Promoting a small business
Discussion
I am looking for some advice regarding promoting my business.
I run a Self-Defence course, and train on both an individual and corporate basis. Currently, the majority of my work comes from word-of-mouth recommendations and friends, but I would like to use a cost effective method of marketing myself to more businesses etc. If you have had a successful marketing campaign, please throw me some tips!
Any ideas would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks!
I run a Self-Defence course, and train on both an individual and corporate basis. Currently, the majority of my work comes from word-of-mouth recommendations and friends, but I would like to use a cost effective method of marketing myself to more businesses etc. If you have had a successful marketing campaign, please throw me some tips!
Any ideas would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks!
Edited by harestock09 on Wednesday 24th February 11:07
king housebrick through the window.Link is gone...
Ok, to be honest I wasn't expecting such a cynical response to a genuine request, but maybe I should have anticipated that.
Hopefully I will recieve some useful replys now that I have recieved a lesson in 'how not to produce your first post'.
As to joining in the general chat, give me time
Ok, to be honest I wasn't expecting such a cynical response to a genuine request, but maybe I should have anticipated that.
Hopefully I will recieve some useful replys now that I have recieved a lesson in 'how not to produce your first post'.
As to joining in the general chat, give me time
Okay, as Ive been lured into actually having a look at the website now.
Have you actually approached all of the local schools, businesses etc that you say you cater for?
Have you used to local paper to put in a small advert (preferably with a picture and a large headline to grab attention) making people aware of your presence in the community?
Youth clubs, scout groups, womens coffee mornings - If this is your only business then I guess you need to put yourself out there a bit more and make some noise about what you're doing.
Word of mouth and recommendation is probably the 'best' form of advertising - but still very few people are likely to actually act upon it.
Think who else you could link up with - local gyms / martial arts classes - people wont always want to go the whole hog with something so a short course from you guys may do the trick.
Welcome by the way, but you've probably gathered, instantly wacking up a link to your own site isnt probably the done thing and may contravene the advertising rules on the forum.
Good luck with your business
Have you actually approached all of the local schools, businesses etc that you say you cater for?
Have you used to local paper to put in a small advert (preferably with a picture and a large headline to grab attention) making people aware of your presence in the community?
Youth clubs, scout groups, womens coffee mornings - If this is your only business then I guess you need to put yourself out there a bit more and make some noise about what you're doing.
Word of mouth and recommendation is probably the 'best' form of advertising - but still very few people are likely to actually act upon it.
Think who else you could link up with - local gyms / martial arts classes - people wont always want to go the whole hog with something so a short course from you guys may do the trick.
Welcome by the way, but you've probably gathered, instantly wacking up a link to your own site isnt probably the done thing and may contravene the advertising rules on the forum.
Good luck with your business
A911DOM,
Many thanks for the reply, much appreciated.
I have approached all of the schools in the area (via email and telephone), and am in the process of doing the same for local businesses. Im not sure that email and phone is the most effective method, so I am looking to start some flyer distribution too. Perhaps use the call/email as a follow up.
I havn't used a newspaper to advertise yet, so I think I shall sit down and come up with an advert and headline that could work.
The gym/youth group etc. idea is good thanks, I shall have a look for some in the area and chase that up.
Cheers for the advice, and not jumpuing down my throat like the traditional keyboard warrior.
Scott330ci,
You have a 3ltr BMW, just drive away No problems (just make sure you keep the roof up to avoid the inevitable and potentially hairstyle damaging projectiles that 'big boys' throw at convertable owners) 
Many thanks for the reply, much appreciated.
I have approached all of the schools in the area (via email and telephone), and am in the process of doing the same for local businesses. Im not sure that email and phone is the most effective method, so I am looking to start some flyer distribution too. Perhaps use the call/email as a follow up.
I havn't used a newspaper to advertise yet, so I think I shall sit down and come up with an advert and headline that could work.
The gym/youth group etc. idea is good thanks, I shall have a look for some in the area and chase that up.
Cheers for the advice, and not jumpuing down my throat like the traditional keyboard warrior.
Scott330ci,
You have a 3ltr BMW, just drive away
No problems (just make sure you keep the roof up to avoid the inevitable and potentially hairstyle damaging projectiles that 'big boys' throw at convertable owners) Edited by harestock09 on Wednesday 24th February 11:30
Rather than advertising in the local paper, find a none story press release you can send out, has there been any stories you can adapt to help you out, ie the 6 stone woman who has achieved blackbelt, or self defence that paid off. Any promo stuff you can do that will get you in the paper for free, local papers need stuff to fill them up especially while the housing market is slow, People are more likely to read a story than notice an ad baring full colour double page ads with attractive members of the opposite sex.
