Following is the eighth in a 12-part series by Fairfield County Venture Mom Holly Hurd on starting your own venture. If you would like to submit your own articles, send them to cdonahue@thedailydarien.com
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Week Eight Flyers
Time to get the word out the old-fashioned way. This week is the start of three weeks of marketing advice. Create a flyer to hand out, post in town and put on message boards. I know this seems antiquated, but these do bring in clients if done properly.
Use tear off tabs at the bottom with your phone number and email. Make sure the type is large and legible and includes your logo, venture name, description of your service or product, contact information and a line or two about what you do. For example, if you are offering a dog walking service, you might say something like, "We know the best places in town that all the dogs love!"
Put your flyer up at grocery stores, post offices, vets' offices, the entrance to dog parks, on the YMCA bulletin board, the church bulletin board--basically anywhere there is a corkboard for such postings.
Your flyer can be designed easily and inexpensively using many of today's word-processing applications. But if graphic design is not your strong suit, go to VentureMom.com to find a graphic design Resource Mom to help. To be an effective marketing tool, your venture's flyer should have three things.
Compelling Headline: "Get the Computer Help You Need." "Dog Walking When YOU Need it."
Clear Message: Concise descriptive list of the services you provide with your contact info.
Promotional Offer: "Call before June 30 to receive 15 percent off the first visit." "Call now for a free clothing assessment and consultation." "First hour is free to new clients."
So many people look at these when they are waiting in line, in the waiting room of doctors' offices, talking with friends. Don't let the idea of a flyer get by you. On the way into my dry cleaners, I noticed a flyer with a picture of a computer and the name of a service offering computer help. It was great. How many of us need computer assistance on a regular basis and go into the dry cleaners at least once a week?
You can get creative with your flyers, too. One mom was starting a cookie business and she stapled a wrapped cookie to a flyer and gave them out to everyone in her son's nursery school class. Another mom who was starting a personalized Pilates venture put flyers on car windshields at the gym. Think of creative ways to get your flyers into the hands of potential customers without being a pain.
Next week: marketing with email.
Visit Holly Hurds website at www.VentureMom.com.
How are you marketing your venture? Tell us in the comments below!
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