for example that it's a restaurant. The number one rule is, even if the food you serve is common it has to be good and reasonably priced. Invest in a good cook first because this type of business normally thrives by word of mouth. Once you're established you can probably do some renovations to make your place more attractive to customers.

If it's a business with another business, the same concept also applies. First,the product or service must be good in order to sell. Second,you have to invest in salespeople who are experienced in your type of product or service. Professional salesmen normally works on commission basis although their rates are higher. In exchange you'll get their expertise plus most of them already have establised contacts. In other words they know their way through those trade secrets. At least in this scenario you're assured you'll get the sale first before their commission gets paid.

[nix]

Yeah, give us more details ...

[Jeremy Darwin]

for example, guys,
that u sell aircons, refs, tvs, washing machines....
how will u advertise it?

how will u promote it to other people?
(kung saka-sakaling may kailangan kayo hah,
just post it here... ;) )

(when u send something thru email, pls. don't forget to notify me thru my pager)
my email is jeremydarwin@mailcity.com
or jeremydarwin@hotmail.com

my pager is at 1441-104282

i can give u discounts!!!

[p.i.joe]

You're dealing with durable goods which normally carry a substantial mark-up. Since these are not your common daily household need, it's imperative that you reach a wider market base. The cheapest advertising medium that I can think of is the print media like your local newspaper or an internet website like Yehey.

Advertising is the lifeline of your business. Whatever fits into your budget try to gear your advertising to the following:

1)Markdown/discount promotions - tip: concentrate markdowns on less popular brands.

2)Affordable payment plans - you are selling big ticket items, an affordable payment plan is necessary to attract more customers. Cash customers are seldom even if you offer huge discounts. Default is your main risk, so in order for you to this, you need to tie up with a bank or a financing co. who will assume it for you.

3) Gift promotions - gift certificates, movie or lottery tickets, etc. given to buyers. This is a goodwill gesture which your customers would surely appreciate. Remember they could be repeat customers.

[Austin James]

need help? Hire me.

[Jeremy Darwin]

Joe: thank you very much for the idea.
have u seen the tie up of Western and Ever Gotesco?

saan ba nagsimula yan?
yung Abensons and Ayala Center ata and also
Automatic and Ayala Center.
do u know of a mall na medyo mura-mura na puwedeng i-rent and u know... hold like that of Western Appliances and Ever Gotesco tie up?

[p.i.joe]

Jeremy: Sorry pare if I cannot answer your questions. Alam mo kasi I'm no longer updated on the business developments diyan sa atin dahil base na ako dito sa L.A.

Like you I'm trying to look for some business opportunities diyan pero medyo mahirap. I've tried it a few years ago but it did'nt work out.

Anyway, I wish you all the luck in your business. Alam mo there will be some downside as you go along but try stick to it.

[big_gurl]

i guess the best and the cheapest way to advertise is through your friend and family.At first you may be lugi but always remember that inorder to say if your business is doing great wait for 2 years.

[jack]

Jeremy: try going to nearby provinces...medyo saturated na dito sa manila. :)

[Jeremy Darwin]

jack and big gurl,
thanks very much for the comment.
;)

[sinned]

Jeremy,

by the way, how's the appliance business na ba sa pilipinas? sa ibang bansa na rin kasi ako naka-base e. there are financing companies sa pilipinas (solely for appliances) na nakiki-tie up sa mga appliances store. these companies finance employees of different companies sa flipns para maka-avail ng mga appliances. so bale i suggest that you look for these financing companies tapos pwede kang makipag-tie up sa kanila.

good luck sa 'yo.

-sinned-


[This message has been edited by sinned (edited 10-04-1999).]

[Wangie]

few things i picked up from working in an advertising firm...

1.) know your market! who's your target market? instead of focusing on advertising and marketing your product, focus on WHO you want to TALK TO directly. that way you cut down on cost in having to advertise to so many people.

2.) know your competition! what do they have that you don't? conversely, what do YOU have that they don't? capitalize on that.

3.) try non-trad. advertising. traditional and mainstream advertising is expensive...and it has been discovered that it isn't the most effective way to advertise anymore.

4.) good luck. =) if you need help, i'd be glad to brainstorm with you.

[CaRaMBa]

Jeremy Darwin:

I hope you read Wangie's post. Your advertising will really depend on who your market is and on your positioning.

If you can give me more details, I'd be willing to let you know what I think. I have some ideas in my head already. =)

[dementia]

The cheapest kind of advertising is the word of mouth. That is, if you have 0 funds. If you have something like P50K to waste for adverstising, uh, I'm sorry to say that it will only take you up to the next kanto of your neighborhood. Oooops, I have another thing in mind: what you need is direct mail. You can send a brochure, flyer or a postcard to a bunch of friends who you think are interested in whatever it is you're selling. (A real mailing list is very expensive. Something like P15.00 a name for database rental, so you can forget that.)

You can also have your business name listed in the yellow pages. You'll be surprised that a lot of people just look for their needs in the yellow pages.

Hmmm..what else? Print ad is expensive. Design can be free (if you have artist friends) but the placement is REAL expensive. Maybe you can run a line or two in a Buy and Sell magazine. It can be free and you're sure that the people who really read it are the ones who are looking for a listed service there.

You can also spend for streamers and signages to draw attention to your store. well i guess that's how far your "limited" funds can get you but the knowledge of who your target market is (and how to target them) will help you a lot in spending that limited budget of yours.

If I helped you in some way and think you need some more, email me at dementia_16@hotmail.com

[Wangie]

Dementia-->; ano yan? nobela??!?!??! sabi ko sa 'yo forum lang to, hindi nobela writing contest eh...ehehehehe...

loko lang. pero i agree...spoken from experience ba yan? kung may kailangan akong artwork na hindi magawa ng artist ko, sabi sa iyo sa iyo ko na ipapagawa eh...

=)

[JPB]

well, i need to know where your shop is first. because location is crucial. also, what is your PTM? do you cater to the AB market or what? marketing is contingent on pertinent information, you know. i am a marketing man myself but i can only help you if you give me details, bro. although here is one tip: word of mouth is really the best! it is cheap, and it has the highest batting average for a sale to be completed. case in point: if you go out, you know that ABG's, that place na parang kalye lang, is so packed during the wee hours of the morning. why so? mainit doon, siksikan, nasa kalye kayo... but people flock to it like hell. that's the power of word-of-mouth. no advertising(although now they started to). just referrals. but you see it all boils down to customer service. ABG's is like a street party so service never was part of the package. in your case, if the clients that have gone to you do not recieve, in their perception, quality service, they will never refer... and even worse: they will never come back.

it takes just 1 unpleasant experience in your store to turn off a customer for life. as they say in Johnson & Johnson: "do things right the first time, everytime."

let us talk about it, man. email me all the details you have on your shop and i will be most glad to help you.

joecamel22@hotmail.com