What is the best & cheapest mode of advertising my embroidery digitizing business.?
I run an embroidery digitizing business and would like to increase my customer base, I have already tried online advertising with many providers, such as Google Adwords, Yahoo and the likes.
Unfortunately nothing seems to work – I have done my own Search Engine Optimization – and even though my site is listed in the top 10 of Yahoo organic search, I have not been receiving any significant enquiries.
I also tried my hands on direct marketing, by mailing postcards – that doesn’t seem to work either and I might I add – its very expensive.
Besides, I reckon that most of the businesses involved in retail embroidery are still not using internet as a means of communication, sales or outsourcing.
I am planning on advertising in newspapers and the thing that I can’t seem to decide is that should I go for ‘Thrifty Nickels’ or ‘Penny Savers’ to get the most for my money.
The basic consideration is that the ads should have a longer shelf life and big circluation and inexpensive.
7 Responses
cnaviblog
20 Aug 2010
shannon b
20 Aug 2010
I would goto your local Jr. High or High School, and take a couple items that you have made. Show this to the Principal and ask them who in their District you should contact. In most cases schools have various extra curricular activities that they need t-shirts, caps, etc made for them. This could open a very BIG door for you and your new business. Also try local clubs, local bands, eateries…there is no end to the possibilities. My brother owns an embroidery biz in Arizona…and he got several jobs by being able to undercut the competition, and his ability to bring a FRESH look to an older product. Good luck!
scott.braden
20 Aug 2010
I’m not sure I understand your business… who are your customers?
regarding your past ads not working, that’s probably because you’re doing several things wrong. don’t blame "the internet" or "postcards" for your failure – because plenty of people use these media successfully.
and whatever you do, don’t buy newspaper or thrifty nickel ads – they will fail even worse, since it sounds like you have a very narrow (targeted) market you want to reach.
my honest advice is to get Dan Kennedy’s Magnetic Marketing course and implement its tools immediately. No, I do not get paid in any way, but I own it and have seen it used in a diverse range of my clients’ businesses with enormous success.
http://www.dankennedy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76&Itemid=98
p.s. your question indicates a fundamental assumption that is wrong: "best" and "cheapest" are NOT the same thing and in many cases for marketing they are totally incompatible.
CoolCowBoy
20 Aug 2010
Did you know Pixel advertising is a booming new comers of 2005 in online advertising.
for example
http://www.innovativepixelpage.com
http://www.squidoo.com/pixelpage – blog on pixel advertising
JLMelvin
20 Aug 2010
My mom runs an embroidery business and she was frustrated like yourself.
I told her, "Mom, you need to get out and see the people."
Now she has to turn away business.
Target a few businesses in your area – digitize and then embroider a few items and then pass them out to the businesses you want to target.
Leave them a product & brochure, business card, and a promotional advertisement with an expiration date. Order these hats within the next 30 days and get an extra 5 hats or 10% off.
raghviii
20 Aug 2010
There are a number of free resources available to advertise your website and increase traffic. You can advertise on relevant free classifieds ( http://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
Well if you want cheap there are a lot of free online advertising sources. you could go to a search engine and type in free online advertising but what you are going get is mostly crap.
There is a webpage that shows the 10 best free online advertising sources.
here is the link
http://www.advertisesmallbusiness.com/free-online-ads