I have been told by several different small business owners that newspaper ads can be difficult to get to work, they all said that they struggled to find their own ad in the paper despite knowing what it looked like and that it was definitely in that edition, people tend to skim over ads. So try for the story angle, keep it local, hell even offer your services to the local cubs, scouts, cadets, guides any charitable group that will get a good press release, send in results from any competitions, get yourself in the what's on column in your local paper, put posters up in libraries, and council offices even the local corner shop.
I have been told by several different small business owners that newspaper ads can be difficult to get to work, they all said that they struggled to find their own ad in the paper despite knowing what it looked like and that it was definitely in that edition, people tend to skim over ads. So try for the story angle, keep it local, hell even offer your services to the local cubs, scouts, cadets, guides any charitable group that will get a good press release, send in results from any competitions, get yourself in the what's on column in your local paper, put posters up in libraries, and council offices even the local corner shop.
Hello Engineer1,
Thanks! That makes sense - looking to provide a story for a free article that will be of interest, rather than trying to create something interesting in an add. I guess the newspaper will make sure the article is attractive and catches the readers eye, as they want to sell papers! Yeah, the billboard is somewhat out of my budget right now....
Those are all good low budget methods of promoting the business, thanks for taking the time to post!
Thanks! That makes sense - looking to provide a story for a free article that will be of interest, rather than trying to create something interesting in an add. I guess the newspaper will make sure the article is attractive and catches the readers eye, as they want to sell papers! Yeah, the billboard is somewhat out of my budget right now....
Those are all good low budget methods of promoting the business, thanks for taking the time to post!
Engineer1 said:
Rather than advertising in the local paper, find a none story press release you can send out, has there been any stories you can adapt to help you out, ie the 6 stone woman who has achieved blackbelt, or self defence that paid off. Any promo stuff you can do that will get you in the paper for free, local papers need stuff to fill them up especially while the housing market is slow, People are more likely to read a story than notice an ad baring full colour double page ads with attractive members of the opposite sex.
I have been told by several different small business owners that newspaper ads can be difficult to get to work, they all said that they struggled to find their own ad in the paper despite knowing what it looked like and that it was definitely in that edition, people tend to skim over ads. So try for the story angle, keep it local, hell even offer your services to the local cubs, scouts, cadets, guides any charitable group that will get a good press release, send in results from any competitions, get yourself in the what's on column in your local paper, put posters up in libraries, and council offices even the local corner shop.
Good idea. Get one of your mates to attack a student of yours. After she's beaten him up, she gets interviewed and mentions your classes. I have been told by several different small business owners that newspaper ads can be difficult to get to work, they all said that they struggled to find their own ad in the paper despite knowing what it looked like and that it was definitely in that edition, people tend to skim over ads. So try for the story angle, keep it local, hell even offer your services to the local cubs, scouts, cadets, guides any charitable group that will get a good press release, send in results from any competitions, get yourself in the what's on column in your local paper, put posters up in libraries, and council offices even the local corner shop.
Couple of thoughts:
Consider how you pitch your offer
I'd think about dropping the "self-defence" further down the overall offer and pitch with something along the lines of "Personal Security Protection training". Self defence carries connotations that you'll be turning the workforce in to ninja street warriors.
Target
Identify those businesses that are more likely to be in need of your services than others. Focus on these initially. You'll know this better than anyone but I'd have thought any business that puts their staff in the front line of public rage would be at the top of the list, such as councils (binmen, parking wardens, etc), debt collection agencies / bailiffs, etc.
Tailor
Change your angle for each business and sector you go after. Don't make it generic.
PR
As stated, for you, it's a much better medium than advertising but don't forget that column inches often correlate to ad spend.
Consider how you pitch your offer
I'd think about dropping the "self-defence" further down the overall offer and pitch with something along the lines of "Personal Security Protection training". Self defence carries connotations that you'll be turning the workforce in to ninja street warriors.
Target
Identify those businesses that are more likely to be in need of your services than others. Focus on these initially. You'll know this better than anyone but I'd have thought any business that puts their staff in the front line of public rage would be at the top of the list, such as councils (binmen, parking wardens, etc), debt collection agencies / bailiffs, etc.
Tailor
Change your angle for each business and sector you go after. Don't make it generic.
PR
As stated, for you, it's a much better medium than advertising but don't forget that column inches often correlate to ad spend.
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