I am looking to spend a good amount of money into advertising and marketing.

I want to either

1) hire someone who can help me with gaining new customers
2) Gain advice from here
3) talk to someone who would like to help for free.

Thanks,
JezzoMaster

i'm assuming its for a webhosting company,

i know for sure that Google AdWords work...
you should try placing ads in web hosting directories & reviewing sites :)

Originally posted by jubinrr
i'm assuming its for a webhosting company,

i know for sure that Google AdWords work...
you should try placing ads in web hosting directories & reviewing sites :)

Know of some good directories?

Local advertising might be a good option for you. It's usually more affordable and the sales folks often help you to get a better deal if you commit to more than one run of an ad.

Know of some good directories?I believe most hosts don't find hosting directories to be really worth the trouble (or the money).

You might have some success if you find a clean directory to advertise on. Most are just too overcrowded, having tens of flashy banners of all sizes crammed up in as little space as possible. You have to make sure you're getting the right kind of exposure for your money, you know? ;)

Originally posted by TheFish
Local advertising might be a good option for you. It's usually more affordable and the sales folks often help you to get a better deal if you commit to more than one run of an ad.

What kind of local advertisements should I invest in? I am interestd in different ways I can do so. Thank you very much.

-JezzoMaster

How about the local newspaper's computer sections or maybe a computer/network mag? thats for Offline but it can be really costly...

But it will really do you some good if you hire a Marketing Specialist to help you or advise you on your plans.
Because there is really no one best way to do it..... or a proven manual script you are to folow :P

( Some times it works... some times it fails.... Look at N-Gage :P )

How much does it usually cost to hire someone to help you gain new customers?

Its like taking a full-time marketeer or part-time sale rep.
Or you can try profit sharing with resellers.

And how much would that cost? In numbers please =P

Originally posted by jubinrr
i'm assuming its for a webhosting company,

i know for sure that Google AdWords work...
you should try placing ads in web hosting directories & reviewing sites :)

Adwords does not help unless you are willing to pay out your rear end and pay for clicks you do not actually receive.

Start an affiliate program, its a good way to have sales people working on commissions. Create Flyers and distribute in your business community, advertise on webmaster magazines or computer magazines locally, do some radio advertising, ive heard on WHT that radio advertising does pay up. Get listed in major directories like www.thewhir.com www.tophosts.com www.ispcheck.com

Have nice business cards, do lots of social networking, have some sort of contest or free hosting etc for new signups. Keep customers happy to have a viral effect.

Originally posted by Ne0Net.Com
And how much would that cost? In numbers please =P

I'll answer on the local advertising part; I run both a web hosting company and an offline advertising agency that produces TV, radio and newspaper ads in-house.

When the agency places a newspaper ad on your behalf, they negotiate the best rate for you. But, more importantly, an agency like mine knows how to place the best ad for your money. We can often run a cheaper ad that gets better results, because we know the sizes, shapes and layouts that get results.

If you have an agency working for you, you get a professionally designed ad that will typically get better results that what the local paper will do for you.

If you call them up and place an ad, they are going to B.S. you into the most profit for them. If you are a small infrequent advertiser, you won't get their best people doing you ad, which equals a poorly designed ad with poor results, which equals a waste of you money.

The agency will place the ad, and take a commission from the newspaper for placing the ad. This part cost you nothing; the commission costs the newspaper (or radio station, or TV station, etc). So this part is essentially "free" to you.

Then the agency will charge you a creative fee for doing the ad. This varies wildly in the business, from probably a low of about $35 an hour up to many hundreds of dollars an hour. If you are BIG ad spender, the agency might charge you less for the hourly fee since they are placing more ads and making more commission.

If you were running a quarter page ad in a local paper, you are probably looking at a couple hours work, so from $70 up in agency creative fees to do the ad. The rest of what the agency makes would be the commission from the newspaper.

It is important to note that most agencies won't touch small clients. So if you are not spending tens of thousands of dollars a month on ads, many agencies won't give you the time of day.

My agency, however, specializes in smaller clients, so agencies that will work with smaller clients do exist.

I often see posts where people recommend that you hire a "local" agency. That is not always needed. Mosts agencies can effectively place ads for you no matter where you are located.

Originally posted by jezzomaster
What kind of local advertisements should I invest in? I am interestd in different ways I can do so. Thank you very much.

-JezzoMaster

I place business card size ads in local newspapers every once in a while. The smaller newspapers give you a discount if you have more than one run. You could also rent a bench or a billboard. Those options do cost less than most would usually expect.

Local advertising can be a real goldmine. Newspaper ads, magazine ads and so on are just the tip of the iceberg. If you have a car, post a banner or something similar, drive arround a bit, organize contests on the radio, target your audience (for ex. if your target are young people aged 18-25 find out where they hang out, their interests and so on and work arround that area). But I'm getting carried away here, the bottom line is that there is a huge advertising potential that can be done locally.

Why don't you give me a call? :)