WAHM Forums

Hey, folks...



I was wondering if folks have had any success with advertisements in local parent magazines or similar places?



I'm just getting started and trying to develop a "buzz" in the
area. I'd love any tips from folks on good places to
advertise. I have plenty of ideas for free advertising, but was
thinking of investing in one or two paid spots and am looking to find
the most bang for my buck.



Thanks,



Christy

Hi Christy!


I do not advertise. I did. But, I might as well have just put the money in the front lawn and watched a breeze carry it away.......


Direct sales is an active, face to face biz. I'm sure some will disagree. But I worked in advertising. For it to be effective, you need to spend a lot of money, make sure the ad is seen at least 5 times, be constantly in front of their face, or give them a really good reason to act now.


Example, you see an add for acoolgidget, it cleans your toilets for youIt looks cool.Itmakes cleaning fun!Do you go out and buy it the first time or forget about it 5 seconds later? After about the 5th time seeing the ad, you say to yourself "Cool item! I have to have it!" But you usually don't run out and get it. Then you are at Walmart, and it's right there on the shelf! Oh! Yeah! You pick it up. The ad worked.


Service ads work a little different. But most times, it only hits when someone wants your service at the exact moment they look at the ad.


You are much better looking for fairs and events where you meet people face to face, show them the toys, let them play and can personally tell them the benefits of your company. The best part is, you will get their phone numbers and be able to follow up so they won't forget! It is a nervous feeling to do these calls, but more often then not the person on the other end is "I am soooo glad you called! I'd never seen your product before. I am interested in learning more!"


Now, if you can get a very, very, very good rate, it's not bad to advertise before an event. Then you are there and they will say "I saw your ad and was wondering what this was about."


Best of luck!


Debbie

Ditto!

I've run ads in local papers and the net response was NADA. Online ads I've gotten some inquiries from. Posting flyers, a few. Right now I'm taking a different approach, I've made up goodie bags with my company and product information, plus some candy and stickers in them to hand out. I'm going to take some to the daycares and schools this week to see if they'll give them out for me as well. I think that it's a lot more effective to actually talk to people than it is to hope for them to come to you... it just takes way more nerve :)


Another thing I do is make sure to include business information about my Mela business with every order I send out from my eBay store. And I participate in some ad swaps with other businesses that target parents. No idea yet if that's paying off.

I agree with Deb. Don't spend your money unless you want to watch it float away! I tried the advertising route as well, and Nada!


Direct Sales is a face to face business. The only thing (Other than home shows) that I will do is a craft fair here and there. But.. it has to be affordable and a 1 day event. I get to meet with people, they see my product, and there's a face to face communication.


I think we all want online/print ads to work quick and easily. But... unfortunately, they don't.


Susan

Do you have a local Parent magazine in your area?


I have been advertising for over a year in a Parent magazine and it has been well worth it!!! It is a Freepublication targeted towards families within the local area. Just make sure your cost can be covered with just a show or two or a new Recruit. And, of course, you must be good at follow-up.


I think your products would do very well if advertised. You could advertise some of your most unique products and then when they call send them a catalog with Hosting information, or they may just want to purchase.


I Love Your Stuff! I will be a grandmother in the next week or so and I think your Keep-It Clean Pacifier is ingenius! run an ad for just that and I bet you get a lot of phone calls!


Good Luck,


Sheryl

Thanks for all of your feedback. I know direct sales is really
dependent on the face-to-face contact, but I am counting a bit on the
novelty factor of having a new company in my area. =} I'm taking
a lot of approaches and have just been considering a print ad as one of
many campaigns.



I had thought about placing an ad under "Business Opportunities" but
Sheryl has some good points. Given the lack of success you guys
have had, it might be better to advertise the product and see if I can
draw some interest from there. It could be a good way of building
up my mailing list, which is one of my goals.



Hmmm... lots to think about. =}



I love this forum... great people and great ideas!



Christy

Hi there Christy!

You know, I was just going over a press kit this afternoon for our local
parents mag "Dane County Kids". It gets a huge reading and is out for
the whole month as a free magazine.. I was tempted.. But MAN, print
ads are SOOOOOO expensive.

