Posted by Joan Bergstrom on 3/20/08 12:42pm
Msg #240009
Off Beat Advertising
I got a call to advertise on a golf scorecard for $350 per year (in Riverside CA + 75,000 rounds per year) and I would have taken the offer but, the golf course wasn't a very upscale facility. It is a local public golf and wouldn't attract professional people who have more notary requirements.
Anyone ever try this type of advertising? I would try it if offered on a golf course that charged over $100 per round.
Does anyone else have any "off beat" advertising ideas they want to offer in public or private?
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Reply by BBuchler/CA on 3/20/08 2:01pm
Msg #240034
Years ago I also was "conned" into advertising on cards for another business I had. Never ever got anything from it. As a golfer, I look at the cards very little, other than to put down my score. Then I throw them away at the end. Even if I take them home I don't look at them for advertisements. And it doesn't matter what golf course I'm on, low or high end. If there was a coupon prominently displayed for something I might look, but more likely I just don't notice the writing on them. If there is a display board in the clubhouse I might look at that.
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Reply by Michelle/AL on 3/20/08 7:52pm
Msg #240094
A local family restaurant was aggressively pursuing me a few months ago to advertise inside their restaurant. As it was explained to me by the manager, he would use something like a slide projector or PowerPoint presenation and project ads on the wall at set times of the day. Because of the location of the place I gave it some real consideration but after I asked more probing questions it sounded like it was a new venture - nothing already established. So I wasn't sure if it would ever get off the ground. Also, because this restaurant is located miles away I couldn't just "drop in" to make sure my ad was running when it was scheduled to run. So I didn't pursue it.
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Reply by BrendaTx on 3/20/08 8:45pm
Msg #240103
#1 Best Advertising for the $$$ you can get:
http://pawnotary.com/CarSign_2007.htm
Paul's notary magnetic signs.
If you don't have three of them (back, side/side) on your car you are messing up.
They are inexpensive and if you are in traffic a lot you are making contacts while you fume.
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Reply by A-1 Signing Agents, LLC on 3/21/08 9:54am
Msg #240151
In February I got a call from E-Locallistings.com with the promise of more work than I could hande. I would be rated #1 (HA) on every search engine with 10 keyword phrases. I explained with what i do most companies don't google. They already know the NSA websites where they choose from. Soooo, I said what the heck, $1.00 for the first month and I could cancel before the trial period ended. Well, I did. THEY chose the 10 key phrases and they were nothing like anyone would chose in a search for a notary. OMG did they beg me to stay. End price would be $159.00 monthly for them to advertise for me. I told them right now was no time to be putting our $$$ when not much was coming in. OH, but miss, in the end you'll thank us. Beware of them as well. E-local.com. They are very convincing.
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Reply by Ernest__CT on 3/20/08 8:37pm
Msg #240099
Random thoughts to keep in mind when advertising
First, TV and radio probably won't ever work for Notaries Public. They're too ephemeral. Nobody will remember your phone number, unless they need a signature notarized within the next few hours.
Business cards, whether literally business-card-sized or other, are _the_ most cost-effective advertising you can do. Period. Get them into as many hands as you can. They're cheap.
Everybody gives away pens. Nobody refills 'em. Empty? Toss. Next freebie pen, please.
Phone book ads work. Especially if you put in details such as "24-hour service". Be prepared to get calls from people who think it is too expensive to have you visit their homes and offices, and who'll tell you they're going to their bank for fre).
Brochures work well _for special purposes._
There's a give-away that I use that people love, costs me about a buck apiece, and stays on desks forever. (No, I'm not going to share _publicly_ what is is. You know how Private Messages work.) When I had a storefront keys-and-locks business I gave away glow-in-the-dark keychains. Cost about two bits (then!) and brought literally hundreds of repeat customers.
The thing that's most important about give-aways is that you give them away. No, I'm not being a smart-aleck. Having them sitting in your car or on the shelf is _useless!_ If you can't afford to give an advertising piece away, you can't afford to buy it in the first place.
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Reply by Linda_H/FL on 3/20/08 8:50pm
Msg #240104
Great post, Ernest!! n/m
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Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 3/21/08 12:05am
Msg #240120
Just A Fabulous Post
The key to receiving another assignment is: do good work! Duh
But
The most successful items I have included in a loan package are
1. My business card
2. Calendars with magnet on the back with my picture on the calendar
3. Swiss army knife with my name lasered. $1.50 @ www.nationalpen.com
4. What I send back all the time is some hard candy from Walmart or Target, that is wrapped and cost $1.00 or so. Sets me apart.
Hope this helps?
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Reply by Ernest__CT on 3/21/08 12:18am
Msg #240122
Thanks, Joan!
The Swiss Army knife sounds very, very good!
Years ago, in a completely unrelated business, I tried calendars with very limited success. Probably the magnetic back helps!
Joan, you've always been one who gives unstintingly of your experience. It is much appreciated!
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Reply by BrendaTx on 3/21/08 7:25am
Msg #240135
How much candy?
I've always been afraid to send back something that weighed very much would be to give them an extra charge via o/n delivery would be an annoyance.
I have used other very light weight items which weigh under an ounce to return, but not anything that weighs more than that.
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Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 3/22/08 1:53am
Msg #240231
Re: How much candy?
I didn't explain the candy very well. I buy $1.00 bags of wrapped candy at Walmart/Target and include 3-4 pieces.
It's not rocket science but anything that can have a title/lender/escrow remember me is worth the try.
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Reply by BrendaTx on 3/22/08 7:53am
Msg #240241
Re: How much candy?
*3-4 pieces*
Joan's idea is nice, and maybe things work differently in California, but in the title companies I have experience with to get it to the right place, put it in an envelope with your contact's name on it along with a business card with note of thanks on back. But, better yet, spend the postage money to send it out in another envelope with the note of thanks. Courier costs can be run up with anything that tips the scale.
In my experience, title companies often have a department who receive the packages, open them, and perform certain tasks before the documents go onto post-closing and funding; the person who called you for the assignment probably won't see candy or the package again unless there is a problem.
Another thought about candy and pens is that routinely title companies keep large bowls of candy and pens of their own on their closing tables and inside their offices. They use and provide their own personalized pens so that only THEIR advertising goes out to the public from their offices; pens with other names go in the trash to keep them from distributing others' advertising.
I think one of the best promo items on the market is the staple remover which will fit into a pen cup. I found a picture online. I'm not recommending this site or this price, but only as an example, here's a useful tool that will stay with the recipient. Title companies often give these away as well, but not as readily as pens and candy so they aren't guaranteed to have their own stock and throw yours out. Finding items they will keep in their own desks with your name on it is key.
http://www.inkhead.com/office-gifts/staple-removers/staple-remover_pv-8405-0.html
Put it in an envelope with the name of the person you want to receive it and mail it. I've lived and learned through being INSIDE those places...just passing it along. You need to budget for postage and send the items to the person you want to receive the trinket or gift.
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