Brandy1

Advertising and marketing are two different things and the only advertising that I get anything from is direct mail. As for marketing, there are things that work sometimes and things that don't. But my goal with marketing isn't to get the sale, but to gain recognition. Is that wrong?

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excitednewguy

Sounds right to me. Marketing is all about "Branding". It's all about repetitive mentions and recognition. It does take a while but once it's done it's done and you can cut back tremendously.

Advertising is more in line with your yellow page ad that runs each month with no changes.

ellas14

I spend 1200.00 per/week on radio. This month I am averaging over 30 new clients per day!

excitednewguy

that's great! i wish that i could spend that much, a little out of my budget right now. we are set to spend about 15,000 for the entire year, give or take a few here and there.

caribbean tan man

me 2 neon suggested it! thanks buddy

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someone PM me when a good tanning topic is posted. :lol:

billable

I always ask "How'd you here about us?" and I get all sorts of answers. Lots say they saw it in the paper last week, even when I didn't run an ad. By far, the largest group is referrals from existing clients. Next largest group just drove by and saw the sign. I bet I haven't had 20 people in the last 10 years say they came in because of the yellow pages.

dcjjp2

Aside from a existing client, the largest way is internet. So this year we beefed up our internet presence and email campaign.

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Jeff

NewOwner

Well this thread took a sharp left ... started advertising is a waste of money .... now everyone does it ... except neon

billable

You may want to go back and reread my posts. You are advertising your business everytime you step out in public.

I still have yellowpages listing, but I am not doing any other conventional advertising. No radio, no newspaper, etc.

I have business card sized free session cards that I carry with me. I give them out at businesses, restaurants, etc. For example, I was talking to a nurse at the ER the other night. Asked her where she tanned. During the discussion, she agreed to come try us. I gave her 3 free session cards. I explained to her that, if she would write her name on the back of the cards and give these to other people that don't currently tan with us, and if they buy a package when they come in to use their free session, I would give her 2 free sessions. This gives her an incentive to be wise about who she gives them to. So, if everything goes well, I give out 3 free sessions and get 2 new customers. That is something what I can track.

Radio requires faith that people are hearing the ad, remembering it and I have to buy a shitload of it to get "top of mind" recognition.

Newspaper is a success if you get 1 or 2 customers out of hundreds of dollars spent. I give out cards that I spent $50 for about a thousand of them. A little more work, but much better odds, IMO.

Brandy1

Great job bill.

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