How do YOU advertise

[websitedesigner]

Like Matt I don't advertise, I get all of our new business through natural search engine traffic. I would consider advertising, I've tried a few things but only if I could accurately measure the ROI and I found something that produced positive ROI which I suspect is a lot more difficult than most people think.

[Steve_Minshall]

Hi Chris,

A few things that leap out at me.

Your web presence needs lots of work. Talk to one of the many SEO people on FS to get some ranking going. Now 'signage' is competitive but when I put 'signage peckenham' in to google and I can not find you then there is lots of work to do.

SEO can be hard because it is after all a competition. However it gets much easier when you focus on product + location. Now this is ideal for small operators like yourself who only want to work several kms from a base. So make it a goal to be the easiest found website for the suburbs you want to operate in. There are plenty of low hanging fruit to pick on your site to get better location based SEO working.

First off get some better content and images going in your google places listing. Its free and effective. Google by its nature will favour content rich places over simple ones.

Also I would get a fixed line number for the website even if you re-direct it to your mobile. I think mobile numbers are ok for professional services where you are buying an individual's talents but for a service like yours, I get the mental image of someone fielding lots of calls while trying to sort out my order.

[jentre]

Originally Posted by tonyk

i would steer clear of advertising in the yellow pages.

Thanks Tony - I haven't advertised in the yellow pages, more using it to show how many photographers there are. Trying to find more direct ideas for avertising - such as where parents and couples are likely to see it. We've tried wedding planning sites, kinders/playgroups tc.

[jimbow]

I think the trick is first to offer people something VALUE to them, this could be a free e book, report or DVD, the other thing which is very under rated is the power of referal business, clients that are happy with you and what you have provided, are the very best advertisers, and will help, but only if you ask!

[Chris's Signs]

Originally Posted by Steve_Minshall

Hi Chris,

A few things that leap out at me.

Your web presence needs lots of work. Talk to one of the many SEO people on FS to get some ranking going. Now 'signage' is competitive but when I put 'signage peckenham' in to google and I can not find you then there is lots of work to do.

SEO can be hard because it is after all a competition. However it gets much easier when you focus on product + location. Now this is ideal for small operators like yourself who only want to work several kms from a base. So make it a goal to be the easiest found website for the suburbs you want to operate in. There are plenty of low hanging fruit to pick on your site to get better location based SEO working.

First off get some better content and images going in your google places listing. Its free and effective. Google by its nature will favour content rich places over simple ones.

Also I would get a fixed line number for the website even if you re-direct it to your mobile. I think mobile numbers are ok for professional services where you are buying an individual's talents but for a service like yours, I get the mental image of someone fielding lots of calls while trying to sort out my order.

thanks steve.... even when i put it in google...signage pakenham... still takes up to page 4 till i see my site.. im not that good at the SEO understanding and had this site made buy a bloke who does websites..i thought that would be enough...lol..opps mabee not..

now more to learn....

[NathanB]

Hi Chris.

I have a couple of suggestions for you to consider RE: Your advertising/marketing plans in 2012.

After having a brief look and your website and services, I think you have some significant opportunity to create some very good results oriented cold call campaigns.

Take just one of your services like Motorcycle decals/stickers as an example. Rather than just have the service listed as a small component of your larger operation. I suggest you create a flyer specifically showcasing what you can do with this service, add a good value deal and then cold call every club listed on the Motorcycling Victoria website. - 65 motorcycling clubs with contact details right here >>>> http://www.motorcyclingvic.com.au/index.php?id=1701

If successful, you could then do the same with Boat Racing clubs. To take a step further than that, you could even go directly to Motorcycle or Boat shops. Speak to the owners, set up a deal with them that includes your service in their purchases prices (just give them a fiscal incentive to sell you!).

Although I agree with all the previous posts about pumping your Facebook and paying for SEO etc. I am of the opinion that they're the kinds of advertising initiatives you focus on once you have developed revenue streams and want to step it up a notch. My above suggestions are more practical, inexpensive (just labour + some printing) and are very results orientated where you can easily measure your success/failure.

Hope this helps.

[Chris's Signs]

Originally Posted by NathanB

Hi Chris.

I have a couple of suggestions for you to consider RE: Your advertising/marketing plans in 2012.

After having a brief look and your website and services, I think you have some significant opportunity to create some very good results oriented cold call campaigns.

Take just one of your services like Motorcycle decals/stickers as an example. Rather than just have the service listed as a small component of your larger operation. I suggest you create a flyer specifically showcasing what you can do with this service, add a good value deal and then cold call every club listed on the Motorcycling Victoria website. - 65 motorcycling clubs with contact details right here >>>> http://www.motorcyclingvic.com.au/index.php?id=1701

If successful, you could then do the same with Boat Racing clubs. To take a step further than that, you could even go directly to Motorcycle or Boat shops. Speak to the owners, set up a deal with them that includes your service in their purchases prices (just give them a fiscal incentive to sell you!).

Although I agree with all the previous posts about pumping your Facebook and paying for SEO etc. I am of the opinion that they're the kinds of advertising initiatives you focus on once you have developed revenue streams and want to step it up a notch. My above suggestions are more practical, inexpensive (just labour + some printing) and are very results orientated where you can easily measure your success/failure.

Hope this helps.

i do like this advice... i have in progress a flyer for safety signs, on the exact basis of what you just said...hope that it helps..

i see now that it should all be broken down into separate sections of what i do...i quoted a job yesterday for a 4.5meter banner...when i showed examples off my phone ...she says ..."you do cars aswell??"

my website hasnt been updated with new work, seems i put more up on face book..looks like i need to change a few things in the way i do stuff...

[Robin]

Hi Chris,

Had a look at your website & I think there's definitely room for improvement.

Have you thought about using online lead generation services before?

It can be very cost effective though if you do it right.

Cheers!