The more I thought about it, I decided that the money will be much better
spent on a huge rear window decal for my car with my company name,
my website, phone number (cell) and "retail-fundraising-home parties-
business opportunities"

It would be a permanent method of advertising that goes wherever I go
and works in the parking lot while I'm getting groceries, etc. Just seems
like a wiser investment long term.

Congratulations on your brand new business! Best of luck with this
marketing decision and your future endeavors. You must be so excited!

--Kitt

I guess I am on the other side of the boat on this conversation. I advertise in quite a few publications and have had very good results. I pay good money for the ads don't get me wrong and that is always a risk.


I think it depends on your business as to what kind of results you will get.


I advertise in my local Kid's Directory and run a half page ad for the last four monthes and I average probaly about 8-10 parties a month out of this ad alone. For me though I do a lot of large parties and so it makes it worth it. If I get one school or good size day care out of it my ad has more than paid for itself.





Pick focused publications and run the same ad several times.


I don't do regular newspapers people don't read them enough but for my business I do an Animal Lovers Newspaper and I do the Kid's Directory from time to time I advertise in some of the larger ECPTA newsletters and have gotten a response from that. I also set up at their mom shopping night and any other event they might have going on where vendors can display.

I agree with Kitt...spend the money on a car magnet or window decal. Another idea might be to google "free classifieds". My upline paid a few bucks (really, less than $10) for an ad that keep running in a paper in FL. She kept it generic, something like, "direct sales company looking for fun people in you area. Like to decorate and organize? call xxx-xxx-xxxx and we'll talk!" She even switched companies and is still getting calls.


Don't forget that Vistaprint.com has offers for free color brochures and business card that you can leave everywhere you go...


suzanne

I think with your product line you would do well in a "Parents
Magazine." If you have that type of paper it may do well to try
it for a few months. You are with a new company and that will be
a major draw in itself. I know of a top leader in our company and
that is how she grew her business. It also depends on your ad and
its verbiage. That is a key ingredient to its success. I
think you also have to decide what your main goal is in publishing the
ad. Do you want bookings or new team members?



I started my business doing some ads and that is what grew my
business. It was money well spent. You do have to research the
publication you will be advertising in. Will it be in the hands
of your target market? It think in your case the Parents Magazine
will do just that.



I do agree this business is about the relationship factor and you have
to be prepared to work with those that call from your ad differently
than you would from a home party or fair. But it can be done.
Many big leaders in Direct Sales will attest to that.



I wish you the bess of success with your new company. Congratulations on making the decision to own your own business!

Hey Christy!

I'm going to have to go with the other Noah's Ark crewmember.
Basically, it is the nature of the child's party type business.
Bookings from bookings do not quite work with the type of parties we
do. Word of mouth is always best, but when you are new to an area
they have to know you exist. Most successful Noah's Ark
crewmembers are doing paid advertising in publications like Parent
magazines. Since your product is for children and new, I would
definately consider it, but try to get a contract that doesn't pin you
down for a long period (some want a year contract). I found a
publication that is letting me try a couple months without a
contract. Unfortunately, there are no child/parent type
publications in my area, so I am trying a local guide publication (jury
still out).

Having said that, I have found newspaper ads worthless, but one of my
downline has had great success with a newspaper ad (small town).

It is very true Angie- I don't know anyone with Noah's Ark who does well who doesn't pay for at least some advertising. You said you don't have a parent magazine have you checked in the Kid's Directory with http://www.hiddenvalues.com/


They are slightly pricey but usually you can bargain a little bit and they are color ads.

I sent a request for advertising info from a local parenting magazine last week and would you believe they haven't even gotten back to me? It was school vacation, so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt, but geez.

I'm definitely going to put an ad in a local magazine. Actually, my parent company had placed an ad in one of the national parent magazines last fall and got a lot of response. I figure that if I don't spend too much money, it won't be that much of a risk.

I'm just excited to get the word out there!

=},
Christy

I have checked out the Kid's Directory and even considered starting one
up myself, because there is none in our entire state! However,
husband wouldn't agree to the $2000 license fee.



Word of warning about national magazines: I have advertised in
co-ops (actually I coordinated the co-op) in two different
magazines. One produced alot of leads, but not quality
leads. The other magazine produced very little leads at
all. I wasted alot of money. However, I know of people who
have recruited many from magazine ads--it really depends on the
magazine and the ad. I would be happy to share my knowledge of
"what not to do" concerning magazine advertising--PM me if you want.