Where to market yourself??

Hello guys
It sounds simple enough, but what businesses do u guys target? I have a friend she owns a nail salon and called me the other day to ask if I had fliers because she would like to post them in her business. She said it would be good for me because her clients are woman aka moms so it's a win, win for me. But where else could I advertise?

I want to make some type of flyer/ advertising to leave at other businesses, that can potentially help me out.
Question where do u guys market ur business?

Do u use flyers or business cards?

Thanks for the help, Ruth

I advertise in a local children's shop (resale, consignment, hand-made, etc) and in my daughter's dance studio, and at my son's preschool. There are more places I'd LIKE to advertise but I get shy when it comes to asking to put my brochure out.

Thanks Gina...I had not thought of those places..

the only "brick and mortar" place that I advertise is at a friend's business called "Bride & Baby"... they do party planning, wedding stuff, cakes and have baby stuff (diapers, shopping cart covers, etc.)... they advertise for me with their event planning stuff and I've offered them 10% if they book for me. We've only had it together for a couple months now, so it hasn't come about yet (especially with it being slow season).

A large percentage of my business has come from either kijiji ads or online searches (aided by google adwords).

thanks for ur input perry

I market at the salon I go to, the pre-school up the street, places that have community boards (toy stores, etc.) , friends stores, a couple of local bakeries that do parties, and the local party supply place.

My market is the web - that is where people find me.

I thought this was in addition to the web and normal booth-word-of-mouth promo.

If not, I do those too. lol

Craft stores, gift stores, florists, gyms, art stores, salons, tattoo parlours, rec centers... the list is endless.

Okay, I need major help in this area, I'm getting next to nothing () and I want to at least feel like I've covered my expenses on products....sigh. HOW do you go about advertising at places like this? Do you just go in with a stack of business cards and ask if they can be displayed on the counter? Or pin up fliers on bulletin boards? Do you think small flyers are better than business cards for a desktop type display? Any tips on getting the word out would be great. I was thinking of mailing letters out to local schools, etc but also thinking eventually that cost of stamps, printing, etc will add up also. But then again it seems many times emails go out with no response, so maybe a physical letter is better? I have been using facebook primarilly, and even though I have over 500 people on my friends list, I feel like those who know me, already know me and what I do, I need to get the word out to a broader audience. as CHEAPLY as possible. lol.

don't do mailings if you aren't already covering your costs... the return won't be there right now. Mailings are more for repeat business than new IMHO...

Kijiji is free (don't know if it is popular in your area) and I get a lot of business from there. If you can, find a Mom2Mom group in your area (I think there are a couple over there, I don't think Livonia is too far) and try to hook up with some of them. There are a lot of options that are free, go with free until you cover costs, then pay minimally for advertising.

I've done Ok with coffee shops! They always have a board, and I admit that I meet up at a couple local coffee shops with a group of moms while our preschoolers are in class:) my credit union also has a board for posting biz cards or flyers. We made flyers with photos on them, and made business card holders right on the flyer. Got a few corporate gigs this way.

Toy shops, party supplies stores, any shop that will let you tape an A4 sign in their window really.

Church community bulletin boards. Ask friends, neighbors, & co-workers who know you, if they would post it or have the secretary post it at their place of worship. Churches generally have families and kids.

Kaci Anne

Sounds like you need some real help with your marketing and promotions!

As you know, it doesn't matter how great you are, if people don't know about you, they won't even think about you yet alone book you. You HAVE to get 'top of mind' in your ideal customers' minds and you can only do that by getting yourself and your information out there.

For the time being ... forget Advertising. It's an expense you don't need ... just focus on free Marketing methods. There are SO many ways to do this ... there's no need to invest in Ads, especially if you don't know how to do it well.

Where to market? Fish where the fish are!
Just think where your ideal customers hang out. Then make sure you reach them there in one way or another. In some places, flyers would work, in others you won't be allowed and a business card will have to suffice. Others, go in person or join in the 'conversations' so you become known for what you offer.

If you are sending emails out without a response, there's something wrong! Perhaps you are targeting the wrong people, or saying the wrong things in the email content. Or maybe you don't ask for any 'action' .......?

DO you have a 'list' of customers and clients? Do you have a 'list' of people who have already shown interest in your services but not yet booked? Do you have a 'list' of people who you would like to work for but who do not know you or what you offer? All these people should be sent info on a regular basis ... so you are still in their thoughts when the time comes for them to book. And the best thing ... but broadcast emailing 'lists' ... it's free.Of course the stuff you send them will vary depending upon your relationship and the purpose at that time. As me more if you don't understand :-)

John

Great great advice!! I have now gotten 2 bookings from a fb friend's husband who works for Mitsubishi, as well as a birthday party later this month. Yesterday I signed up on Gig Salad and Kijiji, and have gotten 3 leads already, one of which has booked!!!! The emails I had sent out were looking up local festivals and art show type things and emailing through the website, maybe because they festivals are too close they aren't interested in adding more booths, but still found it odd that a few had no reply at all. I'm keeping a file of the inquiries I recieve so that I can follow up and also send out future contact with reminders, deals, etc as things roll along. Given that I started this past June, I think the issue was that I just needed a little more patience and faith in letting the seed take root. Appreciate all the helpful hints here, quite valuable!!

After reading all of this, I went and listed my business in kijiji and another local free classified service. Thanks for all the good advice, everyone.

Something simple I have found if you have young children is to paint them and just go out in the community. If I am going to the mall, or grocery shopping, I paint my kid up real cute and people almost always stop and ask where she got painted I did this yesterday and the cashier asked me if I do birthday parties. The time before, I had a scout leader take my number for a scout event...have business cards ready and voila...free marketing. (and practice)

This is super helpful. I'm awful at marketing. Next FABIAC I won't miss out on the marketing panel >_<