I currently live in a small town (Botkins, OH. On I-75.). The population is around 1000-2000 people. I was thinking of putting up ads and flyers - those sorts of things - all around the town in obvious places (the gas stations, the post office, the hardware store, maybe even the school to target the adults).

And then, there are other advertising things that i've seen, like banner ad programs, etc.

Which one of these should i target first for my new web hosting business? I don't have much of a budget yet, and thats the key thing right now, my budget. I can easiely scrape up enough money for some lower advertising programs, but nothing very high or with more clicks.. :confused:

Thanks (in advance).

Greetings,

Ask yourself - what are the chances that somebody filling up their car on a gas station is going to need hosting and will sign up with you?

Targeting the local market is a smart move, but you got to do it better.

How about purchasing some business leads from infousa.com, sending them postcards, and then following up with a phone call?

Boris

Originally posted by hvoice-boris
Ask yourself - what are the chances that somebody filling up their car on a gas station is going to need hosting and will sign up with you?

Yes, i guess i quite wasn't thinking about that.

The following up part would have to take awhile - i'm currently changing from my landline to a VoIP provider (long story) and i don't have a phone.

Lets say I decided to steer away from the local idea and tried to target the online approach. Where would i start? Start big, start small, or just go crazy with every offer? I need some tips on this, just somewhere to start me and hopefully i'll get the ropes :)

( I was never the person to do advertising, it's the other things I could do better.. )

You know, I think putting up flyers, even at the gas station, is a good idea.

1. They are very inexpensive (ink/paper if your print them).
2. Just because the person does not need hosting doesn't mean they won't see it. Make sure the name is bold.
3. I see flyers all the time. Everywhere. A good one, even if I don't need something, catches my eye. I may not remember it right then, but lets say I'm working and my boss asks me about hosting and I saw this flier that caught my eye. I stop at that gas station every day. I tell the boss I will get back to him, and look up the company. Maybe I won't choose them, but I will check it out.

If you follow where I'm going.

Originally posted by ddihosting
You know, I think putting up flyers, even at the gas station, is a good idea.

1. They are very inexpensive (ink/paper if your print them).
2. Just because the person does not need hosting doesn't mean they won't see it. Make sure the name is bold.
3. I see flyers all the time. Everywhere. A good one, even if I don't need something, catches my eye. I may not remember it right then, but lets say I'm working and my boss asks me about hosting and I saw this flier that caught my eye. I stop at that gas station every day. I tell the boss I will get back to him, and look up the company. Maybe I won't choose them, but I will check it out.

If you follow where I'm going.

I see exactly where you are going with this, and i think that is what i was trying to think of. That is a very good secnario, and for right now even if i get 1 hit that isn't mine or Google's would be very nice, just the fact that people know about it and willing to look it up, etc. is a good feeling. I might start making a flyer soon and get it all up around the town.

But, still, i'm very interested in the online approach, too.

For online you are already missing the biggest advertising point. Signatures. Have your site in all your signatures. Come up with a good catch phrase.

For online you are already missing the biggest advertising point. Signatures. Have your site in all your signatures. Come up with a good catch phrase.

I agree with this. It increased my sales and design requests.

Nice to see you here DDI :)

Originally posted by ddihosting
For online you are already missing the biggest advertising point. Signatures. Have your site in all your signatures. Come up with a good catch phrase.
:dunce: I must have forgot to put it on here. I have it on most other signatures at the forums i'm signed up at (not many nowadays, haven't been using many fourms lately).

EDIT: How's this? I try to use a different phrase at each board/forum i've been too, for some variety (or is this not a good idea?)

This way is better, good luck ;)

Get a list of the businesses in your town.  Then search for them on the internet.  If you cant find a site, give them a call and tell them how you can help them.  Cold calling stinks but it is a great way to find business.  You will always close more customers if you can find a way to talk with them.  If you dont develope, set them up with a www.templatemonster.com (http://www.templatemonster.com) site.  Anyone can get a site up with them.  Tell them for $100 setup and $20 per month the site is built and hosting taken care of.

You might want to check out www.interenet-marketing-research.com (http://www.interenet-marketing-research.com) as well.  There is a lot of good marketing information here.

Since you are just getting started using different slogans isnt neccesarily a bad thing.  However, you will want to find one and stick to it in the near future.  You want people to see your logo and slogan over and over again so they remember it.  You can change it up as you launch new services but stick with one until that time comes. 

Try the advertising at gas stations and local bulleton boards, chances are that if a business owner goes to fill up gas at the station, they will see thay you offer hosting and then they may start thinking of getting a web presence.
Plus flyers are pretty cheap to make. My Brother owns a printing business and he prints them for me a cost, and they have worked in the past.