Advertising - Can People Find Your Business?

I have learned a lot more about the different types of advertising lately and how all businesses that want to grow their business and protect their market share use advertising. Advertising can be expensive, most small businesses can't afford to make a professional quality TV commercial. Finding ways to utilize affordable advertising for a full advertising program that works. Then you need to measure and track where your leads are coming from.

Creative advertising is the type that you see on TV and all around you. This method is where the seller is looking to entice buyers to buy their product. It is the in your face ads that keep businesses top of mind in their customers minds. Affordable creative advertising would be, fliers, direct mail, neighbourhood newsletters, banner ads, pop up ads and affiliate programs.

Directional advertising is the type that you find in phone books. This method is where the buyer is looking for a product, service or business. It is where people who are ready to buy go to find what they are looking for. This is the more affordable advertising method, in many cases it is free. Places to advertise is kijiji, craigslist, newspaper classifieds, auto trader, and the phonebook. Believe it or not independent phone directories can have free listing options and affordable advertising.

Then comes the tracking of calls and there are lots of different ways to do this. Make an error in the design that people may call to tell you about. Place a coupon on a flier or ad that is unique to that ad. Place a code in the ad and ask those who call for the code in the ad. Just ask the customer where they found your phone number, address, or information on your product or service. Keeping track of what advertising is working for you will help you spend your advertising dollars and time wisely.

As a business owner you need to advertise in one way or other to protect your market, present and image, present information on your product or service and most importantly make a profit. You may be busy but 15% of people move in any given year, this means you will loose clients and there are new potential clients coming into your area. People are lazy and if they can find you easily and quickly you won't loose customers that lost your number and their referrals will find you easily. Every business has to advertise, including yours.

Should you Cut Back on Advertising During a Slow Economy?