Advertising...brochures/postcards...

Stella Bella

So I have my website up and going, and my business cards are here. But I want something that I can send out to potential clients (i.e friends, family, acquaintances etc.) that officially let them know I'm open for business and perhaps show some of my work.

I was thinking of putting together a 3.5x5 or a 4x6 postcard just announcing my services. But I'm just having a problem getting things going and I'm not really sure what info I should include.

Is this a good idea?? Does anyone have any examples of brochures or postcards that you have used for advertising purposes??

TIA

Felicia

I used a really great service last year to send out our family holiday cards. The website is www.amazingmail.com. Basically, I uploaded the .jpgs for front and back, then uploaded my addresses and paid. The company then printed the postcards, addressed them and stamped them. If you're not sure about the print quality, I believe when you sign up you can send a few postcards for free.

Maybe a way to catch someone's attention is announce a holiday sale or some type of special deal to capture interest and generate calls.

Stella Bella

Thanks Felicia! That website is great!! I'm definitely going to keep it in mind.

I have been working on some ideas...just to send out to introduce my new business.

What do you think?? To simple?? To blah? Ok?

Front-


Back-

ChatKat

Tracking and more tracking
Advertising is only effective when you send out multiple times; What is the purpose of this postcard? Who is going to get it? Why does it tell the receipient to come to you for photographic services? Is there an incentive for them to call you?

First, to send out anything without a plan for it is a waste of time and effort (not to mention $$$).

You need to figure out who, what, where and why. The ad needs to have a call to action to make the receiver want to immediately pick up the telephone and book you - they should want to find a reason to do that!

If you run an ad, the reader will need to SEE it 6 times to recongnize you and more than that to take action. So one post card does not make an ad campaign.

dogwood

ChatKat wrote:

You need to figure out who, what, where and why. The ad needs to have a call to action to make the receiver want to immediately pick up the telephone and book you - they should want to find a reason to do that!

If you run an ad, the reader will need to SEE it 6 times to recongnize you and more than that to take action. So one post card does not make an ad campaign.

I tend to agree with this. But... if you sent this card as your introduction, then follow-up a month later with another card that includes a call to action (or a discount) then another card a month later... you get the idea.

Just don't make this your only post card and I think you'll be okay. Also keep in mind that postcards usually have only a 1 - 2 percent response rate-- but for the cost, they are very effective.

Stella Bella

Mostly this would be going to friends, family, acqaintences and co-workers of my husband (about 100 or so). Most of them know that I am in the beginning stages of this process and I just want to send something that lets everyone know that I am "up and running" so to speak. This would not be something that I would send into the community per say...just to people I know.

edited to add: there will be a coupon accompanying this postcard so there will be an incentive to call.