[clifford123]

ok ovencleaning business all ready to go.....been on to our local paper which also has a free paper..they have quoted £421 + vat for a display add double colum x 6cmm....paper is published tue and friday free paper thursday....this price is for tue, friday, + thur.....for 6 weeks....any thoughts if this is gonna be worth it ???works out at around £84 per week......would need couple of jobs a week to cover the cost, but i also need to get my new business known around my area i could get quality fliers printed for around £200 but it would take me weeks to get them out....if i got them delivered by someone else, it would probably cost me the cost of the paper advertising...anyhoo not sure which road to go down.............ideas please....particularily from the few ovencleaners on this forum.......anyone elses input of course would be most welcome

[Ali_D]

My partner's an oven cleaner in Swansea.  We spent a fortune on advertising in our local papers and had hardly any business from them but it was worked for someone else we know.  I think its probably down to the area.  But if you don't get much response from an ad, try changing it around and see which works best.  Try local parish mags they're a quite reasonable and seem to get to the "right" people.

Good luck
Ali

[Tim Downer]

I would have thought that leaflets would be a better avenue than the advert, although i have seen them in my local paper.

Have you a vehicle signwritten yet?? Even if it is on your car, if you have an eye catching logo etc with the phone number.....people in the neighbourhood will see it driving around and will become familiar with it....even if you are going to Tesco....people will see it.

That is free advertising methinks!!

Regards

Tim

[keith b]

Clifford

To begin with, please don`t waste your hard earned money on expensive generalized newspaper advertising just yet, you won`t get enough business to warrent the outlay.

To know what advertising is going to work for you, you need to test & monitor different media first.

Try direct mailing a few letters/leaflets to OAP & Disability organisations/care homes etc giving a discount to members if they buy your service!

What about leaflets displayed in estate agents offering  oven cleaning for end of tenancy lets?

What about putting leaflets through letterboxes on properties which have a for sale sign outside?

Why not put a few cards in sweet shop windows (very cheap way of advertising).

What about setting up a small stall for one day in the middle of a shopping centre handing out leaflets?

Think about the customers who would buy your service? where do they work/socialize/meet or belong to what organisation

Try contacting your local food outlet: sandwich shops/takeaways/pubs/owners of catering trailers etc

good luck

[paul bruce]

Dave, the £84 per week is a good deal, and advertising is a must for a new business and service.Since launching my oven cleaning business November 2005 i have invested £100 per week + in various forms of newspaper advertising,and customer base is building up nicely.
Me and my partner also deliver the leaflets ourselves and average
200 per 1-2 hours each.If you deliver leaflets do so early in week
as Wed-Fri are free paper days and your leaflet would end up on the passage floor with all the other leaflets that fall out of the paper and not get noticed.
 local paper did a free half page editorial about the service along with pictures of van, I am sure you could do the same.
Everyones opinion can differ on the subject of advertising, but this system has worked for me.
Paul

[clifford123]

hi paul
are your leaflets printed proffesionally? mayby to much to ask but would it be possible to email a sample copy, just to give some idea of design and text content. ovenkingjust4u@aol.com My thoughts are, to test the market with fliers etc: before expensive newspaper advertising.
many thanks
dave

[paul bruce]

Yes Dave leaflets done professionally to my instructions.As it is new company ( under 6 Month old) local Goverment body covered costs for design and printing of leaflets, business cards and letterheads.
Usually when you register as a sole trader they get in touch to offer assistance.
Regarding sample of leaflet I do not have a scanner so i will stick one in the post for you.
 
 Paul

 

[stains-away]

That sounds like a good offer, I would contact them if they didn't contact me to help, having just started up I spent roughly 100 hours on naming the business and sorting out a logo,time that could have been put into seeing prospective clients, any help that's offered with regards marketing should be taken, i know, I learned  the hard way, I'm now in regular contact with a local business link adviser and am learning a great deal just by listening to him, Andy