Advertising

[canoflan]

Can someone in the Houston NW/Cypress area recommend any good places to advertise a new business? Any ideas would be very helpful.

I specialize in location portraiture, retouching services, and photography tutoring/lessons.

Thanks for the help.

Canoflan

[HotHolly]

For the lessons, you can contact local schools and universities. Also try the town rec center - they offer classes. You'll get a lot of retirees and bored moms. They are fun to do too.

[canoflan]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

For the lessons, you can contact local schools and universities. Also try the town rec center - they offer classes. You'll get a lot of retirees and bored moms. They are fun to do too.

Ok, good idea. Thanks.

[toverman]

I'm not in your area, so can't give specifics, but see if there's a small newspaper in your area. The ad rates are usually cheaper and some are beloved over the big papers (I know this from personal experience).

Also, look into charity fundraisers. Many have silent or live auctions. You can donate your portrait services or personal tutoring, etc., which will get you a name mention, and the bids go to the charity. If you attend the event, you can also get your name out there (to usually affluent people with extra money). And if you do well with the high bidder, you'll get the best advertising of all: word of mouth!

Sky-writing is also an option, but it doesn't seem to last very long.

[canoflan]

Originally Posted by toverman

I'm not in your area, so can't give specifics, but see if there's a small newspaper in your area. The ad rates are usually cheaper and some are beloved over the big papers (I know this from personal experience).

Also, look into charity fundraisers. Many have silent or live auctions. You can donate your portrait services or personal tutoring, etc., which will get you a name mention, and the bids go to the charity. If you attend the event, you can also get your name out there (to usually affluent people with extra money). And if you do well with the high bidder, you'll get the best advertising of all: word of mouth!

Sky-writing is also an option, but it doesn't seem to last very long.

The small paper idea sounds good. Frankly, advertising to the best coverage is expensive, but I guess everything when you are starting out is expensive. I find I am having to decide whether to get more materials and know how to be better at what I am in business for, or advertising, etc.... I know that is part of the whole exciting world of self-employment.

We have a small, free paper that is dropped on our driveway weekly. I need to check that out since it is related strictly to our area.

The fund raising is good as well and unless people see you can deliver first, you often won't get as much business. Perhaps I will donate some work to our church first, then go from there since I believe that is the best place to begin giving.

Thanks again,
Canoflan

[FreshPhotography]

Local papers (1960 Sun, Spring newspaper, Tomball Herald), maybe at the libraries such as Tomball College. Many of the areas have small publications that might have ad rates that would possibly work well.

[canoflan]

Originally Posted by FreshPhotography

Local papers (1960 Sun, Spring newspaper, Tomball Herald), maybe at the libraries such as Tomball College. Many of the areas have small publications that might have ad rates that would possibly work well.

Ok, I will give those a whirl as well.